Bud Selig, Commissioner of the MLB, believes he will be stepping down in three years when his contract ends content that the sport is in good health. "I plan to retire," Selig, the former Milwaukee Brewers owner, told Reuters on Thursday. "Other than Kenesaw Mountain Landis I think I would be the longest serving commissioner," added Selig, who became "Interim Commissioner" in 1992 and took the job permanently six years later. "My contract runs for the next three-plus years. I'll be 75 years of age and ... I want to teach and write a book and do some other things," he said.

The value of Vernon Wells next contract continues to rise as more and more free agents of this class cash in on deals that are for astronomical figures. "Vernon is very much part of our future," Paul Godfrey said, not implying how long that future will be. "We're not shopping him around. We're not looking to trade Vernon. Don't read too much into (the fact he is not in their recent ads). Too much is being made of that already. "Once the winter meetings are over, we'll go back to talking to Vernon. Right now, we've got to concentrate on the free-agent market. There's still a long time between now and the time Vernon becomes a free agent. "We have an owner who wants to win and who has been very generous. When we finally establish what the number is (for Wells), and if that's not enough, we may go back to (Ted Rogers) and ask for more, or we may not. We'll know at the time."

The Red Sox have agreed to terms with a Japanese pitcher. Surprisingly, it is not Daisuke Matsuzaka. The Red Sox on Thursday announced that they have agreed to a two-year contract with lefthander Hideki Okajima with an option for 2009.

The ever outspoken Curt Schiling weighed in on the Manny Ramirez situation on Wednesday. "I think Manny is less than comfortable playing in Boston for whatever reason, that's his right. I think it's gotten to the point now where there's some thought that even though Manny might stay, he might not be here if he does. And I think the belief is that trading Manny and bringing somebody in would be more valuable than having a Manny here that didn't play. I don't know that to be a fact. That is pure speculation on my part" Schilling said. "I live with the guys, I have some insight. I don't know for sure. I do know that I've spoken with Manny. Manny does want to be traded. Manny wants to play somewhere else."

Estimates among baseball executives ranged up to 250 as to the number of times David Ortiz would be walked next season without Manny Ram?rez batting behind him. ?Why would you get rid of Manny if you want to win?? one executive said. ?He?s the guy who will lead you to the promised land,? another one said.

Tom Glavine has yet to receive an offer from Atlanta, complicating a situation that has a very patient Omar Minaya in limbo with the winter meetings just days away. "He can't even evaluate that they (Atlanta) really want him if he doesn't have an offer," Glavine's agent, Gregg Clifton, told the Associated Press yesterday. "The bottom line is we're waiting to see if Atlanta wants to make a proposal to us. We've had really nice dialogue on a few occasions and we've kind of left it: 'We're open. We're waiting for (GM) John Schuerholz to give us a call if he would like to.'"

Pat Gillick denied a report that the Phillies were talking with the Rangers about leftfielder Pat Burrell. Burrell is believed to be willing to waive his no-trade clause only for the Yankees, Red Sox or a contending West Coast team such as the Giants, Padres, Dodgers or Diamondbacks.

Andy Pettitte remains the Yankees top choice to fill out their rotation, though it remains unclear whether or not the veteran left-hander wants to even pitch for anyone in 2007. ?I?m always looking around,? General Manager Brian Cashman said. ?I don?t have to do anything, but if something makes sense, I will look at it.? Besides Pettitte and Clemens, the only free-agent starters who interest the Yankees are Ted Lilly and Gil Meche.

The D-Backs took another step in their courtship of Mark Mulder on Wednesday, as they hosted the left-hander and his agents at Chase Field. "I think it went very well," said manager Bob Melvin, who was in attendance along with GM Josh Byrnes, assistant GM Peter Woodfork, director of player development A.J. Hinch and pitching coach Bryan Price. "We just had some lunch and got to know each other a little bit."

Former "Newlywed" Nick Lachey announced a new union Wednesday, and it has nothing to do with Jessica Simpson. Lachey was introduced as a part-owner of the Tacoma Rainiers, the Triple-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. Before Wednesday, Lachey had no connection with the city 30 miles south of Seattle, other than occasional performances at the nearby Tacoma Dome.