Zito plays it cool as rumors swirl  —  The big pitching prize of this winter's free-agent frenzy is, typically, unaffected by all the fuss.  Barry Zito is too busy working harder than ever, this time with a new offseason regimen that has trimmed his body fat by 4.5 percent.

Sox sign eight to Minor League deals  —  BOSTON — A veteran catcher and a fan-favorite utilityman are among the eight free agents who signed 2007 contracts with Boston's Triple-A affiliate on Wednesday, with an invitation to Major League camp as non-roster players.

Pirates sign minor-league catcher Diaz  —  Mets also interested in Suppan  —  By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette  —  The Pirates yesterday signed catcher Einar Diaz to a minor-league contract.  —  Diaz, 33, played three games for the Los Angeles Dodgers last season …

Alou, Thome information found in suspect's home  —  CHICAGO — Police have found personal information on White Sox slugger Jim Thome and Mets outfielder Moises Alou at the home of a man charged with identity theft.  —  David Dright, 38, faces 27 counts of identity theft involving …

Tapping In to an Economy of Sale  —  Dominican Prospects Such as the Nationals' Esmailyn Gonzalez Are Products Of a System Where Players Are Auctioned Off by Sometimes Unethical Agents  —  PIZARRETE, Dominican Republic The face of the Washington Nationals' presence in Latin America dodges gaping potholes …

A's invite Durazo to Spring Training  —  Slugger returning to Oakland, will compete for roster spot  —  OAKLAND — Erubiel Durazo, whom A's general manager Billy Beane called his personal "Holy Grail" after acquiring him in a three-team trade at the 2002 Winter Meetings, will be back in green and gold come spring.

Yankees Greet Igawa, and Then Talk Details  —  Though they have not signed him, the Yankees are welcoming Kei Igawa to the team this week.  Igawa, who has agreed to a five-year, $20 million contract, visited Yankee Stadium yesterday and met with front-office officials for a tour of the ballpark.

Will Brandon Wood Strike Out?  —  He was named The Sporting News' Minor League Baseball Player of the Year in 2005.  Baseball America rated him the third-best prospect in baseball last winter.  He launched 101 extra-base hits in 2005 and has been involved in dozens of major league trade rumors since then.

Cubs promote Bush to assistant GM  —  Randy Bush was promoted to assistant general manager by the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday.  —  Bush, a member of two World Series winning teams with the Minnesota Twins, had joined the Cubs as a special assistant to general manager Jim Hendry on Jan. 26 …

Could Marlins' Cabrera be first $200 million player?  —  It's three years away.  —  No pressing need for the Marlins to look that far ahead.  But if anyone from owner Jeffrey Loria to General Manager Larry Beinfest already has hit the fast forward button, they likely returned to the present in a hurry.

Rox add reliever Graves  —  Former closer went 2-1 with a 5.79 ERA for Cleveland last season  —  Lost in the trade talk swirling like a blizzard around pitcher Jason Jennings, general manager Dan O'Dowd promised a few minor-league, free-agent additions to bolster the pitching staff.

Cubs woo Dave Matthews despite poo  —  After committing nearly $300 million to free agents this winter, the Cubs are more desperate than ever for cash not subject to Major League Baseball's revenue-sharing edict.  —  Enter the Dave Matthews Band, whose bus driver unloaded 800 pounds …

Giles brothers put the 'play' in ballplayers  —  El Cajon natives give Padres double dose of pranksters  —  One can only imagine what Bill and Monica Giles went through while raising sons Brian and Marcus in El Cajon.  —  The brothers were known to be quite the practical jokers.