Dodgers sign Giles to Minor League deal  —  Veteran will compete for a roster spot at Spring Training  —  LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers signed 39-year-old outfielder Brian Giles to a Minor League contract with an invitation to Major League camp, the club confirmed.

Joe Girardi faces many challenges to repeat  —  In less than two weeks, Joe Girardi will assemble his pitchers and catchers in Tampa and give a dress-rehearsal speech that'll be delivered to the full Yankee squad on Feb. 23.  That's the day the clubhouse will be closed …

Wood's turn at third has finally arrived  —  Longtime backup ready to compete for full-time job with Halos  —  Patience is an essential virtue, in life and at home plate.  Brandon Wood could do a lecture tour on the subject.  —  Having paid his dues in full for seven years …

Sources: Tigers, Braves interested in Damon  —  Fox Sports  —  It's not clear how many suitors are showing interest in Johnny Damon at the moment.  But the Tigers and Braves are definitely among the group, multiple major league sources told FOXSports.com late Friday.

Coke Helps Firefighters  —  Sugar Pine, CA - World Series pitcher Phil Coke is helping out firefighters in the Mother Lode.  —  Coke, a Tuolumne County native, will be greeting fans at the Mi Wuk/Sugar Pine fire station today (Saturday) and signing around 50 World Series baseballs, with proceeds going to the fire department.

Lengthy deal for Beckett requires medical attention  —  A five-year, $82.5 million deal for Josh Beckett - the same thing former Marlins teammate A.J. Burnett and current teammate John Lackey got - seems logical for the free-agent-to-be.  Right now, it's not going to happen in Boston.

Sabean likes Schierholtz in right field  —  Giants GM endorses young outfielder during FanFest  —  SAN FRANCISCO — Nate Schierholtz's status as the Giants' Opening Day right fielder shifted from “projected” to “likely” on Saturday.  —  Though nothing's certain until Spring Training ends …

Comeback for Pat Burrell may be key to Tampa Bay Rays' season  —  What single player is most key to the Rays' 2010 success?  —  There are lots of answers.  —  Assuming health, stars Carl Crawford, Evan Longoria and Carlos Peña are obviously all integral.

Nationals sign veteran lefty Estes  —  Hurler reportedly inked to Minor League deal  —  After picking up a new second baseman in Adam Kennedy on Friday, the Nationals have also signed veteran left-hander Shawn Estes to a Minor League contract, according to The Associated Press.

It'll be Valentine's day before you know it  —  Bob Klapisch covers baseball for The Record in New Jersey and worked at the New York Post and New York Daily News.  The author of five books, he was recently voted a top-five columnist in the country by the Associated Press Sports Editors.