Cashman: ‘Nothing baffling’ about Jeter talks  —  Tweet  —  According to the Yankees, there hasn't been anything confusing about contract negotiations with Derek Jeter and his agent, Casey Close.  —  Close described the Yankees' negotiating strategy on Sunday as “baffling” …

New Mets manager Terry Collins mulls staff, may promote '86 hero Mookie Wilson to 1st base coach  —  The Mets will introduce Terry Collins as their 20th manager Tuesday, and are working to finalize his coaching staff.  —  Collins, 61, earned the job Sunday night over fellow finalists Bob Melvin, Chip Hale and Wally Backman.

Q&A: Larry Walker on NL MVP Joey Votto  —  Larry Walker, the first Canadian to win the NL MVP award in 1997, was 2010 winner Joey Votto's hitting coach at the 2009 World Baseball Classic.  'The talent was there, says Walker.  (Frank Gunn/Canadian Press)  —  Larry Walker didn't have an answer.

Reds To Sign Dontrelle Willis  —  The Reds have agreed to sign Dontrelle Willis to a minor league deal, according to ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick.  Still just 28, Willis has gone from rookie phenom to ace to trade chip to bust to reclamation project in his eight-year MLB career.

New Dodgers coach Davey Lopes already has his first special project: Matt Kemp  —  Lopes, the former Dodgers second baseman who will coach first base for the team, is friends with Dave Stewart, his former teammate and now Kemp's agent.  Both men are confident Lopes will communicate well with Kemp …

Towers: Nothing new on Upton trade front  —  D-backs listening to offers but no move is imminent  —  PHOENIX — All was quiet Monday on the Justin Upton trade front.  —  “Nothing new to report there,” said D-backs general manager Kevin Towers.  —  Towers created quite a stir last week …

Do great young players tend not to improve as they get older?  —  Warning: To the regulars on this site who are sabermetricians in their own right, this post is obvious.  You can ignore it if you like.  You DON'T need to tell us how obvious it is.  There are many readers, lurkers …

Ortiz Ready to Play Hard for Red Sox  —  SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — David Ortiz says he is looking forward to playing next season even though the Boston Red Sox did not give him the new multiyear contract he wanted.  —  “Boston made its decision, and I am going to play hard …

Dodgers reach agreement with Dana Eveland on a minor-league deal  —  The Dodgers have agreed to terms on a minor league split contract with left-hander Dana Eveland, according to a baseball source who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the deal hasn't been announced.