The Padres apparently have found a buy-low replacement for Adrian Gonzalez, as they are reportedly "on the verge" of a deal with free agent first baseman Brad Hawpe.

ESPN.com reported the deal was near completion, filling the Padres' first base hole with a more affordable option than free agents like Derrek Lee or Adam LaRoche.

Hawpe, 31, knows the territory in the NL West. He had spent his entire career with the Rockies until being released in late August and signing a day later with the Rays to finish out the season. It was a tough hear all around for Hawpe, who managed just a .245 average and .758 OPS in 103 games between the two teams.

The Padres will hope he takes a turn back to his All-Star form of a year earlier -- or better yet 2007, when he posted a .926 OPS, 29 homers and 116 RBI to help lead Colorado to the World Series.

The Colorado Rockies have added to their bullpen depth by acquiring reliever Matt Lindstrom from the Houston Astros.

Houston will receive two minor-league pitchers -- left-handed pitcher Wes Musick and right-handed pitcher Jonnathan Aristil -- in return.

Lindstrom, who will turn 31 in February, has closing experience with 43 career saves in four big-league seasons, but he figures to serve more in a setup role in front of Rockies closer Huston Street.

The right-hander went 2-5 with a 4.39 ERA last year, racking up 43 strikeouts in 53 1/3 innings. He is eligible for arbitration for the second time this winter. Lindstrom earned $1.625 million in 2010 with Houston.

The pursuit of free-agent reliever Brian Fuentes is turning into yet another Yankees-Red Sox showdown, a source told FanHouse Friday.

The Minnesota Twins, the team with which he finished the 2010 season, and the Colorado Rockies, the team with which he spent seven seasons earlier in his career, are also in the mix for the left-hander's services.

Fuentes, 35, was 4-1 with a 2.81 ERA last year between the Angels and Twins.

With 187 career saves, he has plenty of experience closing, but he's become a focal point of the annual Boston-New York offseason arms race as a middle relief/setup option.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- While the Yankees and Red Sox try to buy another World Series trophy, familiar practices are also at work in the sunny, popular division where the 2010 World Series trophy resides.

The National League West is still defined by its pitching and the arms-and-glove race it inspires, said the man whose pitchers delivered the World Series trophy to San Francisco just a month ago.

Surveying recent personnel moves within the West, Giants manager Bruce Bochy sees improved pitching staffs in Phoenix and Los Angeles and reasons to believe San Diego again will turn foes' bats into balsa sticks.

"What we're seeing this offseason in our division is what we've seen in the last few years," Bochy said from the Winter Meetings. "And that's trying to improve our pitching, both our bullpens and starting rotations. And our defense."

The renovations amount to attempting to keep up with not the Joneses, but the Lincecums, Jimenezes, Cains, Wilsons, Kershaws, Bells and Latoses.

"You've got to pitch, and catch the ball," said Padres manager Bud Black, a former pitcher and pitching coach.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Non-tendered by the Dodgers last week, catcher Russell Martin appears close to finding a new team. Sources at the winter meetings said the Blue Jays, Red Sox, Yankees and Rockies are all in the hunt for his services and are satisfied with the medical reports on his hip.

All three of the AL East powers could use catching help. Boston, which re-signed captain Jason Varitek last week as backup, is heading into 2011 with Jarrod Saltalamacchia as their starter, but if it signs Martin it could send Saltalamacchia, who has one option left, back to the minors for more seasoning.

New York is transitioning Jorge Posada to full-time DH duty, meaning highly regarded prospect Jesus Montero is atop its depth chart. Toronto, meanwhile, lost John Buck to free agency last month when he signed a three-year deal with the Marlins.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Rockies manager Jim Tracy was released from an Orlando-area hospital Tuesday, several hours after collapsing at the Winter Meetings.

Tracy was diagnosed with mild arrhythmia and returned to his home in Bradenton, Fla., with his family, the Rockies said.

Tracy, who turns 55 later this month, collapsed near a bank of elevators at the Dolphin Resort around 1 a.m. Tuesday. He didn't lose consciousness but was taken out of the hotel on a stretcher and hospitalized for tests.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- A versatile right-handed-hitting player was on the Rockies' shopping list this winter, and Ty Wigginton fits the bill perfectly.

Colorado agreed early Tuesday on a two-year deal with Wigginton, according to a FoxSports.com report.

He'll back up Todd Helton at first and Ian Stewart at third and could see reserve time at the corner outfield spots. He also has played second base during his career with the Mets, Pirates, Rays, Astros and Orioles.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Rockies manager Jim Tracy was hospitalized early Tuesday morning after collapsing near a bank of elevators at the Swan and Dolphin Resort on the grounds of Walt Disney World.

He is now resting and waiting to hear what doctors tell him after an examination.

Tracy was taken out of the hotel on a stretcher, and according to multiple reports (including this one from MLB.com) is underwent a series tests at an area hospital.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The Diamondbacks already have a replacement for departing third baseman Mark Reynolds, agreeing to a deal with free agent Melvin Mora.

The veteran will get a one-year contract reportedly worth a little more than $2 million. He'll step in immediately for Reynolds, who is headed to the Orioles in return for pitchers David Hernandez and Kam Mickolio.

Mora, who turns 39 in February, had a decent 2010 season for the Rockies. He hit .285 and posted a .779 OPS in 113 games in his first year back in the National League after 10 seasons in Baltimore.

He made $1.275 million last season.