Tigers, Verlander agree to $80-million deal  —  Hard-throwing ace set career highs with 19 wins, 3.45 ERA in 2009  —  Justin Verlander and the Detroit Tigers have agreed to an $80 million, five-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.

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.

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 …

Bisciotti takes a swing at the Yankees  —  Clearly, Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti is a proponent of the NFL salary cap, and took a light-hearted shot at the Yankees during today's big news conference for their inability to totally dominate Major League Baseball with their huge revenue and payroll advantage over the other 29 teams.

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.

Save the anthem at ballparks  —  Many perform painful versions of ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’  —  We will all hear again this spring about “pace of game” issues, as Major League Baseball makes mild attempts to speed things up and trim that dreaded down time.  —  But let's take this issue from the top.

‘Ramirez Provision’ is banned  —  Major league teams cannot require players to donate to club charities as part of a contract.  Manny Ramirez donated to the Dodgers' charitable foundation last year and owner Frank McCourt later said he  —  As part of the $45-million contract he signed last March …

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 »

Brett Tomko is throwing again, looking for a deal  —  Who was the A's best starting pitcher last year?  Well, over a very short time period from when he came up to when he got hurt, it was veteran Brett Tomko, who went 4-1 with a 2.95 ERA and recorded one of the team's two complete games.

Cleveland Indians center fielder Grady Sizemore apologizes for photo scandal  —  CLEVELAND — Fully clothed, Grady Sizemore faced his public with nothing to hide.  —  Stung by having semi-nude photos of him posted on the Internet, Cleveland's popular center fielder said he never intended for the photos …

Gale recommended Estrada  —  By Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel  —  I just spoke on the telephone with Brewers assistant general manager Gord Ash and he said the Brewers claimed right-hander Marco Estrada off waivers from Washington after getting a “strong recommendation” from new Class AAA pitching coach Rich Gale.

Quote: F-Mart wanted Beltran's Job  —  In the first game of the Caribbean Series last night, Mets OF Fernando Martinez went 0-for-3 in Escogido's 2-1 win against Puerto Rico.  —  Martinez told Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com that he thought he might get the chance to start in center field for the Mets …