Cubs officially announce Villanueva signing  —  During the Cubs Convention last weekend, Carlos Villanueva was included in a slide show about new players added to the team.  On Saturday, the right-hander was finally officially added.  —  The Cubs announced they have formally signed Villanueva …

Rangers sign journeyman Jeff Baker as bench candidate  —  Jeff Baker joined the Texas Rangers' competition for a bench spot, signing a minor-league deal with an invitation to big-league camp Saturday.  —  The 31-year-old Baker has played in parts of eight big-league seasons …

Braves double down on streaky Uptons  —  There was no name that caused more debate in organizations around baseball this offseason than “Upton.”  —  There were impassioned debates on the Upton issue, talent vs. intangibles.  There were baseball people who pleaded with their teams …

Inside Terry Francona's Red Sox clubhouse  —  His Fenway Park quarters were a sanctuary for this baseball lifer, a second home  —  First of three excerpts from former Red Sox manager Terry Francona's memoir, co-authored by Globe columnist Dan Shaughnessy, which went on sale Jan. 22.

If ex-NY Mets, Boston Red Sox skipper Bobby Valentine wants back, Mets TV is the place to be  —  MLB sources say SportsNet New York brass has reached out to Valentine to discuss a possible studio role on Mets telecasts.  —  If Bobby Valentine wants to keep his face in baseball, New York and SNY is the place to do it.

Memorabilia dealer wants the juice on former NY Mets first baseman Carlos Delgado  —  Sports memorabilia dealer Spencer Lader and other defendants want Jose Reyes to tell them under oath what he knows about Carlos Delgado's relationship with controversial Toronto sports medicine doctor Anthony Galea …

Mets catcher Powell's 5-month-old daughter dies  —  “Izzy went to be with her creator yesterday evening,” Landon Powell and his wife wrote on Facebook.  (Kevork Djansezian/AP)  —  One of Mets catcher Landon Powell's 5-month-old twin daughters died on Friday night, the family announced on Saturday through its Facebook page.

Chacin, Rockies avoid arbitration with two-year deal  —  The Rockies and Jhoulys Chacin avoided arbitration with a two-year, $6.5 million deal that the right-hander announced Saturday.  The team hasn't confirmed the deal, which is pending a physical.  —  Chacin, who turned 25 this month …

(US Presswire)  —  While the Seattle Mariners are said to have tried to start contract talks with superstar pitcher Felix Hernandez, there are no serious talks taking place at the moment, sources familiar with the situation tell CBSSports.com.  And if the Mariners are interested …

Source: Surgery for Kalish; Sox sign Sweeney  —  Boston Red sox outfielder Ryan Kalish's determination to return to the big leagues has sustained another major setback.  —  Kalish, who made an auspicious big league debut in 2010 but missed all of the 2011 season and most of 2012 with neck …