The story behind The Yankee Years … SI.com: There has been some initial confusion over the authorship of this book.  Unlike your previous collaboration with Joe Torre, Chasing the Dream, written after the 1996 season, this is not a traditional as-told-to biography.

Pedro says he's received offers  —  Righty declines to identify bidders, but claims Mets not among them  —  The availability of Pedro Martinez as a free agent has prompted interest among big league clubs, according to the veteran right-hander.  With less than three weeks remaining …

Giants could ultimately be in mix for Manny  —  Only Scott Boras knows for sure what offers Manny Ramirez may or may not have, but it appears that the San Francisco Giants are the only team standing between Ramirez and a capitulation that the slugger might feel is utterly embarrassing.

Mariners showing an interest in Cubs' Hill  —  Conventional baseball wisdom says you can never have too many pitchers.  —  Apparently that's a belief that Seattle general manager Jack Zduriencik carries with him.  —  The Mariners, who just completed a trade with the Cubs that landed …

Pinch hitting: Statistically Speaking  —  January is traditionally a slow month for baseball news.  So for the second year in a row, we will showcase other blogs with a series of pinch hitters.  —  Next up is Dan from Statistically Speaking.  —  Dan is a freshman business major at Cornell.

Sox owner Henry is engaged  —  Red Sox owner John Henry is engaged to girlfriend Linda Pizzuti.  —  Henry, whose divorce from his second wife, Peggy, was finalized last year, proposed to Pizzuti in New York, and the pair is planning to get married in June.

Yanks sign Bruney to one-year deal  —  Righty reliever avoids arbitration with $1.25 million contract  —  NEW YORK — No more obstacles stand between now and Spring Training.  The Yankees cleared the last of them on Friday, signing their final arbitration-eligible player, Brian Bruney, to a one-year deal for a reported $1.25 million.

Varitek, Red Sox strike a deal  —  The captain's not going anywhere.  —  Ending a three-month saga before a team-imposed deadline, the Red Sox [team stats] and catcher Jason Varitek [stats] agreed to a one-year contract with an option that will pay Varitek between $8 million and $10 million.

Byrd, Rangers avoid arbitration  —  Outfielder agrees to base salary of $3.06 million for 2009  —  ARLINGTON — The Rangers have settled all their arbitration cases after reaching an agreement with outfielder Marlon Byrd on Friday.  —  Byrd agreed to a base salary of $3.06 million.