Oakland Athletics, Justin Duchscherer agree to deal, source says  —  Free-agent pitcher Justin Duchscherer has agreed in principle to a one-year, guaranteed major league contract with the Oakland Athletics, a baseball source told ESPN.com.  —  Duchscherer  —  The deal could be worth …

The Night Before Red Sox Christmas  —  'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through Fenway  —  Not a creature was stirring, but perhaps Jason Bay  —  The red socks were hung by the Monster seats with care  —  In hopes that John Henry soon would be there  —  The Pink Hats were nestled all snug in their beds,

3UP: Reed Johnson, Bay and Happy Holidays  —  1. An NL executive and an agent told me the Yankees were talking regularly to the representatives for Reed Johnson.  I can see the Yankee reasoning.  As currently constituted, the Yanks have lefty-swingers Brett Gardner in left field and Curtis Granderson in center.

Mets appear to be closing on Escobar  —  Multiple reports have right-hander near deal  —  It may be Christmas Eve, but the baseball rumor mill never stops.  —  A report out of Venezuela, substantiated by the New York Daily News, states that the Mets are close to reaching an agreement to sign former Angels pitcher Kelvim Escobar.

Closer Capps agrees to one-year deal with Washington Nationals  —  The Washington Nationals have signed Matt Capps to a one-year contract to be their closer for 2010, his agent said late Wednesday.  —  The deal is for $3.5 million for 2010, with a chance to make another $425,000 in performance bonuses.

Shanahan makes too much sense  —  He's a perfect fit but will Bears change philosophy and go after ex-Broncos coach?  —  ESPNChicago.com  —  Even now, with a potential Monday night humiliation in the offing, Jerry Angelo's refusal to give Lovie Smith the coveted vote of confidence and a bevy …

Intern Ohlendorf home for holidays  —  Pitcher spent 10 weeks learning at Department of Agriculture … MLB.com: Now that you have wrapped up your internship in D.C., can you talk a little bit about what you gained from your time there?  —  Ohlendorf: I really enjoyed it.

George Michael, famed D.C. sportscaster, dies of cancer  —  George Michael, 70, a high-rated and hyperanimated Washington sportscaster whose extensive use of game highlights from across the country on his nationally syndicated show has now become the norm in the industry, died Thursday at Sibley Memorial Hospital.

Inbox: Amezaga to return next season?  —  Beat reporter Joe Frisaro answers fans' questions  —  Is there any chance Alfredo Amezaga returns to the Marlins?  Is he going to be gone now that he is a free agent?  —  From what I've heard, the door remains open for Amezaga to rejoin the Marlins in 2010.

FOR THE THRILL OF IT: ONE ON ONE WITH DIRK HAYHURST  —  In the summer of 2007, a friend turned me on to a feature on Baseball Americas website that quickly became required reading for me.  It was The Non Prospect Diary penned by then-Padres minor leaguer Dirk Hayhurst.

John Manuel's Personal Top 20 Prospects List  —  The Baseball America Prospect Handbook has been sent to the printer and will be shipped in the not too distant future.  As part of the handbook, Jim Callis, Will Lingo and John Manuel rank their own personal Top 50s, the first step toward …

Pirates eye Gregg, Dotel, as Capps picks Nats  —  Former closer gets one year, $3.5 million, more than Pirates' final offer  —  Matt Capps, the Pirates' recently released closer, formally is gone, but the team is engaged in talks with two possible replacements in free agents Kevin Gregg and Octavio Dotel.