Red Sox, Scutaro agree to two-year deal  —  Veteran shortstop has physical scheduled for Friday  —  BOSTON — The Red Sox have come to terms on a two-year deal with free-agent shortstop Marco Scutaro, MLB.com has learned through a source close to the situation.

Cubs trade Fox, Miles to Oakland  —  The Chicago Cubs traded Aaron Miles and Jake Fox to the Oakland A's for right-handed pitcher Jeff Gray and minor-leaguers Ronny Morla and Matt Spencer, according to ESPNChicago.com reporter Bruce Levine.  —  The Cubs will absorb $1 million of the $2.7 million owed to Miles.

Brennaman named ‘new’ TV broadcaster  —  Son of HOF voice handling primary play-by-play duties  —  CINCINNATI — The new Reds television play-by-play person isn't really new at all.  In fact, he will be immediately familiar and recognizable to fans.  —  That's because the club announced …

Mets sign Chris Coste, Henry Blanco  —  Chris Coste is burning bridges with Mets fans before he's even crossed them.  —  The ex-Phillies catcher/first baseman signed with the Mets yesterday, just three days after expressing disdain for his new team in an interview with a Philadelphia sports Web site.

The Yankees Are Eating Our Blog Name  —  Yup, I just received a cease and desist.  Unbelievable.  Here is the money quote: … Blog name ideas?

Saito close to deal with Braves  —  The Braves are close to signing free-agent reliever Takashi Saito to a one-year contract, CBSSports.com has learned.  —  The deal, which should be announced later this afternoon, is expected to be for about $3 million.  —  With Saito and Billy Wagner …

Breaking down market moves and chatter  —  Let's pick through some recent developments in the market...  Item A) The Phillies know Placido Polanco from his days with the team earlier this decade, and they already know that he will fit into their culture of tough professionals.

Ranking baseball's best, worst farm systems … Baseball America ranks the 30 MLB farm systems twice a year — in the spring, as the minor league season is about to start, and again every December in our Prospect Handbook.  —  It's a collaborative effort, and staff members don't always agree on what constitutes a strong system.

New York Mets' seating chart, pricing too much to decipher  —  The Mets' individual ticket sales matrix for 2010 is available, even though you can't purchase single-game seats until late winter.  The good news is that prices have been cut by about 10%, on average.

Rockies hoping to strengthen rotation, 'pen  —  Club eyes improvements to staff as Winter Meetings approach  —  Club needs:  —  ROTATION: In a sense, the Rockies are in excellent shape.  Left-hander Jeff Francis struggled through soreness in 2008 and missed '09 after shoulder surgery, but he is healthy.

Bombers brass meet in Tampa to talk options  —  Armed with reports on every player the Yankees have an interest in, Brian Cashman will chair an organizational meeting today in Tampa.  —  Hal and Hank Steinbrenner met with financial gurus, club president Randy Levine and COO Lonn Trost …

Possible return of Nady among recent inquiries  —  Villone, Crosby also added to Pirates' free-agent checklist  —  An X-Man sequel?  —  The Pirates have made initial inquiries on free-agent outfielder Xavier Nady, as well as reliever Ron Villone and shortstop Bobby Crosby …

Fire official says Molina's car was on fire  —  The Edgewater Volunteer Fire Department dispatched three fire trucks to a car fire inside the Edgewater Mariner parking lot on River Road Nov. 5.  The first fire engine to arrive on the scene, the EW-2, was able to hit the hydrant just past the burning vehicle …

Brewers Planning Offer For Counsell  —  The Brewers plan to present an offer to utility infielder Craig Counsell, according to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.  The interest is mutual, but ESPN's Buster Olney tweeted back on November 16th that at least a dozen teams …

Two costly?  —  The Cardinals' Plan B for this winter is increasingly starting to sound like Plan A.  —  Concerned about the long-term impact of retaining free agent left fielder Matt Holliday while also signing first baseman and three-time NL Most Valuable Player Albert Pujols to an extension …

Texas Rangers ownership race takes bizarre twist, keeping Ryan in mix  —  Nolan Ryan.  Gone?  —  Yes.  He was.  —  Gone as both the president of the Texas Rangers, and even more disturbing, gone as the club's face of credibility at a time when the team suffers greatly in management image.

NEXT No. 4: Stephen Strasburg  —  Strasburg is handling the pressure, thanks to a little help from a friend  —  NEXT 2010 content: No. 1 Kevin Durant |  No. 2 Chris Johnson |  No. 3 John Wall |  No. 4 Stephen Strasburg |  No. 5 Melanie Oudin |  No. 6-10 |  No. 11-15 |  No. 16-20