New Cubs pitcher Travis Wood took two steps into the Chicago Hilton, site of the 27th annual Cubs Convention, and was immediately recognized by some fans. The same happened to new third baseman Ian Stewart.

The Yankees may have solved the lingering questions of their rotation in just one night, nearing completion on deals that will fit righties Michael Pineda and Hiroki Kuroda for pinstripes in 2012.

A total of 142 players filed for salary arbitration, as announced Friday by the Major League Baseball Players Association.

A quiet offseason for the Mariners and Yankees is about to get a lot louder as the teams are in the process of finalizing a four-player trade that would swap power-hitting catcher Jesus Montero to Seattle in exchange for Michael Pineda, according to a source with knowledge of the deal.

Pitchers Mike Pelfrey, Manny Acosta and Ramon Ramirez, and outfielder Andres Torres, could be headed to the arbitration table in the coming weeks, if they cannot strike a contract agreement with the Mets.

It has been more than seven years since Pedro Martinez last threw a pitch for the Red Sox, but he is no visitor when he comes back to Boston.

In an announcement perfectly timed to kick off the Cubs Convention on Friday, Wood and the team reached agreement on a one-year, $3 million deal with a $3 million club option for 2013.

Starter Ervin Santana recently asked the Angels for permission to pitch for the Licey Tigers of the Dominican Winter League, but they declined, general manager Jerry Dipoto confirmed on Friday.

Martin Prado and the Braves have avoided arbitration by agreeing to terms of a one-year, $4.75 million contract.

Disturbing the peace charges in Oxford, Miss., against Rockies rookie left-handed pitcher Drew Pomeranz have been dropped, his representatives announced Friday.

The Rangers met on Friday with free-agent first baseman Prince Fielder at a Dallas-area hotel, according to multiple media reports.

The Red Sox are in communication with Jason Varitek to see if their longtime captain would want to come to Spring Training as a non-roster invitee.

Tony Blengino, special assistant to Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik, won a written in-office trivia contest among about a dozen Mariners employees, and will attempt to earn up to $45,000 in charitable contributions for Mariners Care on "Baseball IQ," the MLB Network's first trivia game.

Marlins president David Samson might have set the tone for upcoming negotiations on Yoenis Cespedes when he said his team would be "aggressive right to the point of stupidity, but not quite there."

The signing of free agent Luke Scott prompted the Rays to make a corresponding roster move on Friday. The team announced that Minor League catcher Nevin Ashley has been designated for assignment. The 27-year-old Ashley was one of five catchers on Tampa Bay's 40-man roster.

Jeff Manto knows plenty of questions will be thrown his way concerning the 2012 White Sox offense, beginning directly with SoxFest from Jan. 27-29 at the Palmer House Hilton in downtown Chicago.

Question of the Day: Who wants Manny?