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.

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.

Indians P Carmona placed on restricted list  —  CLEVELAND (AP) — Indians pitcher Fausto Carmona has been placed on baseball's restricted list following his arrest for false identity.  —  Carmona was arrested last week in the Dominican Republic on charges he falsified his name and birthdate …

White Sox announce 2012 Spring Training Broadcast Schedule  —  Spring Training Games to be Featured on Television, Radio and Internet  —  CHICAGO - The Chicago White Sox, Comcast SportsNet, WGN-TV and WSCR-AM 670 (The Score) have announced the team's 2012 spring training broadcast schedule.

Castellini: Reds will try to sign Votto  —  Slugger will be eligible for free agency following 2013 season  —  CINCINNATI — In light of the nine-year contract, reportedly worth $214 million, that Prince Fielder signed with the Tigers on Thursday, it's time to start wondering about Joey Votto's future with the Reds.

Dodgers secretly bid big for Prince  —  Although they managed to stay under the radar all the while, the Los Angeles Dodgers pushed hard for weeks to try to sign Prince Fielder and thought for a while they might have a legitimate shot at their own secret signing.

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 …

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.

Athletics Designate Adrian Cardenas For Assignment  —  The Athletics announced that they designated infielder Adrian Cardenas for assignment.  The move creates 40-man roster space for Bay Area native Jonny Gomes, whose signing is now official.  —  Cardenas, 24, spent the 2011 season …

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 …

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 …

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) …

Marlins primed to bid for Cespedes  —  Cuban sensation Yoenis Cespedes is on the verge of becoming a free agent, and the Marlins are expected to make a strong push for the 26-year-old outfielder.  —  Cespedes has established residency in the Dominican Republic, which had kept him in a holding pattern for months.