In a small but potentially significant move, the Phillies signed speedy Juan Pierre to a Minor League contract with an invitation to Spring Training on Friday.

After battling through injuries and inexperience, Josh Vitters, the Cubs' top pick in the 2007 First- Year Player Draft, appears ready to compete for a chance to reach the big leagues in 2012.

When the Cardinals report to Spring Training, they'll do so with their starting five settled. Five starters know they have jobs. All five of those starters can pitch at a high level and help a team to the postseason. And nearly every one of those five starters comes with some sort of question mark attached.

Corey Hart has been a right fielder for most of his Major League career, but club officials have raised the possibility of using Hart for a limited number of games at first to help cover the departure of Prince Fielder.

Leading up to Spring Training, MLB.com will take a look at the new members of the Angels' baseball-operations department — the one that's completing what many consider the greatest offseason in franchise history.

NL Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw added another trophy to his case when he received the Warren Spahn Award as the game's top southpaw pitcher from the Oklahoma Sports Museum.

Rangers broadcaster Eric Nadel is a true renaissance man who has a variety of interests outside of baseball. Right now, much of that attention is being devoted to several civic-related projects in Dallas.

While many of the one-size-fits all sports facilities have been replaced by baseball-only ballparks, MLB teams are finding ways to maximize the use of their venues beyond their home games.

The cumulative numbers and statistics are clearly in Roy Oswalt's favor. The issue remains, however, whether or not he can help now. There is reason to believe that Oswalt's spirit is still willing. Some club will take what will be described as a chance on him, but it might be much more like an opportunity.

It's January, which means it's time for umpire school in Florida, where about 250 students are donning the chest protectors and masks to go with their dark shirts and gray pants on the fields of three umpire schools.

It's the passionate pursuit of a World Series ring — a memento that Mike Ilitch has acknowledged would mean even more to him than the four Stanley Cups the Red Wings have won under his watch — that, as a sports fan, you can't help but admire and appreciate.

Even if the Red Sox do favor Mike Aviles to be their starting shortstop, the money the team freed up by trading Marco Scutaro may not be earmarked for pitching in the immediate future. At least, that's how manager Bobby Valentine explained the situation Thursday night at a charity event hosted by Kevin Youkilis.

The Twins announced Thursday that they will honor two-time World Series championship manager Tom Kelly by retiring his uniform No. 10 during a pregame celebration as part of Tom Kelly Day, when the Twins host the Indians on Sept. 8.

Frank White, out as a Royals broadcaster this winter, is joining Kansas City's independent league team as a coach.

On Thursday night at the State Room in downtown Boston, an upbeat and noticeably slimmed Kevin Youkilis said he feels strong and that he plans to once again report early to Spring Training.

To understand what the Nationals are getting in Brad Lidge, it's important to know the road that the hard-throwing reliever has traveled. It has been a mixture of pain and celebration, of frustration and accomplishment. At 35, he has seen just about all there is to see.

Three buses for three different caravan legs carried Reds personnel out of Cincinnati and all around the region for the annual Reds Caravan. Generating the buzz is all of the transactions that the Reds have made in an attempt to position themselves as prime contenders for the National League Central division title.