Johnny Damon, Yankees ‘unlikely’ to reunite in 2011 despite Newsday report of discussions: source  —  Johnny Damon has been in touch with the Yankees about a possible reunion, but don't count on seeing the 37-year-old back in pinstripes any time soon.  —  As Newsday first reported Wednesday night …

Ex-New York Yankees pitching coach was ‘shocked’ by firing  —  Former New York Yankees pitching coach Dave Eiland, now a member of divisional rival Tampa Bay, said he was blindsided by the axe that fell on him a few days after the team was knocked out of the American League Championship Series by the Texas Rangers.

Ken Davidoff's baseball insider  —  My 2011 Hall of Fame ballot  —  Yup, it's that time of year again.  Here's my ballot from last year and my 2009 ballot.  This marks my fifth ballot in all.  —  This year, I found myself facing a new dilemma: Too many good candidates for the 10 spots available on the ballot.

Nationals reach two-year deal with Sean Burnett  —  The Nationals have reached an agreement with reliever Sean Burnett on a contract extension that will keep the left-handed reliever with the Nationals through the 2012 season with a dual option for 2013, according to a league source.

Gonzalez negotiations won't factor in Pujols  —  Prior to officially acquiring slugger Adrian Gonzalez from the Padres, the Red Sox were assured by the slugger that the contract terms he desired on an extension would not change in the event that an Albert Pujols mega-deal raises the market, ESPNBoston.com reported on Thursday.

Cards assistant GM Abbamondi is leaving  —  Cardinals assistant general manager John Abbamondi is leaving the club to accept a vice president position with the San Diego Padres, both teams confirmed Wednesday.  It is the second departure from the Cardinals' front office this winter …

Offseason Spending Details By Team  —  MLB teams have made over $1.2 billion in salary commitments so far this offseason, according to data compiled by MLBTR.  The seven most aggressive teams have combined for $828MM in commitments this winter.  In other words, the Red Sox, Nationals …

Uecker's holiday wish: Good health in 2011  —  MILWAUKEE — Bob Uecker has an offseason home on a golf course in Scottsdale, Ariz., but he usually travels home to wintry Wisconsin for the holidays.  Not this year.  He's staying south this Christmas to rest up from heart surgery …

Sliding Into Second, Even in Winter  —  Progressive Field, home of the Cleveland Indians, is host to Snow Days, a way to expand use of the ballpark.  The event is expected to draw 60,000 people from Nov. 26 through Jan. 2.  More Photos »  —  CLEVELAND — There were no vendors wandering the aisles …

Oakland City Council approves money for A's ballpark study  —  The Oakland City Council voted Tuesday to spend as much as $750,000 on an environmental study for a new ballpark, even though the owner of the A's is trying to move the team to San Jose.  —  The council voted 6-2 to hire LSA Associates …

Sabathia talks about chasing Lee, giving back and trimming down  —  The Associated Press comes through with a non-Pinstripe Bowl story... CC Sabathia did some charity work today back home in California.  For whatever reason, I wasn't able to be there to speak to the big man, so I'll let the AP do what it does.

R2C2 aces nicknamers  —  THE FANS HAVE spoken.  The phans, too.  —  I got 186 e-mails, a personal best, in response to my column suggesting “Un-four-gettables” as the nickname for the best starting rotation in baseball.  Phew!  —  The winner, by a squeaky margin, was R2C2, a spinoff of the smart-aleck “Star Wars” robot.