The Indians might have found their new closer. MLB.com confirmed that Cleveland is nearing an agreement with free-agent reliever John Axford on a contract, pending the completion of a physical. No details were immediately known and the Indians had no official comment.

The Hot Stove cooled down considerably Sunday after a hectic couple of weeks to open December. However, the Cardinals were closing in on a deal with veteran infielder Mark Ellis while the Indians agreed to contract terms with reliever John Axford.

MLB Network’s first-ever Social Media Awards were handed out Sunday night, with the Dodgers taking five of the honors back to Los Angeles.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman made it clear at the Winter Meetings that he wasn’t shopping around Brett Gardner, and team president Randy Levine took it a step further Sunday morning by saying New York has “absolutely no intention” of trading the speedy outfielder.

The Cardinals are nearing a one-year deal with second baseman Mark Ellis, a source told MLB.com. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s Derrick Goold first reported the deal was close.

An Ohio mother and daughter, Niki and Molli Jahns, made the 16-hour drive to Florida so they could take part in Anthony Rizzo’s second “Walk Off for Cancer” on Sunday at Pine Trails Park. It was something Molli wanted as her 16th birthday present.

Yamaico Navarro led the way for Licey, going 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs in Saturday’s 7-1 win over Estrellas in Dominican Winter League action.

The Dodgers have filled the most significant hole in their lineup, agreeing to a two-year deal with free-agent third baseman Juan Uribe, while the Braves could be close to signing free-agent right-hander Gavin Floyd, according to a report.

While waiting for Juan Uribe to re-sign on Saturday, Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti was in South Central L.A., handing out goodies at the Angel City Toy Giveaway, a holiday-season community event sponsored by the Rotary Club at Algin Sutton Recreation Center.

PirateFest has been in existence for 24 years, and it was popular and well attended even during the team’s lean years. So it was no surprise when Pirates enthusiasts came streaming through the doors in large numbers as soon as the two-day event opened at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Downtown Pittsburgh on Saturday morning.

The Twins have agreed to re-sign the free-agent right-hander on a two-year deal, a Major League source confirmed on Saturday night. The club has not confirmed the move.

The Dodgers and third baseman Juan Uribe finally came to terms Saturday on a two-year, $15 million deal that resolves the club’s biggest hole, according to a baseball source.

Nationals first baseman Adam LaRoche said he gained a lot from his experience on the USO Holiday Tour, which visited five military venues in four countries over seven days.

The Mets officially added a significant piece to their starting rotation on Saturday, announcing a two-year contract with veteran right-hander Bartolo Colon.

The temperature was low and the line outside the Rockies’ Diamond Dry Goods Store at Coors Field was long, but the chance to experience the warmth of outfielder Carlos Gonzalez’s smile and brighten the holidays for many was well worth it Saturday morning.

The Royals signed three players to Minor League contracts on Saturday, including an infielder and a reliever with previous Major League experience.

About a week after Craig Breslow and the Red Sox found themselves on top of the baseball world, the left-handed reliever picked up a ring of a different, and more important, sort: a wedding ring.