In a report for MLB.com, Todd Zolecki says that the Phillies have exercised their option on Cliff Lee.
The option will pay Lee $9 million in 2010, after which he can be a free agent if the two sides cannot work out an extension.
…this is obviously a no-brainer, as he has emerged as one of the [...]

Andy Martino, in a report for the Philadelphia Inquirer, says that the Phillies will not retain Brett Myers.
Myers told Martino:
“I officially won’t be a Phillie next year.”
In eight seasons with the Phillies, Myers went 73-63 with a 4.40 ERA in 240 games, and had numerous off-the-field issues including a verbal altercation with Cole Hamels earlier [...]

In a poll to MetsBlog yesterday, here, roughly 4,000 people who voted were split, 50–50, when asked if Matt Holliday is worth a seven-year deal, which would pay him $17 million per season.
…i can certainly understand why people would not be comfortable giving that kind of cash to Holliday, but i have to agree with [...]

Dan from the Mets Police remembers the ticker tape parade held for the Mets on October 28, 1986.
Meanwhile, Paul over at Mets Fans Forever dissects the Mets outfield, and feels Carlos Beltran is the “one sure thing.”
…without question Paul, provided his knee can hold up…even though i like Jeff Francoeur, Beltran is the only one [...]

Joe Posnanski has written a must-read report for SI.com, which focuses on money, the Yankees, ‘and the Wizard of Oz slight-of-hand game that MLB has been playing for a long time.’
…there is not much else to say about this article from joe… it’s brilliant, to the point, eye-opening, and something every non-Yankee [...]

Steve Gilbert, the Diamondbacks beat reporter for MLB.com, is reporting on Twitter, says that the Diamondbacks have exercised the $8.5 million option for Brandon Webb for 2010.
…this is good for Webb, as he will get another year to prove his arm is healthy before hitting the free agent market next year…
Webb is a three-time All [...]

According to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the Brewers have traded SS J.J. Hardy to the Twins for OF Carlos Gomez.
The Twins originally acquired Gomez in the Johan Santana trade.  He scored the winning run against the Tigers that clinched the American League Central last month.
Update, 1:35 pm:
…you know, i wrote yesterday about [...]

Last week, in a notes column for the Boston Globe, Nick Cafardo labeled Citi Field, “a death valley for righthanded hitters?”
However, according to Bill James, in his recently published 2010 Handbook, based on a variety of park indices, it was 10 percent easier for righthanded hitters to hit home runs in Citi Field than [...]

In a report in today’s St. Louis Post Dispatch, Derrick Goold says that re-signing Matt Holliday remains a “high priority for the Cardinals,” but indicates that no offer has been extended as of yet.
…i think that bringing in Mark McGwire as the team’s hitting coach is a huge effort on the Cardinals [...]

In the Philadelphia Inqurier, Andy Martino and Jim Salisbury say the Phillies have not decided whether to offer a contract extension to Cliff Lee.
…frankly, i am surprised by this…i think getting lee locked up should be a top priority for the Phillies… then again, after what he’s done the past two years and [...]

Carlos Delgado and Brian Schneider have filed for free agency, according to Adam Rubin of the Daily News.
Other notables to file for free agency so far are Orlando Hudson, John Lackey, Randy Wolf, Mark De Rosa, and Matt Holliday, and Jason Bay.
Former teams have until November 20 to negotiate exclusively with these players, after which [...]

In an appearance on the MLB Network today, SI.com’s Jon Heyman said the Mets would ‘love a do-over’ with free-agent LHP Randy Wolf, who they had a chance to sign to a one-year deal last off season, but instead they chose to re-sign Oliver Perez.
The 33–year-old Wolf was 11–7 with a 3.23 ERA in 34 [...]

Peter Gammons of ESPN.com is reporting that the Red Sox have acquired Jeremy Hermida from the Marlins in exchange for ptchers Jose Alvarez and Hunter Jones.
Hermida was the Marlins first round pick in 2002 and finished this season hitting .259 with 13 home runs and 47 RBI in 129 games, making just one error in [...]

The Mets have added 24–year-old 3B Shawn Bowman to their 40–man roster.
…i assume this is to protect him from being selected in the Rule 5 Draft… for more of this, and how teams must add certain players to the 40 man, so to keep from losing them, click here…
Bowman hit .294 with 36 extra base [...]

The Angels have re-signed OF Bobby Abreu to a two-year deal, according to Ed Price of AOL Fanhouse.
Jon Heyman, in a post to Twitter, is reporting the deal has a vesting option for a third year, but the financial parameters are not yet known.
…interesting how Abreu didn’t sign until the final hour of the off-season this [...]