Mets, Maine agree to terms on contract  —  Feliciano, Francoeur, Green, Pagan remain without deals  —  NEW YORK — The Mets agreed to terms with John Maine on Friday evening, avoiding arbitration with the right-hander moments after he and four other Mets filed for the process.

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 …

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 …

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.

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 …

Kemp Signs Two-Year Deal To Avoid Arbitration  —  The Dodgers avoided arbitration with Matt Kemp today and signed him to a two-year contract worth nearly $11MM.  The deal, which the sides have been working on all week, is now official, tweets Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times.