Per MLB Trade Rumors, which cites Bob Nightengale.

The Rangers and Marlins are getting closer on a deal for corner infielder Jorge Cantu, tweets Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald.  Cantu is in the Marlins' lineup today, however.  Yesterday word was that the Rockies were out on Cantu and the Giants were not heavily considering him.

On Tuesday ESPN's Jayson Stark said the sticking point between the Rangers and Marlins was that Texas wanted the Fish to pick up all of Cantu's remaining $2.18MM.  The Marlins aren't known for sending money in trades.

The Marlins informed the Rangers they're willing to pay most, if not all, of Cantu's remaining salary, tweets USA Today's Bob Nightengale.

Wonder what the cost is...the Marlins are crazy cheap, so for them to send money it might be someone pretty good.

So much for CoJack as a righty platoon bat.

Per MLB.com.

An outfielder in the Minors, Jackson played primarily first base for the D-backs until 2008, when he was shifted back to left field.

From 2006-08, Jackson hit .292 with an .822 OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) for the D-backs as one of the club's most consistent hitters. More of a gap-to-gap hitter, Jackson hit 15 homers in 2006 and 2007 and 12 in 2008.

Jackson became ill during Spring Training in 2009 and was eventually diagnosed with Valley Fever, a fungal infection that weakens the body. He had a Minor League rehab stint cut short during the year and he did not play in the big leagues after May 11.

Following the season, Jackson went to extended spring training and then had a successful stint in the Dominican Republic over the winter. Despite struggling at the plate this year, Jackson has not felt any ill effects from his illness.

Demel was initially selected by the Rangers in the 2004 First-Year Player Draft, but instead elected to go to Texas Christian University and was subsequently drafted by the A's in the third round of the 2007 Draft.

Per Rosenthal.

Infielder Khalil Greene is again suffering from anxiety issues, leaving the Texas Rangers short an infielder as they begin spring training.

Greene, 30, will not report with the rest of the team’s position players Tuesday and could miss significant time, according to major-league sources.

Rangers general manager Jon Daniels declined comment when contacted Sunday night, saying the team planned to address the issue on Monday.

The Rangers signed Greene to a one-year, $500,000 free-agent contract on Jan. 11, intending for him to replace Omar Vizquel as their utility infielder. Vizquel had signed a one-year, $1.375 million free-agent deal with the White Sox earlier in the offseason.

Felipe Lopez is the most prominent infielder remaining on the free-agent market. The Rangers also could consider internal candidates or pursue other options later in spring training, when utility infielders are readily available.

Greene twice went on the disabled list last season with social anxiety disorder, appearing in only 77 games for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Scott Sizemore and Luis Valbuena are under-the-radar AL Central 2B's who are likely to start full-time in 2010.

Sizemore has been compared to Marcus Giles (best case) and Frank Catalanotto. KG gave him 4 stars and ranked him #3 in the Tigers' system. He put up an .889 OPS between AA and AAA this year at age 24. The Tigers non-tendered Placido Polanco and have indicated they are going to give Sizemore every chance to be the team's opening day second baseman, even though he's currently recovering from a broken leg. He's generally rated average defensively.

Valbuena, 23, also has some pop for a 2B. In 95 PA's in AAA this year he raked to the tune of a .975 OPS. In 400 PA's with the Tribe, he was mediocre, struggling to a .298 OBP but showing power with 10 bombs. Last year he put up a 304/.381/.483 line in AA. Scouts like his defense, but UZR doesn't.

Which under-the-radar 2B do you like more?

I will be the Scouting Director of the Braves in the mock draft on Minor League Ball, which will occur on June 6.

I'd love to hear your insight on who you think the Braves should pick.

To fill the space requirement, I will quote from my own post on the Braves mock draft:

The Braves will have just two picks in our mock -- #7 and #87. Likely candidates at #7 include (in no particular order):

Alex White - Aaron Crow - Tanner Scheppers - Zack Wheeler - Mike Leake - Kyle Gibson - Tyler Matzek

Since the Braves are well known for drafting local, I think we can include the free-falling, but still very interesting, Donovan Tate

Wheeler seems like a strong possibility -- he's a local boy with a high ceiling who figures to be there at #7.

The Braves are in a pretty good spot -- after Strasburg and Ackley, there's not much difference between #3 and #7. They'll have their choices of solid options at #7

I'll be looking to take the best player, and ignoring any positional need.

Thoughts?

The Braves will have just two picks in our mock -- #7 and #87. Likely candidates at #7 include (in no particular order):

Alex White - Aaron Crow - Tanner Scheppers - Zack Wheeler - Mike Leake - Kyle Gibson - Tyler Matzek

Since the Braves are well known for drafting local, I think we can include the free-falling, but still very interesting, Donovan Tate

Wheeler seems like a strong possibility -- he's a local boy with a high ceiling who figures to be there at #7.

The Braves are in a pretty good spot -- after Strasburg and Ackley, there's not much difference between #3 and #7. They'll have their choices of solid options at #7

I'll be looking to take the best player, and ignoring any positional need

Thoughts?

Washington has signed Adam Dunn, 2 years, $20M

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090211&content_id=3817580&vkey=hotstove2008&fext=.jsp

The Astros apparently were a late player for Dunn...Pence would've been the hardest working man in baseball with Dunn and Lee on each side.

Seems a bit pricey when compared to what Abreu got, but still a fraction of what he was seeking, and a 2-year commitment for an in-his-prime slugger is hard to question.