According to SI's Jon Heyman, the Mets acquired outfielder Emil Brown from the Padres today for a player to be named later.  He's hitting .260/.345/.432 in 41 Triple A games.  The Mets are probably just adding minor league depth here.

According to MLB.com's Corey Brock, the Padres signed outfielder Emil Brown to a minor league deal.  He may have a hard time squeezing into the Padres' outfield picture though.  Brown, 34, hit .244/.297/.386 in 438 plate appearances for the A's last year while playing the outfield corners.

The latest from ESPN's Jayson Stark...

• The Cubs' ownership situation is not close to the finish line, which is one reason the team won't be acquiring Jake Peavy anytime soon.
• One source of Stark's suggested Zack Greinke nearly left his current agent John Courtright of SFX for Scott Boras, a whisper I'd heard as well.  But now Greinke is happy with his contract and agent.
• Free agents such as Manny Ramirez and Ivan Rodriguez could reasonably wait until March to sign.  Not a bad thing for this website!
• Adam Dunn would like Manny to sign earlier, as he's waiting to see what the Dodgers (his preferred team) do.  The Nationals have been Dunn's most aggressive suitor, the Orioles have mild interest, and the Braves have backed off.
• Stark questions the idea of talks for Manny heating up lately, since the Mets, Yankees, and Angels are out and the Giants are only conditionally interested.
• When Alex Rodriguez was a free agent last winter, Joe Torre advised the Dodgers against signing him.
• The Phillies would like to move Geoff Jenkins for a right-handed hitting outfielder, but Jenkins is paid too much.  Jay Payton and Emil Brown are not on the Phillies' radar; they still like Nomar Garciaparra.
• The Yankees are apparently "softening to the idea of trading Nick Swisher," with the Braves the top suitor.

Links for Friday...

• David Chase looks at fantasy baseball's top strikeout pitchers.
• The third year of Milton Bradley's contract turns into a club option if he has serious health problems this year.
• Two players expected to attend the Brewers' open tryout this month: Randall Simon and Mark Bellhorn.
• Dave Cameron looks at the premium teams pay for proven closers.
• Bobby Valentine comments on the Orioles' Koji Uehara signing in Dan Connolly's article.  Within that article Connolly suggests the trade market for Brian Roberts may be suffering because of Orlando Hudson's availability on the free agent market.
• The D'Backs wouldn't be thrilled, but the Yankees could sign Juan Cruz and only surrender a fourth-round pick.
• Pirates GM Neal Huntington said the team is looking at some comeback-type free agent outfielders.  Dejan Kovacevic guesses that Emil Brown, Craig Monroe, or Jonny Gomes could fit the bill.
• The Red Sox designated knuckleballer Charlie Zink for assignment.
• J.C. Bradbury believes the Braves were misleading with the public regarding their offer to John Smoltz.

Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle has a slew of A's hot stove info for us today.

• Pending free agents include Mark Ellis, Frank Thomas, Emil Brown, and Keith Foulke.  All except Ellis are certainly goners.
• Huston Street trade talks may resume with the team that claimed him in August.  All we know is that it was a non-contender.  Street is under team control through 2010, and could earn $5MM next year.
• The A's aren't planning to trade Justin Duchscherer, and are currently just hoping his hip will be OK for '09.
• Shortstop Bobby Crosby will earn $5.25MM next year.  He racked up 605 plate appearances this year, the most since his rookie year.  However, he didn't hit or play acceptable defense.  Interest in him will not be high.
• Lefty reliever Alan Embree spoke of "positive dialogue" between him and Billy Beane regarding his next year.  Embree posted a 4.96 ERA, so maybe the A's will decline his $3MM option and re-sign him for less.
• Kirk Saarloos is a non-tender candidate.