Jeff Karstens

Links for Monday…

• MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan wonders if Bobby Crosby could be a match for the Rangers as a utility infielder.
• MLB.com's Mychael Urban has an update on free agent lefty Mark Mulder.
• Maury Brown of The Biz of Baseball analyzes Tim Lincecum's possible 2010 salary, and predicts the pitcher might submit $16.8MM against the Giants' $8MM figure.
• ESPN's Buster Olney tweets that Hideki Matsui's marketability is not a factor for the Yankees.
• Alex Speier of WEEI examines the chances of Roy Halladay remaining a workhorse over the next several seasons.
•  Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch doesn't see geography as a big factor for Matt Holliday.  Meanwhile, Bernie Miklasz of the P-D doesn't understand Albert Pujols' reasoning as to why he needs to wait to discuss an extension.
• MLB.com's Brian McTaggart asks readers to predict the Astros' arbitration decisions for free agents.  Jose Valverde and LaTroy Hawkins are tough calls in that it makes sense but we're not sure if the Astros will.  We'll have predictions on all Type A/B free agents later today.
• Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel explains why he feels only Felipe Lopez will get an arbitration offer from the Brewers.
• MLB.com's Joe Frisaro says the Marlins are leaning against offering arbitration to Type B free agents Kiko Calero and Nick Johnson.  Calero might be worth it.
• Jon Weisman of Dodgers Thoughts says the Dodgers' arbitration decisions won't necessarily be influenced by the McCourts' divorce.
• Staying with this theme, FanGraphs' Dave Cameron looks at the factors that should influence a team's arbitration-offer decision. 
• Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports look at the market for Miguel Tejada.
• Morosi suggests ten teams that should talk to the Tigers about Miguel Cabrera, Curtis Granderson, and Edwin Jackson.
• Jacob Jackson of Athletics Nation has a detailed offseason plan for the A's.
• Righty Miguel Batista told Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times that he has a few contenders interested in his services.  
• Notes from NPB Tracker's Patrick Newman: the Orioles are eyeing pitcher Hisanori Takahashi, and Hideki Okajima would like a contract extension (he's under team control through 2012 as an arbitration-eligible player).
• Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says the fates of Jeff Karstens, Robinzon Diaz, and Justin Thomas will be decided today.
• Elmer Dessens doesn't have a contract with the Mets quite yet, writes Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News.