Rays Sign Johnny Damon, Manny Ramirez  —  The Rays have officially signed Johnny Damon and Manny Ramirez, the team announced.  Damon's deal is worth $5.25MM plus a potential $750K in bonus money based on attendance and Ramirez's deal is worth $2MM.  Both players are represented by Scott Boras.

Kotsay deal close  —  The Brewers were working Tuesday to finalize a contract for veteran outfielder Mark Kotsay, who would bring another left-handed bat to a righty-heavy Milwaukee roster.  —  The pending deal was reported by FoxSports.com, which said Kotsay would get a one-year, Major League contract.

Rob Neyer Joins SB Nation, Becomes Part Of ‘Us’ Not ‘Them’  —  Philadelphia Phillies' Jimmy Rollins wipes his face while speaking to the media before a baseball game against the Washington Nationals last April in Philadelphia.  Rollins is heading to the 15-day disabled list with a calf strain.

Source: New York Mets owner Fred Wilpon, CEO Jeff Wilpon, president Saul Katz meet MLB commissioner Bud Selig about team's finances  —  New York Mets principal owner Fred Wilpon, chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon and team president Saul Katz met with baseball commissioner Bud Selig on Tuesday …

Cashman a steadying force amidst Yanks storm  —  There is always a sense of a reality show when one is running the Yankees, Mets or Red Sox.  Go back to November 2005.  Theo Epstein walked out of Fenway Park in a gorilla suit, and Brian Cashman received a call from a writer claiming that …

Healthy once again, Dave Roberts ready to coach  —  For Dave Roberts, being back on the baseball field is a blessing.  It's where he knows he belongs.  —  Roberts is already hard at work in his new gig as San Diego Padres first-base coach less than a year after learning he had Hodgkin's lymphoma at age 37.

New NPB Imports for 2011  —  Last November, I asked you who should play in Japan this upcoming season.  With NPB camps opening and offseason acquisitions basically complete. let's take a look at who went over.  Here's the breakdown, using the categories I outlined in my original post:

Orioles unlikely to make a move with Simon until Feb. 26  —  The Orioles aren't commenting on the Alfredo Simon situation.  They haven't at all since the Orioles' 29-year-old reliever was named as the primary suspect in the New Year's Day shooting death of his cousin and jailed in the Dominican Republic.

Indians in talks with righty Bonderman  —  CLEVELAND — The Indians may be on the verge of landing a starter to help augment their young rotation.  Cleveland is currently working to sign free-agent pitcher Jeremy Bonderman, according to a Major League source.

Inbox: What will top of batting order look like?  —  Orioles beat reporter Brittany Ghiroli answers fans' questions  —  What do you see the first four spots in the Orioles' batting order looking like?  —  When asked about his batting order during Saturday's FanFest, Orioles manager Buck Showalter …