Plenty of news, rumor and commentary links to pass along

• Troy Glaus could be a decent option for a team looking for a first base or DH.  He does not figure to have a spot on the Cardinals.
• The Phillies need pitching, but is much available?  Not really.
• Giants general manager Brian Sabean has a "narrow list" of players he's interested - primarily right handed bats - but concedes that he's unlikely to get anything done until closer to the deadline.
• Trading Juan Pierre for Jarrod Washburn would not work for the Mariners because of Pierre's contract.  The Dodgers could make it work however.
• Brewers general manager Doug Melvin does not want to continue to trade prospects for pitching.
• The Cubs have signed their first round pick, Brett Jackson.
• Peter Schmuck of The Baltimore Sun suggests a few moves for the Orioles.
• The White Sox will not be sellers at the trade deadline according to general manager Kenny Williams.

Jason Churchill of espn.com has a bunch of updates for us today along with a look at a few players who have fallen out of the Top 100 for various reasons:

• Casey Haerther, UCLA: "Anywhere from the fifth [round] to double digits," one assistant scouting director predicted for Haerther's spot in next month's draft. "He's a guy I'll worry about when it comes to the wood bat, and if he's a 1B or DH, he's going to have to show a lot more power."
• Chris Dominguez, Louisville: The third basemen has hit very well this season, but scouts do not project that he'll be able to play third at the major league level.  His defense puts him no higher than the fourth round.
• Ryan Ortiz, Oregon State: Defense has been a problem for Ortiz as he was moved off of first base to catcher because that's the only place they could keep him on the field.  He's a back up catcher at best at the professional level. 

Around the country:

• AJ Pollock continues to swing a very hot bat and had a strong start to the Big East Tournament with Notre Dame.  His late season surge into the first round continues to go higher.
• Drew Storen was shelled in his most recent outting.
• Grant Green committed his 16th error of the season.  For a player who's draft stock seems reliant on his defense, this is not a good sign.

Churchill also has an update from what Keith Law is hearing:

• The Cardinals are rumored to be interested in Rocky Mount HS outfielder Brian Goodwin with their first round pick (#19) in the 2009 MLB Draft.
• Mike Leake appears headed to the Indians at #15.
• Carlos Beltran's cousin, Reymond Fuentes does not seem likely to get past the Rangers with the 44th pick.
• General managers Theo Epstein of the Red Sox and Andrew Friedman of the Rays were both spotted at the SEC tournament, while Neal Huntington (Pirates), Jack Zduriencik (Mariners), Kevin Towers (Padres) and Brian Sabean (Giants) were all seen at Aaron Crow's outting this morning.
• The Yankees are interested in taking David Renfroe with their second round pick.

Jason Churchill of espn.com gaves us two preview today. Click here for his one earlier today. Click here for the most recent one.

• Giants general manager Brian Sabean, Pittsburgh's general manager Neal Huntington, Mariners general manager Jack Zdurencik and Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo were all in attendance for Alex White's latest start.
• Mike Belifore had a 3 inning save on Thursday and was throwing 93 mph. He won't go further than the middle of the 3rd round and could even slip into the second round.
• Mike Rizzo told Churchill that they are not targeting a "more signable player" with their second first round pick at 10 despite the rumors of how Stephen Strasburg could be a difficult sign after he is likely taken at #1 by the Nats.
• Who the Padres will take at #3 continues to be up for debate. General manager Kevin Towers likes Donovan Tate. The scouting director, Chief Gayton likes Grant Green. The VP of scouting and player development, Grady Fuson, likes Kyle Gibson.
• Zach Wheeler seems to be the concensus selection for the Braves at 7, but Churchill points out that there were a large number of Braves brass at his most recent and most disappointing start of the spring. If not Wheeler, they figure to take Tyler Matzek or Shelby Miller but are not interested in Tate.
• James Paxton's draft stock took another hit recently when he selected Scott Boras to be his advisor.
• The Giants are rumored to be interested in Matzek and Wheeler with the sixith pick. That could certainly impact who Atlanta takes as they are interested in both.
• Matt Purke is looking for a $2-$3M signing bonus and that has caused him to fall below Matzek, Wheeler, Miller and Chad James.

Let's recap the rumors and news from around MLB today:

• Andrew Baggerly of the San Jose Mercury News addressed the Tim Lincecum contract situation with San Francisco Giants team president Larry Baer and general manager Brian Sabean. Both the Giants and Lincecum seem content to allow contract extension talks to occur during the season, but Sabean felt that the Lincecum discussions were a "back-burner issue". Lincecum is a Super Two player, meaning that he will qualify for arbitration before the standard three years in the league and could face arbitrartion four years in his career if no contract is worked out. In February, the Giants gave Lincecum a $650K contract despite a lack of leverage from Lincecum, a gesture likely designed to encoruage Lincecum to sign a Cole Hamels-like deal. While Hamels signed for three years and $20.5M in the off season, Lincecum is expected to command even more.
• Baggerly also addresses contract extension possibilities for Sabean.
• John Lackey's injury has "extend" his own personal opening day which allegedly carries over to his desire to have a contract extension with the Angels in place by "opening day".
• Despite previous rumors, the off-season spending spree by the As was not an order by owner Lew Wolff but the brainchild of general manager Billy Beane. Obviously, however, Beane needed Wolff's approval to spend more money.
• Jermaine Dye discusses his future here.
• The Mariners have signed Jeff Zimmerman to a minor league contract.

Let's review all of the baseball rumors on today, Valentine's Day!

• Christian Red of the New York Daily News reports that the Mets have signed Livan Hernandez to a minor league contract worth $1M.
• Lynn Henning of the Detroit News hypothesizes that the Tigers are likely to make a trade before the season starts.
• Jason Isringhausen could return to the Cardinals.
• The Dodgers are not getting very far in negotiations with Will Ohman, Dennys Reyes and Jamey Wright.
• Brian Sabean, Giants general manager, is paying attention to teams looking to unload salary making the Giants a possible trade destination for higher salaried players.
• The Royals are getting creative in an effort to sign Orlando Hudson.
• The Angels have agreed to an extension with Ervin Santana.
• Joe Crede is no longer on the Giants radar. He's expected to sign with the Twins.
• Kevin Towers says that the Padres are not actively talking to any free agent pitcher.

Let's take a spin around the baseball rumors today:

• Tom Glavine is expected to make a decision in the next day or two on whether to accept the Braves offer.  Mark Bowman of mlb.com reports that Glavine was scheduled to meet with Braves general manager Frank Wren today.
• The Yankees will not void Alex Rodriguez's contract because he admitted to steroid use in 2001-2003 while with the Texas Rangers.
• The Royals have not ruled out adding more players via free agency, but Royals general manager Dayton Moore noted that to add players, they'd have to subtract payroll in the process.
• Dan Uggla had his arbitration hearing today.  A decision is expected Thursday or Friday.
• Despite earlier rumors that the Diamondbacks are interested in bringing Juan Cruz back, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic believes that the team is unlikely to bring Cruz back because they would not get a compensation pick unless he signs with another team.
• The Blue Jays signed Kevin Millar.
• Jake Peavy says that he's happy to be staying in San Diego.
• Giants general manager Brian Sabean doesn't envision a scenario where he would trade Jonathan Sanchez.
• Brian Roberts is still trying to work out a long term extension with the Orioles.

Besides the earlier note about Manny, here's the rest of Jon Heyman's latest:

• Francisco Rodriguez's two likely biggest suitors (or at least deepest pockets), the Mets and Angels, both appear to be unwilling to commit to a five year deal for the 26-year old closer.
• Heyman expects Brian Fuentes to command about $11M per season in free agency.  The Mets and Cardinals are logical major players.
• If Brewers general manager Doug Melvin does not have a contract extension worked out, he could become a late candidate for the Mariners GM position.  Many rumors about the process have been reported earlier.
• The Dodgers will try to retain Rafael Furcal.
• Orlando Cabrera, however, will not return to the White Sox.
• Brian Sabean's job in San Francisco appears safe.

New San Francisco Giants managing partner Bill Neukom met with reporters for the first time yesterday and had some interesting news.  The main tenant is that the team will adhere to an $80M payroll for 2009 and that allows them to potentially bid on big name free agents like CC Sabathia or Mark Teixeira.  Way back in August there were rumors of the Giants being interested in Sabathia.

The future for general manager Brian Sabean and manager Bruce Bochy will largely be determined by their performance in 2009.

Let's take a spin around some odds and ends in baseball:

• Wes Helms signed a two-year, $1.9M contract extension with the Marlins.  The Marlins held a $3.75M option on Helms' 2009 season, but instead were able to negotiate a deal which includes Helms' $750K buyout.
• The Twins are rumored to be interested in Orlando Cabrera.
• The Braves should consider trying to acquire Derek Lowe, Matt Cain, Roy Oswalt and Josh Willingham.  Apparently no one believes Brian Sabean when he says that he's not trading Cain.
• The Yankees and Mets should go after Lowe.
• The Twins are expected to exercise Mike Redmond's $950K 2009 option.
• There is word that Mike Timlin could retire.

Espn.com's Buster Olney provides us a list of some young starters would could possibly be traded this off-season:

Jake Peavy

Peavy is due to make $61M over the next four years along with a $4M buyout in 2013. His 2009 salary will be $9M, almost 1/5th of the Padres projected $50M budget. Peavy has expressed his frustration with losing in San Diego numerous times. You do the math.

Zack Greinke

Despite being only 24, Greinke will be a free agent in two years when he turns 26 and figures to make quite a bit of money on the open market. Olney feels that if the Royals are not committed to resigning Greinke, this winter is their last chance to get maximum value for the young pitcher. Peter Gammons discussed the Royals conundrum last month.

Matt Cain

Even though Brian Sabean has said that he is not interested in trading the young pitcher, Olney wonders that if Sabean was floored by a great offer if he'd reconsider his stance.

Edwin Jackson

Jackson is a young, good, developing pitcher and the Rays certainly have some flexibility at starting pitcher with David Price and Jeff Niemann expected to make major league contributions next year.