Free Agent

Ravens veteran wide receiver Anquan Boldin bullied defensive backs during the NFL playoffs, emerging as a Super Bowl XLVII hero. Now, he's in danger of losing his job. The Ravens are attempting to lower the $6 million salary of the three-time Pro Bowl selection, and it could lead to his release by the start of the free agent signing period Tuesday if talks continue to be unsuccessful, according to league sources with knowledge of the situation....

Joe Flacco is an elite quarterback now. Forget about Super Bowl rings, conference or division championships, win-loss record and ability. The Ravens made him elite Friday night when the two sides agreed to terms on a six-year, $120.6 million contract that made him the highest paid player in NFL history. Flacco now makes more money than the New Orleans Saints' Drew Brees and the Denver Broncos' Peyton Manning. An above average Joe has become "Elite Joe. " The question now is what happens to the Ravens, and where do they go from here as far as signing and re-signing free agents?

A little more than two weeks before he hits the open market and is allowed to sign with another team, outside linebacker Paul Kruger's mindset remains the same as it was in the hours that followed the Ravens' 34-31 victory over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII . "There's no reason to want to go to anywhere else," said Kruger, the Ravens' sack leader this past year and, starting March 12, one of the top free agent pass rushers available....

- Besides trying to hammer out a long-term contract with quarterback Joe Flacco, the Ravens have made starting inside linebacker Dannell Ellerbe another one of their top priorities. With Ray Lewis retiring, the Ravens have a void in the middle of their defense. As a pending unrestricted free agent, though, Ellerbe is expected to draw heavy interest following a breakout season capped with a team-high nine tackles during a Super Bowl victory over the San Francisco 49ers. Ellerbe's agent, Hadley Engelhard, said he's set to meet with Ravens team officials this weekend at the NFL scouting combine.

How much is a good closer worth? Well, the Orioles believe $6.5 million. That's what Jim Johnson will receive for 2013 after notching a league-leading and franchise best 51 saves last year. Who knows if the 29-year-old Johnson will be able to repeat his tremendous performance this season? It certainly won't be easy. And there are a whole lot of people out there that think big money for a closer is a waste given the volatility of the position and the success achieved by non-closers when thrust into the role.

 As I wrote for Thursday's newspaper, right-hander Jair Jurrjens believes he and the Orioles are “getting close” to finalizing a deal , which would put the free agent in a position to compete for a spot in the Orioles' rotation this spring. It has been nearly two weeks since it was first reported the sides had agreed to terms pending a physical. But we all knew the physical wouldn't be routine. Jurrjens is a free agent because the Atlanta Braves did not tender him a contract after a woeful 2012 -- and there are some that believe he didn't pitch well because he wasn't healthy.

Ravens veteran free safety Ed Reed has never embraced a conventional approach. So the Louisiana native wasn't keen on the idea of retiring after a Super Bowl victory in front of his family and friends. Following the Ravens' 34-31 victory over the San Francisco 49ers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, Reed declared in the locker room emphatically that he has more football left in him. "This is not it," Reed shouted. "This is not it. I'm not done. " Reed, 34, has battled multiple health issues, including a torn shoulder labrum and a nerve impingement.

NHL Free-agent right wing Fehr returns to Caps     Eric Fehr is coming back to Washington. The Capitals have invited Fehr to training camp with the intention of signing him to a prorated one-year, $600,000 contract once he passes a physical, according to a team source. Fehr, 27, recorded 13 goals and 25 points in 21 games with HPK Hameenlinna in Finland's SM-Liiga during the lockout. The 6-foot-4, 212-pound right wing was a first-round draft pick by the Capitals in 2003 and played 230 games with Washington, recording 46 goals and 93 points, but was often sidelined by injuries to both shoulders.

Joe Saunders' offseason has been spent golfing, working out, entertaining at his Arizona home and being a father to his 2-year-old and 4-year-old girls. He can't say he hasn't thought about where he'll be reporting to spring training in six weeks, but the free agent knows he'll be pitching somewhere. And that's fine for now. “I'm a pretty patient kind of guy. I've always been that kind of guy, to really wait and see how it all plays out,” said Saunders, who was 3-3 with a 3.63 ERA in seven regular season starts with the Orioles after being acquired from Arizona in August.

That the Boston Red Sox are talking to free-agent outfielder Adam LaRoche, which was reported Wednesday, isn't exactly new. The Red Sox were among a handful of teams - the Texas Rangers, Seattle Mariners, Tampa Bay Rays also on that list - that had contact with the former Washington National earlier in the winter. But that the Red Sox, presumably in more advanced discussions than before, are back in the conversation is an interesting development in the free agency of LaRoche, and for various reasons.