• If the Braves lose out on A.J. Burnett, they won't be turning their attention to Derek Lowe. A source familiar with their thinking says they have "zero" interest in Lowe. The Braves do have interest in "a couple" of other free-agent starters, the source said. And one is known to be left-hander Randy Wolf. They also would turn back to the trade market if their free-agent options don't look promising.

• Even as the Angels continue to pursue Mark Teixeira, it appears that Raul Ibanez has emerged as their No. 1 alternative if Teixeira signs elsewhere. There were indications that the Angels already have begun negotiating the parameters of a deal with Ibanez on a just-in-case basis.

• Phillies manager Charlie Manuel suggested Thursday that he'd be in favor of bringing back left fielder Pat Burrell if the price and years turn out to be more modest than the club originally anticipated.

"When I think of his good points versus his [negatives] speedwise," Manuel said, "the more I look at it and see what's out there … I weigh all that and I think, 'Look, we won the World Series with him out there. So would I like him back? I don't see why not.'"