ESPN Sunday Night Baseball hits Cubs, Yankees early  —  Phil Orlins was reminiscing Tuesday about producing the 1990 debut of ESPN Sunday Night Baseball, featuring the now- defunct Montreal Expos, and now 26 years later, it's now the Chicago Cubs' hopeful return to prominence highlighting their broadcast season.

Diamondbacks still interested in James Shields, despite tight budget  —  Although the imminent signing of Cuban right-hander Yoan Lopez puts the Diamondbacks beyond their financial comfort zone and could push them to make cost-cutting moves, General Manager Dave Stewart said Tuesday …

Johan Santana making a comeback — and the Yankees are interested  —  Johan Santana's comeback began Tuesday night, pitching two scoreless innings in the Venezuelan Winter League, and the Yankees were among the teams in attendance.  —  It was the left-hander's first game on a mound since …

Wright vows to make up for last season during intense training program  —  David Wright at The Barwis Methods Center at the Mets' spring training facility.  —  PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — The road back from the left shoulder injury has been long and tedious with even some outbursts of anger …

Toronto Blue Jays want grass in the Rogers Centre: An inside look at the difficult growth process it requires  —  Imagine: Sitting before you is a scale model of the Rogers Centre, roughly the size of a round roasting pan.  Your challenge: to put a real baseball field in the stadium …

Lack of big trade shows Mets wisely playing long game  —  Mets radio broadcaster Josh Lewin discusses the Mets' plans at shortstop, the team's expectations for the 2015 season and more on Hot Stove  —  It's officially mid-January, and, unless you firmly believe in the ability of Wilmer Flores, the Mets still don't have a shortstop.

Pace of game on agenda at this week's baseball owners' meetings … Baseball  —  Baseball's 10 commissioners through history

Nationals Acquire Dan Butler From Red Sox For Danny Rosenbaum  —  The Nationals have acquired catcher Dan Butler from the Red Sox in exchange for lefty Daniel Rosenbaum, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe reports on Twitter.  Butler had been designated for assignment a week ago.

Pacquiao agrees to fight Mayweather  —  The fight the world has wanted to see for the better part of six years — a long-awaited summit meeting between welterweight champions Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao, the two top boxers in the world — is not done, but it has cleared a major hurdle.

Document from 1945 that said black players couldn't make it in baseball is up for sale  —  Document from 1945 - two years before Jackie Robinson broke MLB color barrier - saying black players couldn't make it in baseball is up for sale  —  A 1945 document offered for sale …

Braves sign Wandy Rodriguez to minor league deal  —  The Braves signed veteran left-hander Wandy Rodriguez to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training, where he'll compete for the fifth spot in the starting rotation, a person familiar with the situation said.

Moss, five other Indians file for arbitration  —  MLB.com Indians reporter Jordan Bastian discusses the club's trade for Brandon Moss and how this move could lead to more transactions  —  CLEVELAND — The Indians' most prominent arbitration case this offseason involves the team's most prominent acquisition of the winter.

No team emerging from the pack quite yet, but plenty of potential this season  —  Richard Justice analyzes the Nationals' strong roster and discusses what GM Mike Rizzo might do next, including options for second base  —  Is there one team out there you're absolutely certain will be in the playoffs this season?