Padres, Brandon Morrow agree to one-year deal  —  The San Diego Padres have agreed to terms with free agent right-hander Brandon Morrow on a one-year deal, an industry source told Sportsnet.  —  Morrow will earn a base salary of $2.5 million plus incentives, according to Corey Brock of MLB.com, who first reported the deal.

State-of-the-art exhibit at Miller Park will pay tribute to retiring Commissioner  —  Brewers COO Rick Schlesinger and Bud Selig discuss plans to honor the retiring Commissioner with a special fan experience at Miller Park  —  MILWAUKEE — Allan H.  “Bud” Selig was going to be a history professor …

Royals To Sign Alex Rios  —  The Royals have agreed to a one-year, $11MM deal with outfielder Alex Rios, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports on Twitter.  Rios, a Boras Corporation client, joins Kendrys Morales as veteran additions to the defending American League champs.

Chase Headley: I Turned Down Bigger Offer To Sign With The Yankees  —  NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) — Chase Headley is staying with the Yankees, a sign New York is not counting on Alex Rodriguez to play third base regularly.  —  Headley and the Yankees have agreed on a $52 million, four-year contract.

Astros Sign Jed Lowrie To Three-Year Deal  —  The Astros announced that they have signed infielder Jed Lowrie to a three-year contract that runs through the 2018 season.  Lowrie's contract reportedly guarantee him $23MM: $8MM in 2015, $7.5MM in 2016 and $6.5MM in 2017 with a $6MM club option ($1MM buyout) for 2018.

Left-hander excited to be in Chicago after rave reviews from Hammel, Samardzija  —  Cubs president of baseball ops Theo Epstein introduces new ace Jon Lester after agreeing to a six-year deal to bring the lefty to Chicago  —  CHICAGO — The Cubs formally introduced Jon Lester on Monday …

With more free agents off the board, SF could be forced to deal pitching prospects  —  Giants manager Bruce Bochy checks in at the Winter Meetings to discuss the team's offseason misses while looking forward to the 2015 season  —  SAN FRANCISCO — The Giants might have to engineer a trade …

Marlins To Sign Michael Morse  —  8:13am: The sides have agreed to a two-year deal, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports on Twitter.  —  7:11am: The Marlins are close to a deal with free agent Michael Morse, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports tweets.  Presumably, Morse would step in at first base …

Cox led efforts toward player development en route to 14 consecutive first-place finishes  —  With John Schuerholz in the front office and Bobby Cox in the dugout, the Braves built a long-term success story.  (AP)  —  When “Moneyball” was published, the “in” thing among Major League teams …

Souza, Taylor, Barrett, Treinen got a taste of Majors in 2014, set to take next step  —  9/26/14: Steven Souza Jr. blasts a solo home run to deep left-center off Andrew Heaney to give the Nationals a 4-2 lead in the 3rd inning  —  Two of the Nationals' youngest players already are two of their best …

The Astros and unsigned draftee Jacob Nix have quietly and confidentially come to a monetary settlement over the team's decision not to follow through on an agreed-upon $1.5-million deal that was negotiated but never signed following last June's first-year player draft.

Cubs To Sign Jason Motte  —  6:44pm: The deal comes with $2.5MM in achievable bonuses, Levine tweets.  —  5:32pm: Motte gets a $4.5MM guarantee, Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports reports (Twitter links).  Motte has incentives based on games finished, Passan adds.