Odds and Ends: Patterson, Lowry, Alvarez

Today’s linkage…

• Brewers fans, act quickly to snag free tickets to tonight’s game courtesy of Eric Gagne.  Nice gesture.
• Of course Ned Colletti wants to re-sign Manny Ramirez.  It’s just a question of dollars and years. Does Manny get the rumored 4/100 he might desire?
• The Jays locked manager Cito Gaston up through 2010.
• Richard Griffin says the Blue Jays will be better for it if they lose A.J. Burnett.  Meanwhile, River Ave. Blues is open to the idea of the Yankees signing him.
• No, Corey Patterson is not dating Dusty Baker’s daughter.  And Baker says he wasn’t behind the signing, either.
• The Reds might not be in the market for a catcher this winter, if they go with Ryan Hanigan as the starter in ’09.
• The Mariners officially founded the 100/100 club.
• Peter Abraham sees the Yankees going with Brett Gardner as the center fielder in 2009.  Peter Gammons is "convinced he is going to be an everyday center fielder."
• Sam Mellinger discusses a way to drastically shake up the Royals: trade both Zack Greinke and Joakim Soria for loads of young, cheap players.  As he notes, the strategy could work out but might cause a fan revolt.
• Andrew Baggarly wonders if Noah Lowry’s injury problems could prevent a Matt Cain trade.  Also, Baggarly sees a non-tender in Kevin Correia’s future.
• Frank Coonelly suggested Pedro Alvarez’s new deal is comparable in value to the original.  Scott Boras then jumped on the conference call to say it was a favorable change, and much different from the original.  Additionally, Coonelly contacted Baseball America’s Jim Callis to dispute the idea of a premeditated plan to negotiate with Alvarez after the deadline.
• The Marlins will focus on improving their defense this winter.