The New York Mets are interested in adding Bobby Abreu on a Minor League contract.

Abreu was released by the Philadelphia Phillies after failing to make their 25-man roster.

Jon Lester took the mound for the Boston Red Sox on Opening Day Monday without a contract past this season.

The two sides announced a "pause" in talks on Saturday. Lester can hit the free agent market this winter.

"It's kind of like having the elephant in the room — we all know the circumstances that are there this year," Lester said."I would like to think I'm good about dealing with outside things. When I'm at the park I'm thinking about what I need to do that day to get better and worry about the other stuff when I'm done. It is what it is, I can't change it. It's something that's going to be there and there are going to be questions, and I'll have to give answers but it's something we'll deal with along the way."

The sides "are all in a good place," said Lester.

"There's no animosity," he said, and, "both sides have been very reasonable."

The Oakland Athletics have signed Joe Blanton to a Minor League contract and assigned him to Triple-A Sacramento.

The 33-year-old was released by the Los Angeles Angels last week.

Blanton was a major disappointment in Los Angeles, going 2-14 with a 6.04 ERA last season after signing a two-year, $15 million contract with the Angels as a free agent.

The San Diego Padres have an Opening Day payroll of $89.4 million, a team record.

However, $26.5 million, roughly 30 percent, of that payroll is currently on the disabled list.

Carlos Quentin ($9.5 million) and Josh Johnson ($8 million), two of San Diego's three highest-paid players, are sidelined. Cameron Maybin ($5 million), Cory Luebke ($3 million), Joe Wieland and Casey Kelly are also on the disabled list for the foreseeable future.

"We have money on the DL – it's frustrating; it's frustrating for any team," Josh Byrnes said. "We can analyze it every which way – the number of days on the DL, the percentage of payroll – whatever it is it's part of the six-month deal."

The Cleveland Indians have signed George Kottaras to a Minor League contract.

The Chicago Cubs acquired Kottaras from the Kansas City Royals in November, but released him last week as they choose to keep John Baker as their reserve catcher.

Kottaras hit .180/.349/.370 in 126 plate appearances with the Royals last season.

Mike Trout and the Los Angeles Angels agreed to a six-year, $144.5 million deal just before the start of the season.

Trout is the first player with less than three years of service time to sign a deal worth more than $20 million annually.

The outfielder gets $2 million of his $5 million signing bonus within 30 days of the contract's approval, and the rest by Oct. 15. His salaries are $5.25 million in 2015, $15.25 million in 2016, $19.25 million in 2017 and $33.25 million in each of the final three seasons.

It's widely believed that both the Angels and Trout compromised on the deal. The talks began shortly after Thanksgiving.

Trout's decision could have a trickle-down impact in future seasons in arbitration on up-and-coming stars like Washington's Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper or the Mets' Matt Harvey.

The New York Yankees and Alfredo Aceves have reached an agreement on a Minor League deal.

Aceves will work out of the Triple-A rotation, and has a July 1 opt-out clause.

Miguel Cabrera says he won't regret agreeing to a 10-year, $292 million contract extension with the Detroit Tigers.

Cabrera would be 40 in the final year of the contract, in 2023. There are also two vesting options, for a reported $30 million each, that would become guaranteed if Cabrera finishes in the top 10 of the MVP voting in the previous season.

"This is the place I want to be," Cabrera said. "I love to play in Detroit. I want to play in Detroit for a long time."

Alfredo Aceves will opt out of his contract with the Baltimore Orioles after learning that he will not make the Opening Day roster.

The 31-year-old relief pitcher signed a Minor League deal with Baltimore in January.

Rich Harden is throwing once again and plans to showcase himself for teams this summer.

Shoulder injuries have hampered him throughout his career.

The 32-year-old last pitched in the Major Leagues back in 2011 with the Oakland Athletics.