Red Sox talking contract extension with one of their core players  —  BOSTON — While free agency creeps along and the Red Sox continue their pursuit of relief pitching, the team too has actively tried to lock up at least one member of its core.  —  The Sox have recently had extension talks …

Why Manny Machado's wife, Yainee, could lead star to Yankees  —  The most important free-agent signing of the last off-season didn't occur until Feb. 26, precisely a month before Opening Day, when J.D. Martinez signed a five-year, $110 million deal, including two opt-out clauses, with the Boston Red Sox.

From hot stove to death march, baseball is screwing itself one cold winter at a time  —  Tickets for spring training games at Phoenix's lovely Camelback Ranch go on sale today, offering fans of the Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers an opportunity to throw down some cash and dream of warmer times just a few weeks away.

Troy Tulowitzki says he would welcome Manny Machado on the Yankees  —  If superstar free-agent Manny Machado does end up putting on pinstripes before spring training, another recently-added New York Yankees shortstop expects to be among the first to welcome him to the team, and embrace the chance to play with him.

White Sox To Sign Kelvin Herrera  —  3:06pm: Herrera's third-year option is valued at $10MM with a $1MM buyout, tweets Bruce Levine of CBS Chicago / 670 The Score.  That indicates that Herrera will earn $17MM between the first two seasons of the deal, with the buyout making up the remainder of that $18MM guarantee.

David Wright to join NY Mets front office as assistant to GM Brodie Van Wagenen  —  David Wright won't be suiting up for the Mets anymore, but he'll still be around to help.  —  The Mets' captain is set to join the Mets front office as a special assistant to new general manager Brodie Van Wagenen, a source confirmed.