Madden: Big-name veterans getting shut out this winter  —  Yo, Manny Ramirez, Bobby Abreu, Orlando Hudson, Jon Garland!  It's Jan. 25!  Hey, Adam Dunn, Orlando Cabrera, Garret Anderson, Jason Varitek, there are only 19 more days till pitchers and catchers report to spring training!

Starting Pitcher: Mets up Offer to Oliver Perez  —  Last night, on MLB Network's Hot Stove Show, SI.com's Tom Verducci said Omar Minaya would like to reach an agreement with Oliver Perez by the end of the weekend.  —  According to Jon Heyman, also of SI.com, the Mets have increased their initial offer …

Yanks to benefit Boys & Girls Clubs  —  Players to sign autographs at March 24 event in Tampa  —  The Yankees will put down their bats and pick up their pens again this spring, signing autographs to benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay on March 24.  —  All of the Yankees' biggest names …

Tear Down Stadium and Build Up the Bronx  —  Months after its rousing and official farewell, old Yankee Stadium stands strong, proud and in one piece, shuttered but not altogether silenced.  —  Twenty-two days until pitchers and catchers, its message board atop the outer wall reminded passers …

Gammons: WBC a concern for pitchers  —  This week, the Cubs learned Carlos Marmol was pitching in the Dominican Republic, working feverishly to ready himself to pitch for his country in the World Baseball Classic.  —  Wonderful.  Here's a 26-year-old with dazzling talent …

A's work to lock in Duchscherer, add Springer  —  The Oakland Athletics' efforts Saturday appear to have gone a long way toward shoring up their pitching staff.  —  Springer  —  Duchscherer  —  Right-handed starter Justin Duchscherer avoided a salary arbitration hearing …

Sheets poster boy for unsettled offseason  —  It wasn't that long ago that the Seattle Mariners gave Carlos Silva a four-year, $48 million deal, and it wasn't that long ago that Miguel Batista got $25 million over three years, and Jeff Suppan signed a four-year, $42 million contract.

Hillman likes what he sees at minicamp  —  Royals manager hosts group of infielders at Texas home  —  KANSAS CITY — Camp Hillman was a success for the troop leader, Royals manager Trey Hillman.  —  Hillman had eight infielders on his little spread at Liberty Hill, Texas …

Phils add Hollins; Mets sign Mackowiak to minor-league deal  —  The World Champion Phillies added more bench depth as well, signing Damon Hollins to a $450,000 minor league contract, $65,000 of which is guaranteed.  He can request his release if not on the 25-man roster by July 1 …

O's working on extension for Roberts  —  All-Star second baseman's contract expires after ‘09 season  —  BALTIMORE — Brian Roberts may not have been at the news conference to announce the Orioles’ six-year contract extension for Nick Markakis on Thursday, but he was there in spirit.

Slow-Moving Construction  —  I'm not quite mad as hell.  And I can probably take it a little longer.  —  However, my fuse is getting short when I think about the Lerners' poor stewardship of the Nationals.  In a week or two, if the Nats have refused to spend appropriately on free agents …

Is Barry Larkin a Hall of Famer?  A look at Retrosheet-era shortstops  —  I did a quick little study based on an e-mail conversation this week, so I decided to post it.  What follows is a look at all Retrosheet-Era Hall of Fame shortstops, plus the best of the others that came to mind.

PETTITTE RETURN TO ASTROS UNLIKELY  —  OWNER DOESN'T EXPECT TO ENTER BIDDING  —  HOUSTON - As the Astros were celebrating the development of a new youth academy Friday, owner Drayton McLane was talking about the possibility of Andy Pettitte returning to the team and whether he expects Roger Clemens at spring training.