Tigers’ Justin Verlander throwing bullpen sessions ahead of camp
by Brandon Wise | CBSSports.com

(11:17 am ET) Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander is already throwing two bullpen sessions a week in preparation for spring training. Which, for Verlander, is not all that uncommon. Except, last season, Verlander could not do so, because he was still recovering from a core muscle injury that required surgery.

“Last year I hadn’t even picked up a ball at this point,” he said Friday according to The Detroit News.

Verlander finished 2014 with a 15-12 record in 206 innings with a 4.54 ERA and 159 strikeouts.

Chris Davis plans to adjust strategy while hitting against the shift
by Brandon Wise | CBSSports.com

(11:09 am ET) Orioles first baseman Chris Davis struggled in 2014 from the plate, especially hitting against a defensive shift. So much so, in fact, Davis is planning to see the adjustment and change his approach at the plate accordingly.

I think there are definitely situations where I need to bunt, and I know there was some frustration last year obviously with my batting average being as low as it was – not only on my part but the fan base and maybe even on some of my teammates’ part – as far as me hitting into the shift,” Davis said on the “Hot Stove Show” on 105.7 The Fan.

Davis hit for his second-lowest average of his career in 2014, post a .196 average with 26 home runs and 76 RBI. 

I think the biggest thing for me last year was just seeing how drastic the shift was. I remember when Texas came in, I hit something like three or four balls on a line in the four hole, which is right over the first baseman’s right shoulder. These are balls that most of the time are going to be singles, if not doubles, and the second baseman caught them at his chest on a line, and I was just thinking, ‘Man, that’s not even fair. Those are good hits right there that are being taken away.'”

Giants sign Clay Rapada to minor-league deal
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com

(12:59 am ET) The Giants have signed pitcher Clay Rapada to a minor-league deal, per Baseball America.

Rapada didn’t see any major-league action in 2014 for the first time since making his major-league debut in 2007. He made 32 appearances with two Triple-A clubs last season, posting a 5.73 ERA and 28:14 K:BB ratio in 37 2/3 innings.

Padres sign Parker Frazier, Kennard Jones to minor-league deals
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com

(12:56 am ET) The Padres have signed pitcher Parker Frazier and outfielder Kennard Jones to minor-league deals, per Baseball America.

Frazier made 42 appearances between Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte in 2014, posting a 4.26 ERA and 44:23 K:BB ratio in 69 2/3 innings. Jones was originally drafted by the Padres in 2002 and spent 2009 through 2013 in independent-league ball before sitting out 2014.

Athletics sign Brandon Kloess to minor-league deal
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com

(12:51 am ET) The Athletics have signed pitcher Brandon Kloess to a minor-league deal, per Baseball America.

Kloess made 46 appearances with Triple-A El Paso before being released in September. He went 3-5 with a 5.92 ERA and 45:37 K:BB ratio in 76 innings last season.

Dodgers sign Ramon Troncoso to minor-league deal
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com

(12:47 am ET) The Dodgers have signed pitcher Ramon Troncoso to a minor-league deal, per Baseball America.

Troncoso has thrown 227 1/3 innings at the major-league level in his career but spent 2014 in the minors, going 1-6 with a 4.30 ERA and 33:11 K:BB ratio in 44 innings with Triple-A Omaha before being released in July.

Rockies sign Aaron Munoz to minor-league deal
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com

(12:42 am ET) The Rockies have signed catcher Aaron Munoz to a minor-league deal, per Baseball America. Munoz was just 1 for 37 in 2014 while playing with high Class A Dunedin and Double-A New Hampshire.

White Sox sign Nick Delmonico to minor-league deal
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com

(12:38 am ET) The White Sox have assigned infielder Nick Delmonico to a minor-league deal, per Baseball America.

Delmonico earned a 50-game suspension last season after testing positive for an amphetamine and was released by the Brewers last week. He hit .262/.300/.404 with four home runs and 15 RBI in 141 at-bats with high Class A Brevard County in 2014.

Cubs re-sign Jonathan Mota to minor-league deal
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com

(12:34 am ET) The Cubs have re-signed second baseman Jonathan Mota to a minor-league deal, per Baseball America.

A career minor-leaguer, Mota, 27, split 2014 between Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa, hitting .252/.280/.344 with four home runs, 28 RBI and three stolen bases in 317 at-bats.

Red Sox sign Jess Todd to minor-league deal
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com

(12:31 am ET) The Red Sox have signed pitcher Jess Todd to a minor-league deal, per Baseball America.

Todd, who was a second-round pick in the 2007 draft, last pitched in the majors in 2010. He spent 2014 with Triple-A Reno, going 8-2 with a 3.62 ERA and 66:27 K:BB ratio in 72 innings over 53 relief appearances.