The Florida Marlins and right-hander Ricky Nolasco have arrived at a stalemate in negotiations for a long-term contract, major league sources told FOXSports.com.

The impasse sets up a number of possibilities for Nolasco, who was 14-9 with a 4.51 ERA in 26 starts this year:

— The Marlins and Nolasco agree on a one-year deal

Nolasco, 28, is still in his salary-arbitration years, so the Marlins could simply allow that process to play out and retain his rights through 2012. He’s due to receive a raise on the $3.8 million he earned this year.

— The sides compromise and sign a long-term pact

There is still plenty of time for the parties to reach agreement. They have been exchanging three-year proposals, sources say.

— The Marlins trade Nolasco

Florida could deal Nolasco and still have a formidable five-man rotation: Josh Johnson, Anibal Sanchez, Javier Vazquez, Chris Volstad and Alex Sanabia, who had a 3.73 ERA in 15 games (12 starts) as a rookie this year.

Clubs have been calling the Marlins in recent days to express interest in Nolasco, sources said. While it’s not clear which teams have contacted the Marlins, it’s well-established that the New York Yankees, Milwaukee Brewers and Washington Nationals have been active in the trade market for starting pitchers.

— Jon Paul Morosi and Ken Rosenthal

The Yankees, searching for bench help, have spoken with the Astros about infielder Jeff Keppinger, according to major league sources.

A trade does not appear close, but the teams have engaged in recent discussions, one source said.

The Astros increased the possibility of trading Keppinger on Friday by reaching agreement with free agent Bill Hall on a one-year contract to play second base.

The Yankees had shown interest in Hall, but Keppinger, who stands to receive a raise from his $1.15 million in his second year of arbitration, could fill a similar role.

Keppinger, 30, was the Astros’ primary second baseman last season. He can back up at all four infield positions and also has made five career appearances in the outfield.

The Astros likely would ask for no more than a mid-level prospect in return, especially now that Keppinger has lost his everyday job.

Keppinger batted .288 with a .351 on-base percentage and .393 slugging average last season, with six home runs and 59 RBI in 575 plate appearances. He lacks speed and power, but was the most difficult player to strike out in the majors last season.

— Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi

The Detroit Tigers’ everyday lineup looks complete, now that they have agreed to a one-year contract with outfielder Magglio Ordoñez.

But they are still trying to upgrade their starting rotation, major league sources told FOXSports.com.

The Tigers are examining veteran options for the fifth-starter spot and have shown interest in free agent Brad Penny, sources said.

Penny went 3-4 with a 3.23 ERA in nine starts with the St. Louis Cardinals this year. He was placed on the disabled list with an upper back strain in May missed the rest of the season.

Tigers club president and general manager Dave Dombrowski acquired Penny once before – in a 1999 trade, when Dombrowski was GM of the Florida Marlins.

Penny had a 5.61 ERA in 24 starts with the Boston Red Sox in 2009, his only stint with an American League team to date. But it’s easier to pitch in the AL Central than the AL East.

If the season began today, the Tigers would have Phil Coke, a converted reliever, and Armando Galarraga in their final two rotation spots. That could put the bullpen in a position to work extensively on back-to-back days. Coke is coming off a season in which he threw 64 2/3 innings, and Galarraga tends to run up high pitch counts.

Sources say the Tigers also made a push to acquire Shaun Marcum from the Toronto Blue Jays before he was dealt to Milwaukee. But the Tigers don’t appear to be a serious suitor for Carl Pavano, who is regarded as the best starter still available on the free-agent market.

— Jon Paul Morosi and Ken Rosenthal

Zack Greinke's no-trade clause allows him to block trades to 15 teams. That list includes the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and Washington Nationals, according to a major league source.

However, Greinke could be traded to the Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Angels or Detroit Tigers without his permission.

The Kansas City Royals are open to moving Greinke, who has two years and a total of $27 million left on his current contract.

The Nationals would like to trade for a starting pitcher and have shown interest in both Greinke and Tampa Bay’s Matt Garza.

— Jon Paul Morosi

Ryan Harvey, a first-round draft pick of the Chicago Cubs in 2003, has signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox, major league sources told FOXSports.com.

But this isn’t a simple story of a former top prospect getting a second chance. He’s changing his career path entirely.

Harvey, 26, had a .244 batting average in eight seasons as a minor league outfielder but never reached higher than Double-A. So, he’s putting the bat aside in an attempt to revive his career as a right-handed pitcher.

It’s apparent he has a strong throwing arm. In 57 games as a right fielder this year at Double-A Tulsa, Harvey had 12 assists.

Harvey’s stock as a position player was once so high that the Cubs took him with the No. 6 overall selection. Baseball America twice rated him among the top 70 prospects in the game.

The Red Sox are encouraged enough by his potential that they invited him to a preseason camp for top prospects.

— Jon Paul Morosi

Magglio Ordoñez has agreed to return to the Detroit Tigers on a one-year contract worth $10 million, a major league source confirmed to FOXSports.com.

Ordoñez batted .303 with 12 home runs and 59 RBI in 84 games this year before sustaining a fractured right ankle on a slide into home plate.

Agent Scott Boras, who represents Ordoñez, said earlier this offseason that the injury had healed, allowing Ordoñez to resume normal workouts.

Ordoñez, who turns 37 next month, likely will serve as Detroit’s primary right fielder, although he should see some time at designated hitter, as well.

SI.com was first to report the agreement.

— Jon Paul Morosi

The Nationals, in serious discussions to trade outfielder Josh Willingham to the Athletics, are trying to clear money for other pursuits, major league sources say.

Among the team’s possibilities:

• The acquisition of a major starting pitcher. The Nats are one of the clubs pursuing Royals ace Zack Greinke and reportedly are interested in Rays righty Matt Garza, as well. They also have been on the periphery of the bidding for free-agent right-hander Carl Pavano.


• The signing of a first baseman. Adam LaRoche and Derrek Lee both are on the Nationals’ wish list. They are targets for the Orioles and Padres, as well.


• The addition of a closer. Not a major area of need, but one rival general manager says he would not be surprised if the Nationals bid on free agent Rafael Soriano.

The Nats do frequent business with Soriano’s agent, Scott Boras, who represents their two most recent No. 1 draft picks — right-hander Stephen Strasburg and outfielder Bryce Harper — as well as their new centerpiece, right fielder Jayson Werth.

The addition of Soriano or another free-agent closer could give the Nats a powerhouse bullpen, with righties Drew Storen and Tyler Clippard and lefty Sean Burnett performing in setup roles.

— Ken Rosenthal

The free-agent relievers began dropping Wednesday.

Matt Guerrier reached agreement with the Dodgers, Jesse Crain with the White Sox.

Kerry Wood moved toward a deal with the Cubs, while Dan Wheeler was in talks with the Red Sox, according to major league sources.

The Mariners also are involved in the game of musical relievers, but with a slightly different twist.

The M’s are trying to trade closer David Aardsma, sources said, and free-agent right-hander Kevin Gregg, a native of Corvallis, Ore., is among the possible replacements.

Gregg, who went 37 for 43 in save chances with a 3.51 ERA for the Blue Jays last season, also has drawn interest from the Red Sox and Orioles, among other clubs.

Aardsma, who turns 29 on Dec. 27, had a breakthrough season in 2009, going 38 for 42 in save chances with a 2.52 ERA, but he slumped in the first half of the year, posting a 5.40 ERA before the All-Star break and a 0.84 ERA after it.

Any desire by the Mariners to move Aardsma is at least partly because of his rising salary in arbitration. He stands to earn a significant raise from $2.75 million this offseason and would be eligible for arbitration again next winter.

The M’s might prefer a more established veteran such as Gregg, particularly when they could get him at a salary comparable to Aardsma’s over a multi-year deal.

— Ken Rosenthal

The Toronto Blue Jays are pursuing free-agent right-hander Octavio Dotel as one option to upgrade their bullpen, a major league source told FOXSports.com.

Toronto doesn’t have an experienced closer on its current roster, which enhances the appeal of the 37-year-old Dotel. He saved 21 games for the Pittsburgh Pirates this year and has 105 saves in his career.

Dotel pitched for the Pirates, Colorado Rockies and Los Angeles Dodgers last season and made a total of 68 appearances – his second-highest total since 2004. He finished with a 3-4 record and 4.08 ERA.

Kevin Gregg led Toronto with 37 saves, but is currently a free agent. The Jays already lost ace setup man Scott Downs to the Los Angeles Angels, but right-hander Jason Frasor will return after accepting salary arbitration.

— Jon Paul Morosi

According to a source, the Marlins have agreed with left-handed pitcher Randy Choate on a two-year deal worth $2.5 million. He also will receive incentives in each year.

Choate, 35, gets $1 million in 2011 and $1.5 million in '12 from the Marlins with $150,000 in performance bonuses each year based upon appearances.

Choate was 4-3 with a 4.23 ERA in 85 games for the Tampa Bay Rays last season.

— Ken Rosenthal