Minaya Dials Back Mets' Ire on Beltran  —  A day after the Mets sent an assistant to do verbal battle on the team's behalf, General Manager Omar Minaya was back in place Friday, trying to smooth over the strained relationship between the club and Carlos Beltran.

Padres deal Kouz to A's for outfielders  —  San Diego reportedly set to receive Hairston, Cunningham  —  SAN DIEGO — The Padres and A's have reached agreement on a deal that would send San Diego third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff and Minor League infielder Eric Sogard to Oakland …

Judge Rules Against Paxton  —  A Kentucky judge ruled Friday night that the University of Kentucky can withhold lefthander James Paxton from games until he meets with an NCAA investigator to clear up questions about his eligibility.  —  The Associated Press reported that Fayette County …

George Steinbrenner looking forward to 2010 season  —  TAMPA, Fla. — George Steinbrenner is looking forward to the start of the upcoming baseball season.  —  “I am.  Aren't you?” the 79-year-old New York Yankees owner said with a smile on Friday.  —  Steinbrenner spent four hours …

Gaudin, Logan file for arbitration  —  Agreements may be reached prior to February hearings  —  NEW YORK — The two eligible Yankees, Chad Gaudin and Boone Logan, both filed for salary arbitration in advance of Friday's deadline.  —  Gaudin, 26, came to the Yankees in a midseason trade with the Padres in 2009.

Pirates sign D.J. Carrasco to minor league contract  —  The Pittsburgh Pirates today announced that they have signed right-handed pitcher D.J. Carrasco to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training as a non-roster player.  —  The 32-year-old Carrasco spent the entire 2009 season …

Pirates, Donnelly agree to terms  —  The Pirates and free-agent reliever Brendan Donnelly have agreed to terms on a contract, pending a physical, according to a source directly involved in the negotiations.  —  More to come.  —  UPDATE 2:05 p.m.: A few more things: This will be for one year, but I do not have financial terms.

McCourt not showing vulnerable side  —  Six years after Frank McCourt came to town from Boston and took stewardship of one of the city's most treasured jewels, the hotly debated issue of whether the Dodgers owner is a good baseball man remains an open question.

Four Phils file for arbitration  —  It was simply a formality, but the Phillies four arbitration-eligible players were among 128 players who officially filed for salary arbitration on Friday.  —  Pitchers Joe Blanton and Chad Durbin, catcher Carlos Ruiz and outfielder Shane Victorino filed.

Danks, Jenks file for arbitration  —  Fellow White Sox Quentin, Pena round out list  —  CHICAGO — The last time the White Sox went to salary arbitration with a player was in 2001, when reliever Keith Foulke won his hearing and saw his salary jump from $445,000 to $3.1 million.

Gordon, Tejeda file arbitration paperwork  —  Players, Royals to exchange figures on Tuesday  —  KANSAS CITY — Third baseman Alex Gordon and pitcher Robinson Tejeda of the Royals were among 128 Major League players who filed for salary arbitration Friday.

Deadline passes with no Rangers sale  —  Thirty-day exclusive negotiating window expired Friday  —  ARLINGTON — A midnight deadline expired on Friday without a deal being reached between owner Tom Hicks and a group headed by Pittsburgh attorney Chuck Greenberg in regards to the sale of the Rangers.

Lincecum leads list of 128 arbitration filings  —  Papelbon, Verlander will also exchange figures with teams  —  Baseball's salary arbitration season began in earnest Friday, with 128 players filing.  And as is often the case during the regular season in San Francisco and around the ballparks …