Reloaded Yanks have high expectations  —  Sabathia, Burnett and Teixeira bolster Bombers in AL East  —  NEW YORK — Brian Cashman enjoyed a brief respite from his office at Yankee Stadium over the holidays.  As the Yankees would no doubt agree, the extended break was well-deserved.

CATCH-22 … At Jason Varitek's peak, he was a top-five catcher, an offensive force who was just as valuable behind the plate as he was in the locker room.  —  But offensively, that peak is at least three years gone.  The Red Sox would be making a mistake to pay him like the player he once was …

Hot Stove is poised to pick up pace  —  Several marquee names remain without 2009 homes  —  With the Hot Stove League past its midpoint, and with less than six weeks remaining before pitchers and catchers report for Spring Training, the words of A's general manager Billy Beane are ringing true less …

Sabathia, Uptons prominent on MLB watch list in 2009  —  What's going to happen this year in Major League Baseball?  We asked some of ESPN's finest about people and teams to watch in nine different categories in 2009. … There are times when a young player's extraordinary physical ability …

BASEBALL: Mets' talks with Lowe to heat up  —  After a holiday respite, things could get busy again in the baseball world this week.  For the Mets, negotiations are expected to heat up for righthander Derek Lowe.  And for the Yankees, new first baseman Mark Teixeira likely will be introduced in a Yankee Stadium news conference.

Braves' interest in Jones, Lowe is slight  —  Outfielder's game in question, while righty's price is too high  —  ATLANTA — To say the Braves have absolutely zero interest in Derek Lowe and Andruw Jones wouldn't exactly be accurate.  But their interest in these two players currently appears to be only moderate.

St. Louis Cardinals Top 20+ Prospects for 2009  —  Tools galore. . .  St. Louis Cardinals Top 20 Prospects for 2009  —  All grades are EXTREMELY PRELIMINARY and subject to change.  Don't get too worried about exact rankings at this point, especially once you get out of the top 10.

Are today's closers Hall-worthy?  —  Rivera, Hoffman two active pitchers who are leading candidates  —  NEW YORK — As Lee Smith waits to learn if he will pass through the Baseball Hall of Fame's doors, many among the current crop of Major League closers have their own dreams of someday being given an afternoon in the Cooperstown sun.

Brewers remain on the free-agent prowl  —  Lineup returns intact, but pitching a priority with vacancies  —  MILWAUKEE — It's back to work for Brewers officials on Monday following their holiday break, with only 39 days before pitchers and catchers formally report for the start of Spring Training.

Pirates notes: Bradley says he's no bust  —  Bobby Bradley will be remembered as one of the Pittsburgh Pirates' many failed pitching prospects of this decade.  He isn't entirely happy about that.  —  “I've read things where people said I was a bust and I don't think that is necessarily fair …