Nats issue statement; Venezuelan authorities confirm kidnapped Wilson Ramos is alive  —  UPDATE, 12:45:The Nationals and Major League Baseball issued a joint statement:  —  “Our foremost concern is with Wilson Ramos and his family and our thoughts are with them at this time.

Pirates Sign Rod Barajas  —  The Pirates announced that they signed catcher Rod Barajas to a one-year deal that includes a team option for 2013.  Barajas will earn a $4MM salary in 2012 and the option would pay him another $3.5MM in 2013, according to Yahoo's Tim Brown (on Twitter).

The market for Pujols and Fielder  —  How many years?  How many millions?  And where will the sluggers land?  —  ESPN.com  —  It isn't every baseball winter that free-agent mashers such as Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder hit the market at the same time — at the same position, no less.

Epstein compensation may be decided soon  —  Red Sox bring in McClure to a scouting-advisory role  —  BOSTON — Ben Cherington's installment as the Red Sox's general manager has still left some unresolved issues.  —  The Sox have not yet announced how they're re-organizing …

Jorge Posada says return to Yankees is ‘not going to happen,’ catcher may be staring at retirement  —  Former catcher says he will ‘always be a Yankee’  —  Has Jorge Posada waved goodbye to the Yankee Stadium faithful for the final time?  —  The Jorge Posada era in New York is over.

Pat Burrell says his career is likely over  —  SAN FRANCISCO — Pat Burrell's baseball career is likely over because of a troublesome right foot that hasn't healed and limited him this year for the Giants.  —  While Burrell said late in the season that he would contemplate retirement …

Yankees to play Mets twice during spring  —  The Yankees will play a pair of Spring Training exhibitions against the Mets for the first time since 1996, highlighting the club's Grapefruit League schedule released on Thursday.  —  With pitchers and catchers set to report to camp on Feb. 19 …

Lefties Veal, Quintana added to pitching mix  —  The White Sox announced the signing of two left-handers on Thursday, agreeing to one-year deals with Donnie Veal and Jose Quintana.  —  Veal, 27, pitched at four levels in the Pirates organization this past season, including as high as Triple-A …

What do Broxton, Lidge and Nathan want?  —  We know what the Mets are seeking on the free agent market this winter: an affordable closer.  We also know that Brad Lidge, Jonathan Broxton and Joe Nathan are available former All-Star closers.  —  So what do those pitchers want?

Buyer's guide: starting pitchers  —  Darvish heads the class — that is, if he actually comes to the U.S.  —  ESPN Insider … Players in demand  —  1. Yu Darvish, RHP: Darvish hasn't been posted yet, and there's still a chance he won't be, although most people in the industry I've asked seem …

MetsBlog Q&A: Cerrone talks to Sandy about spending  —  Tonight, Sandy Alderson will be a guest on this season's debut episode of SNY's Mets Hot Stove Report, which airs every Thursday night at 7 pm ET.  —  Last week, MetsBlog's Matthew Cerrone caught up with Alderson for a quick …

Mets will ditch the black drop-shadow in 2012  —  In his recent chat for ESPN New York, Adam Rubin backed up his story from last summer indicating the Mets will eliminate the drop shadow from their uniforms next season.  —  According to Rubin, “The Mets are going to borrow significantly, I hear, from the early 1960s uniforms. ...

A-Rod's effect still evident in Texas  —  Buster Olney writes that the Texas Rangers have “been there, done that” with big-money free agents, and Alex Rodriguez's deal crushed the organization.  But the Rangers now work with different financial parameters and could be in on a big name this winter.

Rockies still seeking solution at second base  —  DENVER — The Rockies are entering the 20th year of their quest for a long-term, high-quality answer at second base.  —  Here's a quick review of the almost annual ritual of change:  —  • It's one of two positions at which the Rockies …

Sandy Alomar Jr interviews for Red Sox manager job  —  BOSTON—Sandy Alomar Jr. is interviewing for the Boston Red Sox manager's job.  —  Alomar was scheduled to meet with reporters on Wednesday night after a day of talking with Red Sox officials.  He's the third to interview for the job, after Pete Mackanin and Dale Sveum.