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.

Let's take a look at the latest Oliver Perez rumors:

• There are rumors here that the Rangers and Brewers are interested in Perez.
• Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel disputes the Perez-Brewers rumor saying that Brewers general manager Doug Melvin believes Perez's contract demands are too high and giving up a draft pick is another steep price to pay.
• The Mets still remain the favorites according to Jon Heyman.  The Mets offer appears in excess of $30M over three years.

Buster Olney of espn.com has a new column and a new post up.  Let's take a look:

• The Brewers will consider Trevor Hoffman, Brandon Lyon and Braden Looper to fill their open closer's role via free agency.  If they do not sign a free agent, look for Carlos Villanueva to be the team's closer this spring.
• Brewers general manager Doug Melvin confirmed that trade talks between Milwaukee and New York over a possible Mike Cameron for Melky Cabrera trade are likely dead.
• The Dodgers are no longer interested in Derek Lowe even though his price tag continues to drop.  They are considering Hoffman, however.
• Orlando Cabrera figures to be impacted the most by Rafael Furcal spurning the Braves for the Dodgers.  OC looked headed to LA if Furcal stayed with the Braves, but now OC has fewer suitors, if any.  Miguel Tejada continues to pop up as a more reasonable alternative to Cabrera.
• Olney reports that the Mets are still trying to find someone to take Luis Castillo.  Good luck.

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.

Jake Peavy continues to dominate the hot stove, so let's give the man his due:

• Braves and Padres officials met on Sunday and Monday to discuss Peavy trade scenarios reports Dave O'Brien.  Tommy Hanson is not on the table.
• Doug Melvin says that the Brewers are not in the running for Peavy.  Kevin Towers doubts that Peavy would approve a trade to Milwaukee anyway.
• The Yankees have not made much movement towards acquiring Peavy. 
• Barry Axelrod reports that permission for the Padres to trade Peavy to the Yankees or Angels has not been granted.
• Peavy will not approve a trade to Boston.
• Towers has indicated that he would be looking for a package of players similar to what the As received for Dan Haren and what the Braves got for Mark Teixeira.

Let's take a look at the various rumors and stories from the weekend:

• Doug Melvin has been extended for three years while Dale Sveum has been let go.
• The Padres have reportedly offered Trevor Hoffman a $4M offer for 2009 with an option for 2010 that includes a buyout.
• Padres general manager Kevin Towers is looking for young pitching and middle infielders in return for Jake Peavy.  He also mentions that the Astros are not a good trade fit for the Padres.
• The Cardinals scouts are pushing the front office to trade for Peavy.  There is also word in the same article that Russ Springer would like to return to St. Louis for another season.
• Despite earlier reports that he was not asked back for a second interview after his first interview, this report has Peter Woodfork letting the Mariners know that he was no longer interested in the job after his first interview.
• Sean McAdam of the Boston Herald indicates that the Red Sox have expressed interest in acquiring Jake Peavy.
• Are the Cubs interested in Manny Ramirez?
• The As have resigned Mark Ellis for $11M over 2009-2010 including a club option for $6M for 2011.
• Here is a Q&A with Twins general manager Bill Smith.

Let's take a spin around baseball:

• Nick Piecoro examines Randy Johnson's future with the Diamondbacks and in baseball. Five wins away from 300 and after a 30 start 2008 season in which the lefty was pretty good, it seems likely he'll play somewhere.
• Doug Melvin is close to signing an extension to remain with the Brewers. That would squash any Melvin-to-Seattle rumors that had surfaced earlier in the week.
• There is talk of bringing Greg Maddux back to the Padres in a player-coach role.
• The As look to add some offense this off season.
• There are two different reports (here and here) that Jim Hendry is close to signing an extension with the Cubs.

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.

Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports today that Ryan Braun believes the Brewers have a good shot at retaining CC Sabathia for 2009 any beyond. While Braun obviously will not have any actual input into contract negotiations between Sabathia and the Brewers, Braun acknowledged (without specifics) thats Sabathia really enjoys playing in Milwaukee and can tell that the Brewers are a young team poised to be good for several years. Braun went on to say that Sabathia may not take a discount on a per anum basis, but perhaps sign a shorter contract making the risk for the Brewers a little lower.

Even Sabathia admitted that the three months he played in Milwaukee will factor into his contract negotiations: "I’d be lying if I didn’t say this was one of the better times of my career and my life. Coming here and meeting these guys and making some new friends. That will all factor into my decision this winter."

Haudricourt also reports in the same piece that the Brewers hope to retain Dale Sveum and sign a contract extension for Doug Melvin during the 2009 off season.

Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated mentions that the Brewers are likely to make a run at Sabathia during the 2009 off season.

Sabathia peppered the media will all sorts of quotes regarding possible free agency destinations: New York, Milwaukee and how long the process should take.

Michael Hunt says that how the Brewers handle the off season with respect to Sabathia, Sveum and Melvin will really influence how 2009 goes.

Ben Sheets felt that he had played his last game as a Brewer.

Jon Heyman from Sports Illustrated gives us his latest post:

• Brewers general manager Doug Melvin did not make the decision to fire Ned Yost, Brewers owner Mark Attanasio did.  Buster Olney also thought that this was the work of Attanasio and not Melvin believing Melvin was one of the last general managers in baseball who would do something like this.
• Yesterday we reported that Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein signed a contract extension.  It's apparently for three more years.  Amalie Benjamin of the Boston Globe tries to decipher the quiet statements from the Red Sox. 
• There's additional talk that the Yankees could be interested in moving Robinson Cano.  Cano was rumored in a swap for Orlando Hudson back in 2007, but the deal was shot down by former manager Joe Torre.  The Yankees are now considered in the running to sign Hudson when he becomes a free agent in the off-season.