CHICAGO (AP) A person familiar with the situation says former Arkansas and Southern California quarterback Mitch Mustain is closing in on a minor-league contract with the Chicago White Sox.

The person spoke Friday on the condition of anonymity because the deal had not been finalized. That is expected to happen early next week.

Mustain told the NBC affiliate in Northwest Arkansas that he had agreed to a deal with the White Sox. He had planned to play in the Arena Football League this year but put that on hold.

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CLEVELAND (AP) Nobody dodges salary arbitration like the Cleveland Indians.

With a hearing just days away, the club and All-Star shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera agreed to terms on a one-year, $4.55 million contract Friday, extending the Indians' streak of avoiding arbitration to 21 years. Read More...

ST. LOUIS (AP) Reliever Scott Linebrink agreed to terms on a minor league contract with the St. Louis Cardinals, and will be among the non-roster invitees to spring training.

The 35-year-old Linebrink was 4-4 with a 3.64 ERA in 64 games with the Atlanta Braves last season. He struck out 42 in 54 1-3 innings and held batters to a .235 batting average. Read More...

BALTIMORE (AP) The Baltimore Orioles have apologized to two South Korean baseball organizations upset with the club over its contract with a local high school pitcher.

The Korea Baseball Association said Friday that the Orioles violated local rules that bar the signing of student players until their graduation year. KBA officials said the Orioles signed 17-year-old left-hander Kim Seong-min last month. Read More...

(AP) -- Nelson Cruz seems to be a perfect fit for the Texas Rangers with his potent bat and big personality.

With hopes of staying together even longer, AL championship series MVP Cruz and two-time defending AL champion Texas avoided arbitration by agreeing Thursday to a $16 million, two-year contract. Read More...

UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) Bobby Valentine has learned a lot of things across his many years as a manager.

Among them? Read More...

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) Former Red Sox pitcher Dennis "Oil Can" Boyd says he probably pitched under the influence of cocaine "at every ballpark" during his 10-year career.

"There wasn't one ballpark that I probably didn't stay up all night, until 4 or 5 in the morning, and the same thing is in your system," Boyd said in an interview with Jon Miller of WBZ radio in Boston. "It ain't like you had time to go and do it while you were in the game, which I have (done) that." Read More...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) Alex Gordon doesn't know where negotiations stand on a long-term contract. He doesn't even know how much he deserves to make after a breakout season with the Kansas City Royals.

All he knows is that he's under contract for next season, and spring training is almost here. Read More...

SEATTLE (AP) Right around the first of the year, Eric Wedge placed a call to a select number of Seattle Mariners telling them to get to the Pacific Northwest in the dead of winter.

Wedge wanted to see firsthand if this group had followed through during the offseason in getting themselves ready for the upcoming season in the way Wedge and his staff asked. Read More...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) The Baltimore Orioles have defeated Brad Bergesen in salary arbitration, giving clubs a 3-2 lead over players this year.

Bergesen will receive an $800,000 salary this year rather than his request for $1.2 million. Arbitrators Robert Herzog, Mark Burstein and Elizabeth Neumeier made their decision Thursday, a day after hearing arguments. Read More...