Orioles talk with Rangers about Teagarden; Mathis could fit backup plan  —  One of the main priorities you can expect the Orioles to soon address - whether it is this week, during the winter meetings or shortly thereafter - is getting a backup catcher.  The Orioles are looking for someone …

Red Sox hire Bobby Valentine  —  The Boston Red Sox announced Wednesday night that Bobby Valentine will be introduced as manager Thursday.  —  The team will host a news conference at 5:30 p.m. at Fenway Park to announce Valentine's hire.  —  The hiring comes a little over two months since …

Inbox: Why not try to sign Fielder?  —  Beat reporter T.R. Sullivan answers Rangers fans' questions  —  I know a goal of the Rangers' offseason is to lock up the “core” of the team and that makes them unlikely to sign Prince Fielder.  How much would a huge signing like Fielder paralyze the Rangers financially?

2012 Hall of Fame Ballot  —  Bernie Williams Leads Field of 13 Newcomers  —  Barry Larkin, Jack Morris Tops Among Returnees; Results announced Jan. 9, 2012  —  Two American League batting champions, two league leaders in runs batted in and a winner of the Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year Award …

Signing-bonus constraints to impact Draft  —  Time will tell if teams will be helped or hampered by new system  —  Those who collectively bargained the new Basic Agreement are being lauded for maintaining a long stretch of labor peace.  While it certainly accomplishes that, a good portion of it …

Mo to have polyps removed from vocal cords  —  Mariano Rivera will undergo surgery Friday to remove polyps from his vocal cords, the Yankees closer said Thursday.  —  While appearing at a Salvation Army event at the Marriott Marquis in New York, Rivera said he will be unable to speak …

Mets have inquired about A's Andrew Bailey  —  “The Mets are among the at least half-dozen teams that have inquired seriously about Oakland closer Andrew Bailey,” a person familiar with those talks told Joel Sherman of the New York Post.  —  However, according to Sherman …

Orioles Designate Pedro Viola For Assignment  —  The Orioles designated left-hander Pedro Viola for assignment to create roster space for the newly-acquired Taylor Teagarden, the team announced.  Baltimore's 40-man roster remains full.  —  Viola, 28, has appeared in six games for the Orioles since 2010.

Top 50 MLB players age 25 or under  —  Ranking the best young big leaguers in the game today, starting with Justin Upton  —  In September, my colleague Bill Simmons, (who has his own site to play with now) suggested to me on his podcast that I rank the top 50 MLB players age 25 and under for 2012.

Twins making a ‘mad effort’ to sign Cuddyer; Capps on radar too  —  SportsWire Twins Twins making a ‘mad effort’ to sign Cuddyer; Capps on radar too  —  With the winter meetings just a few days away, the Minnesota Twins' priority list includes finding a new closer and filling a void in right field …

Source: John Danks talks on hold  —  CHICAGO — The Chicago White Sox haven't made a long-term contract offer to starter John Danks very recently because they were rebuffed after multiple attempts not that long ago, a source told ESPNChicago.com on Thursday.

Mariners to stick with rotating radio booth in '12  —  Seven broadcasters will work alongside play-by-play man Rizzs  —  SEATTLE — The Mariners will again use a rotating group of seven broadcasters to work alongside veteran play-by-play man Rick Rizzs on their radio network next season …

Rockies' Geivett candidate for Astros' GM job  —  HOUSTON — Bill Geivett, the senior vice president of scouting and player development/assistant general manager of the Colorado Rockies, has emerged as a candidate for the Astros' vacant general manager position.

Will Heath Bell be the next Marlins closer?  —  Got word late last night that the Marlins were going strong after reliever Heath Bell.  That was confirmed this morning in a tweet by national baseball writer Jon Heyman that the Marlins had met with Bell.  —  ESPN reported late last night …

Marlins still confident, Brewers & Tigers are ‘iffy.’  —  The Marlins still feel somewhat optimistic about their chances of signing Jose Reyes, SI.com's Jon Heyman said on Twitter today.  —  He also says the Braves, Phillies and Giants seem to be out the running, while the Brewers and Tigers remain ‘iffy.’

Patriot-News Exclusive: Jerry Sandusky's lawyer says plea deal is possible if more victims come forward, previews his defense  —  STATE COLLEGE — At least four, maybe more, new alleged victims have come forward since Jerry Sandusky's arrest.  —  And Joe Amendola, the lawyer lambasted …

Cubs sign OF David DeJesus  —  The Cubs and outfielder David DeJesus have agreed to terms on a two-year contract with a club option for the 2014 campaign, the team announced on Wednesday.  DeJesus is expected to make $4.25 million in the first two seasons with the option year worth $6.5 million, or a $1.5 million buyout.

Slimmer Teixeira seeks improvement vs. righties  —  NEW YORK — Mark Teixeira says that he is already about 10 pounds lighter thanks to diet and exercise, but what the Yankees first baseman really wants to do is bulk up his batting average from the left side.