The Nationals agreed to terms on Friday with outfielder/first baseman Michael Morse on a multiyear contract extension, thus avoiding salary arbitration.

It's been almost 2 1/2 months since Yoenis Cespedes burst onto the baseball scene with an entertaining training video promoting his first showcase in the Dominican Republic, but he still has not been declared a free agent by MLB. What's the hangup?

The Rangers have signed a left-handed power-hitting first baseman who is a former All-Star. Texas signed Brad Hawpe to a Minor League contract on Friday afternoon. The announcement came three hours before the Rangers news conference to introduce Japanese pitcher Yu Darvish.

Offseason training and in-season conditioning might have been the furthest things from CC Sabathia's mind Friday as he enjoyed a round of golf to help raise funds for Derek Jeter's Turn 2 Foundation, but he has spent plenty of time this winter thinking about how to stay fit next season.

Jim Thome, 41, has implemented Pilates and yoga into his offseason workout routine and concentrated more on stretching, flexibility and running to put him in better position to play.

The Yankees and outfielder Brett Gardner avoided arbitration Friday, agreeing to a one-year non-guaranteed contract, the club announced.

The Dodgers filed their reorganization plan with a federal bankruptcy court in Delaware on Friday, which will bring the club out of Chapter 11 protection through a sale of the team by April 30.

As a token of his appreciation, Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw is flying in pitching coach Rick Honeycutt from Tennessee as his guest for the Baseball Writers dinner, a fitting gesture to one of the most successful pitching gurus in the game.

Carlos Pena is returning to the Rays after spending a year away, a source confirmed on Friday. The 33-year-old first baseman's one-year contract is worth $7.25 million.

The signing of Yu Darvish is the Rangers' biggest triumph in a six-year quest to establish a major presence in the Far East. The process really began just after Daniels was named Texas' general manager a few days after the end of the 2005 season, and then the following spring during the the inaugural World Baseball Classic that was won by Japan.

The Indians continued to add to their contingency plans for the outfield Friday, agreeing to sign free agent Ryan Spilborghs to a Minor League contract that includes an invitation to attend Spring Training with the Tribe.

Question of the Day: How will Yu do?

The fate of left fielder and face-of-the-franchise Ryan Braun reportedly rests in the hands of a three-member panel in New York. Braun is charged with violating Major League Baseball's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program and faces a 50-game suspension. The New York Daily News was first to report Thursday that Braun's appeal had begun.

The Marlins have invited 22 non-roster members to their big league Spring Training camp, including former Gold Glove Award winner Aaron Rowand.

Astros starting pitcher Bud Norris certainly made some strides in his second full season in the Major Leagues in 2011, setting career highs for innings pitched, starts and strikeouts while lowering his ERA by more than one run per game.

Taking into account 10 players on guaranteed Major League contracts, four on arbitration deals and 11 others who should hover close to the league minimum, the Mets will open next season with a payroll of somewhere between $90 million and $91 million.

Clayton Kershaw's on-field success has allowed him and his wife, Ellen, to chronicle their journeys to Africa in a recent book, "Arise: Live Out Your Faith and Dreams on Whatever Field You Find Yourself, from the Major Leagues to Africa."