The Orioles have had multiple conversations with left-hander Joe Saunders, according to a baseball source. Saunders, 30, was 12-13 with a 3.69 ERA in 212 innings last year with the Diamondbacks, who did not tender him a contract this offseason. He would have been in his final year of arbitration this offseason but now is a free agent and has been linked to several teams -- with varying degrees of interest -- including the Marlins, Red Sox, Rockies, Reds and Tigers.

Despite rumors that the Rockies were in talks with free-agent outfielder Cody Ross, an agreement is unlikely. An excellent Rockies source said: "There is absolutely no truth to the Cody Ross stories. The Rockies have always liked Cody as a player but we have no fit at all in our outfield."

The deadline for the Yankees to sign Japanese shortstop Hiroyuki Nakajima is Jan. 6. New York bid $2 million for the right to negotiate with Nakajima, giving them a 30-day window to complete a deal.

A member of the Nationals claims that the team is very much in the race to sign free-agent first baseman Prince Fielder. "We're in the market," a player said of Fielder. "We're still shooting for him."

While they have spent time negotiating this offseason, there is still a significant gap in talks between the Giants and right-hander Tim Lincecum on a contract extension. San Francisco had made locking up Lincecum and Matt Cain as their top priorities this winter. The Giants are believed to have raised an offer they made this summer that was said to have been for four years and presumably about $80 million. Lincecum, a two-time Cy Young winner and the 2010 World Series hero, is thought to be seeking an eight-year deal.

As time passes it is becoming more and more likely that the Angels will sign free-agent reliever Ryan Madson. The Red Sox, another team in need of a reliever, traded for Oakland's Andrew Bailey on Wednesday, lowering the market for Madson. With that said, Madson, who is from Orange County, California, would still have to take a pay cut to sign with Los Angeles.

The Yankees are still in talks with free-agent outfielder Andruw Jones, but general manager Brian Cashman said there is "nothing to report from that." It was expected that New York would re-sign Jones, but recently the Red Sox have been mentioned as a possible suitor.

A report that free-agent first baseman Prince Fielder might agree to take a three-year contract appears to be false. "Not only is that inaccurate and delusional, but it seems that some people have gotten into their New Year's Eve stash just a little bit early this year," agent Scott Boras said. Apparently there are still upwards of six teams still interested in Fielder. "It appears some baseball people are just bored," Boras said. "That's when you hear ideas like that floated."

The Athletics have strong interest in 19-year-old Cuban outfielder Jorge Soler, according to a major-league source. Oakland initially had considered pursing high-profile Cuban defector Yoenis Cespedes, but the team believes his price tag will be too high. The Yankees, Phillies and Rangers are among those expected to bid on Soler and it's believed that he might receive a contract worth $20 million or more.

The most immediate priority for the Marlins is to re-sign free-agent Greg Dobbs. Dobbs provided veteran leadership as well as some timely hits last season. He hit .275 with eight home runs and 49 RBIs in 411 at-bats.