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.

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.

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.

Reds acquire Conine in trade with Phillies  —  CBS SportsLine.com wire reports  —  CINCINNATI — The Reds acquired Jeff Conine from the Philadelphia Phillies for a pair of minor leaguers Thursday, giving them a right-handed hitter who can share a spot at first base and play the outfield.

Save This Franchise: Braves will score, get scored upon  —  Suggesting that the Atlanta Braves are a franchise in need of saving is a sacrilege, frankly.  —  A flat and injury-dappled 2006 notwithstanding, the team has snared more divisional titles (14) than the Mets, Phillies …

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 …

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.

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 …

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 …

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.

Rangers still in mix for Mulder  —  Lefty's agent says he's sent counterproposal to GM Daniels  —  Left-handed starting pitcher Mark Mulder's agent, Gregg Clifton, said he sent a counterproposal to Rangers general manager Jon Daniels on Monday and said Texas is still very much in the mix for Mulder.

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.

Rivera's newfound power on display  —  Journeyman leading Mexican Pacific League in homers, RBIs  —  In a little more than two months in the Mexican Pacific League, Ruben Rivera has more home runs and RBIs than he had all season for Triple-A Charlotte.  —  The former Major Leaguer went 2 …

Utley excited about Phils' acquisitions  —  Second baseman glad to have Garcia, Helms, Werth on board  —  For Phillies All-Star second baseman Chase Utley, the baseball offseason is just as exciting to him as it is to all other fans.  Utley routinely checks out the transaction wire and keeps …