Jays invite 3 more to Spring camp  —  The Toronto Blue Jays have signed Michael Barrett, Raul Chavez, Randy Ruiz and pitcher Mike Maroth to minor league contracts and extended invitations for all to attend spring training with the Major League club.  —  Barrett, 32, has signed …

Marquis For Vizcaino Trade Close  —  By Tim Dierkes [December 30 at 6:23pm CST]  —  6:20PM: This story has been confirmed by Troy Renck of the Denver Post.  —  While the deal likely won't be official until next week, it looks like the Cubs will be paying $1MM of Marquis' salary in 2009.

Salary cap?  Tell me you didn't say that, Drayton  —  Drayton McLane looks pretty darn silly to suggest baseball would be better off with a salary cap.  —  First, baseball has done pretty well without one.  Drayton presumably knows this.  —  (I've written brilliant columns on this topic.

More on Bard  —  In case you're wondering, a source has confirmed an agreement between the Red Sox and catcher Josh Bard, whom the club eyes as a backup, perhaps to Jason Varitek.  The Bard acquisition in no way eliminates the chance of Varitek returning to the club in 2009.

Source: Snyder agrees to deal … The Arizona Diamondbacks have reached preliminary agreement on a three-year, $14.25 million guaranteed contract extension with catcher Chris Snyder, a baseball source told ESPN.com.  —  The deal, the completion of which is pending the physical exam …

New-look Mets  —  Yosef Sebrow sends in this look at what appears to be modest tweaks to the black uniforms the Mets wear, which he shot at a Sports Authority in Forest Hills.  It's labeled “METH,” presumably for Mets' home.  He writes: “The old one was black, orange dropshadow, then white, then blue.

Penny, Red Sox strike deal  —  Right-hander made 17 starts in injury-plagued '08 with Dodgers  —  BOSTON — When it comes to free-agent starting pitchers, it almost always has been Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein's choice to pass up lucrative, long-term deals in favor of low-risk, high-reward solutions.

Through the Years: Jim Rice  —  Was Jim Rice truly “feared” in his time?  —  In recent years, it has become very much in vogue to discuss the merits of Jim Rice's candidacy for the Hall of Fame.  Similar to Jack Morris, proponents of Rice's candidacy cite two key areas as their basis for support …

Bad news for Bernie Williams  —  As you probably know, Bernie Williams joined a winter ball team in Puerto Rico with the idea of playing himself into shape to compete in the World Baseball Classic.  —  After a 1-for-7 start, I've been told Bernie suffered a serious quad injury.

Turnbow remains possibility for Marlins  —  HOUSTONBOSTON - Free-agent right-hander and former Brewers closer Derrick Turnbow has narrowed his options to three teams, including the Marlins.  —  According to a baseball source, the Marlins are “squarely in the mix” to acquire Turnbow, who turns 31 next month.