Closer Mariano Rivera to sign two-year, $30 million deal with New York Yankees by Friday night  —  Punta Cana, Dominican Republic - Yankee fans rejoice: “Enter Sandman” will blissfully be heard for two more years in the Bronx.  —  According to a source familiar with the negotiations between …

Ron Santo dead at 70  —  Chicago Cubs icon failed to reach Hall of Fame  —  Ron Santo (left) and Billy Williams at the Cubs' spring training camp in 1971.  (Tribune archive photo)  —  Legendary Chicago Cubs player and broadcaster Ron Santo died Thursday night in Arizona.  He was 70.

White Sox land Adam Dunn  —  The Chicago White Sox announced Friday morning that they have signed Adam Dunn.  —  The deal is for four years, $56 million.  —  A news conference is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET.  —  A baseball source said the Dunn signing does not preclude the White Sox from trying …

Sox deal remains Beltre's preference  —  Adrian Beltre is ready to make a deal.  He hopes something can still get done with the Red Sox.  —  The All-Star third baseman flew from Los Angeles to the Dominican Republic yesterday to lend his support to a charity event hosted by David Ortiz.

Angels sign Takahashi to two-year deal  —  ANAHEIM — The Angels announced on Thursday night that they have signed left-hander Hisanori Takahashi to a two-year deal in a move that provides protection in both the rotation and bullpen.  —  “Our expectation is that he'll fit in very nicely …

2011 Fan Projection Ballots Now Open!  —  The 2011 Fan Projections ballots are now open for you to project your favorite players!  —  Last year we ran the first annual Fan Projection ballot here on FanGraphs and you responded with over 50,000 ballots to make the project a huge success!

NL West making quick offseason moves  —  Tracy Ringolsby is a Hall of Fame baseball writer.  He is in his 35th year covering Major League Baseball, is a co-founder of Baseball America, and appears on pre- and postgame shows for Colorado Rockies games on FSN Rocky Mountain.

Seattle Mariners sign free-agent LHP Erik Bedard to one-year deal  —  SEATTLE — Seattle Mariners executive vice president & general manager of baseball operations Jack Zduriencik announced Thursday that the club has signed free-agent left-handed pitcher Erik Bedard to a one-year, non-guaranteed contract.

Non-tenders: Howell, Aybar, Cormier, Navarro  —  UPDATE, 10:41: Official word is Rays have non-tendered J.P. Howell, Willy Aybar, Dioner Navarro and Lance Cormier.  —  Exec VP Andrew Friedman was confident however they could re-sign Howell, which indicates they are more likely just working around …

Mariners deal Lopez for Minor League pitcher  —  SEATTLE — The Mariners traded infielder Jose Lopez to the Colorado Rockies on Thursday evening for Minor League pitcher Chaz Roe as Seattle general manager Jack Zduriencik got some return on the veteran rather than just release him at the non-tender deadline.

Live chat: Evan Grant answers your Rangers questions at 1 p.m. Friday  —  Evan Grant, Rangers columnist and blogger for SportsDayDFW.com and The Dallas Morning News, answers questions about the team in a live chat at 1 p.m. Friday.  Ask your questions in the Coveritlive module below, and Evan will discuss them for an hour or so.

Pirates cut Milledge loose through non-tender  —  Cedeno, Karstens agree to one-year contracts to avoid arbitration  —  The Pirates surprisingly cut Lastings Milledge loose, choosing not to tender their 2010 opening-day outfielder an offer through arbitration in advance of Major League Baseball's midnight Thursday deadline.