• The Angels have signed infielder Luis Rodriguez to a minor league contract with an invitation to Spring Training, tweets Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com. Rodriguez, 32, last appeared with the Mariners in 2011. The switch-hitter has also seen time with the Twins and Padres. He owns a .238/.314/.324 batting line in 1,123 Major League plate appearances and has extensive experience at shortstop, second base and third base. Rodriguez is represented by Greenberg & Associates.
• Former Astros hurler Aneury Rodriguez has signed with the Samsung Lions, according to MyKBO.net (on Twitter). Rodriguez, 25, has a 5.12 ERA, 6.9 K/9 and 3.4 BB/9 in 91 1/3 Major League innings — all for Houston. He started one game for the Astros this past season.
• Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star tweets that the Royals have released four minor league right-handers: Ysrael Abreu, Jose Brazoban, Adelso Polanco and Yerinson Tatis. 

• Aaron Cunningham has cleared waivers and been assigned to Triple-A by the Indians, reports Paul Hoynes of The Cleveland Plain Dealer (on Twitter). The 26-year-old outfielder hit .175/.245/.247 in 109 plate appearances for the Tribe before being designated for assignment last week.
• The Astros have outrighted Aneury Rodriguez to Triple-A, reports Zachary Levine of The Houston Chronicle. The 24-year-old right-hander pitched to a 6.67 ERA in Triple-A this year but allowed three runs in six innings in his lone big league start.
• The Astros have also outrighted Enerio Del Rosario to Triple-A according to Levine. Del Rosario, 26, allowed 14 runs in 15 relief innings for Houston this year.

• The Tigers have agreed to terms with eight pre-arbitration-eligible players according to MLB.com's Jason Beck. The only big leaguer of the bunch is left-hander Phil Coke, who received $425K. The other seven players are minor league prospects.
• Senior Director of Social Media Alyson Footer tweets that the Astros have agreed to terms with a pair of pre-arb players. Outfielder Jason Bourgeois gets $424K, right-hander Aneury Rodriguez $413K. Houston acquired Rodriguez in this offseason's Rule 5 Draft.
• The Diamondbacks have signed Robby Hammock to a minor league contract according to MLB.com's Steve Gilbert. Hammock, 33, spent the 2010 season in the Yankees' minor league system, hitting .233/.341/.370 in 85 plate appearances while battling injury. He played with the D'Backs from 2003 through 2008, and has experience at catcher, first base, third base, and the corner outfield spots. 

• Jorge Says No! wonders if the smart move for Adrian Belte is to accept arbitration from the Mariners now that the Phillies no longer need a third baseman.
• Around the Majors explains why the Dodgers made a mistake in not offering arbitration to Randy Wolf.
• The Baseball Opinion looks back at how each team did with their '04 free agency compensation draft picks.
• Royals Authority makes a case for trading Alberto Callaspo.
• River Ave Blues wonders who could play left field for the Yankees if they don't land Johnny Damon, Matt Holliday or Mike Cameron.
• UmpBump looks at what the Astros need this off-season.
• MLB Notebook believes Justin Duchscherer would be a good fit for the Pirates.
• Bucco Fans previews the right-handed pitchers in the upcoming Rule 5 draft with Aneury Rodriguez of the Rays listed as one of the top options overall.
• DRaysBay looks at some relief pitchers that are available in the Rule 5 draft.
• We Should Be GMs examines the free agent market for relief pitchers and who might be a good fit for the Phillies.
• The Pinstriper looks back at what might have happened had the Yankees not re-signed Alex Rodriguez in '07.

Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com. If you have a suggestion for this feature, Cork can be reached here, and followed on Twitter here.

11:00am: Renck is reporting, "The Rockies and Rays have agreed on the parameters of a deal that would land Colorado right-handed reliever Jason Hammel, but Tampa Bay is still mulling other offers." The agreement is still involving Aneury Rodriguez.

SATURDAY 7:21pm: Renck says there "is growing momentum" behind the deal.  Hammel would apparently be used as a reliever initially, and could also spot start.

6:03pm: Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times notes that Hammel is scheduled to pitch in a minor league game on Sunday morning.  The Rockies and Rays could be waiting for that outing to conclude, as to not throw off his schedule.

5:01pm: Tracy Ringolsby of Inside The Rockies has learned from a Tampa Bay source that the sides are currently working out the details of the deal.  He has confirmed that the Rays would get Rodriguez in return.

1:52pm: Troy Renck of the Denver Post says there is "growing momentum for a trade to transpire between Tampa Bay and the Rockies involving Hammel."  The Rays are thought to be eyeing Double-A starter Aneury Rodriguez.

11:49am: According to Ed Price of MLB Fanhouse trade talks between the Rays and Rockies have resumed. Jason Hammel or Jeff Niemann could be dealt to the Rockies this weekend, according to Price's sources.