"It's not a minor surgery, and right now the best-case scenario is he would potentially be able to play at some point before the end of the season," general manager Wade said. Vallejo suffered the injury while roasting a pig on Christmas day in the Dominican Republic. Given the uncertainty in the team's middle infield, Vallejo had a chance at landing with the Astros during the 2010 season, but now he's looking like a September callup in the best-case scenario.

"The follow-up MRI showed it had grown to the size of 1 1/2 grapes," general manager Ed Wade said. "They aspirated the fluid out of it and Brandon went home and began his regular throwing program." Wade estimated that Lyon will be about 10 days behind his teammates with his program, so it sounds like he should be ready to go for Opening Day. Still, this situation is worth monitoring closely given the uncertainty of the ninth-inning role in Houston right now.

Pridie will have a chance to earn a fifth outfielder spot in NY with Carlos Beltran out to start the year. That said, look for him to spend most of the year at Triple-A Buffalo.

Jones did not play in 2009 and appeared in just 42 games in 2008, but he'll return to Minnesota where he had a career year in 2002 (.300, 27 homers, 85 RBI). He'll be a candidate for a reserve outfield spot for the Twins.

Clearly, the A's were forced to take on Taveras in order to get Adam Rosales in their trade with the Reds last week.

Schoenweis will be invited to spring training as part of the deal. Schoenweis has been up and down the last few seasons, but he gives the Brewers another left-handed option to consider.

Barring a disastrous spring training performance, Hendrickson will pitch out of the bullpen for the Orioles this season.

The team needed to open up a 40-man roster spot for Mark Hendrickson. Gabino will still have a shot at making the club if he accepts the assignment, but things got tougher for him on Tuesday as the Orioles signed both Hendrickson and Will Ohman.