The first leg of the offseason ends with winter meetings Dec. 8 in Las Vegas. Consider this the morning line on where the top free agent arms will land.

Three-time MVP Alex Rodriguez may switch uniforms this time and represent the Dominican Republic in the 2009 World Baseball Classic, according to comments by David Ortiz in a report on Yahoo! Sports. A-Rod played for Team USA in 2006.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman met Thursday with agent Scott Boras and planned to get together this weekend with free-agent pitcher CC Sabathia ahead of the winter meetings. Cashman's meeting with Boras and intention to meet with Sabathia were disclosed by separate baseball officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because the Yankees did not announce Cashman's plans.

Baseball salaries started to slow this year even before the economy nosedived. The average salary in Major League Baseball this season was $2.93 million, the players' association said Thursday in its annual report. The 3.6 percent increase was the smallest since 2004, when the average declined 2.5 percent from the previous season.

After building a dynasty around three starting aces, the Braves struggled to maintain pitching excellence. If the right offseason acquisitions occur, they will be back in the playoff picture.

When it comes to getting a luxury box at the new Yankees and Mets stadiums, Mayor Michael Bloomberg's aides appear willing to play ball. Recently released internal e-mails between the mayor's aides, city lawyers and Yankees officials show that City Hall gave the team even more parking spaces than had been negotiated previously, plus the rights and revenue from three billboards near the stadium in...

Alex Rodriguez plans to play for the Dominican Republic in 2009 World Baseball Classic, David Ortiz said.