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”.

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.

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 …

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.

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.”

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 …

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.

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.

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 …

Baseball doesn't need a salary cap to stop Yankees  —  (01-19) 21:48 PST — Hidden beneath the Hot Stove League, an integral part of baseball's charm, is the Hot Air Society.  You've heard from them lately, lamenting the Yankees' absurd financial outlay and calling for a salary cap.