Darvish still considering Rangers, but is it just wishful thinking?  —  News, not particularly big news, was made Tuesday by the Texas Rangers, who avoided arbitration with outfielder Ryan Rua on a one-year deal with $870,000.  —  They also signed catcher Mike Ohlman to a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training.

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.

MLB agent Jason Wood fired; reportedly filmed clients showering  —  CSE Talent announced Wednesday that they fired agent Jason Wood, who led its baseball division, for not upholding the company's “moral and ethical standards.”  —  Wood was suspended by the Major League Baseball Players' Association …

Brewers Release Taylor Jungmann To Pursue Opportunity In Japan  —  The Brewers announced today that righty Taylor Jungmann has been released in order to allow him to pursue an opportunity in Japan.  The 40-man space was needed to accommodate the addition of Boone Logan, whose previously reported signing was also made official.

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.

Rangers reveal game times for 2018 schedule  —  Game times are now a part of the Texas Rangers' 2018 schedule.  —  The complete schedule was released Wednesday afternoon, and there isn't much difference from previous seasons.  Home night games will start at 7:05 p.m. …

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.

Ex-Red Hoover signs minor-league deal with Brewers  —  Former Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher J.J. Hoover could end up back in the National League Central after signing a minor-league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers that includes an invitation to Major League camp, the team announced Wednesday.

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.

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.

NBC Sports Chicago to carry expanded, multi-platform 2018 Cubs Convention coverage  —  5:00 PM — Special edition of “SportsTalk Live” from Cubs Convention -  —  Hosted by David Kaplan, featuring NBC Sports Chicago Cubs beat reporter Kelly Crull, a panel of Cubs experts, and Cubs players!