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 …

Exercising my right not to vote  —  I simply can't do it.  I put off mailing in my 2013 Hall of Fame ballot until today's deadline.  —  It will not be sent.  —  I'd rather abstain than play judge and jury this year.  The two most deserving players statistically of the 37 on the ballot are Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens.

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.

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.

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

NY Mets pitcher Dillon Gee has weight off shoulder as surgery fixes blood clot  —  Gee expects to have a normal spring training and that's important to the Mets' staff, since he moves up a notch in the rotation after the trade of Cy Young Award winner R.A. Dickey

Pat Shurmur, Tom Heckert expected to be gone by Monday after Cleveland Browns take on Pittsburgh Steelers  —  PITTSBURGH, Pa. - It's become a Browns tradition over the past several years: Close out the season against the Steelers and then watch heads roll within 24 hours after the game.

Spring training competitions  —  Another day passed without the Orioles signing or trading for a player.  The 40-man roster still has an opening.  —  Perhaps it will be filled during my drive home from Ocean Pines.  News tends to break while I'm behind the wheel.  —  I may have to brake a few times in the snow.

Ratings for Citi Field Bonds Lowered  —  With one glaring exception, the Mets appear to be in cost-cutting mode this winter.  Yes, David Wright agreed to an eight-year, $138 million contract this month.  —  But the Mets traded their ace, R.A. Dickey, over what amounted to a few million dollars …