ICON'S NEXT PACT WILL BE MOTHER OF ALL YANK FLAPS  —  CONSIDER this week, when Joe Torre revealed his inner vigilante, to be just another trial run toward the mother of all Yankee controversies.  —  Because if you think Torre blindsiding Brian Cashman or the Yanks slashing Andy Pettitte's salary …

Stark: Rumblings and Grumblings  —  We don't use words like “collusion” lightly at times like this, in a world like this.  —  So somewhere in this column, we're going to search for a different word, a more fitting word, to describe what might be the strangest offseason in modern baseball history.

It's Truck Day for the Red Sox — updated with photo  —  It may be freezing outside, but it's a sure sign that spring is coming when the 18-wheeler leaves Fenway Park for Fort Myers, Fla. And that will happen at 1 o'clock today, as the Red Sox move their equipment to Florida to prepare for the start of spring training.

Mets sign Pedro Feliciano, avoid arbitration  —  The Mets have signed lefty reliever Pedro Feliciano to a one-year contract for $1,612,500, Newsday has learned, meaning that Omar Minaya and his crew will not have go to to an arbitration hearing with any of their players.

Nats' Hill waits for arbitration decision  —  PHOENIX — Washington pitcher Shawn Hill became the first player in the major leagues to go to a salary arbitration hearing this year, asking a panel Friday to award him $775,000 rather than the team's $500,000 offer.

Rays sign righty Abreu to Minors deal  —  ST. PETERSBURG — The Rays signed right-hander Winston Abreu to a Minor League deal Friday with an invitation to Major League Spring Training.  —  Abreu, 31, last pitched in the Major Leagues for the Nationals in 2007, when he went 0-1 with a 5.93 ERA in 26 games.

Boras pushes Anderson, Rodriguez as good fits for M's  —  It will come as absolutely no surprise to anyone following baseball to know that agents, not to mention unsigned free agent players, are getting anxious with the start of spring training just a week away.

Wolf, Dodgers closing in on deal  —  Return of left-hander would help bolster young rotation for LA  —  LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers are closing in on a deal to sign free-agent left-handed starting pitcher Randy Wolf.  —  The Dodgers could not comment, and rarely do on contract talks until a free agent passes a physical exam.

Braves offer contract to Glavine  —  Need for an outfielder limits resources available for legendary lefty  —  ATLANTA — With the start of Spring Training just a week away, Braves general manager Frank Wren finds himself with limited financial resources to satisfy roster needs that don't include adding another starting pitcher.

Would long-term deals help Sox?  —  Extending Floyd, Danks, Quentin could aid cost certainty  —  CHICAGO — Ask John Danks about his desire to pitch for years and years as part of the White Sox starting rotation, even at the stage of his career when a long-term deal isn't necessarily needed …

Joba tells News: I want to start … TAMPA - Back in November, Joba Chamberlain was in New York for a charity appearance and visited GM Brian Cashman at Cashman's office.  The GM told the phenom to prepare over the winter to be in the Yankee rotation.  —  “That was a little calming …

Bush in hot water again, Padres cut him loose  —  Matt Bush's days as a Padre are over.  —  And they ended in much the same way they began - with a controversial incident that involves the police.  —  The Padres designated Bush for assignment Thursday, just as El Cajon police were looking …

Pitching Perspectives with Rick Peterson: Understanding the Epidemic of Youth Pitching Injuries  —  Bridging the Gap Between Potential and Peak Performance  —  Young pitchers are in trouble.  While that may sound like hyperbole at its finest, it most assuredly isn't.