Beltre, Pettitte, Webb, Young  —  From the Rangers press conference...  * Club officials are not particularly optimistic that something will get down with third baseman Adrian Beltre.  That deal seems unlikely give the tenor of feeling on Monday but things could change.

Rockies' CarGo contract talk persists as ad campaign revealed  —  Talks are continuing to sign young Rockies star Carlos Gonzalez to a long-term deal.  (Karl Gehring, The Denver Post)  —  UPDATE 12:54 p.m. |  Adds confirmation from Carlos Gonzalez's publicist on projected contract values.

Mets sign Taylor Buchholz and Chris Capuano  —  The Mets have signed free-agent LHP Chris Capuano and RHP Taylor Buchholz to one-year contracts.  —  The team has designated RHP Ryota Igarashi for assignment, to make room on the 40-man roster.  I was under the impression the Mets …

Aloha, Andy?  Pettitte decision expected this week  —  Now that the holidays are over and Andy Pettitte has had more than enough time to mull over his future, the Yankees expect to hear from him this week on whether or not he will return to pitch in 2011.  According to a team official …

New Year's resolutions for fifty of the biggest names in baseball … Here are 50 New Year's resolutions I'd like to see.  —  1. Bud Selig.  I will not to push for expanded replay, certainly not beyond the foul lines, because of baseball's beauties is that it is played at its own pace …

Wednesday's Cooperstown results today  —  Yup, it's that time of the year again.  On Wednesday, January 5, 2011, Cooperstown will announce the results of this year's annual BBWAA voting for the Baseball Hall of Fame.  And then we'll know who goes in and who stays out.  —  But why wait until then to find out?

APNewsBreak: Union Finds No Rule-Breaking by Agent  —  A person familiar with a letter sent from the union to Major League Baseball tells The Associated Press the players' association has found agent Scott Boras did not violate union rules when his company made loans to a Dominican prospect.

There's Reason to Be Optimistic  —  Will Three Proven Lieutenants in the Mets' Front Office Lead to Better Decision-Making or Chaos?  —  Early in the summer, Paul DePodesta read a book that intrigued him.  Its title was “Chasing Stars.”  Its author was Boris Groysberg, an associate professor at Harvard Business School.

Rays interested in Delcarmen  —  As the Rays continue their quest to rebuild their bullpen, one reliever they've expressed interest in is former Red Sox righthander Manny Delcarmen.  —  Delcarmen, a 28-year-old, spent the first five-and-a-half seasons with his hometown Red Sox before getting traded to the Rockies last August.

Burres back with Bucs  —  Brian Burres has agreed to a Minor League deal with the Pirates that includes an invitation to Spring Training.  Pittsburgh now has 15 non-roster invitees set to compete for roster spots beginning in February.  —  Burres, who made 20 appearances for Pittsburgh in 2010 …

For This Voter, Hall Calls Are Now Private  —  As a reporter, I am naturally in favor of openness.  —  However, from now on, I will no longer reveal my ballot for the National Baseball Hall of Fame.  And that is because journalistic principles of fairness trump the desire for openness.