Morneau, Cuddyer agree to long-term deals with Twins  —  The Twins have agreed to long-term contracts with first baseman Justin Morneau and outfielder Michael Cuddyer.  —  The players appeared at TwinsFest at the Metrodome today at a team press conference to announce the signings …

Quiet winter for big spenders  —  The biggest surprise this offseason could be that the big spenders didn't spend.  —  After winning the World Series in 2004, the Red Sox revamped their rotation.  They let Pedro Martinez and Derek Lowe leave as free agents and brought in Matt Clement and David Wells, a pair of signings that went bad.

Lots of Mariners news  —  Just got back from the M's spring training luncheon at Safeco Field, where we got to quiz Bill Bavasi, John McLaren, J.J. Putz and the ever-quotable Norm Charlton (pictured above).  Plenty of news came out from the answers they gave to our questions.

Notes: Lo Duca suffers knee injury  —  Catcher hurts self during workout, undergoing MRI on Friday  —  WASHINGTON — Nationals catcher Paul Lo Duca suffered a right knee injury this week while working out in a New York gym, according to a baseball source.  —  Lo Duca will have an MRI …

Knoblauch's Mother Expects Him to Cooperate  —  HOUSTON — The mother of former Yankee Chuck Knoblauch said Friday that she anticipated that her son will cooperate with a Congressional panel investigating steroids in baseball.  —  “I think I know my son well enough to know that he's …

Red Sox, Yankees GMs share friendship  —  WAYNE, N.J. (AP) — Brian Cashman and Theo Epstein share a friendship that belies the often acrimonious rivalry between their teams, the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox.  —  Don't worry, there's no chance that the high esteem …

Connection with fans natural to Hughes  —  Not distracted by trade talk, phenom shows fans personal side  —  Already at the Legends Field facility in Tampa, Fla., as one of the Yankees' earliest reportees to Spring Training, Phil Hughes had an open evening — and a dilemma.

Man gets life for murder of baseball player  —  The man found guilty of the 2003 murder of Cincinnati Reds outfielder Dernell Stenson was sentenced to life in prison Friday.  —  Reginald Riddle, 23, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder as part of a plea agreement in 2006.

Miller probably will retire  —  I talked on the telephone today with catcher Damian Miller, the La Crosse native who played the past three seasons for the Brewers.  Miller has not signed with another team and said he is leaning toward retirement at this point.

By the Numbers: 2007 Player Payroll for the 30 MLB Clubs  —  A Detailed Look At How Teams Spent Over the Course of 2007  —  2007 will be remembered for more than a few things, not the least of which is the dirge which has become the year in and year out steroid story.

Prospectus Hit and Run  —  PEDs and Discontent  —  A couple weeks back, in the aftermath of the 2008 Hall of Fame voting, I mentioned to readers that I had rant in store about the Hall of Fame vote and performance-enhancing drugs.  Since then, I've waffled between my desire to write said rant …

The curious case of Ron Darling  —  Don't be fooled by ex-Met's workout routine — it's for the mic  —  NEW YORK — He is precisely what the pitching-hungry Mets need: a guy who knows his way around a mound, who has a resume and presence and who's comfortable in his own skin.

CANO CASHING IN  —  AGREES TO 4-YEAR DEAL WITH YANKS  —  It's pay now or later for Robinson Cano.  The Yankees evidently have no problem with the first option, as they reached agreement yesterday on a four-year, $30 million contract with Cano, according to a source.

Blue Jays sign Rod Barajas  —  TORONTO — News flash: J.P. Ricciardi says he has a short memory.  —  “Sometimes you need that, especially in sports,” the Toronto Blue Jays' general manager said last night after the club signed free-agent catcher Rod Barajas to a one-year contract worth $1.2-million (all currency U.S.).