Maine signs with Red Sox  —  John Maine will have a new team and a new role in 2012.  —  The Boston Red Sox confirmed Friday that they have signed Maine, a North Stafford High School graduate, to a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training.

MLB may still add wild cards in '12  —  Baseball still could add two wild cards for the 2012 season, according to major-league sources.  But to expand the postseason so quickly, the sport must confront a scheduling puzzle that might be impossible to solve.  —  Union and management officials plan …

Mark Cuban, Dennis Gilbert out of Dodgers' ownership derby  —  Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and local baseball executive Dennis Gilbert did not advance to the second round of the Dodgers' ownership bidding, according to two people familiar with the process but not authorized to discuss it publicly.

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 …

Picard seeks $83M payback from Mets owners  —  The trustee in the Bernard Madoff case wants a federal judge to order the owners of the New York Mets to fork over $83 million in fictitious profits received in the giant Ponzi scheme without having to wait for a scheduled March trial, new court filings show.

Sources: Penny considering pitching in Japan  —  Veteran right-handed pitcher Brad Penny is weighing an opportunity to pitch in Japan, two baseball sources said Friday.  Penny, 33 and a veteran of 12 seasons in the major leagues, has had discussions with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in Japan's Pacific League, sources said.

Yankees interested in Ibanez  —  The Yankees have their pitching pieces in place, now it's time to come up with one more left-handed bat.  —  The Yankees officially announced yesterday the signing of free agent right-hander Hiroki Kuroda to a one-year deal worth $10 million with another million in incentives.

Keppinger ready for whatever role he's given  —  Rays finalize one-year deal with versatile veteran infielder  —  ST. PETERSBURG — Tampa Bay finalized a one-year, $1.525 million deal on Friday to bring veteran infielder Jeff Keppinger into the fold.  To make room on their 40-man roster …

Got something to say to Lew Wolff?  Show up Sunday  —  You think the A's are ignoring their East Bay fan base?  You think San Jose is a better fit?  You still wondering why All-Star pitchers Gio Gonzalez, Trevor Cahill and Andrew Bailey are gone?  You want Manny Ramirez as your DH?