Joba's bullpen call  —  It was impossible to ignore, and the Yankees didn't ignore it.  —  Words were not needed.  Joba Chamberlain's body language screamed confidence and the scoreboard flashed 97 mph.  Here at the end of his most taxing season, Chamberlain was a strutting fire-breather again.

Dodgers agree to minor-league deals with Jeff Weaver and Alfredo Amezaga  —  Jeff Weaver will have to pitch his way onto the Dodgers' roster again.  —  One of the unsung heroes in the Dodgers' run to the National League Championship Series last year, Weaver agreed Tuesday …

Minor League Transactions  —  Larish lost his foothold on a 40-man roster spot when Detroit signed closer Jose Valverde.  Larish, the Tigers' fifth-round pick '05, batted .242/.323/.404 in 74 games with the big club during the past two seasons.  —  Florida Marlins  —  Signed: RHP Derrick Turnbow

Caribbean spotlight on Mets' Martinez  —  Outfielder hopes strong series lands him big league role  —  MARGARITA ISLAND, Venezuela — Mets outfield prospect Fernando Martinez admits that he thought about the possibility of playing in the same outfield as Jason Bay this season.  —  Now, he's thinking again.

Rich Aurilia not ready to retire, hopes for a final season with Mets or Yankees  —  For at least a year, and probably two, it's been tacked on the bulletin board in the Giants clubhouse: A doctored-up, photocopied picture of the “Rat Pack,” with new identities for Sammy Davis Jr., Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra.

Red Sox' Hall hits hard drive  —  + Recent Articles + Recent Blog Entries + Email + Bio  —  Bill Hall's laptop reminds him every day of what he once was, and what he yet again hopes to be.  —  The computer's hard drive contains every swing he took for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2006.

Baseball's Best Statues, by Ballpark  —  Last week, the Pirates unveiled plans for their newest statue to be erected outside of PNC Park sometime next summer.  As you can see from the picture to the right, it's an awesome depiction of one of the Pirates' most memorable moments …

Dodgers ink right-hander Ortiz  —  Free-agent pitcher signed to Minor League deal  —  LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers signed right-handed free-agent pitcher Ramon Ortiz to a Minor League contract with an invitation to Major League camp.  —  Ortiz, 36, last pitched in the Major Leagues in 2007 …

Colbrunn Named RiverDogs Manager, Tyson Promoted to Manage Tampa Yankees … Former Big Leaguer Colbrunn Makes Managerial Debut  —  CHARLESTON, SC - The New York Yankees have announced that Charleston RiverDogs skipper Torre Tyson will take over the reins of the High-A Tampa Yankees …

Money holding up Hudson to Nationals  —  Infielder interested, but doesn't want to take pay cut from '09  —  WASHINGTON — Free-agent second baseman Orlando Hudson wants to play for the Nationals, but he is shopping for a more lucrative deal, according to a baseball source.

Plenty of candidates for lone spot in Sox pen  —  At most spring trainings, it's easy to focus on the numerous positional battles as players vie to make the 25-man major-league roster.  —  This time, there will be less to fight over.  As general manager Theo Epstein said last week, there's probably only one bullpen spot up for grabs.

Mauer's new deal is a matter of when, not if  —  Gardenhire believes extension will be signed by Spring Training  —  MINNEAPOLIS — For much of this offseason, as the Twins put together their club for 2010, fans have anxiously been awaiting word on whether the Twins will sign Joe Mauer to a long-term contract extension.