The market for A-Rod

Boras refuted whispers on Wednesday that the overall interest in Rodriguez isn't so strong, rumors based on mild quotes from selected GMs ("We'll kick the tires'' has been a popular noncommittal comment).

"In free agency, when you have a player like this, you have interest by everyone when you think about it,'' Boras said. "The only limitations are based on economics or previous commitments at specific positions.''

Boras declined to discuss any of his Rodriguez confabs, but Mets GM Omar Minaya finally admitted to meeting with Boras (though Minaya wouldn't confirm that the meeting occurred on Tuesday night, which it did). Boras also said that he would meet with a couple teams on Wednesday.

The Angels and Dodgers, who are believed to be in the mix for both A-Rod and the very available star third baseman Miguel Cabrera, wouldn't have to meet here with Boras because his Newport Beach, Calif., office is within driving distance for both teams.

Is Pettitte leaning toward retirement?

Andy Pettitte may take new Yankees boss Hank Steinbrenner up on his public offer, made through the newspapers, to take as long as he wants to decide whether to return or retire. But that's OK by the Yankees. Because if Pettitte had to decide by Wednesday's deadline whether to exercise the $16 million option for 2008, most baseball people believe Pettitte would have retired.

Pettitte has several family reasons to stay home in Houston, including one son's serious football injury that worried him last year and another son's chronic asthma. Pettitte is a family man first. So the Yankees have to be worried that he may not come back to them.

While Pettitte may be leaning toward leaving, there's always that possibility that he'll pattern his career after Roger Clemens, who has been known to change his mind a time or two. The Yankees could also try to encourage Pettitte by offering a family-friendly deal or even another player option for 2009.

Pettitte has said that his two options are the Yankees or retirement. But just in case, the Astros checked in recently (they were told he meant what he said). Pettitte's good buddy Clemens has turned in the paperwork to take his post-career job with the Astros, the Houston Chronicle reported, giving Pettitte one more reason to retire.

Around the majors

• The Phillies made a great deal to get Brad Lidge form the Astros, which allows them to move Brett Myers back into the rotation after he did a decent job as a makeshift closer. The Astros received Michael Bourn, a talented outfielder, as the main piece in return, and he has a chance to be pretty good. No great surprise that new Astros GM Ed Wade dealt with his former team.

• Red Sox center fielder Coco Crisp, who will be dealt, is believed to have drawn interest from at least Texas, Minnesota, Philadelphia and the White Sox.

• The Braves must understand that it won't be easy for them to sign Mark Teixeira before he can become a free agent after the year. "No chance,'' one competing GM said. But new Braves GM Frank Wren said, "We would like to keep Mark beyond next year. We would like to keep him long term.'' They'll likely try to make an offer sometime this winter. But if no deal can be reached, Teixeira could be a candidate for a midsummer trade again.

• Besides the fact that the Damon-for-Joe Crede trade never made sense, Damon has a no-trade to the White Sox. Now Joe Girardi told Damon he's staying anyway.

• The Yankees' contingent of Cashman, assistant GM Jean Afterman and pro scouting director Billy Eppler met for close to two hours late Wednesday night with the agents for Posada (Seth and Sam Levinson and former Met Keith Miller). The Yankees have been offering three years for about $39 million. But the guess here is they may have to bend and give Posada a fourth year because of outside interest. The Mets are waiting in the wings.