SOURCE: RED SOX WORK OUT BOBBY ABREU  —  According to a major league source, the Red Sox have worked out veteran Bobby Abreu in Venzezuela.  As part of the workout, the team put the 38-year-old through drills at first base.  It is believed the workout is part of both parties doing their due diligence …

AAA  —  The day of reckoning has come.  —  Ballots arrived earlier this month in mailboxes of veteran members of the Baseball Writers Association of America.  It's a day most voters look forward to like Christmas: voting for the Hall of Fame.  —  This year is different, and writers must make their choices.

Marlins cite policy, would listen to offers for Stanton  —  MIAMI — Giancarlo Stanton is a force in the middle of the Miami Marlins' lineup.  But like any player in the organization, the 23-year-old slugger is not considered untouchable.  —  But that doesn't mean the Marlins are actively looking …

Source: Rob Ninkovich has a good chance to play in divisional round  —  Big news for Rob Ninkovich and the Patriots today.  —  Tests concluded the defensive end has avoided a serious injury, and there's a good chance he can play when the Patriots open the postseason Jan. 13, according to a source.

Revamped roster has Blue Jays sitting pretty  —  TORONTO — Following an unprecedented flurry of offseason activity, there's a renewed appetite for baseball in the city of Toronto.  —  The Blue Jays made waves in recent months by drastically increasing their payroll and parting ways …

Nerd Boners Up!  Tim Raines joins Blue Jays staff … According to Mel Antonen of assorted baseball writings, Tim Raines is set to join the Blue Jays coaching staff.  The former Expos great and poster boy for Hall of Fame arguments involving Jack Morris will be the outfield and base-running coach for the club in 2013.

Royals Agree To Sign Miguel Tejada  —  The Royals have announced, via Twitter, the signing of infielder Miguel Tejada to a minor league contract.  Dionisio Soldevila of the Associated Press, who first reported the agreement, has been told by both Tejada and his agent it is a MLB deal …

Rays expect bullpen to be championship-caliber again  —  ST. PETERSBURG — Rays executive VP Andrew Friedman has often said bullpens are “volatile.”  —  To account for that, Tampa Bay has been able to successfully tweak its stock of relievers each of the past several seasons, a key to its success.

Dodgers full of promise for '13  —  LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers ushered in 2012 with a divorce settlement.  They hope they've ended it with the promise of years of marital bliss.  —  It was a year of courting for the Dodgers, who worked on wooing a loyal but disgusted fan base …

Javier Vazquez May Return, Wants To Join Contender  —  Javier Vazquez is pitching for Puerto Rico's Ponce Lions this winter and is planning to pitch for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic in March.  Peter Gammons of MLB Network reported in November that Vazquez would gauge things during …