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?

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 …

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.

Jays could make statement with Fielder  —  The Blue Jays last made the playoffs nearly two decades ago.  They finished fourth in the AL East in each of the past four seasons.  Ask an average American sports fan what he or she knows about baseball in Toronto, and the reply will have something …

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.

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 …

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 …

No visit for C.J. Wilson  —  As we have reported on this site for weeks (months?), the Yankees are not that hot for C.J. Wilson.  In fact, even though, his agent requested a trip to the Bronx, the Yankees said no. So I'd put the chances of Wilson becoming a Yankee at close to less than five percent.

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 …

Syracuse chancellor: We didn't know of the tape until Sunday  —  Late on Thursday, Nov. 17, ESPN contacted us regarding allegations of inappropriate behavior by Bernie Fine dating back to the 1980s.  We placed Fine on leave so we could learn the facts and avoid unfair rush to judgment.