Ronny Cedeno to sign with Cardinals; Phillies sign Yuniesky Betancourt

-P- Ronny Cedeno will reportedly sign with St. Louis, where he'll back up Rafael Furcal. Viva El Birdos thinks this is a "veteran" signing, but the idea that any major-league GM would think of Cedeno as a 'veteran presence' type of player would likely elicit a chuckle from Clint Hurdle and most Pirates fans. In reality, I think Cedeno is a modestly-underappreciated player whose frequent brain farts have obscured his defensive contributions. And while he clearly isn't a great hitter, he's not a zero with the bat, either. As utility infielders go, you could do a heck of a lot worse.

-P- The Phillies signed Yuniesky Betancourt, because that's just what you do after you've acquired Delmon Young. Post hoc, ergo propter hoc. Cogito ergo sum. E = MC2. Veni vidi vici. That's logic, people. In all seriousness, it's a minor-league deal that has a fairly good chance of doing no harm at all, but if I were a Phillies fan, I wouldn't feel good about it. The Phillies also signed Chad Durbin, who hasn't really been any good since he last played for them in 2010, to a a major-league deal. (Also today, Rob Neyer writes about Phillies GM Ruben Amaro, Jr., also known as "Ruin Tomorrow, Jr.")

-P- The Rays have agreed to terms with Kelly Johnson on a one-year deal that may help keep top prospect Wil Myers in the minors for a while. Johnson will play second base, moving Ben Zobrist to right field, where Myers might have played.