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.

Source: Pirates, SS Kang reach deal  —  The Pittsburgh Pirates reached an agreement Monday with South Korean shortstop Jung-Ho Kang on a four-year deal worth approximately $16 million, a source told ESPN MLB Insider Jim Bowden.  —  The deal, which is still pending a physical, also has an option for a fifth year, the source said.

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.

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 …

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 [...]

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.

Orioles Avoid Arbitration With Tommy Hunter  —  The Orioles have avoided arbitration with Tommy Hunter, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports on Twitter.  The righty will earn $4.65MM next year, just a quarter million over the projection of MLBTR/Matt Swartz.

Saint Roberto Clemente?:  Former Pittsburgh pastor seeks sainthood for the Pirates great  —  Saint Roberto?  —  Richard Rossi thinks a case can be made on behalf of the Pirates' late right fielder, Roberto Clemente.  —  Mr. Rossi, who directed and played a scout in the recent movie …

Rockies, Padres, Giants Interested In Dillon Gee  —  Following a report from last night in which Andy Martino of the New York Daily News indicated that the Mets are in active trade talks regarding Dillon Gee, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports tweets that the Rockies, Padres and Giants are all looking at a trade for the 28-year-old righty.

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.