Tigers Designate Galarraga For Assignment  —  One day after agreeing to terms with him on a $2.3MM contract for 2011, the Tigers have designated Armando Galarraga for assignment.  The team announced the move on Twitter, while making its deal with Brad Penny official.

Dodgers, outfielder Marcus Thames agree on a deal  —  He's likely to platoon in left field with Jay Gibbons.  Club is also close to signing outfielder Gabe Kapler.  —  Staff and wire reports  —  The Dodgers went into spring training last year with Manny Ramirez in left field …

Gil Meche announces retirement  —  “After a lot of thinking and prioritizing of issues in my life I have decided to retire from baseball.  As a competitor my entire life this is the hardest decision that I've ever faced, but it's not fair to me, my family or the Kansas City Royals that I attempt to pitch anymore.

Sox come to terms with Ellsbury, Papelbon  —  The Red Sox, as expected, avoided arbitration hearings with Jacoby Ellsbury and Jonathan Papelbon.  —  Ellsbury agreed to one year and $2.4 million with bonuses of $50,000 for 600 and 700 plate appearances.  —  Papelbon agreed to one year and $12 million.

Jon Heyman>DAILY SCOOP  —  More ColumnsEmail Jon HeymanFollow Jon Heyman on  —  Cardinals may not offer Pujols an A-Rod deal (cont.)  —  Yankees won't be Sori about big set-up expense  —  The Yankees gave Rafael Soriano a $35-million, three-year contract with two opt-out options to be their set-up man.

Report: Mets agree to deal with Young  —  NEW YORK (AP)  —  A person familiar with the negotiations says right-hander Chris Young has agreed to a contract with the New York Mets, pending a physical.  —  Mets at a glance  —  The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition …

Indians, Shin-Soo Choo agree to deal  —  CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Indians have agreed to a one-year contract with outfielder Shin-Soo Choo worth $3,975,000, avoiding salary arbitration with their best player.  —  The Indians also finalized a $2.25 million, one-year contract with closer Chris Perez …

Rafael Palmeiro doesn't pass the test  —  It would be nice to ignore steroid controversy in HOF voting, but it would be wrong  —  For years, Rafael Palmeiro ducked the phone calls, ignored the messages, stayed out of the public eye and hoped that perhaps people would forgive and forget.

Joba, Hughes, Logan ink one-year deals  —  NEW YORK — The Yankees have avoided salary arbitration with Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes and Boone Logan, agreeing to terms on one-year contracts with the trio of pitchers.  —  Hughes' new deal is worth $2.7 million, while Chamberlain will earn $1.4 million, according to SI.com.

White Sox avoid arbitration with three  —  CHICAGO — The Chicago White Sox avoided arbitration with pitcher John Danks, outfielder Carlos Quentin and relief pitcher Tony Pena on Tuesday by agreeing to one-year deals with each.  —  Danks and the White Sox agreed to a $6 million deal …

Votto, Lozano Make Smart Deal  —  Joey Votto has nothing to lose.  He and agent Dan Lozano avoided arbitration and worked out a deal with the Reds that's worth $38MM in guaranteed money.  And Votto doesn't hit free agency a minute later than he was originally scheduled to.

Nationals avoid arbitration with Doug Slaten, Michael Morse  —  The Nationals avoided an arbitration hearing with left-handed reliever Doug Slaten by reaching an agreement on a one-year contract worth $695,000 plus incentives, according to a league source.  Slaten will make a $5,000 bonus once …

Bautista the big question mark as arbitration deadline looms  —  On the eve of baseball's deadline for the exchange of arbitration numbers, right-handers Casey Janssen, Shawn Camp and Jesse Litsch agreed to terms on one-year contracts with the Jays for 2011.  —  Janssen, 29, settled on a $1.095 million (all figures U.S.) contract.

A's Designate Mortensen For Assignment  —  The A's announced that they designated right-hander Clayton Mortensen for assignment to create roster space for Grant Balfour, whose two-year deal is now official.'  —  Mortensen, a 2007 supplementary first round pick, has appeared in eight big league games …