Jackets' R.J. Umberger appears on NHL Live

It is reported that Columbus Blue Jackets forward R.J. Umberger will be among the guests on NHL Live on Wednesday, scheduled from noon-2 p.m. on NHL Network and NHL.com and broadcast on XM Radio.

Also scheduled to appear to speak with co-hosts Rob Simpson and Stan Fischler are Los Angeles Kings defenseman Matt Greene, NHL Radio Insider Jay Feaster and TSN's Darren Dreger. And the show will feature a report on the Olympic hopes of the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Jackets' R.J. Umberger appears on NHL Live

It is reported that Columbus Blue Jackets forward R.J. Umberger will be among the guests on NHL Live on Wednesday, scheduled from noon-2 p.m. on NHL Network and NHL.com and broadcast on XM Radio.

Also scheduled to appear to speak with co-hosts Rob Simpson and Stan Fischler are Los Angeles Kings defenseman Matt Greene, NHL Radio Insider Jay Feaster and TSN's Darren Dreger. And the show will feature a report on the Olympic hopes of the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Angels avoid arbitration with Weaver

It is reported that the Angels avoided arbitration with Jered Weaver by signing him to a one-year deal worth $4.265 million. Weaver is coming off an outstanding season as the Angels' most dependable starter in 2009. He posted a 16-8 record with a 3.75 ERA, striking out 174 batters in the los angeles angels of anaheim jersey.

Weaver has a career record of 51-27 with a 3.73 ERA, along with 546 strikeouts and 198 walks in 671 2/3 innings pitched. He becomes the second Angels player to avoid arbitration, joining second baseman Howard Kendrick, who agreed to a one-year deal worth $1.75 million earlier in the day.

Pirates and Donnelly reach a deal

A Major League source confirmed that the Pirates agreed to term on a one-year Major League contract with right-handed reliever Brendan Donnelly on Saturday. ESPN.com reported that the Major League deal gives Donnelly a base salary of $1.5 million. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette first reported the signing. They signed D.J. Carrasco to a Minor League deal and are closing on adding Octavio Dotel.

After posting a 1.75 ERA in 24 games with the Astros' Triple-A affiliate at the start of the 2009 season, Donnelly signed as a free agent with the Marlins in July. Over his eight-year career, the right-hander is 29-9 with a 3.02 ERA. Hope he can play well in the pirates jersey.

Victorino and Phillies agree on a three-year deal

The Phillies and Victorino have agreed on a three-year contract extension worth $22 million, which will keep him under contract with the team through 2012. The extension buys out Victorino's final two years of salary arbitration and his first year of free agency. The agreement follows the announcement which is about the Phillies signing Blanton to a three-year, $24 million extension. Phillies assistant general manager Scott Proefrock said the Phillies also could lock up Ruiz to a new contract before the end of next week.

Victorino hit .292 with 39 doubles, 13 triples, 10 home runs, 62 RBIs and 25 stolen bases last season in his phillies jersey. He made his first National League All-Star team and earned his second consecutive Gold Glove.

Fleury broke his left ring finger

Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury did not practice today in Vancouver and is day-to-day with a fractured left ring finger.The injury occured in the Penguins' victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday. Fleury remained in the game and made 33 saves on 35 shots to pick up the victory in his pittsburgh penguins jersey.

Fleury has appeared in 41 games this season for the Penguins, posting a 25-14-1 record to go with a 2.60 goals-against average. His 25 wins rank fourth in the National Hockey League.

Lightning and Devils' game is postponed

It is reported that National Hockey League Game between the Tampa Bay Lightning and New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center in Newark, N. J. was postponed due to the failure of arena lights. Play was stopped when the bank of lights failed in the second period. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman postponed the remainder of play due to concerns for the safety of the players after consultation with the NHL Hockey Operations Department and the respective Clubs.

"We felt the teams could not continue playing," said Colin Campbell, the League’s Senior Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations. "We tried for an hour and 52 minutes to restore power and appropriate lighting but were left with no alternative but to postpone further play for the evening." As the teams do not have future games scheduled against each other, a new date for the completion of the contest will be determined.

Mike Milbury will appear on NHL Live!

It is reported that NBC commentator and NHL Radio Insider Mike Milbury will be among the guests on NHL Live! on Thursday, scheduled from noon-2 p.m. on NHL Network and NHL.com. NHL Live! is broadcast from the NHL Store Powered By Reebok in Manhattan.

Milbury was General Manager of the New York Islanders for more than a decade. Also slated to appear with hosts Deb Placey and E.J. Hradek are Scott Morrison of CBC, and Dean Brown, who is the play-by-play radio announcer for the Ottawa Senators.

Ted Lindsay appears on NHL Live! this Friday

Hockey Hall of Famer Ted Lindsay will be among the guests on Friday's edition of NHL Live! on NHL Network and NHL.com and broadcast on XM Radio. NHL Live! is broadcast from the NHL Store Powered By Reebok in Manhattan.

Also appear with hosts Rob Simpson and E.J. Hradek are Phoenix Coyotes captain Shane Doan and hockey analyst Ed Olczyk, who will work for NBC's telecast of Sunday's game between the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings. It's a role that Lindsay served when NBC broadcast NHL games in the 1970s.

Padres send Minors deal to Worrell

Pitcher Mark Worrell, who was believed to be the key player to the Khalil Greene trade one year ago, signed a Minor League contract to remain with the Padres. Worrell missed 2009 season after having surgery on March 25 to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. Worrell has been undergoing his rehabilitation at the Padres' Spring Training facility in Arizona. The Padres think that he can start throwing in Spring Training and return this summer.

Worrell was acquired by the Padres from the Cardinals on Dec. 4, 2008, for Greene. He was non-tendered by the Padres following the season and removed from the 40-man roster. Worrell suffered the injury during Spring Training. Gregerson became the key piece to the Greene trade. Hope he can come back soon in his padres jersey.

Indians agree to deal with Shelley Duncan

The Journal News reported on Monday that the Indians agreed to a deal with former Yankees outfielder Shelley Duncan on a Minor League deal. Duncan played in just 11 games with New York last season but slugged 30 home runs with Triple-A league and is named the Most Valuable Player of the International League. He appeared in 68 games with New York in the past three seasons, batting .219 with eight home runs and 24 RBIs.

In nine Minor League seasons, Duncan is a career .258 hitter with 170 home runs, 523 runs scored and 599 RBIs in 905 games. Duncan is also the son of Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan and the brother of free-agent outfielder Chris Duncan. Now fans are going to put on indians jersey to support him.

Hernandez is designated for assignment

According to a report, the Royals designated infielder Luis Hernandez for assignment last weekend. The move came as the Major League contracts of outfielder Scott Podsednik and pitcher Noel Arguelles were officially approved. They were signed on Friday and Thursday respectively.

Hernandez appeared in 37 games for Kansas City last season at second and third base and shortstop, batting .205 with four RBIs. He was also designated for assignment last July 7 and re-signed with the Royals. Originally in the Atlanta organization, he reached the Majors and batted .264 in 66 games during the 2007 and 2008 seasons.

Verdi is hired as Blackhawks' first Team Historian

The Chicago Blackhawks announced Verdi’s hiring as Team Historian, which is a newly-created position. Verdi will use his five decades of sports journalism for periodical stories on the team’s Web site. "We are privileged to add such a true Chicago sports legend in Bob to our staff," Blackhawks Senior Vice President of Business Operations Jay Blunk said. "As Team Historian, he will give our organization perspective and depth in a number of different roles, which includes contributing on chicagoblackhawks.com. His 40-plus years of sports journalism in Chicago will serve as a great link to our franchise’s rich history."

Verdi served as a writer and columnist for the Chicago Tribune from 1967 to 1997 before writing for the newspaper as a columnist over the last 12 years. He also served as a senior writer for Golf Digest and Golf World. In 2004, Verdi received the PGA of America Lifetime Achievement Award in Journalism.

Cardinals might be most logical fit for All-Star outfielder

According to ESPN.com's Buster Olney, agent Scott Boras has been doubling back to prospective buyers for Holliday, but it left fielder's most recent club, the Cardinals, remains the most logical fit. The Orioles surfaced recently as a possible destination for Holliday. Last Wednesday, multiple online reports indicated that the Cardinals made an offer to Holliday which was over $100 million and almost approached eight years and $140 million.

Holliday batted .353 with 13 home runs in the final 63 games of the 2009 regular season after being traded from the Athletics. His situation is almost the same as that of Mark Teixeira, when the first baseman was coming off a similar performance for the Angels. But the Yankees lands him for eight years and $180 million.

Brave might be D-backs' second baseman

It is reported that Johnson is a guy that the D-backs have discussed with the Braves since Josh Byrnes became GM in the fall of 2005. Johnson hit .224 with eight homers and 29 RBIs last season for Atlanta and was not offered arbitration earlier this month. Johnson has actually hit better against lefties than he has against righties in his career. Based on advanced metrics, it is believed that he is an excellent candidate for a rebound season after struggling last year.

If Johnson gets the starting at second, the D-backs could shift Tony Abreu into a utility infield role. The team learned during the Winter Meetings that there is interest in Ojeda, so moving him would probably not be a problem. The D-backs could also give Abreu more seasoning at the Triple-A level.

Vinny Prospal underwent knee surgery

New York Rangers forward Vinny Prospal underwent knee surgery on Monday morning to repair a lateral tear and will be sidelined several weeks. The injury was sustained during Saturday's game against the Islanders at Madison Square Garden. The procedure was performed this morning at Phelps Memorial Hospital in Westchester by Dr. Anthony Maddalo.

Prospal has scored 8 goals and 24 assists with 22 penalty minutes, in 38 games in his new york rangers jersey this season. He currently leads the Rangers and is tied for 19th in assists. He also ranks second on the team in points and third in goals.