Dodgers' Howie Kendrick on MLB free agent system: 'It's hurting everybody'  —  It was the opportunity Howie Kendrick awaited his entire baseball career.  —  For the first time, after 10 years in the big leagues, five playoff berths, and one All-Star Game, Kendrick became a free agent in November.

Sources: Phillies trade Jesse Biddle to Pirates  —  The Phillies have traded Jesse Biddle, the Germantown Friends product and former first-round pick, to the Pittsburgh Pirates, according to two sources.  —  Biddle, 24, had been designated for assignment Friday.  The Phillies had 10 days to trade, release or waive him.

Padres Trade Despaigne To Orioles, Announce Rodney Deal  —  The Orioles and Padres are in agreement on a trade that will send right-hander Odrisamer Despaigne to Baltimore in exchange for minor league right-hander Jean Cosme, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.

Tired of waiting on MLB clubs, Jonny Gomes to play in Japan in 2016  —  Winner seeming everywhere he has played, 35-year-old free agent ready to pursue a different World Series  —  Jonny Gomes won championships in Triple-A, the Arizona Fall League, the Caribbean World Series and of course the major-league World Series.

Arizona Diamondbacks may explore market for relief help  —  Diamondbacks General Manager Dave Stewart seems to have come to a conclusion on the trade market for relievers: The prices, he said, still are just too high.  —  And so if he's going to further bolster his relief corps …

Orioles sign left-hander Hideki Okajima to minor league deal … The Orioles have signed Japanese left-handed reliever Hideki Okajima to a minor league deal, according to an industry source.  —  The deal with Okajima, who turned 40 in December, does not include a major league spring training invitation.

First on CNN: Rick Santorum dropping presidential bid  —  (CNN)Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum is ending his presidential bid, two Republican sources told CNN.  —  He is expected to make the announcement Wednesday night.

MLB's qualifying-offer system is stacked against low-revenue clubs  —  The qualifying-offer system doesn't only screw certain free agents.  It also screws certain teams.  —  The Rays should sign shortstop Ian Desmond.  The Indians should sign outfielder Dexter Fowler.

Mets plan to use sixth starter, even early in the season  —  NEW YORK — The New York Mets should have an extra starting pitcher when Zack Wheeler returns from Tommy John surgery during the summer.  But even before Wheeler is back, the organization plans to strategically use a sixth starter …

IRS Statement on Experiencing Systems Outage  —  The IRS experienced a hardware failure this afternoon affecting a number of tax processing systems, which are currently unavailable.  Several of our systems are not currently operating, including our modernized e-file system and a number of other related systems.

Mets, Jeurys Familia Avoid Arbitration  —  While the majority of the 156 players that filed for salary arbitration have agreed to terms with their teams, either on a one-year deal for 2016 or on an extension, the cases of 17 players remained unresolved as of Wednesday morning.

Denver Broncos' Ryan Murphy questioned in prostitution sting, will not play in Super Bowl 50  —  SANTA CLARA (KRON) — The Denver Broncos' Ryan Murphy has been questioned in a prostitution sting, and will not play in Super Bowl 50 in Santa Clara, according to Broncos coach Gary Kubiak.

Minor League Transactions: Jan. 21-29  —  Official minor league transactions, conveyed to Baseball America by Major League Baseball, for the period Jan. 21-29.  —  Atlanta Braves  —  Signed: C Blake Lalli  —  Baltimore Orioles  —  Signed: LHP Chris Dwyer