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.

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.

Trio of Mets hurlers among Top 100 Prospects  —  Wheeler, Harvey, Familia have healthy rivalry developing  —  NEW YORK — It started with Matt Harvey, the college product with the big right arm.  Then Jeurys Familia began outpitching his projections, and one became two.

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.

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.

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 …

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 …

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) …

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 …

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.