• MLB.com's Brian McTaggart tells us via Twitter that the Astros released pitchers Chad Paronto and Billy Sadler.
• The Nationals interviewed longtime Braves scouting director Roy Clark, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.
• The Blue Jays fired J.P. Ricciardi advisor Dick Scott, according to Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun.
• Interesting note from WEEI's Alex Speier.  Back in 2002, upon purchasing the Red Sox and selling the Marlins, John Henry attempted to have Josh Beckett and A.J. Burnett transferred to the Sox.
• NPB Tracker's Patrick Newman says NPB is lobbying Japan's High School Baseball Federation to have Yusei Kikuchi appear in person for meetings with NPB teams but not MLB clubs.  Newman still likes the Rangers as Kikuchi's top suitor, based on reports.
• Newman also tells us that pitcher Koji Mitsui, who was posted twice last winter but received no bids, has been released and will attempt to sign with an MLB team.
• Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times has a plan for the Cubs that includes signing Chone Figgins and avoiding long-term free agent deals.
• Padres exec Paul DePodesta explains the team's recent roster moves.
• Via Twitter, ESPN's Jorge Arangure Jr. passes along info from Miguel Angel Sano's agent Rob Plummer. 
• In an MLB.com chat, Blue Jays reliever Jeremy Accardo says that his first choice is to stay with Toronto for his entire career, but his second choice is to pitch on the West Coast.

• MLB.com's Brian McTaggart tells us via Twitter that the Astros released pitchers Chad Paronto and Billy Sadler.
• The Nationals interviewed longtime Braves scouting director Roy Clark, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.
• The Blue Jays fired J.P. Ricciardi advisor Dick Scott, according to Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun.
• Interesting note from WEEI's Alex Speier.  Back in 2002, upon purchasing the Red Sox and selling the Marlins, John Henry attempted to have Josh Beckett and A.J. Burnett transferred to the Sox.
• NPB Tracker's Patrick Newman says NPB is lobbying Japan's High School Baseball Federation to have Yusei Kikuchi appear in person for meetings with NPB teams but not MLB clubs.  Newman still likes the Rangers as Kikuchi's top suitor, based on reports.
• Newman also tells us that pitcher Koji Mitsui, who was posted twice last winter but received no bids, has been released and will attempt to sign with an MLB team.
• Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times has a plan for the Cubs that includes signing Chone Figgins and avoiding long-term free agent deals.
• Padres exec Paul DePodesta explains the team's recent roster moves.
• Via Twitter, ESPN's Jorge Arangure Jr. passes along info from Miguel Angel Sano's agent Rob Plummer. 
• In an MLB.com chat, Blue Jays reliever Jeremy Accardo says that his first choice is to stay with Toronto for his entire career, but his second choice is to pitch on the West Coast.

7:47am: According to Kyodo News, second baseman Tadahito Iguchi is set to join the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan.  A few weeks ago they reportedly offered three years and over $6MM.

In other Japanese baseball news, Kyodo reports that lefty Koji Mitsui will stay with the Seibu Lions after he was posted twice and no MLB team made a bid.

• Jacob Jackson proposes a new, simpler free agent compensation system.
• Jon Paul Morosi says the Mariners wanted Fernando Perez from the Rays in the failed talks that would’ve brought J.J. Putz to Detroit.  The Rays were unwilling to do this in part because B.J. Upton will be unavailable to start the season.
• Koji Mitsui again failed to garner a bid from an MLB team.
• Aaron Gleeman discusses the Twins’ decision not to use certain advanced statistics.
• Tony Massarotti and Curt Schilling talk about the Jason Varitek situation.
• Former GM Woody Woodward is back with the Mariners, as a scout.  The Pirates added former Tigers GM Bill Lajoie as a senior advisor to Neal Huntington.
• The Nationals have done little in the Japanese market, and they were never involved on Koji Uehara.

• Lefty reliever Koji Mitsui will be posted again; all 30 MLB teams declined to bid the first time.
• The Chiba Lotte Marines may be prepared to offer Tadahito Iguchi two years and $4.4MM or so.  Such a deal would not have been available in the States.
• Remember John Wasdin?  He has a one-year deal with the Seibu Lions.

• Nick Piecoro looks at the Brandon Webb situation.  The D’Backs ace is eligible for free agency after the 2010 season.
• NPB Tracker says Koji Mitsui may require a Major League deal to come to the States.
• Ted Berg interviewed Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker. Newman takes a look at Koji Uehara, Kenshin Kawakami, Ken Takahashi, and Mitsui. They’ve all been linked to the Mets.
• George A. King III from the NY Post looks at whether or not A.J. Burnett will be able to handle the Yankee spotlight.
• Tim did an interview with Kevin Seefried from 6 Pound 8 Ounce Baby Joba, covering many topics related to the AL East.
• RotoAuthority analyzes some of the most undervalued players in Fantasy Baseball coming into the 2008 season.

• Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald describes a casino alert regarding potential inside information due to the Winter Meetings.
• ESPN’s Keith Law isn’t thrilled with the Tigers’ acquisition of Gerald Laird.
• Michael S. Schmidt gives a peek at the Boras Book for Greg Maddux.  One client for which exaggeration is unnecessary.
• Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker says the Seibu Lions will post 35 year-old lefty reliever Koji Mitsui.  Another southpaw option to consider; he’s not expected to cost much.
• Newman also says the Orioles may offer two-year, $10MM contracts to both Kenshin Kawakami and Koji Uehara.
• Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic says the D’Backs have had brief, preliminary talks on an extension for Chris Snyder and they’ll resume soon.