Coming back swinging!  Mets hitting coach Kevin Long hurt by Yankees axing, ready to work  —  Although Long took the fall for the Yankees' offensive failures last season, he knows he's good at what he does, particularly in diagnosing problems and creating cures for them.

Sources: Blue Jays showing interest in RHP James Shields  —  FOX Sports  —  The Blue Jays are said to be interested in former Kansas City Royals starting pitcher James Shields.  —  As the price for James Shields drops, an increasing number of clubs are renewing their interest in him.

Billy Beane's moves have Athletics good to go, while John Hart's deals have Braves gone for season  —  Beane did a similar dismantling of his club as Hart did, with nine deals with nine different clubs involving 27 players, but things are looking brighter in Oakland.

Sources: Rockies dangling All-Star OF Blackmon in trade talks  —  FOX Sports  —  Blackmon set career highs in 2014 with 19 HR, 72 RBI and 28 SB while hitting .288.  —  The Colorado Rockies surrendered the most runs in Major League Baseball last year and began the offseason in a familiar position …

Rangers “On Verge” Of Acquiring Yovani Gallardo  —  4:44pm: Gallardo has not been told he has been traded to the Rangers, tweets MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan.  “Nothing to report,” was Doug Melvin's reply when asked about the trade by Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel …

Phillies, Ryan Howard unlikely to part ways soon  —  Speaking 35 days from the first player workout in Clearwater, Fla., Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. deemed it “likely” Ryan Howard will still be with the team come spring training.  —  That despite previously stating he told Howard …

Marlins open to two-year deal with Ichiro  —  Ichiro Suzuki discusses his pursuit of 3,000 hits and how he is using it as motivation to continue playing  —  MIAMI — The Marlins have intensified talks with 10-time All-Star outfielder Ichiro Suzuki and are open to a possible two-year deal, MLB.com has learned.

COULD SCHERZER GO TO HOMETOWN CARDINALS AND GET MARKET VALUE?  —  JP Morosi  —  I don't know if free-agent ace Max Scherzer will sign with the St. Louis Cardinals.  But the rationale for him to do so — on both sides — is becoming clearer by the day.  —  First, here's what multiple sources …

Heyward open to talks on contract, if Cards are  —  ST. LOUIS  • In his first full day surrounded by Cardinals Nation and wearing a Cardinals' shade of red, new Cardinals outfielder Jason Heyward said he didn't have a preconceived deadline for discussions on a new contract.

Rays say moves try to balance future, present  —  Matt Silverman did not simply wake up one morning after sliding into his new role as president of Rays baseball operations and decide to ship out nearly half the team he inherited.  • It only looked that way.

Minor League Transactions: Jan. 9-15  —  The White Sox and Yankees sign outfielders who last appeared in affiliated ball years ago—as righthanded pitchers.  —  Official minor league transactions, conveyed to Baseball America by Major League Baseball, for the period Jan. 9-15.  —  Atlanta Braves

CHECKING IN ON THE CLOSER MARKET  —  JP Morosi  —  The recent trade of Tyler Clippard to Oakland eliminated one name from the marketplace for setup men and closers, but a number of notable relievers are available at this late stage of the offseason.  —  The closer market, in particular …

Chacin, McKenry, Brothers agree to 1-year deals  —  6/17/14: Jhoulys Chacin tosses six quality innings, striking out five while allowing three runs on seven hits and three walks  —  DENVER — The Rockies avoided arbitration with right-handed pitcher Jhoulys Chacin, catcher Michael McKenry …