With as many as six teams reportedly in the hunt, Mark Teixeira should have his pick of offers in the next few weeks, and he would rather have sugar plums and not option years dancing in his head this holiday season.

Rangers pitchers John Bannister and Willie Eyre have made progress in their comebacks from Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery, so much so the Rangers added both to their 40-man roster Thursday.

On his own blog in August, Curt Schilling wrote that "the pendulum is swinging very heavily in the direction of it just being over." But three months later, he doesn't sound like a man who has thrown his last pitch. He has long made it clear that his days of pitching a full season are over, but he could be open to pitching a half-season in 2009.

Reds first baseman Joey Votto and outfielder Jay Bruce were named to the Topps Major League Rookie All-Star team on Thursday.

The Giants' pursuit of free-agent second baseman Orlando Hudson, previously considered casual, is apparently serious.

The Yankees are willing to throw their money around, but not ad infinitum. In fact, in its pursuit of CC Sabathia, the club is letting the big left-hander know that at some point they'll be expecting an answer.

The Indians added five top prospects to their 40-man roster on Thursday, protecting them from the Rule 5 Draft on Dec. 11.

Four baseball players and a softball player from Major League Baseball's Urban Youth Academy have signed national letters of intent to play at the collegiate level.

Aaron Heilman wants out of the 'pen and into the rotation, or, if that can't be arranged, out of the Mets. His either-or preference has been communicated to the club with the underlying hope that his assignment, not his team affiliation, will be changed.

Following free-agent left-handed reliever Jeremy Affeldt's departure earlier this week, the Reds have increased their efforts to get more bullpen help. Team is also looking to trade for a right-handed slugger.