Pirates sign LaRoche, three others  —  The Pirates this morning signed first baseman Adam LaRoche on a one-year contract worth $7.05 million, thus avoiding salary arbitration.  He can make an additional $100,000 in performance bonuses based on plate appearances.

Sullivan signs with Mets  —  Cory Sullivan, arguably one of the best defensive center fielders in Rockies' history, has caught on with the Mets, signing a one-year, $600,000 major league deal with $300,000 in incentives.  —  Sullivan was a career .279 hitter with the Rockies in four seasons …

Tom Verducci: Cold reality check for remaining free agents and more notes … Each passing day brings us closer to spring training and the remaining free agents to a cold reality check, if not forced retirement for a few.  —  The big money, except for what the Dodgers have socked away for Manny Ramirez, is gone.

Inside Jonathan Broxton's new Dodgers contract  —  Jonathan Broxton's new, $1.825-million contract with the Dodgers includes $200,000 in incentives based on games finished.  That means he'll probably be in line earn more than $2 million if he becomes the Dodgers' closer.

Lefty Wolf turns down D-Backs  —  It looks like free agent left-hander Randy Wolf won't be the answer to the Diamondbacks' search for another starting pitcher.  —  Just as right-hander Jon Garland did last week, Wolf in recent days turned down an offer from the Diamondbacks.

Potential Peavy deal remains elusive, and so does the pitcher himself  —  My car is poorly suited to a stakeout.  There's no heat, no air conditioning, no GPS device, no CD player, much less the invisibility option James Bond employed to make his Vanquish vanish in “Die Another Day”.

Minor League Transactions  —  This installment considers all transactions reported by MLB between Jan. 13 to 16.  The previous installment is available here.  —  Atlanta Braves  —  Removed from 40-man roster: LHP Francisley Bueno  —  A native of Cuba who signed with Atlanta in 2006 …

Source: Papelbon's $6.25M deal makes history  —  The Boston Red Sox have signed closer Jonathan Papelbon to a one-year contract worth $6.25 million, a major league source said Tuesday.  It would be the largest contract in history for a closer who was eligible for arbitration for the first time.

Blue Jays agree to terms with three  —  TORONTO — The Blue Jays have agreed to terms with RHP Jason Frasor, INF Jose Bautista and RHP Jeremy Accardo on contracts for the 2009 season.  —  Frasor, 31, agreed to terms on a $1.45 million dollar contract for the 2009 season.

Fixing the free agent compensation system  —  It's like clockwork: Whenever the Yankees sign a big-name free agent, baseball writers across the country dust off the old “baseball needs a salary cap” article, change some names and numbers, send it in to their editor, and enjoy the rest of their day off.

Astros sign Backe to incentive-heavy 1-year deal  —  Astros general manager Ed Wade said today the club signed righthander Brandon Backe to a one-year, $1.55 million contract worth more than $1 million more in incentives.  —  Wade said the club filed arbitration numbers on pitchers Tim Byrdak, Geoff Geary and Wandy Rodriguez.

Bedard, Mariners agree to 1-year deal  —  Former Orioles left-hander, Seattle avoid salary arbitration with contract  —  SEATTLE - Erik Bedard and the Seattle Mariners have agreed to a one-year contract that avoids salary arbitration.  —  The team announced Tuesday that its struggling …

Bartlett gets $1.98-million  —  SS Jason Bartlett avoided arbitration by settling with the Rays on a one-year deal for $1,981,250.  —  “I'm so happy to be done with that,” Bartlett said.  “Now I can just think about playing ball and having fun.  It's going to be another fun and exciting year.”

Buchholz, Grilli, Barmes avoid arbitration with Rockies  —  And then there was one.  Garrett Atkins is the only remaining arbitration-eligible player for the Rockies after they agreed to contracts with relievers Taylor Buchholz and Jason Grilli and second baseman Clint Barmes.

Players, clubs rush to settle arbitration cases  —  NEW YORK - Ryan Madson's $12 million, three-year contract was completed Tuesday by the Philadelphia Phillies, and Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Adam LaRoche agreed to a $7.05 million, one-year contract as teams and players in arbitration rushed to settle cases.

Center of attention: McLouth faces higher expectations in 2009  —  Almost everyone pegged Nate McLouth as a fourth outfielder in the major leagues, but he showed them all last year what kind of damage he can do as an everyday player.  —  “He emerged last year and just proved himself to be legit …

Nolasco agrees to one-year deal  —  Marlins right-hander to earn $2.4 million this season  —  MIAMI — A big piece of the Marlins' rotation is now under contract.  —  Florida reached agreement on a one-year deal with Ricky Nolasco early Tuesday afternoon, according to a baseball source.

That was a strike? … In theory it is a simple rule.  In practice it is much much harder than that.  There are more arguments with umpires over the strike zone than any other call by a huge margin.  The sheer volume of calls the umpire has to make behind the plate means that more than likely …