Breslow settles before arbitration hearing

--LHP Craig Breslow agreed to a $1.795 million contract with the D-backs to avoid arbitration. Breslow, acquired in the trade with Oakland that also landed RHP starter Trevor Cahill, filled a stated D-backs need as a second left-hander in the bullpen. Situational LHP Joe Paterson was the only lefty they had for most of 2011.

--With Breslow's signing, general manager Kevin Towers avoided an arbitration hearing with all four of his eligible players, his desired result. He previously settled with C Miguel Montero ($5.9 million), 3B Ryan Roberts ($2.0125 million) and RHP Brad Ziegler ($1.795 million). Ziegler and Breslow, teammates in Oakland last year, will make the same amount.

--SS Stephen Drew (fractured right ankle, ligament damage) is working out in the Phoenix area but is not expected to report to spring training when the pitchers and catchers report Feb. 20. Major league Baseball permits injured position players to report early if they so choose.

--The Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation recently gave a $100,000 grant to Kitchen on the Street, a non-profit organization that fights children's hunger in the Phoenix area. The money will be used to purchase and create a mobile kitchen, the D-backs said.

BY THE NUMBERS
$11,502,500 -- Amount the D-backs spent while settling their four possible arbitration cases.

QUOTE TO NOTE
"To win a division, you have to have guys who have big years for you or unexpected seasons, and sometimes they end up drifting back to the norm. Trying to add to that talent gives you a better opportunity if one of those guys drifts back to the norm." -- D-backs general manager Kevin Towers, on adding players to his 2011 NL West title team.

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