Free-agent catcher Kelly Shoppach officially signed a one-year contract with the Mariners on Thursday, while the club designated reliever Shawn Kelley for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster.

Astros manager Bo Porter hit Osceola County Stadium on Thursday, spending the morning getting things in order in his office and the clubhouse. Some players are already in Kissimmee, Fla., ahead of Monday’s reporting date for pitchers and catchers, and Porter was eager to get down there as well.

White Sox hitting coach Jeff Manto is confident young hitters Tyler Flowers, Gordon Beckham, Brent Morel and Dayan Viciedo will develop into valuable everyday contributors at the big league level.

A continuación, les echamos un vistazo a algunos jugadores que se espera regresen al terreno de juego esta primavera tras un ausencia en el 2012.

Félix Hernández y los Marineros de Seattle negocian un contrato por siete años y 175 millones de dólares que convertiría al venezolano en el pitcher mejor pagado del béisbol de Grandes Ligas, dijo una persona con conocimiento del acuerdo.

The Rays lose key pieces every season and they always seem to find a way to replace them. With the offseason trade for top prospect Wil Myers, this year will be no different for manager Joe Maddon’s squad.

On Thursday, the Indians avoided going to arbitration with utility man Mike Aviles as the two sides agreed on a two-year contract worth $6 million.

El jugador del cuadro Mike Avilés ha firmado un acuerdo de dos temporadas con los Indios y el pacto incluye una opción para el 2015.

The Mariners and Felix Hernandez have been pursuing a contract extension and are close to a new deal, but a baseball source said Thursday that a report by USA Today that the right-hander has agreed to a seven-year, $175 million contract is not accurate.

This year’s voting process for the Baseball Hall of Fame didn’t result in any living players being inducted, but the same won’t be said for Canada’s version of the baseball shrine.

En años anteriores, los Leones del Escogido ya estarían rumbo a Santo Domingo con el trofeo de campeón en sus manos.

Pese a la partida de R.A. Dickey, la rotación integrada por el venezolano Johan Santana, Jon Niese, Dillon Gee, Matt Harvey y Shaun Marcum podría ayudar a los Mets a llegar lejos en el 2013.

Typically when the Red Sox head to Spring Training, they set out to prove that they are worthy of the hype. But something has changed this year. There really is no hype.

Los Mets de Nueva York pactaron por un año con el relevista Brandon Lyon, según una fuente. El acuerdo depende de que el derecho apruebe un examen físico.

Chris Carpenter’s shoulder issues, which may keep him from pitching again, are relevant in Philadelphia because setup man Mike Adams, who signed a two-year, $12 million contract in December, had the same surgery in October. However, general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said Adams is “doing great.”

Kansas City added to its Major League rotation by trading top prospects, but Bubba Starling leads some impressive holdovers.

The Mets completed their offseason bullpen makeover on Thursday, agreeing to terms with right-hander Brandon Lyon on a one-year contract, according to a source. The team has yet to announce the deal, which is pending a physical.