As the New York Yankees and agent Scott Boras move toward a 10-year deal for Alex Rodriguez, the most important number is etched in stone: if Rodriguez achieves all the goals laid out for him, he will finish with a total payout of $314 million. A source with knowledge of the negotiations said the two sides are getting "close" on a deal that will pay Rodriguez $275 million in guaranteed money, $30 million for milestones based on home runs, and $9 million in deferred money that the Texas Rangers owe Rodriguez in conjunction with his decision to opt out of his last contract. In addition, the deal is front loaded, with Rodriguez expected to receive $32 million in each of the first three seasons. Boras and the Yankees are now down to negotiating the final contract language, the source said. Rodriguez, 32, won his third career Most Valuable Player Award this season after hitting 54 homers and driving in 156 runs for the Yankees. Both he and Boras came in for major criticism when it was reported during Game 4 of the World Series that Rodriguez was opting out of the final three years of his deal with New York.

The Atlanta Braves today offered salary arbitration to left-handed relief pitcher Ron Mahay and declined to offer arbitration to their other ranking free agent, outfielder Andruw Jones. Teams have until midnight on December 1 to offer arbitration to free-agent players. Mahay, 36, went 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA in 30 games for Atlanta in 2007 after being acquired along with first baseman Mark Teixeira in a July 31 trade with the Texas Rangers. With the Rangers, he went 2-0 with a 2.77 ERA in 28 games. Drafted as an outfielder by the Boston Red Sox in the 18th round of the 1991 draft, the converted pitcher has a career record of 19-10 with four saves and a 3.87 ERA in 359 career games.

The Yankees need to get Johan Santana, according to catcher Jorge Posada. In a conference call to discuss the official signing of his four-year contract with the Yankees, the team's longtime catcher voiced his support for the Yankees' pursuit of the two-time Cy Young winner Santana, the hottest player on the trade market this baseball off-season. "We need a No. 1," Posada said. "We certainly need a No. 1, and I think that's the reason we're going after Santana." Posada stressed that the Yankees need an ace pitcher in the playoffs. The Yankees have not made it out of the first round in the last three years, partially because they have not had a dominant starting pitcher, such as the Red Sox's Josh Beckett this postseason. "It is a need in October, no question about it," Posada said. "I think when you look at the past World Series champions they were able to have a No. 1 throwing three games, or at least two games, to win the title."

HBO Films is planning to turn a best selling book about Barry Bonds' alleged steroid use and the federal government's wide-ranging probe into performance enhancing drug use in sports into a movie, one of the book's authors said Thursday. Lance Williams, a reporter at the San Francisco Chronicle, said that Ron Shelton has been tapped to direct the flick and will co-write the script with "Tin Cup" partner John Norville once the Hollywood writers strike is settled. The planned movie based on the book "Game of Shadows" was first reported Wednesday by Variety.

Red Sox pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka voiced hope Thursday having a second child would boost his performance next season after criticism that he fell short of expectations in his rookie year. Matsuzaka, 27, already has a two-year-old daughter, and his wife is due to have their second child in the spring. "It will be the best source to give me power. I will aim for a second straight World Series title," Matsuzaka told a sponsor's event in Tokyo.

Angels' owner Arte Moreno plans to extend Vladimir Guerrero's contract to bring it more in line with Torii Hunter's, sources say. Guerrero will earn $14.5 million next season, and the Angels hold a $15 million option on him for 2009. Hunter is earning $18 million per season under his new deal.

Ichiro Suzuki said he considered moving to the Yankees before deciding -- with his wife's encouragement -- to stick with the underperforming Mariners. "I had been wavering in my mind since early spring," the Japanese baseball star admitted in an interview with Kyodo News published Tuesday. Ichiro said his friends spoke to him about options including returning to Japan, joining compatriot slugger Hideki Matsui at the Yankees or playing with Japanese pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka at the Red Sox. The seven-time All-Star outfielder, who holds the Major League record for hits in a season, said he narrowed down his choice to the Yankees and Mariners.

The Dodgers will honor their 50th anniversary in Los Angeles with an exhibition game against the Boston Red Sox at the Coliseum next spring. The game will be played March 29 and proceeds will go to the official Dodgers' charity ThinkCure.

The details of Alex Rodriguez?s revenue-sharing bonuses in his new New York Yankees' contract finally have been agreed upon and approved by Major League Baseball. If Rodriguez attains all five of the $6 million bonuses, his total contract will be worth $305 million. The initial outline of A-Rod?s contract was agreed upon two weeks ago with a base of 10 years and $275 million. The bonuses were more difficult to agree upon, however, as the Yankees do not generally include incentives for awards such as Most Valuable Player or Gold Glove, and MLB does not generally allow statistics-based bonuses. Rodriguez?s possible bonuses, which were first outlined by The New York Times, will include $6 million each for five historic events to be designated by the Yankees. The five events are expected to be tying the career home run marks of Willie Mays (660), Babe Ruth (714), Hank Aaron (755) and Barry Bonds (currently 762), along with passing Bonds? majorleague record. Rodriguez, 32, has 518 career home runs.

The Lotte Giants named former Milwaukee Brewers skipper Jerry Royster as their new manager on Monday, making him the first foreigner to run a South Korean professional team. Royster, a journeyman Major League infielder, ran the Brewers in 2002, compiling a record of 53 wins and 94 losses. He also managed the Las Vegas 51s, a Los Angeles Dodgers Triple-A affiliate. The Lotte Giants said in a news release they signed Royster to a two-year deal worth a total of $750,000, with options for additional years.