Red Sox can often be late risers  —  + Recent Articles + Recent Blog Entries + Email  —  If anything will help the case of Varitek, who will turn 40 in April, it is that in a limited role last season — 64 starts — he tended to get pretty good results from the pitching staff.

PADRES: Club to re-engage in extension talks with Maybin  —  SAN DIEGO — The Padres will restart contact extension talks with Cameron Maybin next month, two sources confirmed.  —  General manager Josh Byrnes and representatives for the center fielder recently had a “broad” …

For Mets, Vast Debt and Not a Lot of Time  —  The finances of major professional sports teams exist largely as the secrets of privately held companies, except for the community-owned Green Bay Packers, who report their profits without a hint of resistance.  —  But elements of the Mets' finances …

MLB teams haven't finished shopping yet  —  You want established pitching?  Then you will pay through the nose for it.  —  That's the precedent set by the deals that transpired before Christmas: The Rangers won the posting bid for Japanese star Yu Darvish for $51.7 million …

Holidays mean family time for ballplayers  —  Long-running traditions renewed every winter for Major Leaguers  —  They treasure those “opening” days of holidays past, filled with joy by presents ranging from Jered Weaver's first drum set to Mike Matheny's BB gun to Vinnie Pestano's original PlayStation 2 …

Baseball lucky to have had McLane around  —  Drayton McLane slipped out the backdoor that final day in Milwaukee last month, off to a life out of the spotlight after 17 years as the owner of the Houston Astros.  —  I'm taking this opportunity to say now what I didn't have the chance to say then.

Four Teams Talking To Hisashi Iwakuma  —  There are four teams talking to free agent Japanese right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma, according to Joe Stiglich of the Bay Area News Group (via Twitter).  The Athletics, who won the bidding on Iwakuma last winter but couldn't work out a contract, are one of the four, says Stiglich.

Posada more likely a backup plan  —  There's a Spanish-language report today from ESPNDeportes.com that the Rays are among the teams interested in former Yankees star Jorge Posada, including quotes from Posada's father confirming their interest.  —  But from the Rays' perspective …

Duquette on Fielder: “We're monitoring the market”  —  The week between Christmas and New Year's tends to be fairly uneventful in baseball.  I'd often volunteer to be on call during that stretch so the other Orioles beat writer at The Sun could relax and celebrate the holiday with his family.

Reds acquire Marshall for Wood, prospects  —  Cincinnati sends Sappelt, Torreyes to Chicago for lefty reliever  —  CINCINNATI — Seeking to shore up the back end of their bullpen, the Reds on Friday completed the trade that acquired lefty reliever Sean Marshall from the Cubs.

Red Sox add McClure, Ochoa and Royster to coaching staff  —  The Red Sox announced their coaching staff today.  As was previously reported, Jerry Royster is the new third base coach and Bob McClure the pitching coach.  Alex Ochoa will be the first base coach.  —  Tim Bogar moves to bench coach.