Kelly Shoppach agreement spells likely end for Jason Varitek with Red Sox  —  The Red Sox have agreed to a one-year, $1.35 million deal with catcher Kelly Shoppach.  (AP)  —  The writing had been on the wall for some time.  Whenever he was asked about Jason Varitek this offseason …

Darvish bidding process is cloak-and-dagger affair  —  The Yu Darvish sweepstakes is turning into a spy novel.  An international man of mystery.  Exorbitant amounts of money.  Suspense.  Lies.  Subterfuge.  The only things missing are a shifty mole and a double cross.

MLB is banking on Mets woes and may jump to take control as Wilpons will soon feel the financial squeeze  —  Source says cash crisis on club may go beyond control of Bud & Co.  —  On the day after word was leaked of the Mets taking out yet another loan, here is what you heard Tuesday …

The Agony Of Filling Out A Hall Of Fame Ballot  —  Does Jeff Bagwell belong in the Hall of Fame?  (Courant file photo)  —  While leaving an empty box next to Jeff Bagwell's name ...  Lots of folks have a bucket list, or at least that's the term they assign to it after the 2007 movie with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman.

Former Yankees manager Lou Piniella set to return to Bombers as YES Network television analyst  —  Sources say Sweet Lou expected to also serve as spring training instructor  —  Former Yankees player and manager Lou Piniella is expected to rejoin the Bombers as a member of their YES Network broadcast team.

Source: Twins to add Josh Willingham  —  Veteran outfielder Josh Willingham has reached agreement on a multiyear contract with the Minnesota Twins pending completion of a physical exam, according to a league source.  —  Willingham, 32, is a career .262 hitter with 132 home runs for the Marlins, Nationals and Athletics.

Don Cooper rubbed Sox wrong way — Jake Peavy in particular  —  The relationship between Jake Peavy and pitching coach Don Cooper (above) disintegrated last season when the right-hander believed Cooper threw him under the bus in several interviews.  Nam Y. Huh~AP

Nationals looking at Dobbs for bench role  —  WASHINGTON — In need of strengthening their bench, the Nationals have expressed interest in infielder Greg Dobbs, according to a baseball source.  —  The left-handed-hitting Dobbs, 33, is coming off one of his best seasons, hitting .275 with eight home runs and 49 RBIs for the Marlins.

Crasnick: “The Book” on Fielder  —  “The Book,” put together by the Scott Boras Corporation, details the free-agent slugger  —  In conjunction with Prince Fielder's free-agent debut, his representatives at the Scott Boras Corporation produced a 73-page binder celebrating his achievements in the game.

Tigers, Red Sox among teams in on Gio Gonzalez  —  When the bidding window for Yu Darvish closes at 5 p.m. ET Wednesday, one team will come away with the chance to sign one of the best remaining pitchers available on the winter shopping market.  —  The others can turn their attention back to Gio Gonzalez.

Braun's ex-teammate empathizes with slugger  —  Brewers Minor Leaguer Katin failed drug test, later won appeal  —  It was 2007, and Brendan Katin was an outfielder on the Double-A Huntsville team.  He took the mandatory drug test and didn't think anything about it.  Katin knew he was clean.

Brackman happy to be coming home  —  Andrew Brackman got a call from his agent, Scott Boras, this morning.  —  “He said, 'congratulations, you're going home,” Brackman said.  —  Home, as in home to the Reds.  —  Brackman, the 6-foot-10, 26-year-old right-hander, confirmed that he signed a deal with the Reds.

The Rangers And The Case Of The Missing “Payroll Flexibility”  —  “Our challenge is going to be to keep this level of talent together and we know that.  We're going to step up and put some money in, ask the fans to support us and help us and see if we can't deliver something like this every year.