I'll have what Melky is drinking  —  Brian Bruney asked for $1.55 million in arbitration.  The Yankees offered $1.1 million.  Seems like there is a deal to be made there before a hearing.  —  Melky Cabrera, meanwhile, asked for $1.7 million.  The Yankees offered $1.2 million.

ESPN shuffles talent to battle partner MLB  —  One of the longest-running acts in TV sports is getting a new cast member.  ESPN will formally announce Wednesday that Steve Phillips will join Jon Miller and Joe Morgan, who've called ESPN's Sunday night baseball for 19 years.

Fielder staying in Milwaukee in '09, Brewers GM says  —  Forget what you've read in the blogosphere: Prince Fielder will be wearing a Milwaukee Brewers uniform for all of the 2009 season.  —  So says general manager Doug Melvin, who flatly dismissed the trade rumors that have been flying …

Phils Avoid Arbitration With Werth  —  The Phillies and outfielder Jayson Werth avoided arbitration Wednesday by agreeing to a multiyear deal.  —  In 134 games last season (103 starts), Werth hit .273 with 24 home runs and 67 RBIs.  He also scored 73 runs and stole 20 bases.

Howard Wants $18 Million; Victorino, Blanton Sign  —  Compared to last year's offer, the Phillies doubled up what they want to pay Ryan Howard for the 2009 season.  Trouble is, Howard's price went up, too.  —  Teams and players exchanged arbitration numbers on Tuesday and the 2006 NL MVP …

Mets sign 10 to Minor League contracts  —  Pitchers Martin, Fossum among group heading to Spring Training  —  NEW YORK — Veteran left-handed pitchers Tom Martin and Casey Fossum are among the 10 players the Mets have signed to Minor League contracts and invited to Spring Training.

Horne hopes for big comeback  —  Former Marianna High School and Chipola pitcher Alan Horne left home for Tampa Monday in preparation of yet another spring training.  —  This year's camp, the New York Yankees farmhand hopes, will be the last he attends as a minor leaguer.

Heath Bell and Arbitration  —  Today we announced an agreement on a one-year deal with Heath Bell, thereby avoiding the arbitration process.  This was our final arbitration eligible player for this winter, as we've reached agreements with Scott Hairston, Jody Gerut, and Luis Rodriguez in the past few weeks …

D-Backs fire D. Baxter after DUI arrest  —  The Diamondbacks have cut ties with the man who played their team mascot, D. Baxter the Bobcat, after he was arrested on suspicion of extreme DUI.  —  David Hamilton, 35, was fired by the Diamondbacks three weeks ago.

Free agent Pudge still hoping to catch on  —  Way back when, there was Homestead.  —  It was the spring of 1995, and the baseball strike had just ended.  And with tons of free agents in need of a job, the players association set up a camp in Homestead, Fla., where they could work out and get noticed.

Two MN Companies Keep Baseball Tradition Alive  —  They say that an apple a day will keep the doctor away.One huge apple in Le Center will be doing a lot more than that.News 12's Jennifer Hudspeth has more about how two Minnesota companies are keeping a major league baseball tradition alive.For years …

Cy Young winner Cliff Lee open to extension from Cleveland Indians  —  Cy Young winner Cliff Lee, in Cleveland for a physical and the Indians press tour, talked about his busy offseason today at Progressive Field.  —  * Lee is signed through 2009 with a club option for 2010.

As Bush leaves, so does pardon shot for Rocket  —  There was no last-minute pardon for Roger Clemens before President Bush left the White House Tuesday, and the federal grand jury that has been examining evidence that the former Yankee star committed perjury will continue its work.

Mariners make a trade for reliever David Aardsma  —  Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik continues to be busy making moves.  After signing Erik Bedard and Aaron Heilman to one-year deals to avoid arbitration, Zdruiencik also announced that the Mariners have acquired right-handed reliever David Aardsma …

Rocco thanks Rays fans in newspaper ad  —  Former Rays outfielder Rocco Baldelli, who signed as a free agent with the Boston Red Sox this offseason, took out a half-page ad in today's St. Petersburg Times thanking Rays fans for their support.  “I will always think of the Tampa Bay Area as my second home …

$1.3 million divide between Atkins, Rockies  —  Third baseman seeks $7.95 million  —  Third baseman Garrett Atkins and the Rockies found themselves $1.3 million apart on a 2009 salary after the sides exchanged arbitration figures Tuesday.  —  Forty-six players went through that process …

Papelbon agrees to $6.25M deal with Red Sox  —  Closer Jonathan Papelbon and the Boston Red Sox have agreed to a $6.25 million, one-year contract that avoided salary arbitration.  Left-hander Javier Lopez agreed to a one-year deal worth $1.35 million.  Boston has not gone to arbitration since Theo Epstein became general manager.