Valentine on his way to recruit Ortiz  —  CAP CANA, Dominican Republic — Bobby Valentine is wasting no time trying to improve the Red Sox.  —  Installed as manager yesterday, Valentine is on his way to the Dominican Republic now to meet with David Ortiz and participate in his charity golf event tomorrow.

Sources: Heath Bell, Marlins agree  —  The Miami Marlins and free-agent closer Heath Bell have agreed on a three-year contract, pending a physical, sources told ESPN.com.  —  The two sides have been talking about a deal that would pay Bell $9 million a year.  The deal also includes a vesting option for a fourth year.

Rockies' Stewart on trade block, but DeWitt not right fit  —  It has been said about Colorado weather, if you don't like it, wait 15 minutes.  The same applies to baseball's hot stove.  Trade talks, to the say the least, are fluid situations.  —  While the Rockies have explored trading …

Former NY Mets GM Omar Minaya hired by San Diego Padres for undisclosed front office position  —  Minaya was canned by Mets after 2010 season  —  Omar Minaya, fired by the NY Mets after 2010 season, is back in baseball with the Padres.  —  A year after seeing his five-year stint …

Transcript of Sandy Alderson's Conference Call with Bloggers  —  On Thursday evening, Mets general manager Sandy Alderson spent a good portion of his evening fielding questions from the blogs, and Eno, Eric, and I have put together the full transcript of the call.

Crasnick: Highly touted Cuban outfielder available for the taking  —  Cuban free-agent outfielder could command in the neighborhood of a $50 million deal  —  Cuban outfielder Yoenis Cespedes has yet to play a game in the major leagues, and some scouts are already comparing him to former Los Angeles Dodgers All-Star Raul Mondesi.

Brewers Looking For Bullpen, Infield Help  —  The Brewers stand to lose both Takashi Saito and Francisco Rodriguez to free agency this winter, and GM Doug Melvin told Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel that he plans to talk to agents and look for bullpen help at the Winter Meetings next week (all Twitter links).

Dodgers Sign Chris Capuano  —  The Dodgers announced that they signed left-hander Chris Capuano to a two-year contract that rounds out the team's rotation and may signify the end of Hiroki Kuroda's tenure in Los Angeles.  The $10MM deal includes an $8MM mutual option for 2014 and $1MM in incentives.

Bulked-up Chris Bosh: I'll play center if needed  —  Heat power forward Chris Bosh is ready, willing, and, this time, able to play center if called upon.  —  After shying from the assignment for much of his career, Bosh said he has resigned himself to the reality that he might be the Heat's best option in the middle at times.

Marlins left fielder Logan Morrison will have arthroscopic surgery Monday on right knee  —  Logan Morrison today visited with Marlins doctors, who examined his sore right knee.  Morrison will have minor surgery Monday and is expected to be riding an exercise bike the following week, according to his agent, Fred Wray.