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.

As of now, the White Sox's plan is to have Paul Konerko on the bench for the final Opening Day of his career, according to an ESPN.com report.

White Sox manager Robin Ventura announced Sunday that despite wavering on the topic in recent days, Konerko will not start against the Twins, breaking his streak of 16 consecutive Opening Day starts, the last 15 with the White Sox.

The Blue Jays have placed closer Casey Jannsen on the 15-day disabled list due to a strain in his left abdominal area and lower back, according to an ESPN.com report on Sunday.

Janssen, 4-1 with 34 saves and a 2.56 ERA last year, was limited at spring training because of shoulder soreness.

Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum is expected to make his first scheduled start in the regular season despite getting hit on the left knee by a come-backer Friday night.

"Just a little sore, a bruise," Lincecum said. "I'm able to walk on it and I'm moving around fine. I think the trainers are going to want me to take it slow and probably take it day by day to see how it progresses."

Following a breakout season in 2013, catcher Yan Gomes has agreed to terms with the Indians on a multiyear contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Saturday.

Gomes batted .294 with 11 homers and 38 RBIs in 88 games last season, his first with the Indians.