Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik used some of his young pitching depth to beef up a short-handed backstop situation on Sunday, acquiring left-handed-hitting catcher John Jaso from Tampa Bay in a trade for reliever Josh Lueke.

C.J. Wilson, regarded as the top available pitcher, will visit Miami on Monday, where he will meet with team officials and get a tour of the Marlins' new park.

The Rays announced Sunday night that they had acquired right-handed pitcher Josh Lueke and a player to be named or cash considerations from the Mariners in exchange for catcher John Jaso.

Barring a major surprise, either Bobby Valentine or Gene Lamont will be named Terry Francona's successor at a press conference sometime within the next few days.

The Indians traded infielder Luis Valbuena to the Blue Jays in exchange for cash considerations on Saturday.

The A's named former big league slugger Chili Davis their hitting coach on Saturday, completing their staff for the 2012 season.

This was always the plan for Neftali Feliz. Last winter, the Rangers were pondering the possibility of Feliz moving into the rotation after his auspicious Rookie of the Year season. But when the season opened, as general manager Jon Daniels recalls, "our bullpen wasn't exactly set."

Jim Kaat has another life now, on the Hall of Fame's Golden Era Ballot. He is one of 10 candidates to be considered by a 16-person panel next month. In my still-open mind, he is the most deserving among the 10 of Cooperstown enshrinement.

The funeral service for Mariners outfielder Greg Halman will be held Tuesday in Driehuis, about five miles north of his hometown of Haarlem in the Netherlands.

The Twins hired Gene Glynn as manager of Triple-A Rochester, the Red Wings announced Friday.

There's a disorienting experience that comes from reading a Winter League box score. The combination of prospects, current Major Leaguers, players trying to re-establish themselves and guys who just want to be on the field can't be found elsewhere.

As temperatures flirted with 60 degrees and the sun bore down on a domain of ice and fake snow, the Indians commenced the second season of Snow Days at Progressive Field on Friday.

It might take a keen eye to notice, but the Cleveland Indians have made a few subtle tweaks to their uniforms for the 2012 season.

With the Winter Meetings fast approaching, and most important, the intricacies of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement ironed out, we should soon start hearing plenty more about the likes of Albert Pujols, Prince Fielder, Jose Reyes and C.J. Wilson.

The market for relievers has seemingly caught up with that of every other position. But given the volatile nature of the position, the question has been raised: Are relievers worth long-term high-dollar contracts?

The same official T-shirt worn by Cardinals players after winning World Series Game 7 and the new-look Marlins cap are the top two checkout items in order this offseason as holiday shopping season hits full swing with a site-wide 20-percent-off Black Friday sale at the MLB.com Shop.

The Yankees reportedly agreed on a one-year contract with right-hander Freddy Garcia on Thursday, bringing the veteran right-hander back to the Bronx after a successful campaign with the team last season.