Pirates prospect Jameson Taillon hopes to throw off mound in January
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(11:56 am ET) Pirates starting pitcher prospect Jameson Taillon, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery, is throwing from 120 feet and is pitching off flat ground, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. He hopes to throw off a mound in January.

“My elbow feels great,” Taillon said. “Body feels great. It’s a year just to work out and get stronger. My legs have gotten a lot stronger. Really, my whole body has gotten a lot stronger.”

Cashman: Mark Teixeira is ‘definitely an everyday first baseman’
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(11:43 am ET) Yankees general manager Brian Cashman appears confident first baseman Mark Teixeira won’t be as injury prone in 2015, per NJ.com.

Teixeira payed in just 123 games in 2014 due to a myriad of injuries, which included problems with his surgically repaired wrist, strained hamstring, sore knee, tired legs, dizziness, lacerated left hand and strained oblique.

“I don’t think we’ll have the same issues this year as we had last year,” Cashman said. “I think Mark Teixeira is definitely an everyday first baseman. I think he’ll prove that this year. I think last year is something he felt will be part of the process and he feels it won’t be part of this year’s process. In terms of his recovery and rehab, last year was expected for him. And that won’t be expected going forward.”

Phillies’ Hamels seems resigned to pitching for new team next season
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(11:32 am ET) Phillies starting pitcher Cole Hamels seems resigned to pitching for a new team in 2015, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.

“It’s unfortunate, but all great teams have that season or drought for a couple of years and then they start to rebuild,” Hamels said during an interview Sunday with MLB Network Radio. “I know I’m young enough to be able to go out there and play, and I love playing in the city of Philadelphia. Nothing but the best. The fans have been great; the organization has been great to me. But I do understand that baseball is a game that will go on, even after I’m done playing.

“So you have to put that in perspective and not really be too down about it. It’s something, where if it does happen, I completely understand. Hopefully there will be a time when I can come back before my career is over. But, at the same time, it’s a business. It’s baseball.”

Hamels, who has been mentioned heavily in trade rumors, said his perfect scenario would be to pitch for “a team that wants to win.”

“Whenever you’re in the postseason, that’s what you play the game for,” Hamels said.

Pirates planning for Pedro Alvarez to play every day at first base
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(11:21 am ET) The Pirates are planning to use Pedro Alvarez as their everyday first baseman in 2015, despite his struggles against left-handed pitchers. Alvarez is batting .196 in his career against southpaws.

“We’re going to find out. It’s going to be Pedro’s job to keep,” manager Clint Hurdle said, per the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “Pedro knows what challenges he’s got to meet. He loves his teammates, he wants to do well and perform well. He’s taken on some necessary opportunities this winter to prepare and get ready.”

Tony Sanchez could be right-handed bat off bench for Pirates
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(11:08 am ET) Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said Tony Sanchez could serve as a right-handed bat off the bench in 2015, per the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

“My job is to give Clint [Hurdle] a versatile bench,” Huntington said. “We’d like to do that. We’ve not done that as well as we could have in the past.”

Headley agrees to four-year, $52 million deal with Yankees
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(11:04 am ET) The Yankees and infielder Chase Headley agreed to a four-year contract, according to CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman. The deal is worth $52 million.

Headley split the 2014 season between the Padres and Yankees, batting .243 with 13 home runs, 20 doubles and 49 RBI in 135 games. He hit .262 with six home runs, eight doubles and 17 RBI in 58 games with New York.

Headley has a career .265/.347/.409/.756 slash line in eight MLB seasons. He also has 93 home runs, 194 doubles and 418 RBI.

Doug Fister: ‘I want to be a National’
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(10:40 am ET) Nationals starting pitcher Doug Fister, who is entering his final year of arbitration, said he is not spoken to the team about a contract extension, per The Washington Post. Fister said he is also not getting caught up in trade rumors.

“I don’t wanna know stories or anything. I’m a pitcher for the Washington Nationals right now, and that’s the stance I always take,” Fister said. “I’m a part of this group. I’m a part of this team, and that’s what I want to be. Until something else happens, until I’m told otherwise, that’s what I want to be and that’s where I am.

“There were always rumors, but I want to be taken by surprise because I want to expect that I’m going to be back here next year. That’s how I want to approach things, that’s how I want to take it. You take this jersey away from me, I don’t want to take it off. That’s how much I love each team that I play for. I want to be loyal to that team. I want to be a National.”

Report: Cubs recently met with free agent OF Colby Rasmus
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(10:27 am ET) The Cubs recently met with free agent Colby Rasmus and are among several teams showing interest in the 28-year-old outfielder, according to Sportsnet.ca.

Cashman: Yankees don’t think Didi Gregorius is a finished product
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(10:08 am ET) New Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius hasn’t exactly had a lot of success offensively in his young MLB career, batting .243 with a .313 on-base percentage in 191 games. Despite his struggles, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman is confident the 24-year-old shortstop is better than his numbers indicate.

“That’s our hope. We don’t think he’s a finished product,” Cashman said, per NJ.com.

Kyuji Fujikawa gets one-year, $1 million deal from Rangers
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(10:01 am ET) Reliever Kyuji Fujikawa agreed to a one-year, $1 million deal — plus bonuses — with the Rangers, according to CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman.