Orioles reach agreement with Steve Johnson  —  The Orioles have reached agreement with pitcher Steve Johnson on a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training, allowing the Baltimore native to stay home.  —  Johnson, 27, is rehabbing from surgery in September to remove a bone spur behind his right shoulder.

Guillermo Heredia Leaves Cuba  —  Guillermo Heredia, the center fielder on Cuba's 2013 World Baseball Classic team known for his defense, has left the island to pursue a contract with a major league team, Baseball America has learned.  —  Heredia, 23, will be exempt from the international bonus pools …

Club's interim president sees progress with young prospects  —  Pat Gillick presents Tom Kotchman, Jim Walton, Art Stewart, Joe McIlvaine and Jim Marshall with the Legends in Scouting Award  —  READING, Pa. — Pat Gillick offered fans some much-needed candor in the fall when he said the Phillies …

Bullpen, roster flexibility and improved defense key to competing in tough division  —  Indians reporter Jordan Bastian discusses how the signing of Scott Downs could affect the rest of the team's left-handed bullpen pitchers  —  CLEVELAND — From the snow-covered steps of the home dugout …

Yankees radio voice John Sterling loses home in New Jersey fire, feels outpouring of love from friends  —  For reality told Sterling that there is stark uncertainty.  No one plans for moments like these.  Tuesday night he had a roof over his head.  A day later he wasn't so sure.

Thanks A-Rod!  Free agent pitcher James Shields not Yankees plans, partly because big contract is back  —  Alex Rodriguez's contract, among others, preventing the Yankees from making big splash in the pitching market this offseason.  —  In case you held out hope that the Yankees would turn …

Blue Jays' Winter Tour impacts fans, players  —  The Blue Jays head west to Calgary to visit kids at the Alberta Children's Hospital and meet fans at CrossIron Mills  —  The Toronto Blue Jays kicked off the Calgary leg of Winter Tour 2015 presented by TD on Tuesday, visiting patients …

Nationals sign RHP Max Scherzer to seven-year contract  —  Facebook: Nationals  —  Solidifying their starting rotation as arguably the best assembled in Major League Baseball, the Washington Nationals agreed to terms with 2013 American League Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer on a seven-year contract on Wednesday.

Rockies notes: Rosario plans, Blackmon trade, Shields rumors  —  TOPICS  —  Catching up on various Rockies rumors and reports:  —  * General manager Jeff Bridich tells me that the team is confident that catcher Wilin Rosario can make the transition from catcher to first base, and possibly even right field.