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.

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 …

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 …

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.

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.

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.

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 …

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:

Duchscherer unofficially in fold: $2 million base salary  —  As I reported in this morning's Chronicle, the A's were optimistic about re-signing Justin Duchscherer, and though the team might not announce the agreement until after Christmas, word from multiple sources is that a one-year deal is done pending a physical.

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,