Kershaw inks two-year deal, avoids hearing  —  NL CY Young Award winner, Dodgers avert arbitration  —  LOS ANGELES — National League Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers agreed Tuesday on a two-year, $19 million contract to avoid salary arbitration.

Beane to Be Athletics' G.M. Through 2019, Wolff Says  —  General Manager Billy Beane and President Michael Crowley will remain with the Oakland Athletics through the 2019 season, club owner Lew Wolff said today in an interview with Bloomberg Television's “Bloomberg West.”

BALL HALL TO ENSRINE STAUB, MELVIN, CORMIER AND TEAM CANADA  —  “La Grand Orange” was the original face of the Montreal Expos  —  St. Marys - The original face of the Montreal Expos, the current mastermind of the uprising Milwaukee Brewers, the legendary lefthander from Moncton, New Brunswick …

Leaner Evan Longoria focused on playing all 162 games for Tampa Bay Rays  —  Third baseman Evan Longoria looks a little different coming into camp this spring.  —  After spending the past two offseasons bulking up in workouts, Longoria is 10 to 15 pounds leaner and considerably looser …

Teen's research brings Negro Leagues to life  —  Boston-area 17-year-old becomes valued friend to former players  —  The first check arrived in the mailbox at Paul Jones' Hamilton, Ohio, address in June of 2010.  —  There it was, in permanent ink: “$833.33.”  —  Proof, finally, of a Negro League past of which few were aware.

Lose-Lose Situation: Revisiting the Johan Santana Trade  —  Believe it or not, most of our writers didn't enter the world sporting an @baseballprospectus.com address; with a few exceptions, they started out somewhere else.  In an effort to up your reading pleasure while tipping our caps …

Dodgers announce 2012 Spring Training broadcast schedule  —  Regular season on-air talent will call all spring broadcasts  —  The Los Angeles Dodgers today announced their 2012 Spring Training broadcast schedule.  Eighteen of the Dodgers' spring games will be televised in high definition …

Lawsuit: George Brett made false claims  —  IOWA CITY, Iowa — Lawyers are seeking class-action status for a lawsuit that claims Hall of Fame slugger George Brett has been falsely advertising necklaces and bracelets as being able to help improve health and sports performance.

Source: Yoenis Cespedes granted visa  —  Cuban defector Yoenis Cespedes has been granted a visitor's visa to travel from the Dominican Republic to the United States and is likely to meet with the Miami Marlins on Wednesday, a source told ESPN.com's Jayson Stark.

SOURCE: ‘NO TRACTION’ IN RED SOX, OSWALT FIT  —  According to a major league source, there is ‘no traction’ in talks between the Red Sox and free agent pitcher Roy Oswalt.  While there always remains a possibility the two sides could come to an agreement, such a scenario doesn't seem likely at this point.

Thoughts on Roy O.  —  Update at 1:23: I just talked to Walt Jocketty.  He insists that the Reds have had no recent talks to with Oswalt.  —  ""It's all rumors," he said. “  I'm sick and tired of it.  We've had no serious talks.  We've had no contact with the player.

Cora agrees to minor league deal with Cards  —  ST. LOUIS — Light-hitting infielder Alex Cora has agreed to a minor league contract with the St. Louis Cardinals and would get an $800,000 deal if added to the 40-man roster.  —  The 36-year-old played all four infield positions last season …