An update on Chapman  —  Lots of chatter in the last 36 hours on Aroldis Chapman, the 21-year-old Cuban lefty with the big fastball.  He could pick a team by the end of the week.  —  The Red Sox were the first team to make Chapman an offer and are believed to remain in the mix.

World Series champs against Japanese champs?  It could happen  —  We were just talking about what moves Bud Selig might make to bolster his legacy before he steps down as baseball's commissioner in 2012, so it probably comes as no surprise that he's thinking big.  —  Like, globally big.

Florida Marlins: Puerto Rico series on tap for 2010, 2011; Iraq trip later this month  —  President David Samson anticipates the Marlins finalizing plans to relocate a June 28-30 home series against the Mets to Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico within the next week.

Cust re-signs with A's  —  I just heard from a source close to the negotiations that DH Jack Cust will return to the A's on a one-year deal worth just over $2.5 million, with incentives that can push the total to close to $3 million.  —  So the A's will have at least some pop in their lineup next year …

Snub of Alomar exposes flaw in voting  —  Ken Rosenthal has been the senior baseball writer for FOXSports.com since Aug. 2005.  He appears weekly on MLB on FOX.  —  I'm angry, too.  —  Angry that Roberto Alomar did not get elected to the Hall of Fame on the first ballot.

Buzz: The Mets plan for Pitching  —  In case you missed it...  Earlier today, in this post, I revealed the Mets interest in free-agent RHP John Smoltz, who is willing to pitch in the bullpen, as well as how the team hopes to approach free-agent RHP Joel Pineiro, who may need to settle on a short-term deal...

Delgado smacks first homer since return  —  Free agent playing winter ball to prove injury is behind him  —  Free agent first baseman Carlos Delgado hit his first home run for the Carolina Giants in the Puerto Rican Winter League on Thursday to help the team advance to the postseason.

Long already hard at work with Yankees  —  Hitting coach puts time in with Swisher; Granderson on deck  —  NEW YORK — While the rest of baseball clings to its last weeks of Hot Stove hibernation, Yankees hitting coach Kevin Long has already rolled into the new season …

Draft Grades, 2005-08  —  Below are the latest Draft Report Card grades for each team from 2005-08, which are explained in detail in the 2010 Prospect Handbook.  Grades are based solely on the quality of the draftees signed, and not on the number of picks added/lost through free-agent compensation …

Montreal Expos, Forgotten by Many, Are Reuniting in Cooperstown  —  There is an episode of “Newhart,” the 1980s sitcom set at a lodge in Vermont, in which George the handyman considers which baseball team to root for.  The Montreal Expos were somewhat local, but they would not do.

Blue Jays claim Bocock off waivers  —  Shortstop recently designated for assignment by Giants  —  The Blue Jays claimed shortstop Brian Bocock off waivers from the Giants on Thursday.  —  Bocock was designated for assignment by San Francisco recently to make room on the 40-man roster for the Juan Uribe signing.

Tony La Russa's ‘dream’: Mark McGwire as pinch hitter  —  Mark McGwire is returning to baseball this season as the St. Louis Cardinals' hitting coach.  Could he also be making a cameo as a player, too?  —  In an interview with the Contra Costa Times, Cardinals manager Tony La Russa mentioned …