Opinion: Pitching, Speed and Defense  —  The Mets confuse me.  They really do.  I mean, I can't say acquiring Gary Matthews Jr. from the Angels is a bad move, considering they'll be paying him just $1.25 million each of the next two seasons.  I'm actually fine with it.

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.

Sabean playing with fire  —  Best case scenario, Freddy Sanchez isn't out long enough to be missed.  He's back in the lineup before taxes are due.  His left shoulder feels like $12 million over two years.  By the time the Giants take the field for Game 1 of the NLDS, his offseason medical misadventures …

Damon, Yankees Have Been Talking  —  SI.com's Jon Heyman was on MLB Network's Hot Stove show tonight, and said that the Yankees and Johnny Damon have spoken recently.  Here's his exact quote: … Two days ago we heard from former Yankee Jerry Hairston Jr. that the team never made him an offer …

Source: Jason Giambi close to signing one-year deal with Colorado Rockies  —  Jason Giambi is close to signing a one-year deal with the Colorado Rockies, according to a baseball official with knowledge of the situation.  —  After being let go by the Oakland A's last season, Giambi hit .292 …

15th annual Jiffy Lube Marlins FanFest presented by T.D. Bank set for Feb. 13  —  MIAMI — The Florida Marlins are set to host the 15th Annual Jiffy Lube Marlins FanFest presented by TD Bank on Saturday, February 13 from noon to 6 P.M. at Sun Life Stadium.  Admission to the event is free and open to all fans.

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 …

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 …

Cash invited to Astros camp  —  Club to have 57 players at start of Spring Training  —  HOUSTON — Kevin Cash, a journeyman catcher who appeared in 10 games for the New York Yankees last season, signed a Minor League contract Friday with an invitation to Astros Spring Training.

A Q&A With New Yankees Center-Fielder Curtis Granderson  —  The Yankees might not be signing Johnny Damon, but worry not: Come April you'll have forgotten all about him.  Curtis Granderson, your new center-fielder, seems to possess all the attributes we require of our Yankees: He's smart …

Nationals interested in Cabrera  —  Free-agent shortstop could move to second base  —  WASHINGTON — The Nationals continue to search for a second baseman in case they are unable to sign free-agent Orlando Hudson.  In fact, they have interest in free-agent shortstop Orlando Cabrera.

Executive decisions  —  Kim Ng, the Dodgers' assistant GM, has an impeccable record and unimpeachable reputation — but that alone may not be enough for a promotion  —  This isn't a story about trails being blazed or barriers being broken.  It isn't a story about glass ceilings or institutional biases.

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.

Rangers sign catcher Toby Hall  —  The Rangers have signed catcher Toby Hall to a Minor League contract with an invitation to Spring Training.  He has played in 686 games mostly with the Rays and White Sox and gives the Rangers some depth at catcher.  —  He was the Rays starting catcher from 2002-2006.