• New York Mets pitcher Orlando Hernandez has arthritis in his neck and will be sidelined for three or four days after receiving a cortisone shot. Mets GM Omar Minaya made the announcement.
• Xavier Nady was released late Thursday afternoon after spending two nights in an area hospital with what Pirates officials said was inflammation of his intestine.
• Curt Schilling announced that he will become a free agent at the end of the season after not being offered a contract extension from the Red Sox.
• Dodger manager Grady Little announced this morning that shortstop Rafael Furcal will remain his leadoff hitter and new center fielder Juan Pierre will bat second.
• The Reds today signed IF Jerry Gil, OF Josh Hamilton and RHP Brad Salmon to 1-year contracts.
• The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum announced today that Denny Matthews, the voice of the Kansas City Royals for 38 years, has been named the 2007 recipient of the Ford C. Frick Award, presented annually for major contributions to baseball broadcasting. Matthews will be honored with the award during Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies on Sunday, July 29 in Cooperstown, N.Y.
• The New York Mets have signed lefthanded pitcher Mike Bynum and righthanded pitcher Jose Santiago to minor league contracts. Both pitchers will report to minor league spring training on March 2nd.
• The Marlins have signed six players on their 40-man roster to contracts for the 2007 season LHP Paul Mildren, RHP Jesus Delgado, RHP Matt Lindstrom, OF Eric Reed, RHP Harvey Garcia, RHP Logan Kensing.
• Mets catcher Paul Lo Duca is likely to miss a few days because of tendinitis in his right hand.
• Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon on Akinori Iwamura: “I really was impressed with Aki. I can understand why he’s a Gold Glover. I watched him swing and he used the whole field. He’s a very smooth athlete. He’s got good baseball muscles.”
  
  …and on Delmon Young: “I think he will tell you that he’s going to boggle your mind and I’m good with that. This guy’s got a lot of self-confidence and I love it. He backs it up, not just by what he does in the game but this guy’s work is impeccable. This guy is out to make a mark on this game. I think he will. He’s different. He wants to be a complete player. He doesn’t want to just hit for average, home runs, RBIs, he wants to play defense, he wants to have the best arm, he wants to run the bases better than everybody else, he wants to bunt. That’s why I dig this guy.”

In case you missed it, and you have no reason whatsoever to miss it, BDD friend Kevin Goldstein posted his top 100 prospects for 2007 over at Baseball Prospectus.

While we’re on the topic of friends, Dan Fox continued his analysis of rule changes you should be aware of going into the new season.

According to the Journal News, Orlando Hernandez was sent to New York to be examined after complaining of soreness in his upper neck area. General manager Omar Minaya said, ``I’m not concerned … it’s more preventative than anything.’’The area is above the shoulder blades and Hernandez will be examined for a disk problem.

Dodgers Luis Gonzalez and Andre Ethier putting on impressive power displays during batting practice, yesterday as both reached the administration building behind right field.

Marlins right-hander Josh Johnson threw Wednesday and said his arm feels fine.

Chicago White Sox shortstop Juan Uribe has received permission from a judge to attend spring training in Tucson, Ariz. Under the judge's ruling, Uribe will no longer have to appear in court twice a month for the remainder of the case. Instead, he must put down a $15,400 deposit guaranteeing he will make his next scheduled court appearance, slated for March 17.

J.D. Drew arrived at camp for the Red Sox yesterday and immediately claimed his shoulder felt wonderful.