Mets get Matthews, $21M from Angels for Stokes  —  The Mets have a deal to acquire Gary Matthews Jr. from the Los Angeles Angels according to an American League source.  Matthews has two years and $23 million remaining on his contract and the Angels will be paying the vast portion of that money.

A's prospect leaving baseball for priesthood  —  Jon Paul Morosi is a national MLB writer for FOXSports.com.  He previously covered baseball for the Detroit Free Press and Seattle Post-Intelligencer.  He began his journalism career at the Bay City Times in his native Michigan.

Source: Jose Contreras signs 1-year deal with Philadelphia Phillies  —  Jose Contreras has signed a one-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, a source confirmed for ESPNDeportes.com's Enrique Rojas.  —  The Chicago Cubs expressed interest in Contreras and the pitcher was expected …

WHAT HAPPENED WITH JASON BAY AND THE RED SOX  —  It was supposed to be the payoff for years of hard work and production.  Instead, Jason Bay's foray into free agency was nine months of chaos that still leaves the outfielder shaking his head.  —  The end of the story had Jason Bay standing …

Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen feels betrayed by Mark McGwire admission  —  Ozzie Guillen said he feels betrayed by Mark McGwire's admission that he used performance-enhancing drugs, and the Chicago White Sox manager isn't buying the slugger's contention that they didn't help him hit home runs at a record pace.

Dealer contradicts Mark McGwire's reason for steroids  —  A convicted drug dealer who says he used to supply steroids to former baseball slugger Mark McGwire told ESPN on Thursday that McGwire's goal was to get “bigger, faster, stronger” to improve his performance on the field …

New York Mets might make pitch to ex-Yankee pitcher Chien-Ming Wang  —  The Mets are scouring the pitching market and have been in touch with Ben Sheets since they watched him at his throwing session in Louisiana on Tuesday.  Another possible starting option is Chien-Ming Wang …

Introducing the Jerome Holtzman Award  —  The game's greatest relievers deserve a major award they can call their own  —  Once again last season, one of the most dominating pitchers — and one of the biggest difference-makers — of modern times didn't win a single major award.  —  Not a Cy Young.

Royals Reach Agreement With Rick Ankiel  —  The Royals reached an agreement with outfielder Rick Ankiel on a one-year, $3.25MM deal, tweets Yahoo's Tim Brown.  The contract has a second-year mutual option worth $6MM and, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports, Ankiel can earn up to $500K in incentives this year.

The Twins' interest in Jim Thome is real  —  We received an e-mail tip today that a Chicago radio station is reporting that Jim Thome will sign with the Twins by day's end.  —  I called a Twins official, expecting to hear that this is totally far-fetched, and turns out they do have real interest …

Edmonds waits on Cardinals, will consider other team's offers  —  Outdielder says his agent has fielded calls from three or four interested clubs  —  When Jim Edmonds told Tony La Russa he wanted to come back and play for the Cardinals this season, he thought he would get a simple yes or no answer.

If Delgado a no-go, Mets may tab Tatis  —  The Mets' hunt for another first-base option includes a longtime favorite of general manager Omar Minaya.  —  According to an industry source, if Carlos Delgado is not re-signed, Fernando Tatis is a strong candidate to rejoin the Mets next season.

It's Official: The Phillies sign Shane Victorino for 3 years, $22 million  —  UPDATE: The deal has now been announced by the team.  —  Thursday, 8:02 P.M.: A source is telling me that the Phillies and Shane Victorino have reached a deal on a three-year, $22 million contract.