ARE YANKEES IN ON SCHERZER?  READ TEX MESSAGE FROM SIX YEARS AGO  —  JP Morosi  —  For insight into where the top free-agent pitcher will sign, let's turn to an unlikely source: the case of the top free-agent hitter six winters ago.  —  Max Scherzer today has two things in common with Mark Teixeira then …

Padres Acquire Shawn Kelley  —  The Yankees announced on Monday that they have sent right-hander Shawn Kelley to the Padres in exchange for minor league righty Johnny Barbato.  —  The 30-year-old Kelley posted a 4.53 ERA in 51 2/3 innings for the Yankees last season, though metrics such as FIP …

Tigers SS Jose Iglesias makes progress toward return  —  Jose Iglesias has one hurdle left to clear.  —  And it's the same hurdle the Tigers' shortstop couldn't clear last season, a season that was lost to stress fractures in each of his lower legs.  —  Iglesias has progressed positively …

Byrd Trade Between Phillies, Reds Fell Through  —  The Phillies are in clear rebuild mode, having dealt Jimmy Rollins and Antonio Bastardo this offseason, and they appear to have had a third trade in the works before it fell through.  Jon Morosi of FOX Sports reports that the Phillies and Reds …

How will Tim Raines and the other contenders do on the 2015 HOF ballot?  —  We can split up the ballots submitted into 4 types of voters:  —  1. Did the ballot include Bonds and/or Clemens?  2. Otherwise, did the ballot have the full 10 slots?  3. Otherwise, did the ballot have 7-9 slots?

Guillen ready to get back in the game of baseball  —  Frank Thomas tabs Ozzie Guillen as his favorite manager to play for, praising him for being direct and creating a positive atmosphere  —  CHICAGO — Ozzie Guillen was an accomplished manager.  —  That portion of his near-decade …

Random Orioles notes  —  The Orioles have been viewed as the favorites to host the 2016 All-Star Game, but I'm told that it's not going to happen.  —  The club hasn't been officially notified, but a source says it won't be played at Camden Yards.  —  The Orioles last hosted the All-Star Game in 1993 …

Sergio Santos Nearing Minor League Deal With Dodgers  —  17:37pm: The Dodgers are the team nearing a deal with Santos, writes Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times.  —  15:57pm: Sergio Santos is nearing a deal with an NL West club, reports Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith (Twitter link).

Kirk Cousins: I did not demand a trade  —  Your browser does not support iframes.  —  Kirk Cousins isn't planning to demand a trade, after all.  —  Around noon on Monday, a local reporter tweeted, “Kirk Cousins says that if Redskins name RG3 starting QB he would like to be traded.”

Pierce's future plans include visiting Celts  —  Photo by:  —  TWO ON ONE: Washington's Paul Pierce and Kris Humphries team up against Jared Sullinger during the C's loss Saturday night to the Wizards.  —  By:  —  Boston hasn't seen the last of Paul Pierce, and it's quite possible the Celtic organization hasn't, either.

Starlin Castro's agent denies arrest report in club shooting  —  Starlin Castro's agent refuted reports that the Cubs' shortstop was arrested in a nightclub shooting in the Dominican Republic, saying he voluntarily went to the police to be questioned.  —  According to a report …