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.

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 …

Detroit Tigers agree to minor league deals with Brayan Pena, 5 others  —  The Tigers announced on Tuesday they have agreed to terms with six players on minor league contracts for the upcoming season.  —  Of the six, catcher Brayan Peña and infielder Pete Kozma were invited to Major League Spring Training camp.

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.

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.

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.

Tom Brady Gave a Filmmaker Unusual Access to His Private Life  —  Tom Brady was leading a tour through a set of fat binders that he keeps in his den, with each one devoted to one of the 18 seasons he has played in the N.F.L. This one, marked “2016,” began with a particular memento.

Why potential investor says Jeter plan is badly flawed and will fail  —  Fourth in a five-part series on the new Marlins owners and their plans.  —  New Marlins CEO Derek Jeter slashed payroll largely because investors were assured they would not be asked to cover losses.

Meet Iggy Suarez, the new Greenville Drive manager  —  Iggy Suarez toiled for 11 seasons in baseball's minor leagues, including a handful in independent leagues.  That experience, he says, will help him tremendously as he takes over as manager of the Greenville Drive.

Avoiding Arbitration: Andrew Heaney, Ryan Rua  —  We'll use this post to track some of the day's arbitration agreements.  As always, you can reference MLBTR's 2018 arbitration projections and 2018 MLB arbitration tracker as needed.  — Lefty Andrew Heaney is in agreement on a $800K deal with the Angels …

Rangers' new $1.1 billion ballpark has a fake feel  —  Science has bred a chicken to look like a dinosaur and is actively working on humanless home pizza delivery - and a flying taxi - but growing grass 50 feet below grade is just too much to ask.  —  This is what the Texas Rangers want us to believe.