The general managers' meetings are in the books. Next up: the winter meetings (Dec. 8-11) in Las Vegas. That promises to be one time when what happens in Las Vegas doesn't stay in Las Vegas. Not with all the deals that should happen.

Every team wants to improve, but let's face it: Some clubs merely are rearranging chairs on the Titanic. They know who they are. For the other 18 or so teams that have the resources to get better, I have a plan of attack for each team's front-office personnel to consider:

First, decide whether you can afford CC Sabathia. And then ask his people if he would consider playing in your town.

Sabathia is the marquee player all clubs want but few realistically can acquire -- and not just because of money. Winning will be a factor, too. Look at your "coast" teams: Angels, Dodgers, Yankees, Mets, Red Sox and -- are you ready for this? -- maybe even the Rays. Tampa Bay would be a great fit for CC; the Rays went to the World Series, so they've got a ton of fresh money to spend. It's a hot franchise that wants to show its fans it won't just sit around. And if the Rays don't land Sabathia, they could go after Derek Lowe.

Sabathia likely will end up with one of the big-spending teams we hear about all the time. After all, there's no need for the Pirates or Nationals to pursue him because they are more than a No. 1 stud pitcher away from contending.

If Mark Cuban would somehow be able to close a deal on the Cubs and decide he wants to collect baseball cards, so to speak, he could blow the roof off the free-agent market.

OK, back to reality. After all, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Friday that Cuban is a long shot to purchase the Cubs.

How about Big Tex, Mark Teixeira? He is a young, slick, middle-of-the-order guy. One thing to consider, though: His agent is Scott Boras. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it's a factor. Teixeira wants a long-term, big-money contract, which is just a little bit of a factor, too. He is the type of player who can command that kind of deal, especially with the Yankees and Red Sox expected to be in the market for his services.

Then there's the enigma known as Francisco Rodriguez. He is dynamic, but four or five years dynamic? That's a tough question. If he is seeking the groundbreaking deal most expect, his record-breaking 2008 season actually might hurt him a little. Clubs have to wonder if this was for real, and his agent lacks a precedent deal to use as bargaining power. K-Rod can't point to anyone who actually got better after this kind of season. Boggy Thigpen, who saved 57 games for the White Sox in 1990, never had another year close to his record-breaking campaign.

Of course, Rodriguez still is going to cash in for about four years and $60 million. That's the kind of jackpot that could be won in Vegas -- but won't stay there.

E-mail Todd Jones, the recently retired closer who saved 319 games in his 16-year career in the major leagues, at tjones@sportingnews.com.

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