Takashi Saito News

The Atlanta Braves continued to overhaul their bullpen on Thursday, as they agreed to terms with free agent right-hander Takashi Saito on a one-year deal.

TALKS FOR Roy Halladay may continue, but the Red Sox have another pitcher without working a trade at baseball's winter meetings.

It looks like the Sox are taking a depth approach to replacing Billy Wagner and Takashi Saito , as they signed yet another reliever in LHP Fabio Castro.

Providing further indication that he wasn't receiving the kind of attention he was expected to gain on the free-agent market, reliever Rafael Soriano accepted the arbitration offer made by the Braves before Monday's 11:59 p.m. ET deadline.

With suitcases in tow, the greetings started last night in the Marriott lobby. Managers filtered in, a few general managers, support personnel, and more than enough media to go around.

According to Jerry Crasnick , free agent reliever Rafael Soriano is contemplating accepting arbitration from the Atlanta Braves.

It was a rather busy and important December Thursday for the Boston Red Sox. They signed shortstop Marco Scutaro to a two year deal with an option for a third, negating the need for Dustin "Pedey" Pedroia to move to his left and handle that position.

The Red Sox have reached a deal with shortstop Marco Scutaro, pending a physical, according to several internet and newspaper reports.

With relievers Billy Wagner and now Takashi Saito leaving Boston to join the Atlanta Braves, there are two spots open in the Boston bullpen for 2010.

It appears Braves general manager Frank Wren's bullpen-reconstruction process is complete.

When Cubs General Manager Jim Hendry re-signed left-handed reliever John Grabow to a two-year extension last month, he removed the Cubs from the hunt for free agent southpaw Billy Wagner.

Red Sox reliever Takashi Saito could be an underrated commodity on the free-agent market this offseason based on his career 2.05 ERA and ability to serve as a reliable eighth-inning option or closer.

While their rivals from the Bronx are enjoying the afterglow of a World Series championship, the Red Sox are in business mode, trying to plot their own title contender for 2010.

This time: Oct. 14-25 Previous installment: Oct. 6-13 More 40-man roster maneuvering, a handful of new free agents and one club's foray into the independent leagues .

Two members of the Red Sox' coaching staff interviewed with the Houston Astros yesterday for their vacant managerial position.

The Red Sox are currently involved in a procedural matter with reliever Takashi Saito's contract which would allow them to re-sign the right-hander but for less than the $6 million on his 2010 option, according to a major league source familiar with the deal.

The Red Sox are currently involved in a procedural matter with reliever Takashi Saito's contract which would allow them to re-sign the right-hander but for less than the $6 million on his 2010 option, according to a major league source familiar with the deal.

Takashi Saito has been outrighted by the Red Sox off of their 40-man roster. This is likely a prelude to the team not picking up the 2010 option on his contract.

The Boston Red Sox are among several major league teams lining up to woo Japanese high school pitcher Yusei Kikuchi.

Next year came early and oh-so suddenly for the Red Sox, the season ending before the foliage even reached its peak.