The Red Sox are reportedly close to bringing veteran catcher Kelly Shoppach back to Boston this year, which could mean the end of a long run for Jason Varitek in a Red Sox uniform.

ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick first reported the $1.35 million deal Tuesday, and MLB.com’s Ian Browne has since confirmed it. It will be the second stint for Shoppach with the Red Sox. He was Boston’s top pick in the 2001 First-Year Player Draft, taken in the second round.

The deal is guaranteed, which means Ryan Lavarnway will be at least in a competition for Jarrod Saltalamacchia’s backup job, if Lavarnway isn’t outright ticketed for Triple-A Pawtucket.

It also means that a window for Varitek to return for a 16th season in Boston is virtually closed. Varitek, who turns 40 in April and is a free agent, has played his entire Major League career with the Red Sox.

– Joey Nowak

The Phillies are the latest club hoping Dontrelle Willis can get his groove back.

Philadelphia signed the embattled left-hander to a one-year deal, a source told MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki on Tuesday, confirming an earlier ESPN.com report. The source said the deal is pending a physical and is worth less than $1 million, plus incentives.

Willis went 1-6 with a 5.00 ERA in 13 starts last season with the Reds. He was the 2003 NL Rookie of the Year and finished second in the 2005 NL Cy Young Award voting, but started to battle serious control problems the following season and hasn’t been the same since.

But lefties hit just .127/.169/.200 in 55 at-bats against him last year, making a role as a left-handed specialist most realistic in Philly.  He could also compete for a spot in the rotation, although a spot in the bullpen seems much more likely. In the pen, Willis could be a swingman or possibly a left-handed specialist.

– Joey Nowak

According to multiple reports, third baseman Aramis Ramirez will be staying in the NL Central next season, but heading from Chicago to Milwaukee.

Considered by many to be the top third baseman on the free agent market, Ramirez will reportedly be seeing a three-year contract for between $34-37 million, pending a physical, according to FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal.

Ramirez’s agent, Paul Kinzer, said at the Winter Meetings last week in Dallas that the Brewers were high on his client’s list. Ramirez hit .306 with 26 homers and 93 RBIs in 149 games in 2011, his ninth season with the Cubs.

– Joey Nowak

A number of news outlets have reported Wednesday that the Marlins are hot on the trail of yet another free agent at the Winter Meetings in Dallas — this time, starting pitcher CJ Wilson. After announcing the signings of closer Heath Bell and shortstop Jose Reyes (and proving to be a key figure in the ongoing pursuit of first baseman Albert Pujols), the new-look Marlins have reportedly offered Wilson a six-year deal, according to FOXSports.com’s Jon Morosi and Ken Rosenthal.

MLB Network’s Tom Verducci confirmed the reports.

Morosi reported that if the Angels, who also have been after Wilson, don’t match Miami’s six-year offer, Wilson will likely sign with the Marlins.

– Joey Nowak

CBSSports.com’s Jon Heyman tweeted on Tuesday morning that the Marlins seem to have continued to show legitimate interest in first baseman Albert Pujols, as Heyman heard the club boosted its offer to 10 years.

Evidently the Marlins are seriously interested in bringing Pujols to Miami to join Jose Reyes, Heath Bell and Co. Now, it remains to be seen whether such a contract could be enough to draw Pujols’ mutual interest.

– Joey Nowak

MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro is reporting from the Winter Meetings in Dallas that the Marlins have reached a 6-year deal with shortstop Jose Reyes, pending a physical. Multiple other news outlets have also reported deal, and FOXSports.com’s Ken Rosenthal has reported the offer is for $106 million.

The new-look Marlins have had their sights set on Reyes since the beginning of the free-agent signing period last month. Mets GM Sandy Alderson said Sunday that if the reported contract terms are correct, New York would not match the offer. Newsday’s Ken Davidoff tweeted Monday morning that Alderson said he hasn’t officially heard of the Reyes deal, but he is assuming it is going through.

Reyes became the first Mets player to win the batting title, coming off his .337 season with a .384 on-base percentage. The Marlins, which will move into a new ballpark in 2012 under the leadership of new manager Ozzie Guillen, have made a significant splash already this offseason. The team also reached agreement on a three-year, $27 million contract with closer Heath Bell on Thursday night.

With the signing, the Marlins are expected to move three-time All-Star shortstop Hanley Ramirez to third base.

– Joey Nowak

Teams were putting rumors into action Wednesday, as deals took place involving clubs from coast to coast and spanning both leagues.

As of late afternoon, Mets outfielder Carlos Beltran, a hot topic of trade talk for weeks, seemed to be all but destined for San Francisco, as the defending World Champs look to bolster the talent in the outfield and in their batting order. The San Jose Mercury News’ Andrew Baggarly reported at about 4:30 p.m. that the Beltran deal was just waiting on some final details.

Things were not so straightforward for the Blue Jays, White Sox and Cardinals, who tangled for what amounted to a three-team, 11-player deal that spanned a few hours from late Wednesday morning into the afternoon.

In the end, the swap was headlined by center fielder Colby Rasmus heading to Toronto, while starting pitcher Edwin Jackson found his way to St. Louis.

There’s still plenty of time left for other teams around baseball to get in on the excitement, so here are some tidbits on other possible deals:

* The Reds may have quickly changed their minds about whether they’re buying or selling, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported.

* Of all the teams interested in Rockies ace Ubaldo Jimenez, the Yankees still have the  best shot at him, CBS Sports’ Danny Knobler writes.

* Five teams — Washington, San Francisco, Cleveland, Atlanta and Pittsburgh — are in the mix for BJ Upton, the Tampa Tribune reports. The Giants, though, may now be out after acquiring Beltran.

* ESPN’s Buster Olney reports Wednesday a source told him the Cubs are trying to get the Yankees to take Carlos Zambrano, and offering money to offset his salary.

– Joey Nowak

The White Sox and Blue Jays completed a trade Wednesday that sends Chicago starter Edwin Jackson and third baseman Mark Teahen to Toronto in exchange for Blue Jays reliever Jason Frasor and pitching prospect Zach Stewart. <p>

Jackson, 7-7 with a 3.92 ERA in 19 starts, was widely-known to be a trade chip for the White Sox because of Chicago’s six-man rotation and Jackson becoming a free agent after the 2011 season. <p>

It was also known Chicago was looking for relief help. <p>

There have been reports throughout the day Wednesday that Jackson may not ultimately end up with the Blue Jays. FOX Sport’s Ken Rosenthal reported that money is the only hold-up preventing Jackson from being dealt to St. Louis in exchange for Cardinals outfielder Colby Rasmus. <p>

STLToday.com was reporting early Wednesday afternoon that the Cardinals were on the verge of trading Rasmus to the Blue Jays for a Edwin Jackson and relievers Octavio Dotel and Marc Rzepczynski.

Frasor, who has a club option for next year, is 2-1 with a 2.98 ERA in 44 games this season. The Chicago native has allowed just one earned run in his last seven starts, six of which lasted at least an inning. <p>

Stewart, 24, was a third-round draft pick of the Reds in the 2008 MLB First-Year Player Draft. He has appeared in three games with the Blue Jays (all three of them starts) and owns an 0-1 record and 4.86 ERA. <p>

With Double-A New Hampshire this season, he is 5-5 with a 4.20 ERA. The White Sox announced Wednesday he will be optioned to Triple-A Charlotte. <p>

Teahen hit .209 with three homers and 11 RBIs in 50 games this season for the White Sox. <p>

– Joey Nowak

* FOX Sport’s Jon Paul Morosi and Ken Rosenthal reported Monday that the Cardinals and Nationals have had talks about relievers.

The Cardinals have made it clear they’re looking for bullpen help and the Nationals have made Todd Coffey available. Washington would like to keep setup man Tyler Clippard, but he may also be available if the right deal comes along.

* The Twins, who have made a push to get back into the race in the AL Central but dropped three of four against the Tigers this weekend, are shopping Michael Cuddyer. The Giants may be interested, Morosi reports.

Cuddyer isn’t the only Minnesota player who may find himself in a new home. The Washington Times reported that Twins center fielder Denard Span “is high on the Nationals’ list of targets.”

* ESPN’s Buster Olney reports the Rays are willing to trade reliever Kyle Farnsworth.

* There remains a chance Heath Bell may remain with the Padres.

– Joey Nowak

With plenty of time left before the Trade Deadline hits, Tampa Bay’s B.J. Upton is already tired of the rumors.

Upton reiterated to the St. Petersburg Times that he’d like to remain with the Rays but also said, “If it happens, it happens.”

*Yahoo!’s Jeff Passan says one scout thinks the Tigers are the favorite to land Dodgers pitcher Hiroki Kuroda, but would have to give up some of their best prospects.

* The Astros’ two best offensive players — Hunter Pence and Michael Bourn — have received considerable attention in trade talks and the club is willing to listen.

* With all the talk around baseball of the impending deadline, Cubs manager Mike Quade hopes his players ignore it.

“Show up every day and focus on who we’re playing,” Quade said Sunday about what their approach should be. “Everybody deals with stuff differently, whether it’s speculation or reality.”

In other Cubs news, at least four teams are eyeing Kosuke Fukudome, according to ESPNChicago.com.

– Joey Nowak