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.

Wolf returns to Dodgers with 1-year, $5M deal  —  LOS ANGELES (AP) — Pitcher Randy Wolf and the Los Angeles Dodgers agreed Friday to a one-year, $5 million contract.  —  A 32-year-old left-hander, Wolf was a combined 12-12 with a 4.30 ERA last year with San Diego and Houston …

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.

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.

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.

Orioles sign Sherrill, avoid arbitration  —  O's, closer agree to $2.75 million deal for 2009 season  —  The Orioles avoided arbitration with George Sherrill tonight, signing the All-Star reliever to a $2.75 million deal for the 2009 season.  —  Eligible for arbitration for the first time …

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 …

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.

Pohlad will run team much like dad did  —  Personnel dept. will have autonomy; more salary could be added  —  MINNEAPOLIS — Twins CEO Jim Pohlad considers himself to be more of a baseball fan than a baseball executive.  —  And he didn't hesitate to let that inner fan come out on Friday morning …

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.

Manny coveted, but not a bank breaker  —  Giants won't attempt to sign mercurial slugger if cost is too high  —  SAN FRANCISCO — The Giants are ready to welcome Manny Ramirez.  But they're neither waiting for him nor pinning their hopes for 2009 on acquiring him.

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 …