Carrasco agrees to $950,000 deal  —  BRADENTON, Fla. — The Pirates and right-handed reliever D.J. Carrasco have agreed to terms on a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.  —  If Carrasco makes the team, he will make $950,000 in base pay plus as much as $250,000 in performance bonuses based on appearances.

Carlos Beltran had Knee Surgery  —  According to a new report for the New York Post, recapping the night's events, Joel Sherman says, 'the Commissioners Office and the Players Association have been alerted 'the Mets are claiming this was done without clearance and that the Mets are threatening to take some form of action.

Is Brian Shouse back with the Red Sox for 2010?  —  More photos » Elaine Thompson - AP  —  For the record, when I searched AP photos for Shouse this is the only one that wasn't a player taking a base off of him or hitting a home run off of him.  —  Browse more photos »

Dodgers consider multiyear pacts for stars  —  Team discussing contracts with Kemp, Ethier, Loney, Broxton  —  LOS ANGELES — In a shift from recent history, the Dodgers have discussed two-year contracts with arbitration-eligible players Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, James Loney and Jonathan Broxton, a number of baseball sources confirmed.

Branyan ready to move on from Mariners  —  Slugger had hoped to sign long-term deal in Seattle  —  The first thing Russell Branyan did after hearing that the Mariners had acquired first baseman Casey Kotchman was call general manager Jack Zduriencik.  —  And thank him for last season.

Shaughnessy compares steroids to Hitler.  I think.  —  Thank God we finally have Dan “the voice of reason” Shaughnessy's take on the McGwire business.  Take it away, Dan: … See, Shaugnessy is dead-on with this.  There were clear, rational incentives to take steroids.

Yost hired by Royals as advisor  —  Former Brewers manager has Atlanta connection  —  KANSAS CITY — Ned Yost, former manager of the Milwaukee Brewers, has been hired by the Royals as a special advisor to baseball operations.  —  Yost, 54, who managed the Brewers from 2003 to Sept. 15 …

Yankee Stadium to host wine tasting  —  Sonoma-Cutrer holding Adams' final event at NYY Steak  —  NEW YORK — Some might argue that the intersection of 161st St. and River Ave. in the Bronx is the baseball capital of the world.  —  Seems that intersection stays pretty busy during the winter months, as well.

Nats' Guzman could stay at shortstop  —  Washington remains in market for second baseman  —  If the Nationals are able to sign Orlando Hudson or Adam Kennedy to play second base, Cristian Guzman most likely will remain at shortstop.  —  The Nationals also could trade Guzman to make room …

Myers blasts Phillies  —  Matt Gelb here, still with the keys while Andy's on vacation...  If you're counting, that's two former pitchers who have left the Phillies with a bitter taste this offseason.  —  First, it was Cliff Lee, who said his initial reaction to being traded from Philadelphia …

Precedent-Setting Deal With Florida Marlins Over Revenue-Sharing Has Broad Implications  —  For years now, there have been questions surrounding whether MLB's collectively bargained revenue-sharing policy has had a loophole in it as wide as centerfield at Minute Maid Park.

Why You Shouldn't Bet on Baseball  —  Alternative title to this post: Why Tango Tiger still has a day job  —  I really enjoyed the feedback to my last article on why umpires should be biased in favor of control pitchers.  Most of the folks with a solid statistical background responded favorably …