Former Padres hitting coach Randy Ready has joined Texas as Minor League hitting coordinator, the Rangers announced Wednesday while unveiling their Minor League staffing assignments.

Walt Jocketty has been criticized for trading five prospects in deals to land Sean Marshall and Mat Latos, but the Reds GM made the right decision to push for the 2012 NL Central title.

The Astros have won a waiver claim on former Mets top prospect Fernando Martinez, ESPN.com reported Wednesday.

It was probably a good idea the Cubs players wore jerseys with their names on them on Wednesday's caravan stops. This week is the first time manager Dale Sveum and his coaching staff will meet the players.

The Rays have signed free agent Luke Scott, who spent the past four seasons with the Orioles, to a one-year deal with an option for 2013.

There is a "99 percent" chance that the Nationals will not sign free-agent first baseman Prince Fielder, according to a baseball source. Fielder's price would have to come down for Washington to consider him.

The Brewers claimed 25-year-old infielder Jeff Bianchi off waivers from the Cubs on Wednesday, a move to bolster the organization's relatively thin middle-infield corps.

Tim Bogar, at the age of 45, is perhaps on the fast track to reach his ultimate goal of managing in the Majors. That is often the next climb on the rung for a bench coach, the post Bogar holds this season after two years as Boston's third-base coach.

The Angels avoided arbitration with first baseman Kendrys Morales by agreeing on a one-year contract Wednesday. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Morales was expected to garner about $3 million via arbitration.

Bankruptcy Judge Kevin Gross on Wednesday cleared the way for a timely sale of the Dodgers by approving the settlement between the team and FOX sports.

Representatives from all 30 big league clubs, MLB.com and the National Baseball Hall of Fame will square off on the game show "Baseball IQ," which premieres at 9 p.m. ET on Jan. 24 on MLB Network.

Elite players and their bounties normally do not take this long to find each other. The clock is ticking, and with each gong, Price Fielder slides past someone else on this timeline of signing the latest mega-deal in baseball history.

Megadeals always work out for the players. For the front offices that approve the expenditures, the record is more mixed. Some of the biggest contracts in baseball history have been wise signings, others caused teams to wish for a do-over.

By taking advantage of high slots in the Draft, signing free agents and making savvy trades that add depth to their roster, Nationals executive VP of baseball operations Mike Rizzo and his staff have fashioned a high profile while improving the team.

The Reds agreed to terms late Tuesday on a one-year, $10 million contract with free-agent closer Ryan Madson, a baseball source confirmed to MLB.com.

Dodgers right-handed reliever Blake Hawksworth will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his elbow Wednesday to remove a bone spur and scar tissue only five weeks before the opening of Spring Training, the club announced.

The Rockies have a number of exciting, yet unproven hurlers who could be in their Opening Day rotation. Then, there is right-hander Jason Hammel, who is heading into his fourth season with the club at age 29 but is still a mysterious figure.