New York Mets add pitcher Kelvim Escobar to bullpen via one-year contract  —  Maybe Omar Minaya grew up in one of those households where the kids got to open one of their presents on Christmas Eve.  The Mets' GM did just that for his club late Thursday when he and Kelvim Escobar agreed to terms on a one-year contract.

How NL clubs have addressed '10 needs  —  Atlanta manager Bobby Cox is headed into his 29th and final season of filling out big-league managerial cards.  He has led his teams to a record 15 first-place finishes — including the first in Blue Jays history in 1985 — and guided the Braves …

A's season one to forget and to build on  —  Losing '09 campaign not without its promising moments  —  For the Oakland A's, it wasn't a memorable year, but one worth remembering.  How is that contradiction possible?  —  Very simple.  The 2009 edition was the first Oakland team since 1998 …

Report: A's talking with 3B Adrian Beltre  —  SAN FRANCISCO, CA - Comcast SportsNet MLB Insider Mychael Urban is reporting that the Oakland A's have expressed interest in third-base free agent Adrian Beltre.  —  Beltre recently turned down arbitration from the Mariners in hopes of procuring a multi-year deal elsewhere.

20 years later, Martin's legend lives  —  Anniversary of death puts manager's feats in perspective  —  NEW YORK — The images of Billy Martin, to this day — Christmas Day — have not changed.  Any discussion of Martin begins and ends with his behavior on the field and in the dugout, his tussles with umpires and legends alike.

Haynesworth sent home for disciplinary reasons  —  Redskins defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth was sent home from practice Friday for disciplinary reasons, Coach Jim Zorn said.  —  “All that will be kept between Albert and I,” Zorn said.  “He wasn't belligerent or nasty to me, and I wasn't nasty to him.

End of Year Salary Totals for MLB Over 11 Years (1999-2009)  —  Allocating revenues to player payroll in professional sports is all part of well... the game.  But, how much as the 30 clubs in Major League Baseball spent over the last 11 years (1999-2009) when factoring in end of year salaries …

As the market plays out  —  With a week left before the ball drops on another year, a few free agents on the market might want to consider lowering their demands.  —  Third baseman Adrian Beltre reportedly is seeking $10-15 million a year, but teams aren't forming a line around the block to hand it over.

Peter Gammons on Dale & Holley  —  Hall of Fame baseball writer Peter Gammons appeared in studio on WEEI on Wednesday to discuss the state of the offseason and to discuss the upcoming Hot Stove, Cool Music events (on Jan. 9, 2010).  —  Gammons discussed several offseason topics, among them:

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 …