Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe is back with his latest batch of Hot Stove goodies. Here’s a quick run-down of some of the more interesting tidbits: – Gary Sheffield isn’t done. The 41-year-old slugger wants to return for his 23rd season and he has 3,000 hits on his mind. “After talking to my wife…

Adam Rubin of the Daily News writes that the Royals have identified the Mets as a potential trading partner for Jose Guillen. According to the report, the Royals aim to acquire an inexpensive outfielder in return for Guillen and are impressed with Angel Pagan. Limited to just 81 games in 2009 due to various injuries…

With a deal seeming more likely by the hour, let’s run through the candidates to pick up Toronto’s ace: Yankees – Money isn’t much of an issue, and the Yankees certainly have the pieces to get a deal done between Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain, elite hitting prospect Jesus Montero and outfielder Austin Jackson. Also, new…

Free Agency Preview – Catcher Free Agency Preview – First base & DH Free Agency Preview – Second base Free Agency Preview – Third base Free Agency Preview – Shortstop Free Agency Preview – Outfield Free Agency Preview – Starting pitchers This is the last in a series of columns looking at this winter’s free…

After reaching an impasse regarding a contract extension for Josh Johnson, his agent Matt Sosnick was rather blunt about the 25-year-old’s future in Florida during an interview with MLB.com on Saturday. “As far as our feelings are concerned, and I feel very strongly that this is true, that Josh either signs a long-term deal now…

Responding to fans who felt the new Citi Field wasn’t a tribute to the blue ‘n’ orange as much as it was a baseball field with a neat little entrance way dedicated to Jackie Robinson, the Mets announced plans to expand the presence of club history throughout the ballpark for its second season. – The…

“We would like to sign him, he is an original Blue Jay and we have never had a pitcher as good as him. But he is not inclined to sign with us.” – Blue Jays president and CEO Paul Beeston, while talking about the future of Roy Halladay with the New York Post. Giddy up,…

According to Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker, free agent Jose Contreras is considering a move to Japan. Contreras’ 16-year-old son is hoping to take part in an exchange program with a Japanese high school. According to a Sanspo.com report, Contreras reached out to the Hanshin Tigers earlier this week. Though the Tigers have likely ruled…

Jon Heyman of SI.com “tweets” that the Red Sox may stay in touch with Jason Bay, however “competing execs believe they’re looking at hard at alternatives now.” Before hitting free agency, Bay reportedly rejected a four-year contract offer from Boston worth approximately $60 million. Speaking of alternatives, Mike Silverman of the Boston Herald reported on…

Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune writes that many in the Cubs’ front office feel they would be foolish to give up top prospect Starlin Castro to acquire Curtis Granderson from the Tigers. Castro, a 19-year-old shortstop has drawn weighty comparisons to Hanley Ramirez and Derek Jeter with his play in the Arizona Fall League,…

While we’re on the subject of top prospects, Dustin Ackley, the No. 2 selection in the 2009 First-Year Player Draft also made news on Friday. Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik said Ackley will begin working out at second base in a move that could become permanent. Ackley, 21, played outfield and first base with North…

Go ahead and wipe that sweat from your brow, Nats fans. It looks like Stephen Strasburg is going to be just fine. The number one selection of the 2009 First Year Player Draft made a precautionary visit to Dr. Lewis Yocum in California on Friday after an MRI on his left knee showed some inflammation.…

Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports “tweets” that the Blue Jays and Dodgers have revisited talks on a potential Roy Halladay trade. While Brown acknowledged that the two sides were talking, he later cited a source close to the two teams saying that a deal is “highly unlikely” as of now. This comes on the heels…

New Padres general manager Jed Hoyer had a two-hour meet-and-greet with Adrian Gonzalez’s agent John Boggs on Friday amid speculation of a possible trade or contract extension for the 27-year-old first baseman. “We just really got to know each other initially,” Boggs said. “Obviously Adrian was a large part of the conversation, but there wasn’t…

He might be. During an interview with Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times, Bobby Jenks was critical of the White Sox organization and manager Ozzie Guillen for comments about his weight and conditioning. ”Did I feel I was being picked on? No,” Jenks said in a phone interview. ”But I felt I was the easy…

According to the Miami El Nuevo Herald, Cuban left-hander Aroldis Chapman has left Athletes Premier International (API) and agent Edwin Mejia in favor of Hendricks Sports Management. Now, keep in mind that the article is in Spanish, and with my loose translation, it doesn’t indicate whether Chapman broke any specific terms with API, but Mejia…

The wheels were set in motion for Josh Johnson to join a sterling class of free agent starters in two years when he and the Marlins reached an impasse in contract talks on Friday. Agent Matt Sosnick told ESPN.com that he and Johnson were using the four-year, $38 million contract that Zack Greinke signed a…

The Red Sox have discussed Matt Holliday, Adrian Beltre, Mike Gonzalez and Rick Ankiel with agent Scott Boras, the Boston Herald’s Michael Silverman reports. There are no big surprises in the list. Holliday may well have taken over as Boston’s top priority following Jason Bay’s decision to reject a four-year, $60 million offer. That’s not…

MLB.com’s Carrie Muskat reported Friday that the Blue Jays initiated contact with the Cubs on a potential Roy Halladay deal. Muskat doesn’t believe anything will happen with the Cubs in that regard, but, if true, it’s still awfully interesting that the Jays are calling around to discuss Halladay with other teams. That suggests a deal…

Friday was the last day for teams to add prospects to the 40-man roster in advance of next month’s Rule 5 draft. That resulted in plenty of minor moves of interest mostly to geeks like me: *The Red Sox claimed reliever Robert Manuel off waivers from the Mariners. Manuel, 26, was the return from the…