Brewers trade Hardy for Gomez  —  By Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel  —  As it turns out, the Brewers will not be trading shortstop J.J. Hardy for pitching help after all.  Instead, the Brewers used Hardy today to address their centerfield position, trading him to the Minnesota Twins …

Girardi likely to up ante with uniform switch  —  Joe Girardi is going to wear a big goal on his back next season and dares every team in baseball to deny the Yankees reaching it.  —  That's the same back people were plunging knives into a year ago for his lack of communication and as recently …

Phillies pick up option to keep Lee  —  No decision on Feliz's option; coaching staff retained  —  PHILADELPHIA — The Phillies announced their first big move of the offseason on Friday when they picked up left-hander Cliff Lee's $8 million club option.  —  It was no surprise.

Myers will not return to Phillies  —  Brett Myers was told today that his Phillies career is over, the Inquirer's Jim Salisbury reports.  —  “I officially won't be a Phillie next year,” the 29-year-old pitcher told The Inquirer this afternoon.  —  In a meeting with general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. …

First day of free agency busy for filers  —  Bay, Holliday and Lackey among those to test market  —  On the busy first official day of the 2009-10 offseason, nearly half of the 183 eligible players formally filed for free agency.  —  The 79 eligible veterans who elected free agency …

Yankees beat out the Red Sox as team of decade  —  Let's end one debate before it really gets started.  The Red Sox gave it a nice run for a while, but the Yankees are the team of the decade — again.  —  I can just imagine what the scene in Red Sox Nation is about now.  The fans are bitter.

Chicago White Sox buy out final year of Jermaine Dye's contract  —  The Chicago White Sox and 2005 World Series MVP Jermaine Dye have parted ways.  —  On Thursday, Jermaine Dye informed the White Sox that he was accepting his 2010 one-year option for $12 million.

New York Mets Top 10 Prospects  —  New York Mets … After being eliminated from the playoffs on the final day of the regular season in 2007 and 2008, the Mets continued to generate drama in 2009—though this time it was primarily off the field.  New York christened Citi Field by going 70-92 …

Dodgers: Manny Ramirez to return in 2010  —  Manny Ramirez will return to the Dodgers next season, according to his agent, Scott Boras.  —  Boras said that he informed General Manager Ned Colletti today that Ramirez would not exercise the escape clause in the two-year, $45-million contract he signed in the spring.

Angels' GM Tony Reagins given contract extension  —  ANAHEIM, CA - The 2009 A.L. West Division champion Angels announced Friday that General Manager Tony Reagins has received a long-term contract extension.  Reagins became the 10th General Manager in Club history when he signed an initial three-year contract on October 16, 2007.

Cleveland hires Belcher as new pitching coach … CLEVELAND (AP) — Former Indians pitcher Tim Belcher is the team's new pitching coach, the first member of manager Manny Acta's staff.  —  Belcher has spent the past eight years as a special assistant to baseball operations in the Indians organization.

Rockies decline options on Torrealba, Embree  —  DENVER — What was suspected for weeks became a reality Friday.  The Rockies declined the $4 million option on Yorvit Torrealba's contract, making him a free agent.  They also exercised a buyout with reliever Alan Embree.