Update: Mariners pitcher Cliff Lee has undergone what is said to be a minor surgery to remove a loose bone spur in his left foot,according to Ryan Divish of the Tacoma News-Tribune.Initial reports say he will be able to start baseball related activities within two to three weeks and he should be fine by Opening Day.

Update: According to Jon Heyman, the Yankees have signed OF Marcus Thames to a minor league deal with an invite to Spring Training.

Fantasy Impact: Marcus Thames has been a solid force of home runs throughout his career. From 2006 to 2008, Thames averaged 23 home runs a year. In 2009, he only had 13 with a .252 batting average. Marcus Thames could make the Yankees and provide some pop off the bench, but he should not be considered in any fantasy league.

Update:Even though young Alcides Escobar only played in 38 games as a rookie last season, G.M. Doug Melvin had seen enough to know that he was going to be the Brewers everyday shortstop for 2010, so goodbye J.J. Hardy. Escobar has gone from an offensive liability in his minor league days, to a hitter that will slot well into the number two hole. He puts the ball in play and he he is growing into his speed.

Update:Let's take a closer look at some of the younger breakout stars that may (or may not) help many fantasy teams this year.Elvis Andrus, SS Texas Rangers.The 21 year-old is positioned nicely for a breakout season for many reasons.He has a full season under his belt. He put up good numbers as a 20 year-old.He is in no jeopardy to lose his starting spot if he should slump so he will be able to play through the slump and learn.He plays for a veteran team that will take much of the pressure off of him.

Update: Sports Illustrated's Jon Heyman reports via Twitter that the New York Yankees have signed OF Marcus Thames to a minor-league contract with a base salary of $900,000 if he makes the 25-man roster. The reigning World Champs have also finalized a one-year, $1.1 million deal with OF Randy Winn. Performance bonuses based on number of at-bats versus lefty pitchers could push Winn's salary up to $2 million next season.

Update: The St. Louis Cardinals have decided to let their internal options compete for the 5th spot in their rotation, led by Carpenter, Wainwright, Penny and Lohse. McClellan, who throws 4 different pitches, is only 25 and has been closely watched by Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan. He is expected to compete with Mitch Boggs and Jaime Garcia for the last spot in that rotation. He has worked hard this winter, losing 13 pounds as he works on becoming more durable.

Update: The New York Yankees will begin their quest to repeat as World Champions on February 17, the first day pitchers and catchers are eligible to report for duty. Eleven other teams will also be starting up on the 17th.

Update:Manager Dave Trembley is pretty sure he knows who the first 4 starting pitchers will be in his rotation in 2010, but he isn't ready to give the 5th spot to Orioles hot-shot prospect Chriss Tillman quite yet. Trembley told Roch Kubatko of MASN.com,"I think there will be competition for a spot at the backend of the rotation. I think that's only fair."I think you have to be fair to (Jason) Berken and (David) Hernandez and give them a real good look."

Update: A National Legaue coach thinks that Troy Glaus could hit 30 to 40 home runs in Atlanta's Turner Field if he gets 500 at-bats. Citing the weather and the ballpark, the coach said,“If he gets 500 at-bats, he’s going to hit the ball out 30 or 40 times. In that ballpark, when it warms up, he’ll be fine. He does go into slumps, and you have to accommodate that.’’Glaus is moving to first base with the Braves after playing most of his career at third.

Update: At least not from the Boston Red Sox. That's what Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe speculates. When Beckett becomes a free agent at the end of the 2010 season, Cafardo believes the Red Sox will try to re-sign their big right-hander, but only at a reduced level because of his previous rotator cuff problems.