Dodgers come to terms with Kemp  —  Center fielder to sign for two years pending a physical  —  LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers and center fielder Matt Kemp have reached a preliminary agreement on a two-year contract for almost $11 million, pending his passing a physical, according to baseball sources.

Valverde, Tigers agree to terms  —  Deal is for two years, stabilizes back end of bullpen  —  DETROIT — The Tigers are poised to sign the veteran closer they hoped to add.  They agreed to terms Thursday with Jose Valverde on a two-year contract with an option for a third …

The Mets and Boras Are at Odds on Beltran  —  After experiencing sharp pain in his right knee, Carlos Beltran was examined Tuesday morning in Boulder, Colo., by Dr. Richard Steadman, a top orthopedic surgeon who concluded that Beltran should have arthroscopic surgery to repair an arthritic condition.

Florida Marlins' Josh Johnson agrees to 4-year, $39M deal  —  Pitcher Josh Johnson reached an agreement on a four-year, guaranteed $39 million contract that will keep him with the Florida Marlins through 2013.  The pitcher confirmed the agreement to ESPN.com Thursday.  —  Johnson

‘Fakes, phonies, creeps, cheaters’  —  (J.B. Forbes/PD and Otto Gruele/Allsport)  —  Former Cardinals slugger Jack Clark apparently isn't enamored of the current hitting coach, especially in light of Mark McGwire's admission a few days ago that he had used steroids in 1998-99 when he played …

Tribe signs Redmond to be backup backstop  —  The Indians have signed 38-year-old Mike Redmond to a one-year contract to be their backup catcher.  It is their first Major League free agent signing this offseason, and it brings their 40-man roster total to 39.  The financial terms of the agreement were not immediately available.

Glavine mulling new job with Braves  —  Legendary left-hander says he's unlikely to pitch again  —  ATLANTA — Tom Glavine is not ready to officially declare that his legendary pitching career is complete.  But as he nears this likely reality, he has wondered whether it's time to mend relationships …

‘Great exchange of ideas’ to advance game  —  Commissioner, Special Committee discuss variety of topics  —  PARADISE VALLEY, Ariz. — The first Special Committee meeting called by Commissioner Bud Selig on Thursday afternoon began at 2 p.m. MT and lasted four hours.

Cincinnati Reds Top 20 Prospects for 2010  —  More photos » Charles Rex Arbogast - AP  —  Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Johnny Cueto, signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2004.  (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)  —  Browse more photos »  —  Top 20 Cincinnati Reds Prospects for 2010

Now's the time to speak for Maris  —  September 1998: Roger Maris Jr. (right) holds the bat his father, Roger Maris, used to hit the record-setting home run in 1961.  He and his brothers (left to right) Randy, Kevin and Rich, were at Busch Stadium to watch Mark McGwire.  (Odell Mitchell Jr./P-D)

Bell, Padres come to terms, avoid arbitration  —  Closer agrees on one-year deal for $4 million in 2010  —  SAN DIEGO — Leading the National League in saves and being named to an All-Star team has served Padres' closer Heath Bell well — both on the field and financially.

Thief posed as Chicago Cub, charges say  —  A Nevada man is accused of posing as a Major League Baseball player to steal a car.  —  Matthew T. Van Meter, 24, is charged in Utah state court with felony counts of theft and forgery.  Charging papers accuse Van Meter, of Elko., Nev. …

Addition by subtraction  —  By eliminating one huge minus, Piniella's positive Cubs can win 90  —  No Roy Halladay?  No Chone Figgins?  No fill-in-the-blank-check slugger for the middle of the order?  —  No problem, Cubs fans.  —  The Cubs might not have added much to their second-place team …

Source: Contreras on Cubs radar  —  The Chicago Cubs remain interested in former Chicago White Sox pitcher Jose Contreras, according to a source close to the situation.  —  The source expects Contreras to sign a one-year, incentive-laden contract with either the Cubs or the St. Louis Cardinals.