Angels sign backup catcher Rene Rivera  —  The Angels signed Rene Rivera to a one-year, $2.8-million contract on Monday, adding a defensively savvy veteran to back up Martin Maldonado as catcher.  —  Rivera, 36, has played nine seasons in the major leagues, never getting 300 at-bats in a season.

Starlin Castro reportedly wants to be traded by Marlins  —  Starlin Castro is the latest Miami Marlins player to want a new home, according to multiple reports.  —  Castro was acquired by Miami from the New York Yankees in the Giancarlo Stanton trade in December.

Titans' All-Pro safety Kevin Byard aims to make Tom Brady ‘look like Blake Bortles’  —  Blake Bortles continues to serve as a punching bag in the Titans' locker room as Tennessee trains to take on Goliath.  —  Titans All-Pro safety Kevin Byard said neither he nor his teammates are intimidated …

Can Cardinals create a closer to solve the ninth?  —  ST. LOUIS  • Wherever the following question and research takes us - deep into the past, traipsing toward the ninth inning, and sweeping through the wilderness of free agents - the answer is going to be Addison Reed.  That seems obvious.

Astros, Pirates Gaining Momentum Toward Gerrit Cole Swap  —  10:51am: A deal is “imminent,” Jon Morosi of MLB Network tweets.  —  10:29am: Whitley is likely to be considered “untouchable” by the 'Stros, per Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (via Twitter), though it seems …

Slow MLB offseason?  Blame Mike Trout!  —  Earlier this week, David Schoenfield considered 10 possible explanations for baseball's extremely slow offseason.  Tucked into one of the 10 was a reminder that Mike Trout would have been a free agent this winter, except he signed a six-year, $144.5 million extension back in March 2014.

Marcell Dareus says Jaguars have helped to change his life  —  Since his mid-season arrival, defensive tackle Marcell Dareus has overwhelmed blockers in front of him to become a dominant run stopper for the Jaguars.  —  Yet, Dareus still views himself an outsider on the team despite having already played in nine games.

Report: Twins' great Justin Morneau returning as special assistant  —  Justin Morneau, who sat out the 2017 Major League Baseball season after partaking in the World Baseball Classic for Canada, will return to the Minnesota Twins as a special assistant to the team's front office, according to a report by the Canadian Baseball Network.

Source: Mets still interested in signing Jay Bruce, Addison Reed  —  The Mets haven't made a big splash in the offseason, but that could change as the team remains interested in free-agent outfielder Jay Bruce and free-agent reliever Addison Reed, and is still speaking with the Pirates …

Former MLB pitcher, Astros broadcaster Sparks to speak at Winter Banquet  —  Astros broadcaster Steve Sparks, who pitched parts of nine Major League seasons, will speak at the 14th South Texas Winter Baseball Banquet at the Congressman Solomon P. Ortiz International Center on Jan. 18.