Sources: Orioles jump into Holliday sweepstakes  —  The Cardinals are not the only team pursuing free-agent left fielder Matt Holliday.  —  The Orioles have jumped into the bidding, though both the seriousness of their efforts and Holliday's desire to play in Baltimore are in question, major-league sources say.

Yankees talk to Johnson about vacant DH role  —  The Yankees and Nick Johnson are talking about the sweet-swinging lefty and on-base machine replacing Hideki Matsui as the World Champions' DH on a one-year deal.  —  If a deal is completed, it would be an indication the Yankees will part with Johnny Damon …

Phillies GM Amaro is master of the shell game  —  MONTY AND HIS Money Managers had themselves some week.  They ran the greatest shell game since the days when big carnivals would roll into small towns, relieve the local yokels of the harvest money and move on.

Aroldis Chapman awaits offers  —  On the surface, Aroldis Chapman's 30-minute workout on Tuesday for about 15 teams appeared to have accomplished very little.  Because of bad weather, the workout took place indoors at the Baseball USA complex in Houston.  Chapman wore sneakers for his bullpen session.

Morning links: Clement's job to lose  —  Although the development that the Pirates are eyeing Kelly Johnson hardly is seismic, it does raise this possibility that some might find noteworthy: No matter who the Pirates get — if anyone — for that right field/first base role, it might be no more than a safety valve.

Dodgers exploring a deal for Aaron Harang  —  The Dodgers have started exploring a possible trade with the Cincinnati Reds for pitcher Aaron Harang, according to multiple baseball sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the talks.

Padres' Gonzalez is hot trade topic  —  Speculation surrounding All-Star first baseman, Red Sox  —  SAN DIEGO — After a respite at the Winter Meetings last week, when Adrian Gonzalez's name was scarcely mentioned, the Padres' All-Star first baseman is once again a hot topic.

Godzilla Rocks Southern California  —  WHAT'S YOUR REACTION?  —  There's a line about Godzilla in the 1998 Hollywood remake that goes: “He's not some monster trying to evade you... If you find what he wants, then he'll come to you.”  This week baseball's Godzilla found the contract he wanted …

Dodgers land versatile Carroll  —  Right-handed hitter expects to back up second, third base  —  LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers bolstered their second-base situation by agreeing to a two-year contract with versatile infielder Jamey Carroll, pending a physical examination, agent Jonathan Maurer confirmed Wednesday.

The Second Base Glut  —  Last year, bad defensive outfielders got a rude awakening in free agency, as Adam Dunn, Pat Burrell, and Bobby Abreu learned first hand that teams were beginning to value defense at positions besides catcher and shortstop.  There were too many lumbering sluggers available …

Courting the Hall of Fame voters  —  Among the Pottery Barn/REI/Harry and David catalogues, magazines, phone bills, Christmas cards (would it kill people to write a brief note along with the photo of the kids?), charity solicitations and supermarket circulars swelling my mailbox this past weekend …

Opinion: Stay Calm, We'll be Fine  —  Yesterday, I talked with a few people aware of what the Mets are doing, behind the scenes, and, despite how they are being portrayed in the media, not a single person seemed flustered or lacking in confidence.  —  The plan has always been …

Lowe resigned to likelihood of trade  —  Righty regards late-season woes as Braves' motivation  —  ATLANTA — When Derek Lowe entered this offseason, he found himself frustrated by an inability to correct his mechanical flaws and was determined to be more of an asset to the Braves during the final three years of his contract.

Make it Raines  —  This is going to be about Tim Raines ... but we're going to start with Bill James.  People, of course, have many different opinions about Bill James.  And because Bill is both a friend and a hero of mine, I admit to being hopelessly biased on the subject.