It's amazing how free agency kicks right in after the World Series. It's like there's no break anymore. Anyway, here are some of the more noteworthy moves of the past few days...

- The Orioles announced that they have declined to exercise their contract option on RHP Kris Benson for the 2008 season, allowing him to become a free agent.

- Looking outside the organization, the San Francisco Giants named former All-Star and 1981 American League batting champion Carney Lansford as the team's hitting instructor.

- Jim Hickey will return as the pitching coach of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.  Hickey and the team agreed to a one-year contract completing the Rays coaching staff for 2008.

- The Florida Marlins today named Mark Wiley their pitching coach, completing the coaching staff for the 2008 season.

- The San Diego Padres announced that they have declined to exercise the option for outfielder Rob Mackowiak.

- The Toronto Blue Jays have signed OF Matt Stairs to a two-year contract worth $3.25 million.

- The Boston Red Sox today exercised the 2008 contract options on righthanded pitchers Julian Tavarez and Tim Wakefield.

- The New York Yankees exercised the 2008 option on outfielder Bobby Abreu.

- The Chicago White Sox have declined club options for 2008 on the contracts on infielder/outfielder Darin Erstad and left-handed reliever Mike Myers.

- The Seattle Mariners declined to exercise the option on outfielder Jose Guillen.