Cano, however, finished strong after adjusting his stance and setup in mid-September, and some with the Yankees believe that he will be more at ease in 2009, saying he tried too hard this season to justify his new four-year, $30 million contract.

The problem for the Yankees is that they need to acquire two starting pitchers, and the top of the free-agent market is thin. CC Sabathia might prefer to go to the west coast and/or stay in the National League. Some baseball people question whether A.J. Burnett possesses the right makeup for New York. Derek Lowe might command a contract too large for the Yankees' liking at age 35.

Thus, trading Cano for a starting pitcher might be necessary.

Padres: No rush to move Peavy

The Padres likely will wait to explore the trade market for right- hander Jake Peavy until after Sabathia, Burnett and Lowe sign their free-agent contracts. As each new deal is signed, Peavy's deal will look even more reasonable.

Peavy is signed for $56 million over the next four seasons, with a $22 million option or $4 million buyout for 2013. He holds a full no-trade clause through 2010, and the Padres would need to consult with his agent, Barry Axelrod, to determine the teams to which Peavy would approve a trade.

The Padres finished the season with a payroll of approximately $70 million. GM Kevin Towers says he expects that number to be lower next season, but not as low as the $40 to $45 million range that some have speculated upon.

The team is leaning toward exercising outfielder Brian Giles' $9 million option rather than paying him a $3 million buyout. Giles turns 38 on Jan. 20, but the Padres recognize that they cannot buy an outfielder with a .398 on-base percentage on the open market.

J.J. knew

The Brewers' J.J. Hardy is realistic about his future with the club, knowing he likely will be traded to make room at shortstop for Alcides Escobar, one of the game's top shortstop prospects.

In fact, Hardy recalls being impressed by Escobar the first time he saw him, when Hardy was rehabilitating a shoulder injury at the Brewers' spring-training facility in Arizona in 2004.

"(The Brewers) had brought over a ton of new kids from the Dominican and Venezuela, all 16 and 17 years old," Hardy says. "I picked out Escobar out of all the guys. I didn't even know he was a shortstop. But he was having fun, smiling, laughing. I gave him bats and gloves. The next thing I knew, he was the shortstop who was going to take my job."