Given the uncertainty in the team's front office, Aramis Ramirez isn't sure if he'll be a member of the Cubs next season. After the 2011 season, the third baseman can void his deal. There's a $16 million club option with a $2 million buyout. "Right now, we don't even have a GM," Ramirez said. "We don't know what the new guy has in mind. We don't know if Jim's [Hendry] people (will) be around. It's a tough situation to be in. I can't control that. My playing on the field is going to dictate if that's good enough for them. "(If) the new GM (or) the owners (want) to go a different way, I appreciate everything they did for me and I move on. But at this point, I don't know exactly what's going to happen."

Red Sox right-hander Josh Beckett plans to consider his baseball career on a yearly basis when his current contract expires after the 2014 season. "I'll probably go year to year, because I don't want to be in any obligations," he said. "I would like to play until I'm 37, maybe 38," Beckett, 31, said. Beckett's priorites have changed since his marriage to Holly Fisher last year and the expectancy of the couple's first child in September. "There isn't going to be any me waving to anybody. When I'm gone, I'm going to disappear," he insisted. "There isn't going to be anything where this is my last year and I'm getting the fanfare. This is what's going to happen: Everybody is going to show up to spring training, and somebody's going to say, 'Where's Josh?' Then one of my teammates that I've already told this to will say, 'That [expletive] is probably already retired.' They're not even going to know. They'll call me and I'll say, 'Yeah, I'm sitting in Cabo.'"

Michael Bourn, who the Braves acquired from the Astros last month, will be eligible for free agency after the 2012 season. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes that Bourn and agent Scott Boras will likely seek a five-year deal. Bourn is making $4.4 million this season and is eligible for arbitration once more next spring. He'll likely get a marginal raise for 2012 through the process. Atlanta doesn't have any center fielders in their organization that are even remotely close to reaching the Major Leagues. Bourn could be in line for a multiyear deal worth about $8 million annually, should the Braves look to lock him up.

Talks between the Pirates and outfielder Andrew McCutchen about a long-term contract extension are at a standstill. "We have been in discussions before but not now," agent Steve Hammond said. "It didn't lead anywhere, so there have been no more discussions. Now it's time to focus on playing baseball and winning games. We'll see what happens down the road." Pirates management also has said the team is open to resuming talks. However, when outfielder Jose Tabata's six-year, $15 million contract was announced last week, general manager Neal Huntington did not sound optimistic about working out a long-term deal with McCutchen. "We hope to keep (McCutchen) here many, many years into the future," Huntington said. "But if we're not able to find a common ground, we've still got many years left with Andrew."

Cubs starting pitcher Ryan Dempster isn't ready to commit either way about the player option in his contract for next season. With that said, it doesn't seem like he plans to leave town anytime soon either. "I enjoy being a Chicago Cub and playing here, that's for sure," Dempster said. "I'll worry about that at the end of the season." Dempster, who has been a 30-save closer and All-Star starter in eight seasons with the Cubs, makes $14 million next season if he exercises his option. He has moved his full-time residence to Chicago and seems open to staying long-term. "I think that's something that I'll have to look at at the end of the year, and hopefully something that they’re interested in happening here," he said. "The main thing for me to do is focus on [tonight's] game."

The Cardinals will pick up the two-year, $21 million option on the contract of right-hander Adam Wainwright, barring an unforeseen complication in his return from ligament replacement surgery. "There is no reason for us not to assume it," general manager John Mozeliak said. Mozeliak described the stance as "unofficial" because the club option doesn't need to be exercised until shortly after the season.

The Nationals don't intend to go after first baseman Prince Fielder when he becomes a free agent this winter, according to a team source. The source points out that it doesn't make sense for Washington to go after Fielder because they have Michael Morse and Adam LaRoche under contract for next season.

Ryan Zimmerman, 26, has reiterated his desire to play his entire career with the Nationals. Zimmerman has two years left on his contract before he becomes a free agent after the 2013 season. Young stars like Colorado's Troy Tulowitzki and Milwaukee's Ryan Braun recently signed long-term deals with their clubs. "Obviously, I've made it known that I love it here," Zimmerman said. "I want to play here my entire career right here, if I can. Not too many guys are lucky enough to do that. Tulo has kind of got that working, and Brauny signed one in Milwaukee. "I want to be here when it's going to be an exciting time to be here. We are going to have a good team. The young guys are learning how to play, I'm still learning. It's going to be a good thing to be a part of. I want to be part of it for a long time."

The Pirates and outfielder Andrew McCutchen have discussed a contract extension, but the two sides haven't gotten very far. Pittsburgh is believed to be close to a deal with Neil Walker, but talks with McCutchen have stalled. "There will be situations in the past, present and future when we're not able to find common ground," general manager Neal Huntington said. "Andrew McCutchen certainly is a great young payer in the making and we hope to keep him here many, many years into the future, but if we're not able to find common ground, we still have many years left with Andrew. We still have (contract years) three, four and five to go, so we're a long ways away from having to make any decision."

The Angels gave Jered Weaver a five-year, $85 million contract extension with a no-trade clause on Sunday night. Matt Gelb of The Philadelphia Inquirer believes that Weaver's deal will impact talks between the Phillies and left-hander Cole Hamels.