Nationals To Sign Brad Lidge  —  The Nationals have agreed to sign free agent right-hander Brad Lidge to a one-year deal, the team announced.  Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com tweets that Lidge will earn $1MM plus incentives.  MLB.com's Bill Ladson reported the agreement via Twitter after Salisbury first tweeted that a deal was close.

Elsa/Getty Images  —  What the Hell Are the Red Sox Doing?  —  While the rest of the American League elite is reloading, all seems too quiet at Fenway Park  —  Nine point four two.  We're years past the point of obsessing over ERA, understanding that it's a flawed stat subject to the whims of defense …

Inbox: How will Feliz fare as a starter?  —  Beat reporter T.R. Sullivan answers Rangers fans' questions  —  Do you think Neftali Feliz can put up similar numbers this season as a starter that he did his first couple of seasons as a closer?  Two hundred innings would put him in Derek Holland/Matt Garza territory.

Orioles may find fit with players represented by agent Scott Boras  —  So the Prince Fielder truck rolled along I-95 without ever stopping on the interstate.  —  Well, that doesn't mean the Orioles can't get on the Scott Boras Free Agent Bandwagon before spring training starts.

Terry McGuirk discusses Braves' payroll, ownership, TV deals  —  The Braves have set a player payroll budget of $94 million for this year, leaving them with several million dollars still to spend, the team's chairman and CEO said.  —  Terry McGuirk, in a wide-ranging interview …

In the Book  —  Baseball Prospectus 2012 has some really cool stuff, including  — in-depth coverage of over 1600 players  — a Ken Tremendous/Michael Schur foreword  — Rookie of the Year co-editors King Kaufman (who also wrote the foreword to Best of Baseball Prospectus Vol 1) …

No room for Isringhausen in Mets' bullpen  —  Mets on Twitter  —  It doesn't appear there is going to be room in the Mets' retooled bullpen for Jason Isringhausen.  —  Sources said the team “hasn't ruled anything out,” but they don't expect him back.  —  “There probably isn't a fit for him here,” another source said.

Breaking down MLB.com's Top 100 Prospects  —  MLB.com's first Top 100 Prospects list is now, as they said in “Mission: Impossible,” out in the open.  Now the fun is just beginning.  —  The whole purpose of this kind of list is to get people talking, arguing, pushing and shoving.  OK, not that last part.

Rockies and RHP Rafael Betancourt Agree on Contract Extension  —  Two-Year Contract Includes Option for 2014  —  The Colorado Rockies announced today that the club has agreed to terms on a contract extension with right-handed relief pitcher Rafael Betancourt through 2013, with an option for 2014.

Wedge leaning toward moving Ichiro in lineup  —  Ackley an option to replace veteran in leadoff spot  —  Ichiro Suzuki, who has been entrenched atop the Mariners' lineup since arriving in Seattle in 2001, could find his name penciled in the lineup card in a place other than leadoff next season …

MLB Declares Yoenis Cespedes A Free Agent  —  The bidding for Yoenis Cespedes can begin.  —  Major League Baseball informed teams today that Cespedes, a 26-year-old Cuban outfielder, is now a free agent.  Cespedes recently received his Dominican residency, a prerequisite for MLB to declare …

Angels have offer out to Ayala; nothing imminent  —  The Angels are one of “a handful of teams” that have tendered a formal offer to Luis Ayla, but a source familiar with the negotiations said the free-agent reliever is still weighing his options and a decision is not imminent.

Rays close to deal with INF Jeff Keppinger  —  The Rays are closing in on a deal with INF Jeff Keppinger.  —  If negotiations are completed and he passes his physical it is likely to be announced by the end of the week.  —  Keppinger, 31, split last season between the Astros and Giants …