by FOXSports.com

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The Cardinals have 15 days all to themselves to woo Matt Holliday, the free-agent outfielder the club publicly has called a "high priority" to re-sign. But the Cardinals are pragmatic about the real value of an eleventh-hour sales pitch before Holliday and the other free agents hit the open market in two weeks. That's what the previous three months were for. "We need to spend some time with Matt and his agent and share what our vision is, what we have to offer, and at some point I'm sure we will," Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak said. "But at the same time, that's part of why we traded for him, to get him here, and at some point you'd think he has a pretty good idea of what we have to offer." -- St. Louis Post-Dispatch .....Ben's Take: Holliday hasn't taken that Cards Kool-Aid. He's a true ballplayer of fortune, so whoever has the most money will get his bat.

Jose Canseco wants to fight Alex Rodriguez: 'I'll beat him to a pulp'

Former Red Sox slugger and notorious steroid user Jose Canseco was in Springfield Thursday night to weigh-in for his Friday night Celebrity Boxing fight. While it's always fascinating for me to interview guys I grew up mimicking in the backyard during wiffle ball games, I came into this one knowing that Canseco has become a human caricature. I didn't expect to be wowed by anything philosophical, or even bowled over by his charm. Another thing I didn't expect was for him to call out Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez on video. Which is exactly what he did, adding he would "beat (Rodriguez) to a pulp." He finished his rant - all of which was done in good fun with a smile on his face - saying "That lying little idiot. I'd like to get him in the ring." -- The Republican (Springfield, Mass) .....Ben's Take: Click the link just to see a pic of Canseco covered in Tattoos like he's an NBA player.

BoSox Jason Bay to Mets, M's or Giants?

The Red Sox are believed to have discussed only a three-year deal for Jason Bay, who is said to be looking for at least four, and preferably five, years. The length of the contract is expected to be a bigger issue for the Sox than the pricetag, which likely will fall between $16-18 million per season. Other teams expected to pursue Bay include the Mets, Mariners and Giants. -- Boston Herald .....Ben's Take: Does Bay get a lifetime supply of Nintendo video games to be World Champion-less in Seattle?

Braves looking to trade Derek Lowe, Javier Vazquez or Kenshin Kawakami

With Tim Hudson in the fold, the Braves will have a surplus of starting pitchers and likely step up efforts to trade one from the group of Derek Lowe, Javier Vazquez and Kenshin Kawakami. Lowe might be the hardest to trade, with three years and $45 million left on his contract and after posting a 4.67 ERA with only 111 strikeouts in 194-2/3 innings. Vazquez, who had one of the best seasons by any major league pitcher, is owed $11.5 million in 2010 before he can become a free agent. The Braves would prefer to keep him, but he might be the only one of the older pitchers they could trade for plenty in return. The Braves want to add a right-handed power hitter, and Vazquez is attractive enough to possibly bring a power bat in return. -- Atlanta Journal-Constitution .....Ben's Take: Braves would like to trade Derek Lowe, that's not gonna happen unless they eat some big money.

Former Dodger Paul Lo Duca planing comeback next spring?

For those wondering what has happened lately to Paul Lo Duca, he's in very stable condition. The former Dodgers All-Star catcher, who missed all of this past baseball season with injuries but has blinders on in efforts to make a comeback next spring, has been spotted around the stables at Santa Anita this week, collecting information to use as a wagering analyst on the TVG channel's extensive Breeders' Cup coverage. -- LA Daily News .....Ben's Take: Lo Duca will be signing copies of the Mitchell Report in Arizona next spring.

Reds plan to buy out Ramon Hernandez's 2010 option

The Reds wants catcher Ramon Hernandez back, but not at $8.5 million. That's was his option is for. The club has broached the idea of Hernandez coming back at a reduced rate. "We've talked to his agent," general manager Walt Jocketty said. "We've made some progress. I don't know if we're close. But we'll try to work something out." Hernandez, 33. hit .258 with five home runs and 37 RBI in 287 at-bats in his first year with the Reds. -- Cincinnati Enquirer .....Ben's Take: Hernandez could be a free agent possibility if the Dodgers finally trade catcher Russell Martin.

Rockies exploring a long-term deal with Huston Street

The Rockies still must decided if they will pick up the $5.4 million club option for set-up man Rafael Betancourt. The Rockies could also offer Betancourt a two-year deal, spreading out the right-hander's salary over two years. The Rockies also are exploring a long-term deal with closer Huston Street. -- Denver Post

Angels free agent John Lackey could get $100 million contract

John Lackey could command a five-year deal worth as much as $100 million as a free agent, which would probably make him too rich for the Angels. -- LA Times .....Ben's Take: Lackey owns part of a Cowboys luxury box. Could be make the Dallas area his home during the summer?

Agent: Mets likely to opt out on Putz

The Mets have told reliever J.J. Putz that they are likely to decline his $8.6 million option for 2010 and buy him out for $1 million instead, his agent said yesterday. The club cited health concerns in making the long-expected move, pointing to elbow surgery and forearm problems that caused the former All-Star closer to miss the entire second half of his debut season with the Mets. -- NY Post .....Ben's Take: Putz is better off on a terrible team in a smaller market that doesn't care about much about baseball. Royals? Nationals? Mariners? (again)

Phillies need to trade for Roy Halladay?

You wonder if it isn't time for the Phillies to reopen the Roy Halladay conversation. We all remember how it went down in July. Toronto general manager J.P. Ricciardi very publicly shopped Halladay, his ace, whose contract expires after the 2010 season and who wants to win a championship, something likely to elude the Blue Jays for a while. Halladay turned into a municipal obsession in Philadelphia, but Amaro would not part with the wagon-load of talent that Ricciardi demanded. Instead, he made the Cliff Lee deal and was celebrated as hitting the perfect balance between present and future, fortifying his team without gutting his farm system. -- Philadelphia Daily News

Tim Hudson: Braves need to re-sign Adam LaRoche

Tim Hudson also took an opportunity to publicly lobby for the Braves to re-sign Adam LaRoche, who is a free agent, pointing out the need for his strong defense at first base in addition to his slugging. -- Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Angels to let Vladimir Guerrero leave?

Bobby Abreu's quick signing would seem to make it less likely Vladimir Guerrero will return. But GM Tony Reagins said one free-agent decision does not preclude another. "It doesn't make our other decisions any more difficult or easier to make," Reagins said. "This just means we know we have Bobby in the fold. He can play right field, left field or DH. So one of those holes is filled." -- OC Register

BoSox won't re-sign Billy Wagner

The Red Sox will not re-sign Billy Wagner, whose 2010 option wasn't picked up by the team as a condition of the left-hander waiving his no-trade clause with the Mets in August. -- Boston Herald

Phillies have to be more protective of Chase Utley in coming seasons

It is particularly important that Charlie Manuel watch Chase Utley next season. The Phils' second baseman detests days off, but Manuel has to pull rank or risk watching Utley wither as the season reaches its most crucial weeks. Utley is a grinder, physically and mentally. He throws his body around like a rag doll and annually leads the league in hit by pitches. A September slump resulted in his numbers coming down across the board this season. He is signed through 2013. If the Phils want to get returns on the life of that deal, they have to be more protective of him in coming seasons. This is just the way it is. -- Philadelphia Inquirer

Padres' Hundley has surgery on hernia, expects to be 100 percent by spring training

Padres catcher Nick Hundley underwent surgery Wednesday to repair a sports hernia. "I'll be 100 percent by spring training," Hundley said. Hundley, 26, said he originally suffered the injury in May and played through it to the end of the season. "I don't know how severe it really was," Hundley said. "I had regular treatment for the injury during the season and we kept it at bay. But it never got better. "I don't think it affected my play that much. There were a couple of movements I made that gave me some trouble. It stung sometimes when I lunged. It affected my running more than anything." -- San Diego Union-Tribune

Mark Teahen could help ChiSox free agency plans

If Mark Teahen, who hit .271 with 12 home runs and 50 RBI last season, is South Side-bound, his versatility -- he can play the outfield or third base -- gives the White Sox options as they move forward in building the 2010 team. Teahen could allow the Sox to move Gordon Beckham to second base. Two weeks ago, manager Ozzie Guillen said that he saw Beckham as a future second baseman when asked if Beckham could ever return to his natural position of shortstop. The other option is that the Sox will play Teahen in the outfield, moving Beckham to second and clearing the way for Chone Figgins to be the third baseman. -- Chicago Sun-Times

Cards talking with John Smoltz

The Cardinals have maintained dialogue with the representatives for several of their free agents, including John Smoltz, but GM John Mozeliak said he doesn't expect hasty resolutions before free agency starts. -- St. Louis Post-Dispatch

ChiSox Jermaine Dye to Rangers?

The Rangers are going into baseball's free-agency period hoping to re-sign Marlon Byrd and could come out of it with Jermaine Dye instead. A right-handed bat is a high priority for the Rangers as free agency opens on Thursday, the day after the end of the World Series. Players can begin filing as early as Thursday, and clubs have an exclusive two-week window to negotiate with their own free agents. For the Rangers, that gives them two weeks of exclusive negotiations with Byrd, who hit .283 with 20 home runs and a club-leading 89 RBIs while playing what manager Ron Washington said was "Gold Glove" defense in center field. He is also one of the Rangers' team leaders. -- TexasRangers.com

Angels likely to re-sign Darren Oliver?

The other Angels free agent likely to be as easy to re-sign as Bobby Abreu is Darren Oliver. The veteran left-hander has said he would consider retiring after the 2009 season but Reagins said Oliver, 39, indicated to him that "he's interested in playing next year" but "that decision was not 100 percent made." If Oliver wants to continue playing, the Angels have significant interest in re-signing him, Reagins said. Over three seasons with the Angels, Oliver has a 15-3 record and 3.09 ERA -- OC Register

Phillies keeping Chan Ho Park?

Should the Phils retain Chan Ho Park? Can they? After failing as a starter, the 36-year-old righthander became an essential reliever this year. The Phils and Park may find it challenging this winter to agree on Park's role and value, especially if another team offers the veteran a chance to start, which he prefers. Park pulled a hamstring in September, leading at least some members of the front office to wonder about his durability at an advanced age. But it would be difficult to part with such a consistent reliever. -- Philadelphia Inquirer

Hermida to play backup role with Red Sox

With the Red Sox attempting to re-sign left fielder Jason Bay and with center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury and right fielder J.D. Drew cemented into their positions, Jeremy Hermida's role will be based on performance and need. Red Sox GM Theo Epstein believes this was a good time to make this deal given Hermida's low value at this point with a potentially high ceiling. "When you acquire a player, sometimes you acquire them because you think there's a chance -- with a change of scenery -- they might grow into their potential and promise. He's somebody who had, and we feel may still have considerable promise. . . . Things really never came together for him in the big leagues and that's not uncommon for young players." -- Providence Journal

Rays' Troy Percival files for free agency

Reliever Troy Percival, who plans to retire, was the only one of the four Rays eligible for free agency to file on Thursday's opening day. The others who are eligible are relievers Chad Bradford, Russ Springer and Jason Isringhausen. The Rays hold options on leftfielder Carl Crawford, reliever Brian Shouse and catcher Gregg Zaun. -- St. Petersburg Times

Phillies postseason apparel headed overseas

Although the Phillies didn't win the 2009 World Series, they'll be seen as victors in another part of the world, due to the continued partnership of Major League Baseball and World Vision to provide unsalable, postseason MLB-licensed apparel to children and families in need overseas. MLB will donate World Series merchandise that can't be used in the U.S., since it was produced announcing the Phillies as the winners in order to be prepared for market demand. The Phillies' World Series merchandise will be packaged immediately and shipped to World Vision. World Vision will ship and distribute the World Series goods to impoverished people in the developing world, many of whom have never owned a new article of clothing in their lives. -- World Vision

Yankees sprayed each other with A-Rod's favorite Armand de Brignac Champagne

The Yankees didn't just spray each other with Alex Rodriguez' favorite Armand de Brignac Champagne in their World Series locker room celebration, they also had two giant methuselahs (each containing the equivalent of eight bottles) to drink. -- NY Post

Rays keep Akinori Iwamura's interpreter as a scout

With infielder Akinori Iwamura traded to the Pirates, Tateki Uchibori wasn't going to have anybody to talk for. But the Rays decided to keep Uchibori, Iwamura's interpreter the past two years, and gave him a job as a scout in his native Japan, Korea and Taiwan. The Rays announced several other assignments Thursday as they added three minor-league coordinators for a system that now includes nine teams and nearly 300 players. "We feel these additions will ensure that every player receives the attention he deserves," farm director Mitch Lukevics said. -- St. Petersburg Times

How About That?

The first Japanese player to reach the majors was Masanori Murakami, a pitcher who debuted with the San Francisco Giants in 1964. Mr. Murakami came to the U.S. because his Japanese team wanted some of its youngsters to get experience in the U.S. minor leagues. He excelled in the minors and pitched well for the Giants toward the end of 1964 and in 1965, but a contractual dispute forced him to return. -- Wall Street Journal

A-Rod gets second chance on Madison Avenue

Corporate sponsors haven't beaten down his door before, but Alex Rodriguez may have a shot at turning his world championship ring into marketing gold. His endorsement appeal was weak, thanks to a steroid scandal, pictures of him squiring around a stripper and resentment over his huge contract. Now Madison Avenue is taking a fresh look at the much-maligned Yankees' third baseman after he lowered his tabloid profile and raised his game in the World Series. Marketing experts said the win is A-Rod's best shot yet at moving beyond the baseball field. -- NY Post

Rays spend 30% of Yankees payroll

Certainly, the Rays aren't going to respond the same way. They plan to make only minor moves as they operate with a payroll in the $60 million range, about 30 percent of what the Yankees spend. "With respect to our roster-building, we can't concern ourselves with what the Yankees or Red Sox do," Rays executive vice president Andrew Friedman said. "We must continue to be keenly aware of what our limitations are and operate within those parameters to put the best team on the field. "Each market has its own unique challenges, which is why our philosophy is so introspective." -- St. Petersburg Times

Phillies greeted by 200 fans after losing World Series

As the Phillies reached the top of an escalator in 30th Street Station yesterday, they were faced with the statue of an angel holding up the limp body of a fallen man. They were also faced with a throng of about 200 fans who, like that angel, held up their tired team - not with their arms but with their voices. -- Philadelphia Daily News

Kirsten Dunst supports Yankees

Kirsten Dunst sported a Yankees hat at Cabin on the lower East Side -- but declined a celebratory drink. -- NY Daily News

Twins' revenue down

Even though the Twins drew some big crowds at the end of the season as they marched toward the division title, their turnstile count was down from 2,063,290 last year to 1,966,056 this season as the nation suffered through a major recession. Ticket sales were down 80,591 from last year, when they sold 2,302,718 compared with 2,222,127 this season. And total revenue for ticket sales was down from 2008, when it was $52,136,789 to $51,853,681. And even concession sales were down, falling from $18,466,304 in 2008 to $17,374,051. That means that the Twins' share of the concession revenue was also down $480,954 from 2008 to this year. Total concession income for the Twins was $7,010,927 this past season compared with $7,491,881 last year. -- Star Tribune

Yankees Joba Chamberlain enjoys $30K bottle of Methuselah champagne

Hours after dispatching the Phillies, the Yankees went on to win the World Champagne-ship. The players, their families and friends knocked off dozens of bottles of bubbly as they partied until dawn at the Chelsea hot spot 1OAK yesterday while adoring clubgoers cheered them on. 1OAK gave pitcher Joba Chamberlain a $30,000 9-liter bottle of Methuselah champagne to share with everyone in the house, much to the amusement of catcher Jorge Posada. First baseman Mark Teixeira and pitcher A.J. Burnett also joined in on the festivities. All told, some 200 bottles of champagne were polished off. -- NY Post

Yanks' Derek Jeter drinks Ace of Spades champagne

Yankee captain Derek Jeter, meanwhile, drank pricey Ace of Spades champagne with girlfriend Minka Kelly and pitching ace CC Sabathia. -- NY Post

Yankees World Series trophy worth $7,750

The World Series trophy is made of sterling silver with a gold overlay. The 30-pound prize includes a solid base that holds 30 gold-plated flags representing each MLB team. Interestingly, the Commissioner's Trophy is the only championship trophy in the four major U.S. sports that is not named after a specific person. Certified appraisers at Cash4Gold's state-of-the-art processing facility have estimated the melt value at around $7,750. Melt value refers to the actual precious metals content included in an item and does not account for artistic, historic, or sentimental value. -- PR Newswire

Kate Hudson helps A-Rod celebrate Yankees' World Series win

After his team won their 27th World Series Thursday - beating the Philadelphia Phillies 7-3 - New York Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez and Kate Hudson hit NYC hot spot 10ak -- along with Rodriguez's mom, Lourdes Navarro, and his sister, Suzy. They celebrated alongside Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter and his girlfriend Minka Kelly. Rodriguez, 34, and Hudson, 30, "got there at 2 a.m., but Kate left after a half-hour while A-Rod stayed close to 5 am.," a source tells Usmagazine.com. "Minka and Derek seemed really happy, as did they all, and didn't leave until 5 as well." -- US Magazine

Yanks favorites for 2010 World Series

Odds to win the 2010 World Series

New York Yankees 11/4

Boston Red Sox 13/2

Philadelphia Phillies 9/1

Los Angeles Angels 10/1

St. Louis Cardinals 10/1

Los Angeles Dodgers 11/1 -- Bodog

Tommy Lasorda to sign bottles of Lasorda Wines in Philadelphia

Tommy Lasorda, a Norristown native, baseball Hall of Famer and manager of the two-time World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers, will meet fans and sign bottles of his Lasorda Wines on Wednesday, Nov. 11, at the Pennsylvania Wine & Spirits Store in Philadelphia. -- PR Newswire

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