The Nationals were busy on Friday afternoon as pitchers Jordan Zimmermann, Drew Storen and Jerry Blevins, shortstop Ian Desmond and catcher Wilson Ramos avoided arbitration.

Add first baseman Eric Hosmer, pitcher Luke Hochevar and utility man Emilio Bonifacio to the list of satisfied Royals players on the contract front.

The Padres have avoided arbitration with third baseman Chase Headley and outfielder/first baseman Kyle Blanks by reaching one-year deals on Friday, according to media reports.

The same passion and energy Jose Fernandez unleashed on the mound for the Marlins in 2013 has been carried over into his offseason training — specifically a rigid cycling regimen.

First base currently offers the lowest prospect ranking among the positions, with the Astros’ Jonathan Singleton the lone member of this Top 10 who was able to crack MLB.com’s overall Top 100. But once he establishes himself in full-season ball this year, Mets 2013 first-round pick Dominic Smith could jump to the top of the list.

It says something about Jonathan Singleton that he could endure the worst season of his pro career and still rank as baseball’s best first-base prospect. What it says is that he’s expected to do plenty of damage with his bat once he arrives in the Major Leagues, which could happen as soon as Opening Day with the Astros.

Former big leaguers Hideo Nomo and Kazuhiro Sasaki were elected to the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame on Friday, with Nomo becoming the youngest player inducted, according to the Japan Times.

While Clayton Kershaw’s reported seven-year, $215 million contract extension breaks Justin Verlander’s record, it should also help Max Scherzer break the bank, whether in Detroit or elsewhere. It does nothing, of course, to help the Tigers, whose challenge of trying to keep its dominant rotation intact looks as difficult — and expensive — as ever. And it’s not one that will necessarily be solved soon.

The 30 clubs of Major League Baseball on Thursday unanimously approved the expansion of instant replay, which will be in effect for the 2014 season and postseason. Both the Major League Baseball Players Association and the World Umpires Association have given their consent to the game’s new protocols for instant replay.

Five years ago, Albert Pujols and Tim Lincecum were both at the acme, back-to-back winners of the top individual awards for their profession. But much has since changed, and both will head into the 2014 season hoping to rekindle at least some of what made them the best of the best not all that long ago.

Erick Aybar went 2-for-4 with a triple as Licey stormed back for a pivotal victory over Gigantes on Wednesday night in search of a berth in the Dominican Series against Escogido.

In a clubhouse full of most of the Rays’ top Minor League prospects, C.J. Riefenhauser and Vince Belnome still managed to stand out a little bit.

Derek Jeter described Alex Rodriguez’s season-long suspension and subsequent lawsuits to have it overturned as “sad” and “kind of messy,” but the Yankees captain didn’t offer much else about the third baseman’s situation.

Clayton Kershaw’s reported record-setting contract with the Dodgers highlights an action-packed day around the Hot Stove circuit on Wednesday.

The Rockies and left-handed pitcher Franklin Morales, who was acquired last month from the Red Sox, agreed on a one-year contract on Wednesday to avoid arbitration.

The Red Sox and right-hander Burke Badenhop agreed to terms on a non-guaranteed one-year deal for the 2014 season on Wednesday. The contract means Boston and Badenhop, whom the Red Sox acquired from Milwaukee in November, will avoid arbitration.

The Twins’ Winter Caravan made a whirlwind journey on Wednesday, with stops in Iowa, Minnesota and South Dakota.