Sources: Stanton's $325M deal backloaded  —  If Giancarlo Stanton opts out of his new 13-year, $325 million contract with the Miami Marlins after the first six seasons, he'll be walking away from a staggering $218 million over the final seven seasons, sources familiar with the deal told ESPN.com Tuesday.

Notes: Seattle shops for bat, Philly scouts Boston's system, more  —  Notes from around baseball, according to information gathered from major-league sources:  —  *As the Mariners continue their search for a right-handed hitter, they are more interested in signing free agent Nelson Cruz …

White Sox Sign Zach Duke  —  12:36pm: The White Sox have announced the signing of Duke to a three-year, $15MM contract.  Duke will earn $4.5MM in 2015, $5MM in 2016 and $5.5MM in 2017, according to the team's release.  —  11:45am: Duke's contract is a multi-year deal, tweets Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports.

Not True, Not Funny … Did you read Dan Jenkins' interview with me in the latest Golf Digest?  I hope not.  Because it wasn't me.  It was some jerk he created to pretend he was talking to me.  That's right, Jenkins faked an interview, which fails as parody, and is really more like a grudge-fueled piece of character assassination.

JAMES SHIELDS INTERESTS ARIZONA — BUT CAN IT AFFORD HIM?  —  So far, we've heard very little about the market for free-agent right-hander James Shields.  —  Well, here is one interested team:  —  The Arizona Diamondbacks.  —  The D-Backs tried to trade for Shields and Wade Davis …

Relationship between Harvey and Mets management is important  —  Matthew Cerrone, MetsBlog.com: Matt Harvey has an amazing amount of talent.  He also has a powerful and attractive personality, which will continue to make for buzz-worthy moments when playing in New York City, the largest media market in the world.

Diamondbacks tab Ed Lewis to head analytics department  —  In hopes of improving his organization's fluency in advanced statistics, Diamondbacks Chief Baseball Officer Tony La Russa turned to the man who first introduced him to those concepts years ago, officially naming Ed Lewis the team's director of analytics on Monday.

Pablo Sandoval tour hits Boston Pablo Sandoval tour hits Boston  —  Free agent 3B to play Fenway  —  Photo by:  —  POINTING THE WAY EAST?  Free agent third baseman Pablo Sandoval arrived in Boston yesterday to meet with the Red Sox.  —  By:  —  The Kung Fu Panda's in town …

Big rookie seasons projected for Red Sox outfielder, Mets righty in 2015  —  MLBPipeline.com's Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo discuss who they think will win the 2015 Rookie of the Year Awards … On the heels of the Baseball Writers' Association of America announcing its award winners …

Sources: Blue Jays continue to show interest in Jon Lester  —  The Blue Jays evidently aren't messing around this offseason.  —  While getting free agent catcher Russell Martin to a five-year, $82 million contract (as first reported by Peter Gammons, Jon Heyman and Ken Rosenthal) …

(USATSI)  —  So far this offseason, there hasn't been much that's new and interesting tied to the Yankees — baseball's most storied franchise and usually among its most active winter players.  —  And there has been very little, if anything, that's been linked to right-hander Max Scherzer — baseball's top free agent pitcher.

Cardinals reloading, Braves rebuilding in wake of four-player blockbuster  —  The trade is a monster, no doubt.  Right fielder Jason Heyward and reliever Jordan Walden to the Cardinals, right-handers Shelby Miller and Tyrell Jenkins to the Braves.  It's the kind of deal we will discuss for weeks, months, maybe even years.

Beat reporter T.R. Sullivan answers Texas fans' questions  —  9/28/14: Elvis Andrus snags Josh Donaldson's soft grounder to shortstop with his bare hand and slings to first for the out  —  The Mets are looking for a shortstop and appear to have pitching, whether it is Jon Niese …