Yankees mulling confidentiality agreements  —  The Yankees are considering including a “non-disparagement clause” in future player and managerial contracts in order to prevent any more tell-all books such as “The Yankee Years,” co-written by Joe Torre and Tom Verducci.

Great Balls of Fire  —  Why is this man hot?  —  One of my favorite moments in the Verducci/Torre book is about Roger Clemens as he prepared to face the Mets in Game 2 of the 2000 World Serious.  Verducci writes that Clemens' usual pregame preparation included taking a whirlpool bath at the hottest temperature possible.

Jeter Owns Up to Taking Stadium Souvenir  —  Tampa, Fla. — Derek Jeter came clean Wednesday night.  He pilfered the Joe DiMaggio sign, as I suspected.  —  When I had last seen Jeter before covering the kickoff party to his celebrity golf classic for his Turn 2 Foundation at the Saddlebrook Resort …

Mariners sign Mike Sweeney  —  It's a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training.  Sweeney has Tacoma connections and I know has always had interest in playing for the Mariners.  His wife, the daughter of former major-leaguer Jim Nettles (who is brother of Graig Nettles) is from the Tacoma area.

Pirates, Maholm agree to 3-year deal  —  The Pirates and their top pitcher, Paul Maholm, this morning reached agreement on a three-year contract extension, plus a club option for a fourth, with only a physical remaining until there is a signing.  That is expected today or tomorrow.  —  More details to come.

Is Baseball Really Recession-Proof?  —  “I've lived through a lot of economic recessions in my day.  I've never seen anything like this.  And neither has anybody else. ...  And so while, in the past, I've felt baseball was recession-proof, this is different.”  —Bud Selig

San Francisco Giants  —  Baseball America's Top 10 Prospects lists are based on projections of a player's long-term worth after discussions with scouting and player-development personnel.  All players who haven't exceeded the major league rookie standards of 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched …

Abreu, others, might soon swallow pride  —  As recently as a week ago, the asking price on Bobby Abreu was said to be locked in place, a three-year deal for something in the neighborhood of $16 million a year.  But those numbers were based on appraisals made before the motor companies got a bailout …

Crede drawing new offers; Twins on hold  —  Free agent third baseman Joe Crede looked good in Wednesday's workout in Arizona, triggering some new contract offers, but none so far from the Twins, an insider told the Star Tribune today.  —  The Twins had Sean Johnson, their Western Scouting Supervisor …

Escobar Excites With D In Venezuela  —  Milwaukee's Double-A Huntsville club was a nightmare for Southern League pitchers in 2008.  —  Huntsville routinely rolled out a prospect-heavy lineup, mixing in Matt LaPorta, Mat Gamel, Angel Salome, Michael Brantley, Lorenzo Cain and Cole Gillespie throughout the season.

UnBusted Prospects  —  One of the bigger issues of disagreement between the statistical community and the mainstream media is the predictive power of minor league performance.  It's still widely believed that minor league statistics aren't very useful, and that there is a significant collection …

Bigger Fowler set to compete in CF  —  Talent doesn't always have a timetable.  So while Ryan Spilborghs will get the first crack to start in center field for the Rockies this year, it's too early to rule out Dexter Fowler.  —  Fowler showed up at Coors Field last week much thicker than when he left last September.

Mets still interested in bringing Pedro back in '09 … SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — New York Mets general manager Omar Minaya says the club is interested in signing pitcher Pedro Martinez to a new contract.  —  The Mets' four-year, $53 million deal with Martinez expired after last season.

Mariners Acquire LHP Garrett Olson, INF Ronny Cedeno From Cubs  —  Seattle sends RHP Aaron Heilman to Chicago  —  SEATTLE, Wash. — Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President & General Manager of Baseball Operations Jack Zduriencik today announced that the club has acquired left-handed pitcher Garrett Olson …