Ian Desmond, Ben Zobrist were part of Nats-Mets-Rays trade discussion  —  FOX Sports  —  Ian Desmond (left) and Ben Zobrist were centerpieces of a blockbuster trade discussion among the Nationals, Rays and Mets.  —  Consider this potential blockbuster:  —  * Shortstop Ian Desmond to the Mets.

Finally healthy, Daniel Bard prepared for a comeback  —  He was, with little debate, the best setup man in major league baseball in 2010 and 2011.  It was tough to deny that Daniel Bard was a stud with that 97-mile-per-hour heat, where he'd be automatic in the eighth inning for the Red Sox before giving way to Jonathan Papelbon.

Minor League Transactions: Dec. 24-Jan. 8  —  Official minor league transactions, conveyed to Baseball America by Major League Baseball, for the period Dec. 24-Jan. 8.  Arizona Diamondbacks Signed: LHP Jose Jose (re-signed), 1B Jordan Pacheco (re-signed), 2B [...]

Veteran lefty said he's experiencing no pain after recovering from right knee surgery  —  Matt Waymire and Jim Duquette discuss CC Sabathia's offseason efforts as the Yankees lefty looks to bounce back in 2015  —  Yankees left-hander CC Sabathia, on the comeback trail from knee surgery …

Phillies should be able to find a taker for Ryan Howard  —  FOX Sports  —  As long as Ryan Howard can hit home runs the Phillies should be able to find a team that wants him if they pay a good deal of his salary.  —  The start of spring training is a little more than a month away.

Red Sox's offseason additions likely to slot into the heart of their batting order  —  MLB.com's Jim Duquette analyzes how the addition of Hanley Ramirez will impact the Red Sox lineup in 2015  —  BOSTON — Though John Farrell won't submit a lineup card in a regular-season game until April 6 …

'Percival's Lonesome Foursome' heard  —  The way I see it, the other three members of the Baseball Writers Association of America who cast ballots for Troy Percival in this year's Hall of Fame balloting owe me.  —  They chose not to make their ballots public.

Fourth outfield search wide open  —  MIAMI — All options remain in play for the Marlins in their search for a fourth outfielder.  There are at least four candidates, and no clear frontrunner.  —  Free agents Nate Schierholtz and Ichiro Suzuki definitely are in the mix.  But the list is deeper than these two.

Herzog calls 1985 team his best as Cards manager  —  Whitey Herzog managed the Cardinals for 11 seasons, not starting one of those years and not finishing two others — one being 1980, when he ascended to the general manager's post with a month to go in the season and then hired himself back as manager when the season was over.

Pirates' Burnett aims to defy age curve  —  A.J. Burnett began thinking about returning to the Pirates last season.  —  When the Philadelphia Phillies and Pirates seasons intersected, Burnett told his former teammates how awkward it felt to be pitching against them, like he was pitching live batting practice in spring training.

Cano to log short stint in Dominican Winter League  —  11/16/14: Robinson Cano discusses his experience eating Japanese cuisine and talks about the injury to his right foot  —  SEATTLE — Robinson Cano has been granted permission by the Mariners to play a handful of games …