Torre dishes Yankee dirt  —  From left, Joe Torre comes out swinging in new book, which tells his Bronx tale about life with The Boss, Brian Cashman and ...  Joe Torre's place in the Baseball Hall of Fame is secure, but his place in Monument Park at the new Yankee Stadium may not be.

Braves prospect denies HGH use, takes blame  —  Jordan Schafer, one of the top prospects in the Atlanta Braves' system, has ended his silence about his controversial 50-game drug suspension last season, telling reporters that he never took HGH but saying his punishment was deserved.  —  Schafer

Contradictions in Book Seem to Benefit Clemens  —  One week before Brian McNamee and Roger Clemens testified before a House committee at a contentious public hearing last February, McNamee sat down for a deposition with committee investigators.  —  Behind closed doors in a Capitol building office …

Gonzalez healthy for Spring Training  —  Shortstop missed 2008 season following left knee surgery  —  CINCINNATI — An examination of Reds shortstop Alex Gonzalez's left knee on Saturday brought some positive news.  —  Gonzalez, who missed all of the 2008 season with a compression fracture …

Movement in Varitek talks?  —  Roughly three months after the end of their 2008 season and fewer than three weeks before the start of spring training, the Red Sox have made a formal proposal to catcher Jason Varitek that could end a winter-long stalemate.  —  One way or the other.

Teams wait for a discount  —  Free agents didn't bargain on lowball  —  Nearly 100 major leaguers are still available in free agency, which, according to several baseball officials, could ignite a frenzy of cheap signings, and even minor league deals, from now until well into spring training.

Lupica: Brotherly shove for Clemens  —  So here is Jay McGwire - who in the all-time rankings for brothers goes in there with Fredo Corleone - trying to sell a book about his brother Mark McGwire's use of steroids.  This all happens not so long after Jay McGwire's big brother fails for a third …

Options to help beef up arms remain weak  —  Team needs more starting pitching going into spring training  —  Milwaukee Brewers owner Mark Attanasio and general manager Doug Melvin do not have their heads buried in the sand.  With three weeks to go before spring training begins, they realize the starting rotation is perilously thin.

Rangers' X-rays show Sheets as a risk, but a reward waiting to happen  —  ARLINGTON — All of baseball, the Texas Rangers and the Milwaukee Brewers included, have treaded lightly around the subject of Ben Sheets' pitching elbow.  —  Which is abundantly understandable.

Report: Mets up Ollie offer … Best Of NYDN.com

Hot Stove Central  —  Follow the Hot Stove League all winter long and build your 2009 Yankee or Met dream lineup today.  Play Manager Now  —  It's A Madd, Madd World...  Say It Ain't So … Today's Top Picks … Best Of NYDN.com

Amaro: Eaton not an option; Add Wigginton to your list of names  —  Well, this should just about settle any talk about Adam Eaton's role, or lack thereof.  —  Asked today whether Adam Eaton had any chance at establishing himself as the Phillies' No. 5 starter, Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said, well, no.

Pettitte, Yanks continue discussions  —  Club may pursue Sheets or fill fifth starter's role from within  —  NEW YORK — Details of the months-old standoff between Andy Pettitte and the Yankees have not changed much, but both sides maintain interest in a reunion.