RHP Soriano, Braves agree to 2-year, $9M deal  —  ATLANTA (AP) - Relief pitcher Rafael Soriano and the Atlanta Braves agreed Thursday to a $9 million, two-year contract that avoided arbitration.  —  The Braves plan to make Soriano their closer this season.

Yanks, Cano talk long-term deal  —  The Yankees and star second baseman Robinson Cano are in serious negotiations on a deal that could keep him in pinstripes for up to six years, SI.com has confirmed.  —  The contract being discussed would pay Cano a guaranteed $30 million over the next four years …

Blue Jays sign catcher Barajas  —  The Toronto Blue Jays have agreed to a one-year contract with catcher Rod Barajas worth $1.2 million with an option for 2009.  —  Barajas, 32, spent last season with the Philadelphia Phillies.  —  In 48 games, he posted a .230 average with four home runs and 10 RBI.

Between a rock and a hard place  —  The Twins don't want to bring Santana to spring training amidst all of this uncertainty but they also must try to maximize trade value.  —  Johan Santana will not be at TwinsFest this weekend, but one wonders if Santana will be in Fort Myers, Fla. …

Fastball 101: Bringing The Heat  —  Pitchers with premium velocity have an advantage because their heat gives themselves a bit more margin for error.  A quicker fastball has a better chance of missing bats, keeping the ball out of play and leading to more strikeouts.

Sorry Sammy?  —  I hear there are rumblings throughout Latin America regarding the mistreatment of one of the greatest home run hitters of all time.  People are coming to his defense and others are angry the team that signed him last year - the same team that signed him when he was just a teenager - wants nothing to do with him.

The biggest winners and losers during the offseason  —  The Minnesota Twins will hold their annual banquet tonight, but instead of a celebration, it may be a memorial.  —  The team will honor more absentee players tonight than players on its current roster.

Wright: Lo Duca deserves penalties if report true  —  David Wright's feelings about players' use of peformance-enhancing drugs are firm — even when it comes to good friend Paul Lo Duca's connection to the Mitchell report.  —  The New York Mets third baseman said Wednesday that his former teammate deserves …

Forward (and backward) thinking  —  In the palindrome game from an earlier entry, I challenged readers to list eight players whose last names are the same forward as backward.  I omitted Tampa Bay pitcher Juan Salas, who came up as Salaz, so make that nine names.

Promoter sez Rickey stole more than bases  —  Rickey doesn't like it when Rickey gets sued.  —  All-time stolen bases king Rickey Henderson is being taken to court by a promoter of sports collectibles shows who says Henderson swiped more than bases.  —  MAB Celebrity Services has filed …

Notes: Anderson's desires well known  —  Outfielder hopes for playing time, with White Sox or via trade  —  CHICAGO — Brian Anderson won't be in attendance at SoxFest this weekend, and if he gets his ultimate wish, Anderson won't be with the White Sox when Spring Training begins in February.

Nats building from the ground up  —  Publication lists farm system as baseball's most improved  —  WASHINGTON — On May 4, 2006, the day Major League Baseball announced that the Lerner Group would be the new owners of the Nationals, incoming president Stan Kasten told the local media …