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Around the majors

• The tussle for Teixeira will also be spirited. The Yankees and Angels are the favorites in the derby, but the Mariners, Orioles and possibly the Red Sox could also be in the mix. The incumbent Angels absolutely love Teixeira. Manager Mike Scioscia is said to be a big admirer of Teixeira.

• Agent Scott Boras told the New York Post and a few other media outlets Greg Maddux may retire. Maddux is actually a resident of Dana Point, so he could make the announcement in person this week if he so desired. It would be cool if John Smoltz and Tom Glavine also retired, so they all go into the Hall of Fame together. But that probably won't happen.

• If Pedro Martinez also retires, that would make some rotation in Cooperstown that day. (But with Randy Johnson five wins shy of 300, he surely will try to play another year.)

• Padres GM Kevin Towers says Jake Peavy's list of acceptable teams has been expanded by two with the addition of the two AL clubs, the Yankees and Angels. Peavy's first five are all NL teams, though: Braves, Astros, Cubs. Cardinals and Dodgers, and Towers said Peavy has made it clear that the NL teams are his real preference.

• The White Sox have no plans to try to keep either Joe Crede or Juan Uribe, though if Uribe can't find a starting job they might consider a return as a utilityman. They will instead give Josh Fields a shot at third base.

• Good luck to Tom O'Connell, the friendliest agent in baseball, who is trying to shop Carl Pavano, whom the New York Post dubbed "American Idle.'' Well, O'Connell will have to work overtime, which is something Pavano never did with the Yankees, to find major-league money for this guy.

• There are rumors of trade talks involving Hideki Matsui. But he has a full no-trade clause and is coming off knee surgery, making that unrealistic.

• The Yankees are about to sign Sergio Mitre to a minor-league deal. Mitre had a knack for blowing up every time I watched him pitch last year in Florida. But he worked out well for Joe Girardi a few years back in Florida.

• It appears likely that the Yankees won't pick up Damaso Marte's $6 million option, but they are considering a multi-year deal for him instead.

• The Rangers are looking for pitching. One player they've looked at is Marlins pitcher Scott Olsen. Texas has a lot of young catching to trade, and the Marlins would be interested.

• The agenting group that hails from nearby Newport Beach, Legacy Sports, which includes Greg Genske, Scott Parker and Brian Peters, represents Orlando Hudson as well as Sabathia, Adam Dunn and Pat Burrell. That's quite a quartet.

• Mets GM Omar Minaya on second baseman Luis Castillo: "Right now he's our second baseman.'' Not exactly a ringing endorsement. Minaya said they hope Castillo comes to camp in better shape this year. (Actually, that's actually the second choice. The first choice is that he isn't in camp at all next spring.)

• Some Mets people are concerned about their catching. But some in their hierarchy don't like that their best free-agent options. Pudge Rodriguez and Bengie Molina don't exactly make them younger.

• Someone familiar with the Rangers' plans panned my prediction that K-Rod would sign there for $75 million over five years, and I have to believe that was just a bad tout by me. One other possibility I shouldn't rule out is K-Rod winding up with the Mets. But it would take him accepting a four-year deal instead of five. Right now the Mets seem focused on Brian Fuentes, who'll draw interest from Cleveland, Texas and St. Louis.

• The Mets are looking at Randy Wolf in addition to Lowe and their own Oliver Perez.

• A.J. Burnett's agent, Darek Braunecker, is giving the Blue Jays more time to try to keep Burnett and prevent him from opting out of the two years remaining on his contract. But with no hometown discount being offered, it appears very unlikely that the Jays can do anything to prevent Burnett from opting out.

• Mike Arbuckle quit upon hearing that Ruben Amaro Jr. was officially being named the Phillies' new GM. Arbuckle, who oversaw the draft operation that brought the core of the world champions to Philadelphia -- Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins and many others -- would make a great addition to any team. Apparently things weren't exactly cozy within the Phillies front office hierarchy. In any case, Arbuckle's departure is a big loss.

• Congrats to Rays executive Andrew Friedman, who was named Executive of the Year by other GMs here. Who else could it have been? The Rays went from 66 wins to 97 and made their first World Series appearance.