Gonzalez signs with Japanese Yomiuri Giants

The Yomiuri Giants in Japan have signed second baseman Edgar Gonzalez, who has spent the past two seasons with the San Diego Padres. Gonzalez is the older brother of Padres star first baseman Adrian Gonzalez. While the younger Gonzalez was the first player taken overall in the 2000 First-Year Player Draft by Florida, his older brother spent eight years in the Minors with several different organizations before making his big league debut with the Padres in 2008.

Gonzalez hit .216 in 82 games for San Diego in the padres jersey in 2009. According to an Associated Press report citing the team's Japanese Web site, Gonzalez said he was very excited to play for a team with such a rich tradition.

Negron will miss 50 games after positive substance test

The Commissioner's Office announced last weekend that Miguel Negron, a Minor League outfielder in the White Sox, was one of three players to receive 50-game suspensions after tested positive for substances in violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. Negron has been suspended for a second positive test for a drug of abuse. The left-handed hitter batted .279 with four home runs, 38 RBIs and 14 stolen bases in 103 games for Triple-A Charlotte during the 2009 season. He played for Double-A Birmingham as part of the White Sox organization in white sox jersey in 2008.

Pitcher Rony Bautista of the New York Yankees organization was suspended after testing positive for a metabolite of Boldenone. Pitcher Roberto Toribio of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim organization tested positive for metabolites of Stanozolol.

Mejia has been named Venezuelan League MVP

It is reported that Mejia has been named Most Valuable Player as well as Rookie of the Year for his performance in the Venezuelan Winter League. He is the first player in the league's history to win both awards in the same season. Mejia batted .292 and led the league with 14 home runs and 41 RBIs in 57 games for Aguilas del Zulia. Being from Guanare in Venezuela, he was signed by the Royals on Dec. 11 as a Minor League free agent.

And Royals second baseman Alberto Callaspo, who was also playing for Zulia, batted .286 with one homer and 24 RBIs in 40 games in the royals jersey. Infielder Wilson Betemit is in the Dominican Winter League playoffs with Gigantes del Cibao. He batted .301 in 47 regular-season games with eight homers and 36 RBIs.

U.S. Olympian Brian Rafalski appears on NHL Live

It is said that Detroit Red Wings defenseman Brian Rafalski (in red wings jersey), who was named as a member of the United States team for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver last week, will be among the guests on Wednesday's edition of NHL Live! on the NHL Network and NHL.com.

Also appearing with hosts Rob Simpson and Stan Fischler will be NHL Radio Insider Jay Feaster, TSN's Darren Dreger, and NHL.com's Adam Kimelman. He covered the World Junior Championships, including the United States' win over Team Canada in Tuesday's gold medal game.

Cardinals might be most logical fit for All-Star outfielder

According to ESPN.com's Buster Olney, agent Scott Boras has been doubling back to prospective buyers for Holliday, but it left fielder's most recent club, the Cardinals, remains the most logical fit. The Orioles surfaced recently as a possible destination for Holliday. Last Wednesday, multiple online reports indicated that the Cardinals made an offer to Holliday which was over $100 million and almost approached eight years and $140 million.

Holliday batted .353 with 13 home runs in the final 63 games of the 2009 regular season after being traded from the Athletics. His situation is almost the same as that of Mark Teixeira, when the first baseman was coming off a similar performance for the Angels. But the Yankees lands him for eight years and $180 million.

Brave could be D-backs' second baseman

It is reported that Johnson is a guy that the D-backs have discussed with the Braves since Josh Byrnes became GM in the fall of 2005. Johnson hit .224 with eight homers and 29 RBIs last season for Atlanta and was not offered arbitration earlier this month. Johnson has actually hit better against lefties than he has against righties in his career. Based on advanced metrics, it is believed that he is an excellent candidate for a rebound season after struggling last year.

If Johnson gets the starting at second, the D-backs could shift Tony Abreu into a utility infield role. The team learned during the Winter Meetings that there is interest in Ojeda, so moving him would probably not be a problem. The D-backs could also give Abreu more seasoning at the Triple-A level.

Senators' Alfredsson will be out for several weeks

Now the Ottawa Senators will march on without their captain Daniel Alfredsson, because he will be sidelined for 4 tio 6 weeks with a separated left shoulder. It means that Alfredsson will be lost to the Senators until the break for the 2010 Winter Olympics begins in February. The team is already without Jason Spezza after the Vancouver Games with a knee injury. And forward Nick Foligno is also on the shelf after undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee, but might resume skating this weekend.

"Very disappointing," Senators head coach Cory Clouston said in Buffalo, where his team will face against the Sabres. "It's compounded when you lose Foligno and Spezza as well, so it's not just one guy. We just need guys to step up, we need guys to pick up those minutes and play hard." Hope Alfredsson will come back to the ice in his senators jersey as soon as possible.