Pirates, Sanchez agree to unusual three-year deal  —  Signing will come today, pending physical, at PNC Park  —  The Pirates and Freddy Sanchez have agreed to terms on a three-year contract — two guaranteed years plus an unusual option, with a total worth in the range of $19 million — and expect to make that official today.

Tigers, Granderson agree to deal  —  Center fielder will stay in Detroit through 2012 season  —  Curtis Granderson was already a special player.  Now that takes on a whole new level.  —  The Detroit Tigers have been anything but shy the last two years in signing players …

Cards sign Juan Gonzalez to minor-league contract  —  The Cardinals have signed two-time American League MVP Juan Gonzalez to a one-year, minor-league contract.  —  The signing guarantees Gonzalez a base salary of less than $1 million if he makes the major-league club.

Sherrill in Baltimore; Tillman confirmed in deal  —  That's what Larry Stone and I have just confirmed as we work the phones this afternoon.  In fact, George Sherrill flew out to Baltimore from Phoenix yesterday alongside Adam Jones, the centerpiece of this proposed trade for O's pitcher Erik Bedard.

Saying Baseball Is in Turmoil?  Don't Be So Sure  —  Maybe it's a cultural thing.  Maybe something is lost in the transition.  —  The steroids zealots known as the boys from WADA want to save Major League Baseball from itself.  Major League Baseball, a high-ranking official …

Troubled Ray Aybar in jail for domestic violence … SANTIAGO, Dominican Republic — Tampa Bay Rays infielder Willy Aybar is in custody in his native Dominican Republic for domestic violence charges, according to a local prosecutor.  —  Aybar, 24, has been held without bail since Thursday …

No big splash signing expected  —  Despite countless players looking for work less than two weeks before spring training, don't look for the Marlins to make any notable last-minute additions.  —  President of baseball operations Larry Beinfest said Monday the Marlins are ready to open spring training as is.

Nationals' treasure  —  Ballpark, to debut with Nats-O's exhibition, has intimate atmosphere not found at RFK  —  WASHINGTON - The media got a peek yesterday at Washington's nearly completed baseball stadium.  The steel, glass and concrete home of the Washington Nationals is more bland …

Jon Weisman: Some traditions should get axe, others kept  —  Spring training, which finally kicks off next week, is one of the game's great enduring traditions, beloved by all.  Certainly no one would ever suggest doing away with it, but some of the game's other aspects are under constant fire …

Baltimore has interest in Fogg  —  Typically a pitcher's future is connected to his success against hitters.  Josh Fogg, however, has seen his winter tied to fellow starters.  With the Erik Bedard trade to Seattle expected to be finalized, the Orioles have expressed interest in the right-hander …

Licey drops Aguilas in D.R. showdown  —  Tigres pull off upset, set up rematch for Thursday's finale  —  SANTIAGO, Dominican Republic — The chants started in the stands in the eighth inning and continued for the remainder of the game at Estadio Cibao.  —  Lee-say camp-e-on — Licey, champion.

Santana makes keeping Sabathia harder for Tribe  —  CLEVELAND — As he exited their division and league, the Cleveland Indians took one last fastball from Johan Santana.  —  A high, hard, costly one.  —  Last week, Santana agreed to a $137.5 million, six-year contract with the New York Mets …

Yankees interested in Mench  —  The Yankees have interest in free agent Kevin Mench as a fifth outfielder, according to a person with knowledge of discussions who asked not to be named because no deal has been struck.  —  Mench, 30, would probably go to Yankees camp on a minor-league contract.