Maybe, just maybe, all of this posturing over the 2014 payroll is really just setting the Yankees up for something bigger next offseason. RAB links us to some interesting news that might be part of the plan:

"We’ve had discussions with Cole (Hamels)," assistant Phillies general manager Scott Proefrock said during an appearance on Comcast SportsNet’s Phillies Hot Stove on Tuesday night. "Right now, we’re focused on a one-year deal."

Notice he said a one-year deal, not a multi-year extension, which means there's at least a decent chance that Hamels reaches free agency after the 2012 season. The Phillies obviously have money to spend, but re-signing him would give them 4 players with $20+ million salaries in 2014, which may be something only the Yankees can afford. I'm hoping that's the case, because if I was Brian Cashman, I'd give Cole Hamels a book full of signed blank checks to get him to come to New York.

• In case you missed it, MLB owners voted 29-1 to extend Bud Selig through the 2014 season, when he'll be 80 years old. Two questions: 1.) Which owner do you think voted no? 2.) How likely is it that the next commissioner will be young enough to NOT hike his pants up to his armpits?

• In a sign of just how slow this offseason has become, this was the seventh hit when I did a Google news search for New York Yankees:

Yankees Team Dentist Recovers Stolen Sports Memorabilia Through Craigslist Ad

How about that? I didn't even know they had a team dentist.