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 …

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

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 …

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 …

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.

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 …

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.

Former Mets pitcher Jack Fisher reflects at Shea Stadium  —  Jack Fisher clutched an umbrella in his right hand - the hand that threw the first pitch at Shea Stadium in 1964 - as he bid a sad farewell Wednesday to the ballpark to which his name will forever be linked.

Baseball's Hall of Fame has taken too many hits  —  (01-28) 18:59 PST — Rickey Henderson and Jim Rice are going into the Baseball Hall of Fame!  —  In the words of Matt Foley, Chris Farley's motivational-speaker character, “Well, whooptie-frikkin'-doo.”  —  Not that Henderson and Rice …

Benoit may be lost for season  —  Rangers righty has surgery to repair torn rotator cuff  —  ARLINGTON — The Rangers, still over two weeks away from Spring Training, have suffered another major setback in their pitching staff.  —  Right-hander Joaquin Benoit underwent surgery on Tuesday …