Yankees agree to deal with Rafael Soriano  —  Brian Cashman sure slow-played this one.  —  Despite insisting last week that the Yankees would not surrender their first round pick in the 2011 MLB Amateur Draft in order to sign a remaining Type A free agent, the Bombers agreed to terms on Thursday night with reliever Rafael Soriano.

Nationals look to replace Harris on bench  —  WASHINGTON — Utility player Willie Harris is not expected to return to the Nationals.  Instead, he will sign with another Major League club as early as this week, according to a baseball source.  —  Two big league teams have made Harris an offer.

Padres Close To Deal With Chad Qualls  —  The Padres are close to a deal with Chad Qualls, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (Twitter links).  The sides are nearing a one-year deal worth about $2MM that includes a club option for 2012, Morosi reports.  Hendricks Sports represents Qualls.

Brian Cashman says Yankees still unclear on whether Andy Pettitte will retire or return to Bombers  —  BY STEFAN BONDY IN ARIZONA AND NATHANIEL VINTON IN NEW YORK  —  PARADISE VALLEY, Ariz. - Brian Cashman might have given a hint about Andy Pettitte's future Wednesday at the owners' meetings …

Minor League Transactions: Jan. 1-10  —  Lefty reliever Mariano Gomez, 28, has decent secondary stuff but no overpowering pitch, despite a 6-foot-6, 240-pound build.  As a member of the Braves' Gwinnett affiliate, he held Triple-A lefties to a .234/.302/.351 batting line in '10.  —  Florida Marlins

Braves claim right-hander Varvaro off waivers  —  ATLANTA — If Anthony Varvaro proves to be as valuable as Eric O'Flaherty has been, the Braves will certainly be happy about their latest attempt to enhance their organization's bullpen depth with a pitcher who had been deemed expendable by the Mariners.

N.C. TV station reports son suspected of killing Vero Beach dad  —  PORT ST. LUCIE — Former players who were a part of the Mets 1969 or 1986 championship teams remember what it was like to be on top in New York.  —  It's a feeling the Mets hope to experience once again this season.

Angel Pagan says New York Mets, if healthy, can give Philadelphia Phillies a fight in the NL East  —  Angel Pagan knows that much of the baseball world is “talking about Philadelphia” since the Phillies added Cliff Lee to an already-imposing rotation.  But Pagan wants to make sure no one forgets …

Frank Robinson hospitalized after dizzy spell  —  PARADISE VALLEY, Ariz. — Hall-of-Famer Frank Robinson was taken to Scottsdale Memorial Hospital on Thursday morning because of dizziness and an irregular heartbeat, Major League Baseball spokesman Pat Courtney told the media assembled here for this week's ownership meetings.

G.O.A.T.  —  The Greatest of All Time.  (AP)  —  One of the primary attractions of statistical analysis, at least for me, is that it can tell you things that aren't readily apparent.  Sometimes, statistics even tell you that what appears to be readily apparent isn't actually true at all.

Atlanta Braves to host Philadelphia Phillies in the 2011 Civil Rights Game on Sunday, May 15  —  Game will highlight an expanded series of events designed by MLB and the Braves to pay tribute to Civil Rights history in Atlanta and nationwide  —  Major League Baseball and the Atlanta Braves today announced …

Wells admits he got ‘too big for my britches’  —  Pitcher apologizes for disappointing sophomore season  —  Sean Marshall, Koyii Hill, Darwin Barney and Jay Jackson entertain kids at Mt. Carmel Academy.  (José M. Osorio, Chicago Tribune / January 12, 2011)

Pavia names Bobby Valentine as Stamford public safety director  —  STAMFORD — Mayor Michael Pavia announced Thursday morning that he has appointed former New York Mets manager Bobby Valentine to his cabinet as the city's director of public health and safety.