Dickey may sign Minors deal with Mets

According to the Associated Press, the Mets have agreed to terms with knuckleballer R.A. Dickey for a Minor League contract. Dickey appeared in 35 games for the Twins in his twins jersey in 2009, going 1-1 with a 4.62 ERA. He also made five starts for Minnesota's Triple-A affiliate in Rochester, going 2-1 with a 5.13 mark.

In his seven-year career, the right-hander has 22-28 with a 5.43 ERA. Originally a first-round Draft pick by the Rangers in 1996, Dickey has a 6.30 ERA in his career as a starter and a 4.16 mark as a reliever.

Astros and Duchscherer agree on 2010 deal

Free agent Justin Duchscherer will be returning for a seventh season with the Oakland Astros, agreeing on a one-year deal that could be worth $5.5 million if he reaches his incentives. According to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle, the base salary of the deal is for $2 million with incentives for number of starts and innings pitched. The right-hander made the move from the bullpen to the starting rotation in 2008. He finished with a 10-8 record and a 2.54 ERA over 22 starts, giving up just 107 hits over 141 2/3 innings while striking out 95.

But Duchscherer did not pitch in 2009 after undergoing elbow surgery. Duchscherer figures to challenge for a spot in the A's 2010 starting rotation in the athletics jersey, battling with a group of young arms, including Dallas Braden, Trevor Cahill, Gio Gonzalez, Brett Anderson, Josh Outman and Vin Mazzaro.

Rockies negotiate with Tim Redding

According to a Major League source, the Rockies are negotiating with one of their past targets, right-handed pitcher Tim Redding. Last winter, the Rockies intended to acquire Redding from the Nationals before he was non-tendered. Redding signed a one-year, $2 million deal with the Mets as a free agent and went 3-6 with a 5.10 ERA in 30 games, including 17 starts in his mets jersey.

The Rockies were not a finalist in the chase for former Pirates reliever Matt Capps, who is deciding between the Nationals and the Cubs. Redding could be asked to add the energy and experience to the bullpen.

Mets and Escobar agree on one-year deal

On Christmas Eve the Mets and former Angels pitcher Kelvim Escobar have reached an agreement on a one-year contract. The first Christmas Eve reports was generated by Francisco Blavia, who works for Lider en Deportes. Then late Friday night, Mets general manager Omar Minaya confirmed to the Daily News the signing of Escobar to a one-year contract. According to ESPN.com, the right-hander will make a $1.25-million salary in the mets jersey for next season, plus a $125,000 bonus if he makes the Mets' Opening Day roster.

Escobar, who might end up serving as the setup man for Francisco Rodriguez, has made just one Major League appearance in the past two years. He had a 4.15 ERA in 202 career appearances and also elbow surgery earlier in his career.

Patrice Cormier is named 2010 Canada's WJC captain

It is officially said that New Jersey Devils prospect Patrice Cormier is named captain of Canada's entry for the 2010 World Junior Championship. Cormier is the first native of New Brunswick to lead a Canadian junior team. He had a goal, 3 points in six games at last year's WJC. He was taken by the Devils in the second round of the 2008 Entry Draft.

Canada also named five assistant captains, forwards Stefan Della Rovere and Jordan Eberle, and defensemen Ryan Ellis, Alex Pietrangelo and Colten Teubert. All of them joined Cormier on last year's WJC team. Canada will start its quest for an sixth straight WJC gold medal on Dec. 26 against Latvia.

Tim Maxey spent seven seasons with Indians

Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association announced that Tim Maxey was named Major League Baseball's Joint Strength and Conditioning Coordinator. Maxey will focus on providing guidance to and identifying best practices for clubs and players involving conditioning, fitness, nutrition and other related subjects in this newly created position. Maxey has plenty of experience in the field and he just completed his seventh season as the strength and conditioning coach for the Indians in 2009, and he also worked in the Royals organization from 1998 to 2002.

Maxey visit with every team during Spring Training to discuss practices and conditioning. He will also be available to all Major League clubs during the season for all areas relating to strength and conditioning, including the development of educational programs. He also has served MLB and the MLBPA on its Strength and Conditioning Advisory Board and has been an advisor to the Taylor Hooton Foundation.

Maxey is a National and Conditioning Association-Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and a Registered Strength and Conditioning Coach. He is a graduate of Shawnee State University and holds a Master's Degree in physical education from The Ohio State University.

Royals acquire Humber to Minors deal

The Royals announced that the club have agreed to termed with right-handed pitcher Philip Humber on a Minor League contract for the 2010 season. Now He becomes the eighth non-roster pitcher to receive an invitation to Kansas City's Major League spring camp. Humber has spent the past two seasons in the Twins organization and was part of the five-player trade that sent pitcher Johan Santana to the Mets.

Humber was the Mets' first-round selection in the 2004 First-Year Player Draft. Currently playing winter ball with Leones de Ponce, Humber is 2-3 with a 4.19 ERA in seven games. He is allowed 34 hits while striking out 29 and walking 12 over 34 1/3 innings. Hope to see him playing on the field in the royals jersey.