The Yankees considered courting Carlos Beltran as a free agent until they learned that his agent Scott Boras was looking for a three-year deal, according to a source. The development led New York to pick up the 2012 option on the contract of Nick Swisher. The option is worth $10.25 million.

The Marlins could be a factor in the free agent market this winter. Florida has money to spend and Buster Olney of ESPN.com wonders whether or not they'll court top free agents like C.J. Wilson or Jose Reyes.

Jason Giambi and the Rockies have exercised their mutual option on his $1 million contract for 2012. Giambi had a .958 OPS with 13 homers and 32 RBIs in 131 at-bats as Todd Helton's backup last season. He hit a home run once every 10 at-bats against right-handers.

The Rangers have exercised the 2012 option on the contract of right-hander Colby Lewis. Lewis, 32, has become a reliable rotation member for Texas the past two seasons, pitching at least 200 innings in each. He will make $3.25 million in 2012.

Albert Pujols has become a free agent for the first time in his Hall of Fame career. His eight-year, $111 million contract expired on Sunday. Pujols has declined to extensively discuss free agency other than saying he's not "afraid of it." St. Louis made an offer in January that was worth almost $200 million over the next nine years. Internally, the Cardinals now expect the first baseman to meet with other clubs and explore what free agency has to offer.

After celebrating their World Series win over the weekend, Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak will get back to business on Monday. Mozeliak said that he expects to exercise catcher Yadier Molina's 2012 option. The contract option is worth $7 million, with a buyout of $750,000, and is the final year of a contract Molina signed before the 2008 season. The club also holds options on relievers Arthur Rhodes and Octavio Dotel, neither of which is likely to be exercised.

A team source doubts that right-hander Aaron Harang will return to the Padres for the 2012 season. At this point, it is unclear whether San Diego or Harang rejected the mutual option on the starting pitcher's contract.

The Red Sox have picked up the $6 million option on the contract of shortstop Marco Scutaro for 2012. Scutaro, who had a $3 million player option if Boston had passed, hit a career-best .299 for the season with seven homers and 54 RBIs. "Scutaro had a really good year and we believe he'd be very coveted this offseason if he got into the market," general manager Ben Cherington said last week.

The Cubs have picked up the one-year, $16 million option on Aramis Ramirez's contract, but the third baseman will turn down the option and declare for free agency. "We are very sorry that this era is coming to the end for Aramis and the Cubs," agent Paul Kinzer said. "He loves Chicago and the fans. They've been great to him, but at this point it's better that we check out the market and address free agency. "(The percentage of Ramirez returning to the Cubs is) probably not good. At this point, Aramis is looking for a multiyear deal and looking forward to being a free agent for the first time in his career. It's too difficult for me to say whether the Cubs would be interested in giving him a long-term contract." Chicago had two choices, either pick up the option or pay Ramirez a $2 million buyout in 2012. By offering the contract, the Cubs will be able to offer arbitration, which in turn brings them a second-round draft pick in the June 2012 draft if Ramirez signs elsewhere.

The Yankees submitted a renegotiated contract offer to CC Sabathia over the weekend, but they have yet to receive a response, according to a team executive. "We believe it is a very fair offer," the executive said. "But we haven't heard anything back yet." Sabathia has a clause in his contract that allowed him to opt out of the remaining four years of his seven-year, $161 million deal after the conclusion of the World Series. He has yet to file for free agency, but team insiders expect that despite the new offer, he will opt out to test the free agent market.