1.   And here is perhaps the most stunning statement ever uttered by a baseball executive.

2.   And he will explore lower level executives -- farm directors and assistant general managers -- who have the potential to be the next great baseball executive.

3.   At least one baseball executive, Dodgers general manager Kevin Malone, defended his signing as a required response to an alarming situation.

4.   At this point, Ueberroth and other baseball executives convinced a legendary Texas financier, Richard Rainwater, to help buy the team.

5.   Avila appears to be the first baseball executive contacted for a position by the new Sox owners.

6.   Baseball executives have heard that before.

7.   Baseball executives point to the handling of the former free-agent Alex Rodriguez as an example of the problems Boras presents.

8.   Baseball executives would consider it a major upset if McKeon, Francona, Rothschild, Johnson or Lamont survived.

9.   Baseball executives have rarely been as candid about how profits and losses are determined as Paul Beeston, the president of the Toronto Blue Jays.

10.   Baseball executives only shake their heads when they are asked what they think he will get.