• Righty Dan Cortes has signed with the Diamondbacks, Matt Eddy of Baseball America reports on Twitter.  The one-time top-100 prospect last pitched in 2011 for the Mariners' Triple-A affiliate, tossing 39 innings and logging a 5.08 ERA, before he sat out the 2012 season.
• The Cardinals have released right-handed relief pitcher Adam Reifer after previously outrighting him off of the team's 40-man roster, Eddy further tweets.  Reifer, 26, spent the last two seasons at Triple-A Memphis and last year posted a 4.90 ERA over 64 1/3 innings.
• The Red Sox acquired minor league first baseman Mike Flacco from the Orioles for cash considerations, according to Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com (on Twitter). The Orioles could get a player to be named instead of cash, Rich Dubroff of CSNBaltimore.com reports (on Twitter). Flacco, the brother of Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, spent the 2012 season at Class A and Double-A. The 26-year-old posted a .214/.284/.330 batting line with eight home runs in 396 total plate appearances last year. The Orioles originally selected him in the 31st round of the 2009 draft.

• Dan Cortes failed his physical with the Nationals, so the minor league deal he signed back in January is void, Amanda Comak of the Washington Times reports.
• The Diamondbacks released right-hander Kevin Mulvey, Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus tweets. Mulvey, 26, posted a 6.64 ERA, 5.5 K/9, 3.8 BB/9, and 0.9 HR/9 in 103 innings for Arizona's Triple-A affiliate last year. He has been involved in deals for two current Mets: Jon Rauch and Johan Santana.
• The Diamondbacks also signed 24-year-old outfielder Chris Valencia, Goldstein tweets. Valencia hit .342/.379/.500 while playing independent ball in 2011.

• The Mariners announced that they non-tendered Dan Cortes and Chris Gimenez.
• The Orioles announced that they non-tendered Willie Eyre, the right-handed reliever who was designated for assignment last week. They non-tendered Jo-Jo Reyes, according to Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link). The Orioles also non-tendered Luke Scott, tweets Connolly. Scott, who battled a shoulder injury in 2011 and underwent surgery this summer, projected to earn $6MM through arbitration. 
• The Rays non-tendered Andy Sonnanstine, according to Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times (Twitter link).
• The Rangers non-tendered right-hander Fabio Castillo, according to Anthony Andro of FOXSportsSouthwest.com (Twitter link).
• The Red Sox announced that they non-tendered Rich Hill.
• The Royals announced that they will non-tender left-hander Aaron Laffey.
• The Twins announced that they've non-tendered left-hander Jose Mijares (Twitter link).
• The Tigers non-tendered second baseman Will Rhymes, announced the team.  Rhymes is not yet close to being arbitration eligible, as he has less than one year of big league service time.  Rhymes, 28, hit .306/.377/.390 at Triple-A this year.

• There are "no immediate plans" to try Joakim Soria as a starter, though Moore did not dismiss the idea outright.
• Yuniesky Betancourt and Mike Aviles will compete for the shortstop job in 2010.
• Moore wouldn't reveal much regarding his team's catching situation, though he expressed a desire to improve blocking and receiving skills behind the plate.
• He was also vague about the idea of signing a power hitter in the offseason.
• Moore expects to sign Aaron Crow, but has nothing new to report.
• When Moore was asked, "Mr. Moore, why is this team so bad? Plz answer. Thx," he went with injuries as the explanation.
• Another funny exchange – Moore was asked why he gave up Dan Cortes for Betancourt, when Betancourt probably would've been designated for assignment.  Moore believes it was "highly doubtful" the shortstop would've been DFA'd.
• Moore spoke in generalities when asked if he'd try to lock up Billy Butler.
• Moore says he's focused on pitching, speed, and defense, much like the Angels.

Time for some early Monday odds and ends.

• Remember how White Sox GM Ron Schueler embarrassed Cubs GM Ed Lynch in 1998 by acquiring Jon Garland for Matt Karchner?  Rany Jazayerli sees a parallel to that heist with the Royals’ acquisition of Daniel Cortes as part of the July ’06 Mike MacDougal trade.
• Mike Berardino’s blog continues to entertain; this time with a Dan Miceli story.  Ah, knife fights with siblings.  Who among us can say they haven’t had one or two?
• Buster Olney learned from Braves GM Frank Wren that Kelly Johnson has been the team’s most asked-for player in trade talks this winter.
• The look on Kyle Kendrick’s face is priceless.
• Extension talks with the Twins and Joe Nathan have gone dormant.  Nathan still thinks the gap can be bridged but wants it done before the season begins.
• Andy Marte and Shin-Soo Choo are both out of options; when Choo comes back from elbow surgery a month into the season one of them could be traded.
• Henry Schulman says the White Sox may accept prospects from the Giants for Joe Crede.
• Derek Lowe is entering his walk year, and he hasn’t had any extension talks with the Dodgers yet.