Gregg Zaun is expected to sign very soon — maybe today — and MLB.com’s Brew Beat blog is saying that it will be with Milwaukee, based on the team and Zaun talking about him coming to Milwaukee for a physical.  Zaun’s a type B who was offered arbitration, by the way, so if he signs…

The Washington Nationals are talking to John Smoltz, and both sides seem interested in doing a deal. The only holdup is that Smoltz would rather play for a contender, but I think we’ve passed the point in Smoltz’s career where he has a ton of choices in the matter. You have to think that a…

General manager Doug Melvin said yesterday that the Brewers will make an effort to re-sign Craig Counsell and plan to send his agent a contract proposal during next week’s winter meetings. Last offseason Milwaukee declined a $3.4 million option on Counsell and then re-signed him for just $1 million, but the 39-year-old is reportedly drawing…

James Paxton is a left-handed pitcher for the University of Kentucky. He was taken with the 37th overall pick by the Blue Jays in the draft last summer. He decided that he’d rather return for his senior year, however, and did so. Beginning in October, the NCAA started contacting UK about Paxton. It’s still unclear what about,…

Following yesterday’s report that the Mets are interested in re-signing Carlos Delgado, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com notes that they may have some competition from the Orioles: Carlos Delgado hasn’t started playing for Gigantes de Carolina of the Puerto Rican Winter League. The Orioles still intend to scout him later this month unless they find another…

A lot of us have been giving the Phillies crap for going in at $6 million a year over three years for Polanco, citing Adrian Beltre as a younger, better option.  According to Buster Olney, however, Beltre’s asking prince is $10 million per, and you’d have to figure that starts at three years. Yes, Beltre…

There’s a reason why the Yankees focus on free agent veterans: kids these days just won’t listen to Joe Girardi. The Yankee skipper tried to teach the Jets’ quarterback how to slide after getting his left knee banged up while pulling a Jim McMahon last week. So what happens last night? He forgets what Girardi…

Marco Scutaro’s contract with the Red Sox is a two-year deal with a mutual option for 2012 and ESPN.com’s Buster Olney has the monetary details: Signing bonus: $1 million 2010: $5 million 2011: $5 million 2012: $6 million team option, $3 million player option, or $1.5 million buyout Technically that means Scutaro is guaranteed at…

While the Angels’ baseball people are said to have moved on from the idea of keeping John Lackey around, owner Arte Moreno is not letting go: Club officials had all but decided to part with Lackey during the team’s organizational meetings at the end of the regular season, according to multiple major-league sources. But Moreno,…

While Pittsburgh is sniffing around Rick Ankiel and Hank Blalock, they’re also thinking about Xavier Nady, according to Dejan Kovacevic: An X-Man sequel? The Pirates have made initial inquiries on free-agent outfielder Xavier Nady, as well as reliever Ron Villone and shortstop Bobby Crosby, though none of those inquiries is known to have moved past…

It’s being reported that Rangers owner Tom Hicks has had a falling out with Dennis Gilbert, the guy who, just two days ago, was called the front runner to take over the team.  This is good news, reports Randy Galloway of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, because if Gilbert had come on board, Nolan Ryan was…

Rosenthal and Morosi report that the Royals are open to trading Gil Meche and David DeJesus, likely waiting until most of the free agents sign, making their market out of the teams who don’t have a chair when the music stops on the Randy Wolfs and Marlon Byrds of the world. Meche’s season ended early…

From MLB.com’s Winter Meetings preview piece: What will Scott Boras wear? This one’s easy to answer. The agent who always seems to have a handful of hugely important clients during these Meetings rocks a blazer, a button-down shirt and jeans, in addition to plenty of smiles when his players get their deals. Glad to know.…

Neither Aaron, nor Matthew nor I are all that thrilled with the Polanco deal, but via Rosenthal, Phillies GM Ruben Amaro, Jr. defends the length of the deal thusly: 1. “I think he’s going to be in shape — he takes care of himself. 2. “He’s versatile, he can move around. If he’s not playing…

The Yankee Universe is a blog run by some guys I know. It’s also the name of the Yankees’ little Red Sox Nation wannabe fanclub.  You can see where this is heading: Accordingly, demand is hereby made that you immediately cease and desist from using the YANKEE UNIVERSE name and the Logo, any other Yankees Mark…

Yesterday’s report of hard feelings between Jason Marquis and the Rockies is being denied by both parties. Dan O’Dowd: “There was no falling out. He was extremely professional about it. It wasn’t an issue at all.”  Marquis says that not getting a start in the NLDS was no big deal: “I was prepared to pitch…

Update – Multiple sources are now confirming the agreement. The Boston Herald’s Michael Silverman says the two sides have, in fact, come to terms on a two-year deal, likely with a mutual option for a third year. Sources close to Marco Scutaro told Venezuela-based Lider that the free agent has agreed to terms with the…

Multiple sources told FOXSports.com’s Jon Paul Morosi that the Mariners and Chone Figgins were involved in serious talks Thursday. Morosi labels Seattle as the clear favorites to land Figgins, who is believed to be seeking a four-year deal worth in excess of $10 million per season. The Mariners presumably would keep Figgins at third base…

Phillies sign infielder Placido Polanco to a three-year, $18 million contract with a mutual option for 2013. Polanco has already had a pretty unusual career, but the Phillies are showing way too much faith that he’ll continue to defy the aging curve. Second baseman have a nasty habit of falling off a cliff in their…

Baseball America’s annual ranking of the farm systems is out. The top five: Rangers, Rays, Giants, Phillies and Indians.  The bottom five: Nationals, Diamondbacks, Blue Jays, Cardinals and Astros. The Giants at number 3 seems like an empty ranking to me.  While they still technically count, the two blue chippers they name — Buster Posey…