Jayson Stark of espn.com has put together a comprehensive article evaluating the off season needs and plans of attack for ALL 30 major league teams. Here are some of the highlights:

• The Braves may go after AJ Burnett whether they trade for Jake Peavy or not. Either way, they're not likely to do anything about Burnett until the Peavy situation is resolved. If the Braves trade Yunel Escobar for Peavy, that'll open up another hole they may try to fill via free agency.
• If the Brewers are unable to sign CC Sabathia, and that seems to be the likely scenario, the team will likely go the opposite direction in terms of free agency and look to unload an infielder (JJ Hardy, Rickie Weeks or Prince Fielder) and/or Mike Cameron to fill their own holes.
• The Diamondbacks are not expected to be involved in the free agent market much at all. The Dbacks didn't sign a free agent at all last off season.
• On the Padres: "the Padres will be mostly chasing pitchers who have always wanted to pitch in the most pitcher-friendly ballpark on earth, live in Del Mar and not care how many digits are on their paycheck. There must be a few people left like that, right?"
• Trying to figure out what the Red Sox will do is a challenge. After they either sign Jason Varitek or acquire another catcher (perhaps a trade with Texas?), anything from standing pat to signing Mark Teixeira or Burnett and everything in between is possible.
• On the Yankees needs: "Three starting pitchers, a run-producing bat and possibly a catcher if Jorge Posada has any setbacks.
• The Orioles are expected to make runs at Burnett and Teixeira. Major runs.
• On the Indians: General manager Mark Shapiro once said the best approach to the free-agent market is "to avoid it."
• On the Tigers: "They're not in the mood to bump the payroll north of where it was last year ($138 million)." Translation: little action in the free agency market.
• The Angels have plenty of decisions to make regarding free agents, but it all starts withe Teixeira. If he stays, that's likely their winter. If he goes, they'll move on to Sabathia and/or Francisco Rodriguez. "If the Angels were at the craps table in Vegas," says one scout, "they'd be the high rollers."
• On the Rangers needs: "Starting pitching. And also starting pitching. In addition to starting pitching." The Rangers have plenty of talented catchers to trade and will likely try to trade them to bolster their pitching.

Let's take a look at the news and notes from the league today:

• Some notes about the Trevor Hoffman situation.
• The Red Sox are rumored to have inquired about Derek Lowe.
• The Yankees have signed Damaso Marte to a three year contract for $12M with a $4M club option for 2012 with a $250K buyout.
• Jerry Hairston Jr. and David Weathers are expected to test the free agent market.
• Nationals general manager Jim Bowden has expressed today that they will not be involved in the Manny Ramirez bidding.
• Carl Pavano and the Marlins are interested in exploring a contract.
• Ken Davidoff evaluates the Yankees seemingly ever-changing organizational philosophy.
• Doug Brocail has received an offer from the Astros and his agent claims six teams, including the Red Sox, have asked about his services.
• The Astros have also made an offer to Randy Wolf.
• The Phillies are focused on resigning Jaime Moyer.
• Dan O'Dowd suggested that the Rockies are not necessarily looking to trade recently acquired Huston Street.

A few updates on what the Detroit Tigers are doing this off season:

• General manager Dave Dombrowski noted that incumbent shortstop Ramon Santiago is not really a shortstop and the Tigers will need some replacement with the loss of Edgar Renteria.
• The Tigers are not expected to be involved in the Francisco Rodriguez bidding.
• Jon Paul Morosi theorizes that the Angels are a good trade partner for Magglio Ordonez.

Jerry Crasnick of espn.com posted an article today discussing the free agent scenarios for Ben Sheets.  Sheets was considered in the top tier with CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett until he had arm trouble late in the season which has diminished his value.  Sheets' agent, Casey Close, insists that the injury is muscle related and not permanent. 

Sheets and the Brewers have been in contract negotiations, but nothing is expected to be resolved before Sheets hits the open market.  Crasnick notes that Sheets lives in the Dallas area during the off season and the Rangers and Astros are teams Sheets would hope to receive offers from.  The Cubs, Mets, Yankees, and Orioles are also possible destinations for Sheets, Crasnick comments.

Ken Rosenthal has posted another column today.  Let's take a look at the highlights:

• Even though general manager Doug Melvin says that he's not interested in trading JJ Hardy, Rosenthal asserts that the Brewers have so many holes in their pitching staff, the team may be forced to see what Hardy and Mike Cameron can bring in a trade.
• The Padres have asked for catcher Tyler Flowers instead of centerfielder Gorkys Hernandez in the Jake Peavy trade offer.
• Mark Teixeira remains the Angels top priority, but if they are unable to retain him, the Angels will focus on CC Sabathia and/or Francisco Rodriguez.
• The Angels did not discuss signing Manny Ramirez for very long.
• Reds general manager Walt Jockety inquired about obtaining both Matt Holliday and Josh Willingham before ultimately losing out to other teams.
• Randy Wolf has received inquiries from over six teams so far.

A few notes on the Jake Peavy trade talks, though a slow day by comparison

• Cubs manager Lou Pinella believes that the Cubs-Padres trade rumors for Peavy are just speculation and mentions that no one has talked to him about acquiring Peavy.
• Yahoo Sports Tim Brown gives us some notes on the Peavy trade talks.  Of note, Brown reports that the Padres have not yet asked Peavy to approve a trade yet.  Brown also asserts that the Yankees made a big push for Peavy and the Red Sox and Mets were involved as well, though not as heavily.

Let's look through Jon Heyman's latest post:

• Heyman quotes a GM as believing that players never leave money on the table to take a smaller offer.  This seems to be in reference to the wildly held belief that CC Sabathia will ultimately accept the highest offer, likely from the Yankees.
• The Orioles are still interested in Manny Ramirez.  Why is anyone's guess, however...
• Trade talks involving Russell Martin do not seem to have much merit.
• White Sox general manager, Kenny Williams, is listening to offers for Bobby Jenks and is also rumored to have suitors for Javier Vazquez and Paul Konerko.

Let's keep up with the hot stove's biggest topic, Jake Peavy

• Buster Olney is reporting that the Braves and Padres are making progress toward a trade, despite rumors of frustration by Atlanta.  Olney has the parts of the deal down to Yunel Escobar and Gorkys Hernandez along with either Charlie Morton or Jo-Jo Reyes.  The Padres are also rumored to be interested in Jeff Locke.  Dave O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution confirms the Braves frustration withe Kevin Towers.
• Olney still believes that the Cubs are in the mix and that they would add a third team into the deal somehow to satisfy the Padres needs.  Josh Vitters figures to be the centerpiece of any Cubs deal.

There have been plenty of discussions between the Rockies and the Reds today about a potential trade, so let's take a look:

• Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the Reds are interested in Willy Tavarez, Yorvit Torrealba (not sure why) and Garrett Atkins and the Indians are interested in the recently traded Huston Street.  The Nationals are also reported to be interested in Carlos Gonzalez who was also acquired in the Matt Holliday deal.
• Troy E. Renek confirms much of what Rosenthal is reporting and also adds that the Red Sox are rumored to be interested in Chris Iannetta. 
• Renek also notes that Manny Corpas has been told he's still the closer, meaning that Street is likely to be moved.
• Finally, Renek adds that the Rockies are interested in Carl Pavano.
• Tracy Ringolsby denies Rosenthal and Renek's reports and notes that the Reds are only interested in Atkins, not Tavarez or Torrealba.  She also notes that the Phillies, Angels and Twins are also interested in Atkins.

News and notes from around baseball today:

• Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. called rumors that the Phillies would listen to offers for Jimmy Rollins false. 
• The Diamondbacks are rumored to be interested in Mark Loretta.
• Meanwhile, the Tigers are rumored to be considering Brandon Lyon.
• The Phillies have signed Scott Eyre.
• Jeff Passan ranks all of the free agents from #1 CC Sabathia to #138 Vance Wilson.
• The Giants are interested in middle relievers on the free agent market.
• Pat Burrell has not heard anything from the Phillies regarding a contract extension.
• Kenshin Kawakami is still deciding on whether to play in the MLB or not.