Scouting reports for the Top 10 Prospects (How to subscribe) … At first glance, the Mariners' 2011 season wasn't much better than the year before, which was arguably the worst in franchise history.  They finished 67-95, the third-worst record in baseball, had a 17-game losing streak and wound …

Phillies ink Pierre to Minor League deal  —  In a small but potentially significant move, the Phillies signed speedy Juan Pierre to a Minor League contract with an invitation to Spring Training on Friday.  —  Pierre, 34, batted .279 as the everyday leadoff hitter and left fielder for the White Sox last season.

Healthy Youkilis talks Bobby V, ‘witch hunt’  —  BOSTON — Boston Red Sox third baseman Kevin Youkilis stayed out of the public eye this offseason, but he emerged Thursday night to host his annual charity event to benefit “Youk's Kids” and he definitely made up for lost time.

Frank White joins T-Bones, shuts door on Royals  —  The divorce is final now.  No reconciliation is coming, and no happy ending.  Just more of a bitter war between the Royals and a hometown man whose statue stands in front of the stadium he literally helped build with a construction job one summer.

Tests on Dustin Richardson Found 5 Banned Substances  —  Dustin Richardson, a former Boston Red Sox reliever, was suspended this week for 50 games after a random drug test came up positive for performance-enhancing drugs.

Twins to retire Tom Kelly's No. 10  —  MINNEAPOLIS (AP)  —  The Minnesota Twins will retire former manager Tom Kelly's uniform number.  —  President Dave St. Peter revealed the decision late Thursday at an annual awards banquet at Target Field, where the 61-year-old Kelly became emotional after the announcement.

Outfield assist of another kind  —  In a sense, there has been an air of spring training atmosphere around September baseball in Oakland for a while now.  Only without the hope part.  —  The weather is great.  The games don't really decide anything.  And not too many watch them to start with.

Mets sign 3B Matt Tuiasosopo to minors deal  —  The Mets announced they have signed 3B Matt Tuiasosopo to minor league contract.  —  Matt Eddy of Baseball America was the first to report the signing.  —  Tuiasosopo, a former top prospect, had spent his entire career in the Mariners organization before he was released last September.

Prospectus Hit and Run  —  The Heavyweight Infield  —  It's no hyperbole to say Prince Fielder's nine-year, $214 million deal with the Tigers shocked the baseball world.  The Tigers certainly weren't on the list of likely suitors given their sizable commitment to the sizable player occupying his position: Miguel Cabrera.

What's next for Tigers?  Maybe Cespedes  —  The Prince Fielder signing should push the Tigers' 2012 payroll up over $130 million.  —  Is there any money left?  —  Could be, but the Tigers are unlikely to spend it on a full-time designated hitter, or on a fifth-starter candidate who would require a guaranteed major-league contract.

Arredondo agrees to two-year deal with Reds  —  Cincinnati has no arbitration-eligible players remaining  —  The Reds and right-hander Jose Arredondo have agreed to a two-year contract to avoid arbitration, the club announced Thursday.  —  Arredondo was Cincinnati's last remaining arbitration-eligible player.

Source: Giants give righty Hensley 1-year deal  —  The San Francisco Giants have reached agreement on a one-year major league deal with relief pitcher Clay Hensley, according to a baseball source.  Hensley will make a base salary of $750,000 and can earn an additional $300,000 in incentives and awards, the source said.

Mets could have largest payroll dropoff ever  —  The largest one-year payroll slashing in Major League Baseball history might not belong to the then-Florida Marlins, whose offseason fire sale six years ago landed Carlos Delgado and Paul Lo Duca with the New York Mets and gutted the team's payroll from $60 million to $15 million.