Odds and Ends: Holliday, Takahashi, Lincecum

Links for Wednesday…

• Richard Justice says the Astros should offer Andy Pettitte $7-8MM to come back.
• Joe Christensen doesn’t see Huston Street landing in Minnesota.
• Larry Beinfest dismissed a "cyberspace rumor" that the Marlins are planning a run at Manny Ramirez.
• Gordon Wittenmyer says the Cubs could fit both Jake Peavy and Ryan Dempster into the payroll, and that the Peavy situation will be resolved first.
• Today is the deadline for MLB.com’s Free Agent Frenzy.  You have until 4pm CST to submit your picks for 15 free agents.  Here are my predictions from November 3rd…I would change the Furcal and Sheets ones for starters.
• Who had the Matt Holliday scoop?  SI.com’s Jon Heyman broke the story, while Yahoo’s Tim Brown was the first to name the players involved.
• Holliday figures to be a three to six month rental for the A’s.  Over at FanGraphs, Dave Cameron takes a closer look at Carlos Gonzalez and Greg Smith.  ESPN’s Keith Law says the Rockies received a "fair return" for Holliday.
• Athletics Nation suggests the A’s sign Derek Lowe.
• Ken Davidoff looks at the Yankees’ seesawing philosophy. 
• Japanese southpaw Ken Takahashi intends to sign with an MLB club, and the Mets may be interested.  Nikkan Sports says the Cubs, Padres, and Giants are also in on him.
• River Ave. Blues looks ahead to Derek Jeter’s next contract.
• Andrew Baggarly reminds us that Tim Lincecum intends to go year to year.
• ESPN’s Buster Olney talked to one GM who expects "a whole lot of bargains" in late January, given the nation’s economy.
• Rany Jazayerli didn’t like the Royals’ acquisition of Mike Jacobs, but doesn’t think it’s the end of the world.
• Braves GM Frank Wren on Jeff Francoeur: "We haven’t talked about him at all.  It’s not to say that we wouldn’t."