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.

Different parallels for Mauer, Gonzalez  —  SAN DIEGO - Though their similarities are striking, the differences between Joe Mauer and Adrian Gonzalez may be irreconcilable.  —  Both were the first overall selection in baseball's amateur draft: Gonzalez in 2000, Mauer in 2001.

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.

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 …

The 2010 Interview with Josh Byrnes, Part One  —  Josh Byrnes, left, and Colorado Rockies GM Dan O'Dowd, right, look over the desert view prior to MLB meetings last month in Paradise Valley.  Either that, or they were pointing at the Giants' offense, and laughing.  —  Browse more photos »

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 …

RHP Mike Ekstrom claimed from Padres  —  The Rays claimed RHP Mike Ekstrom off waivers from the Padres and added him to their 40-man roster.  —  Ekstrom, 26, has some experience with the Padres over the last two seasons, going 0-2 with a 6.75 ERA (35 hits, 15 walks in 25 IP) in 20 games.

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

Mariners reach agreement with Kotchman  —  Club avoids arbitration hearing with new first baseman  —  SEATTLE — The Mariners and first baseman Casey Kotchman have reached agreement on a one-year contract, avoiding a potential salary arbitration hearing.  —  Kotchman, acquired from the Red Sox …

Boras turns to Tigers to seek deal for Damon  —  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.

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 …

The Greatest Quote In The History Of Whatever.  —  Dick Kaegel has covered the Royals as a beat writer for something like a quarter of a century, writing for the Royals' website for the better part of a decade and for the Kansas City Star long before that.  You know what you're …

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.

PADRES: Agent: Giles is healthy, expecting a deal soon  —  Brian Giles' agent said Tuesday that he's optimistic his client will have a contract for the 2010 season soon.  —  Considering fellow outfielders Johnny Damon and Jermaine Dye are still out of work, agent Joe Bick said he isn't surprised …

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.