http://www.bettingexpress.com/ BettingExpress - Pro and College sport headlines and stories on the NFL, NBA, NCAA, NHL, MLB, football, baseball, basketball, World Series, Super Bowl. en-us jackblack@bettingexpress.com http://www.bettingexpress.com/ Players making their first deposit with BettingExpress.com will automatically receive a Tournament Ticket to the $500 Welcome Freeroll. http://www.bettingexpress.com/news/sports_betting/963664.html The Colorado Rockies extended the contract of veteran relief pitcher Matt Belisle on Friday. The deal keeps Belisle in Denver through at least the 2013 season, with a mutual option for 2014. Financial terms were not disclosed. Belisle notched a career-best 10 wins in 2011, leading all MLB relievers, compared with only four loses. He posted a 3.25 earned run average in 74 appearances. The 31-year-old righty has a career mark of http://www.bettingexpress.com/news/sports_betting/963641.html The Chicago Cubs avoided arbitration with Matt Garza on Friday, signing the starter to a one-year contract. Financial terms were not disclosed, but the Chicago Tribune reported the settlement to be for $9.5 million. Garza had requested $12.5 million, while the Cubs had offered $7.95 million. The 28-year-old righty posted a 10-10 record with a career-best 3.32 earned run average in 31 starts for the Cubs in 2011. His 197 strikeouts were a http://www.bettingexpress.com/news/sports_betting/963460.html The San Diego Padres agreed to terms with right-handed pitcher Micah Owings on a one-year contract. "Micah will compete for a spot on our staff," said executive vice president/general manager Josh Byrnes. "He is a proven contributor as a starter and as a reliever. Micah's character and versatility made him a priority for us as we looked to add depth to our pitching staff." Owings finished the 2011 campaign perfect, go http://www.bettingexpress.com/news/sports_betting/963412.html The Cleveland Indians reportedly have a one- year deal in place with free-agent first baseman Casey Kotchman. The deal is worth $3 million plus incentives, according to MLB.com. The Indians have not confirmed the signing, but an official announcement could come as early as Friday. The 28-year-old Kotchman posted a .306 batting average with 10 homers and 48 RBI in 146 games for the Tampa Bay Rays last season. That was a big improvement from http://www.bettingexpress.com/news/sports_betting/963158.html The Washington Nationals have agreed to terms with veteran starter Edwin Jackson on a one-year contract. The deal is contingent upon Jackson passing a physical. Jackson, 28, entered the majors in 2003 with the Dodgers. Over nine seasons the journeyman righty has compiled a 60-60 record with a 4.46 earned right average in 203 appearances (173 starts) for Los Angeles, Tampa Bay, Detroit, Arizona, the Chicago White Sox and St. Louis. D http://www.bettingexpress.com/news/sports_betting/963111.html The Cleveland Indians avoided arbitration with reliever Rafael Perez on Thursday, signing him to a one-year deal. Terms were not disclosed, but the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported the deal to be worth $2.005 million. Perez appeared in 71 games for the Indians last season, posting a 5-2 record with a 3.00 earned run average. In his six-year major league career, all with Cleveland, the lefty is 20-12 with a 3.64 ERA in 330 appearances. In a http://www.bettingexpress.com/news/sports_betting/963104.html The Washington Nationals have reportedly won their salary arbitration case against pitcher John Lannan. According to the Washington Times, Lannan will earn the team's offer of $5 million for 2012 instead of the $5.7 million he had requested. It was baseball's first arbitration decision of the year. Lannan led Washington in wins last season, posting a 10-13 record with a 3.70 earned run average in 33 starts. The 27-year-old le http://www.bettingexpress.com/news/sports_betting/962789.html The Washington Nationals agreed to terms on a minor-league contract with veteran relief pitcher Chad Durbin on Wednesday. MLB.com, which cited a baseball source, reported the deal and said it includes an invitation to spring training. Durbin, 34, pitched for Cleveland in 2011 and posted a 5.53 ERA in 56 appearances. In his 12-year career, Durbin has logged a 5.10 ERA and 38-46 record in 364 appearances (75 starts). In addition to http://www.bettingexpress.com/news/sports_betting/962743.html The Blue Jays have signed pitcher Francisco Cordero to a one-year contract worth $4.5 million, the team announced Wednesday. Cordero, 36, spent the last four season with the Reds. He posted a 2.45 earned run average in 68 appearances last year, while converting 37 of his 43 save opportunities and holding opponents to a .198 batting average. The right-hander is a 13-year veteran, having pitched for Detroit, Texas, Milwaukee and Ci