Congrats to President-elect Obama…here now the news:

• Bryan Hoch at MLB.com reports that Robinson Cano “could help anchor a trade package for Peavy if San Diego is willing to take on his deal, which has three years and $27 million remaining, plus two club option years.”   Another interesting quote from the article, “Cashman also told reporters that the Yankees have had interest from other clubs in outfielders Melky Cabrera, Brett Gardner and Austin Jackson.”
• Ken Davidoff of Newsday.com informs us that the Yankees had their first meeting with C.C. Sabathia’s representatives Monday at the GM meetings.  Nothing too substantive …. just preliminary.
• DailyNews.com’s Mark Feinsand has Brian Cashman stating that he is counting only on Chien-Ming Wang and Joba Chamberlain as starters next season at this point in time.  He’s not sure if the Yankees will bring Andy Pettitte back, though Pettitte wants to come back.  The biggest shock?  Cashman hasn’t shut the door totally on Carl Pavano returning.
• Jon Heyman at SI.com chimes in from the GM meetings in California with some tender morsels. The Bombers are exploring a possible bid for 2B Orlando Hudson, with the thought that he might displace Cano, or may even be capable of playing CF.  They may have interest in the Dodgers’ Matt Kemp or the Royals’ David DeJesus, but no teams appear anxious to trade a young center fielder.  As expected, they announced they were declining options on the contracts of Jason Giambi and Carl Pavano.
• Over at Newsday.com, Wallace Matthews makes the case for keeping Joba Chamberlain in the bullpen in 2009, reminding us of the recent domination shown by the Phillies bullpen in its ability to “shorten” games.
• Is Jason Giambi returning to the A’s?  Well, MLB.com notes that the A’s have re-hired Bob Alejo, who has ties to Giambi, as their strength and conditioning coach.  When Giambi signed with the Yankees after the ’01 season, he hired Alejo away from Oakland to serve as his personal trainer.
• NY Times blogger Michael Schmidt notes that Yankee hitting coach Kevin Long plans to travel to the Dominican Republic this winter to work with Robinson Cano.  Cano plans to play one month for a team in the Dominican Winter League as a designated hitter.
• At BP.com, they’ve started giving out their annual Internet Baseball Awards, as voted on by BP readers.  Dustin Pedroia took AL MVP honors (A-Rod finished 4th).  Cliff Lee took the Cy Young (Rivera finished 6th, Mussina 8th).  Evan Longoria ran away with the AL ROTY award (Joba finished 4th).  Joe Maddon won AL Manager of the Year (Girardi finished 9th).
• At AssociatedPress.com, Scott Boras is quoted as stating that his relationship with A-Rod has been repaired.
• Happy 35th to Johnny “not Matt” Damon.
• On this date in 1996, Derek Jeter is named the unanimous winner of the A.L. Rookie of the Year award. He becomes the eighth Yankees player to win the award and the fifth unanimous choice in AL history.