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.

Source: MLB to decide division ties with one-game playoff  —  NEW YORK (AP) — A person familiar with the talks says baseball players and owners have reached an understanding that ties for division titles will be broken on the field under the new playoff format.

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 …

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 …

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.