Halladay break  —  Team not in rush to deal for Toronto ace  —  The Red Sox [team stats] clearly would like to pull off a trade for Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay, but a team source said that a report yesterday overstated the team's urgency in completing any deal.

White Sox sign Jones to one-year deal  —  The Chicago White Sox have signed outfielder Andruw Jones to a one-year contract for $500,000, with a chance to make $1 million in performance bonuses.  —  Jones, a five-time All-Star, spent the 2009 season with the Texas Rangers after being released …

Now retiring from the Yankees: Number 99  —  ‘Voice of Yankee Stadium’ done after more than 50 years  —  Bob Sheppard served more than 50 seasons as the “Voice of Yankee Stadium,” his clear, concise and correct style proudly providing the soundtracks of summer for Yankees players from Joe DiMaggio to Derek Jeter.

Phils sign four to Minor League deals  —  Wise tops quartet of players with Spring Training invites  —  PHILADELPHIA — The Phillies have agreed to terms on Minor League contracts with four players, according to a source.  The players will have invitations to Spring Training:

Putting the pieces back together  —  Clinical depression had sent pitcher Justin Duchscherer's life, career into a tailspin  —  Duchscherer was so “overwhelmed” he began to wonder if he should continue playing baseball.  —  A pitcher's manhood is routinely defined by what he throws instead of who he really is.

McCutchen earns Topps rookie honors  —  Bucs center fielder recognized for remarkable first year  —  For his superb first year in the Major Leagues, Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen was named as part of the 2009 Topps All-Rookie All-Star team on Wednesday.

For baseball and community, thanks  —  Great games, great charity go hand in hand in 2009  —  Thanks to the 73,367,659 fans who attended Major League Baseball games in 2009.  —  Thanks to the ballplayers who keep us coming back for every pitch and every year.

Scouting Notebook: Manny Machado  —  Seen:  — USA Baseball's Tournament of Stars (Cary, N.C.), June 22-29, 2009 (in attendance)  — East Coast Professional Showcase (Lakeland, Fla.), August 1-4, 2009 (in attendance)  — Team USA 18U Trials (Cary, N.C.), September 14, 2009 (film)

Minor League Transactions  —  Previous installment: Nov. 6-17 … Arizona Diamondbacks  —  Traded: LHP Scott Maine and 1B Ryne White to Cubs for RHP Aaron Heilman  —  Added to 40-man roster: RHP Roque Mercedes, RHP Daniel Stange, LHP Jordan Norberto, OF Cole Gillespie  —  Atlanta Braves

Bonds' 756th leads the decade's biggest ‘big moment’ homers  —  As the decade winds down to its final moments, Big League Stew is reflecting on the biggest baseball moments of the 2000s.  Next up are the top playoff and record-breaking home runs from 2000-09, an up-for-debate list we created …

Castro joins team as backup  —  Veteran utility infielder Juan Castro agreed to terms on Tuesday to be the Phillies' new Eric Bruntlett.  Agent Oscar Suarez thinks the Phillies are getting a whole lot more than an upgrade for their bench.  —  “This guy is a heck of a leader,” …