The Pirates signed three players to Minor League contracts with invitations to Major League Spring Training on Monday. Gorkys Hernandez, an outfielder who was in the Pirates organization from 2009-12, hit a combined .280 with 19 doubles, 16 stolen bases and 40 runs scored in 75 games this past season between Triple-A Omaha, Triple-A Charlotte and the Tigres de Quintana Roo of the Mexican League.

With six arbitration-eligible players still unsigned, the Cardinals must decide by 10:59 p.m. CT on Tuesday which will be tendered a contract and if any will be cut loose.

It’s time for the Marlins to crunch numbers and make some tough decisions with their five arbitration-eligible players. The club faces an 11:59 p.m. ET deadline on Tuesday to determine if they will tender offers to Steve Cishek, Casey McGehee, Nathan Eovaldi, Henderson Alvarez and Mike Dunn.

The A’s, employing a whopping 14 arbitration-eligible players, could trim at least one non-tender candidate from their roster in advance of Tuesday’s 8:59 p.m. PT deadline. However, most of the 14 — more than any other club — are expected to be tendered contracts, albeit with high raises that will significantly impact the A’s 2015 payroll.

Seeking to balance Carlos Martinez’s desire to appear in winter ball games with the optimal offseason preparation heading into 2015, Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak and manager Mike Matheny agreed to allow Martinez an opportunity to make a brief stint in the Dominican Winter League this month.

Dick Bresciani, a Red Sox vice president who had been with the club since 1972, died on Saturday night as a result of complications from leukemia. He was 76.

With six players eligible for arbitration, the Twins have several tough decisions to make before Tuesday’s deadline for teams to tender contracts for the 2015 season.

The Cubs were expected to tender contracts to all of their arbitration eligible players Tuesday, including Travis Wood, who is coming off a tough 2014 season.

John Schuerholz shaped two franchises, building winners. In 26 years as general manager of the Royals and Braves, his teams finished first 20 times and won 2,348 regular-season games. Along the way, he gained a reputation for integrity and an unfailing commitment to doing things a certain way.

This week, Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta will likely start throwing more as he prepares for next season. But if the sun is shining in Austin, Texas, then he’s most likely outside, and could be using his kids in his training.

General manager Sandy Alderson recently admitted to MLB Network Radio that no “slam dunk” option exists for the Mets at shortstop, where they are looking to upgrade from Wilmer Flores. However, there are plenty of players who could wind up in New York given the right circumstances.

The Yankees and Dodgers are in “serious pursuit” of free-agent left-hander Andrew Miller, according to multiple reports Monday.

The Pirates acquired infielder Sean Rodriguez from the Rays on Monday in exchange for a player to be named and cash.

The week ahead is full steam ahead when it comes to baseball transactions, rumors and offseason honors. Monday brings about December, a month that’s packed with hardball happenings that will likely go a long way toward determining who will be the last team standing next October.

Jordan Zimmermann’s only shortage is in the hype category. He has come to a place near the top of his profession with little hype and fanfare. Now, the righty is mentioned in trade rumors in part because anybody and everybody would like to have him in their rotation. But maybe he should be seen less in the category of trade material and more in the context of indispensable.

Giants second baseman Joe Panik helped assist with a free kids baseball clinic, hosted by Red Sox pitching prospect Matt Barnes for about 200 7- to 15-year-olds. It was the second year in a row Barnes put together the clinic following the Dec. 14, 2012, shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary.

It’s the critical time on the calendar when GMs’ baseball shopping adventures overlap with your own. With Black Friday in the books, the excitement continues with this Cyber Monday offer: Buy one item at the MLB.com Shop and get another for 50 percent off — and enjoy free shipping with no minimum whatsoever.