When discussing the Pirates’ rotation, general manager Neal Huntington has often praised Gerrit Cole and Francisco Liriano as a dynamic one-two punch few clubs can match. Beyond that, he has said the Bucs are banking on improvements from Jon Niese and Ryan Vogelsong — and a more consistent year from Jeff Locke.

He’s kind of fast.

The Padres have a hole to fill at shortstop and could satisfy that need in the next week, with veterans Ian Desmond and Alexei Ramirez said to be the frontrunners, according to the San Diego Union Tribune.

Marlins second baseman Dee Gordon has cashed in after posting one of the best seasons in club history. The two-time All-Star on Wednesday night reached agreement on a five-year, $50 million contract.

Delvin Perez, the newest top-tier Puerto Rican prospect, is tall, lanky, terrific defensively and speedy on the basepaths. He could be selected in the first round, and perhaps as high as the top 10.

Robby Hammock was in the visiting manager’s office in Jackson, Miss., preparing for a game on July 26, 2015, when his phone started buzzing on the desk. Just moments before that, former D-backs left-hander Randy Johnson had mentioned Hammock’s name during his Hall of Fame induction speech in Cooperstown, N.Y.

Homemade meatballs and pierogies were on the menu Wednesday night as part of Cubs manager Joe Maddon’s “Thanksmas” dinner, organized through the Chicago Help Initiative and served to about 135 homeless people.

Sustainable catching is always at a premium, mainly because it’s the position most young players want to stay away from. A glance at the crop of young players currently participating in an MLB-sponsored showcase suggests otherwise. Of the more than 20 catchers here for the three-day audition in front of Major League scouts, a couple have been mentioned as having real big league potential.

The Pirates officially cut ties with another former first-round pick Wednesday, unconditionally releasing catcher Tony Sanchez from his contract.

Cubs manager Joe Maddon is spending more time on his pre-Spring Training speech than worrying about whether Jason Heyward can play center field.

The D-backs added a reliever Wednesday, trading for right-handed pitcher Cody Hall. Hall was designated for assignment last week by the Giants, who will receive a player to be named or cash considerations in the deal.

When Dan Simonds first saw the footage, he was skeptical. Kieran Powell may have been a gifted athlete, a star in his own sport, but he didn’t look like much of a baseball player. Then again, why would he? Powell was a cricketer — an opening batsman, not a leadoff hitter.

The offseason shuffle of Major League ballplayers is shaking lineups for the 2016 season — and ESPN has shaken up its broadcast lineups to cover the action.

The Phillies avoided salary arbitration with Freddy Galvis, signing the shortstop to a one-year, $2 million contract, according to a source. The club has not confirmed the deal.

The Giants would prefer to promote a reliever from their Minor League system rather than add one through free agency, general manager Bobby Evans has indicated.

This is the first in a series of weekly stories that will focus, position by position, on the 2016 Rays. Right up until Spring Training camps open, we’ll preview a different position. Today: Middle infielders.

Detroit has been a mysterious player in the outfield market for most of the offseason. Signing John Mayberry Jr. doesn’t necessarily end the mystery, but it gives the Tigers’ front office the right-handed-hitting corner outfielder they had been seeking.