Nationals sign Mench to Minor League deal

It is said that the Nationals have signed outfielder Kevin Mench to a Minor League contract with an invitation to Spring Training. The right-handed-hitting Mench spent this past season playing in Japan for the Hanshin Tigers, but he is best remembered for his years with the Rangers from 2002-06.

Mench's best season in the Major Leagues was in 2004, when he hit .279 with 26 home runs and 73 RBIs in the rangers jersey. He has played seven big league seasons and has a .269 career batting average with 89 home runs and 330 RBIs.

Nationals add reliever Walker

According to two baseball sources, right-hander Tyler Walker agreed to terms on a one-year contract with the Nationals. The club also signed outfielder Chris Duncan and left-hander Chuck James to Minor League deals with an invitation to Spring Training.Walker is expected to be part of the new relief corps which includes Brian Bruney, Matt Capps and Eddie Guardado. He is a seven-year veteran who has played with the Mets, Giants and Rays.

Duncan is coming off one of his poorest seasons in the big leagues, hitting .227 with five home runs and 32 RBIs all in the cardinals jersey. On July 22, St. Louis traded Duncan to the Red Sox for infielder Julio Lugo, but Duncan never saw Major League action with Boston.

As for James, he missed the entire 2009 season due to left shoulder surgery. He was signed by the Nationals on the recommendation of assistant general manager Roy Clark, who was impressed by James when they were with the Braves. James' best season was in 2006.

Red Sox invite Molina to spring camp

A source confirmed on Friday that the Red Sox have signed catcher Gustavo Molina to a Minor League deal with an invitation to Spring Training. Molina spent the entire 2009 season playing with the Nationals' Triple-A affiliate, the Syracuse Chiefs, and he batted .209 with two homers and 24 RBIs in 72 games. The right-handed hitter saw action in 19 Major League games from 2007to 2008, batting .118 with the White Sox, Orioles and Mets.

Originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the White Sox in 2000, Molina is a career .235 hitter and .342 slugging percentage in the Minor Leagues. Molina also has experience at third and first base. Hope he can play well in the red sox jersey.

Rockies negotiate with Tim Redding

According to a Major League source, the Rockies are negotiating with one of their past targets, right-handed pitcher Tim Redding. Last winter, the Rockies intended to acquire Redding from the Nationals before he was non-tendered. Redding signed a one-year, $2 million deal with the Mets as a free agent and went 3-6 with a 5.10 ERA in 30 games, including 17 starts in his mets jersey.

The Rockies were not a finalist in the chase for former Pirates reliever Matt Capps, who is deciding between the Nationals and the Cubs. Redding could be asked to add the energy and experience to the bullpen.

Tim Maxey spent seven seasons with Indians

Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association announced that Tim Maxey was named Major League Baseball's Joint Strength and Conditioning Coordinator. Maxey will focus on providing guidance to and identifying best practices for clubs and players involving conditioning, fitness, nutrition and other related subjects in this newly created position. Maxey has plenty of experience in the field and he just completed his seventh season as the strength and conditioning coach for the Indians in 2009, and he also worked in the Royals organization from 1998 to 2002.

Maxey visit with every team during Spring Training to discuss practices and conditioning. He will also be available to all Major League clubs during the season for all areas relating to strength and conditioning, including the development of educational programs. He also has served MLB and the MLBPA on its Strength and Conditioning Advisory Board and has been an advisor to the Taylor Hooton Foundation.

Maxey is a National and Conditioning Association-Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and a Registered Strength and Conditioning Coach. He is a graduate of Shawnee State University and holds a Master's Degree in physical education from The Ohio State University.

Pudge expected to join in Nationals

The Nationals announced they will hold a news conference at Nationals Park on Friday to announce the signing of a free-agent player, who is expected to be veteran catcher Ivan Rodriguez. The club signed the catcher to a two-year contract worth $6 million during the Winter Meetings in Indianapolis. He is the 14-time All-Star combined with 10 home runs and 47 RBIs in 121 games with the Astros and Rangers last season.

Rodriguez is expected to be the backup to catcher Jesus Flores, who played in just 29 games last season because of injuries. Hope he can put on the nationals jersey and play for the team.