Soriano ‘happy to be close to greatest closer’  —  Yankees new setup man excited to team with legendary Rivera  —  NEW YORK — The Yankees put the finishing touches on creating one of the game's top late-inning relief combinations, introducing right-hander Rafael Soriano during a news conference Wednesday at Yankee Stadium.

Twins Agree To Terms With Carl Pavano  —  The Twins have agreed to terms with right-hander Carl Pavano on a two-year, $16.5MM contract, according to a team press release.  Pavano will earn $8MM next season and $8.5MM in 2012, plus an extra $500K should he reach certain incentive clauses.

Trying to void an MLB contract: Three case studies  —  (Sidney Ponson pitches for the Orioles in a game in September of 2004, a year before the Orioles tried to get out of his contract.  Photo by Associated Press).  —  No matter how egregious an offense by a baseball player …

Prospect Watch: Top 10 second basemen  —  Mariners' Ackley leads a diverse group at the position … The term “natural second baseman” doesn't come up very often.  It's not that it never happens, but it's more than common to see any list of second-base prospects consist of shortstops …

Boston Red Sox's Adrian Gonzalez has first catch after surgery  —  Adrian Gonzalez tossed a baseball on Monday with his brother Edgar Gonzalez at the Gonzalez Sports Academy outside San Diego, the first time that the left-handed first baseman has played catch since having surgery on his right shoulder.

Former Blue Jays skipper Hartsfield dies  —  Roy Hartsfield, the first manager of the Toronto Blue Jays, passed away on Saturday at his daughter's Atlanta-area home.  He was 85.  —  Hartsfield's death was the result of complications from liver cancer, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, which first reported the news.

Minor League Transactions: Jan. 11-17  —  Arizona Diamondbacks  —  Atlanta Braves  —  Baltimore Orioles  —  Boston Red Sox  —  Jon Still spent all of last season on the inactive list.  A fourth-round pick in '06, he batted .233/.301/.416 for Double-A Portland in '09.  —  Chicago Cubs

Mariners to use committee to fill Niehaus' spot  —  At least five announcers will rotate after Hall of Famer's passing  —  SEATTLE — The Mariners have made a decision on how best to replace Hall of Fame broadcaster Dave Niehaus, with the answer being to use a group of familiar personalities …

Meeting Up and Hanging Out with Bert  —  Make no mistake about it, I've had a fun-tastic two weeks.  It all started with the phone call from Bert Blyleven on Wednesday, January 5 when he informed me 30 minutes prior to the actual announcement that he had been elected to the Hall of Fame.

Matt Anderson's life after octopus story  —  Reliever ready to move from legend of how his career was halted and make comeback  —  PHILADELPHIA — Before you learn anything about Matt Anderson's hopes, dreams or chances of authoring the comeback of the baseball summer with the 2011 Philadelphia Phillies …

Mike Pelfrey to start on Opening Day  —  With Johan Santana expected to miss the first half of the season, New York Mets manager Terry Collins named Mike Pelfrey his Opening Day starter on Wednesday, during a charity event at Citi Field.  —  “He deserves it,” Collins said after speaking …

Polo Grounds, and Its Former Tenants, Emerge From the Shadows  —  When a ballpark dies, and its concrete and steel are smashed to bits, it survives in memories: attending a first game there; smelling the mix of grass, hot dogs and beer; rising with thousands of others to watch a home run take flight; and catching a foul ball (finally!).

Mother of Chicago Cubs outfielder Alfonso Soriano dies suddenly  —  ORLANDO — The mother of Chicago Cubs outfielder Alfonso Soriano, Andrea Soriano, died on Tuesday night in San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic, after suffering what appears to be a heart attack, the player told ESPNdeportes.com.

Padres Agree To Terms With Chad Qualls  —  The Padres have agreed to terms with right-hander Chad Qualls, according to a team press release.  The contract is for one year with a team option for 2012.  Qualls will earn $1.5MM next season and it will cost the Padres $1.05MM to buy out the 2012 option …

Hazen on Ryan Westmoreland: “You know how bad he wants it”  —  Ryan Westmoreland (pictured at Gillette Stadium on Nov. 21) is still working out in Florida, Red Sox farm director Mike Hazen said at a rookie-program workout at Boston College on Wednesday.  Westmoreland is still working …