Rangers set weekend deadline on Zito  —  The Rangers have let Barry Zito's agent, Scott Boras, know that they don't plan to wait around all winter waiting for his response.  The Rangers want to hear by this weekend whether or not Zito plans to accept their contract offer.

Igawa, Yankees complete $20 million, 5-year deal  —  NEW YORK (AP) — Japanese pitcher Kei Igawa and the New York Yankees completed their $20 million, five-year contract on Wednesday, a deal that was in the works for weeks.  —  The Yankees had until Thursday to finalize an agreement with Igawa …

Sox sign Cintron to one-year deal  —  Infielder avoids arbitration with $1.9 million contract  —  Joe Crede became the White Sox lone remaining arbitration eligible player of originally seven possible candidates when infielder Alex Cintron agreed to a one-year, $1.9 million contract on Wednesday.

The Suppan Signing  —  Usually, the baseball world shuts down for a few days around Christmas, but not this year.  On the 23rd, we had the White Sox/Rangers deal.  On Christmas Day, rumors about a possible Randy Johnson trade were the rage, especially here in New York.

Court: Feds may use drug testing data from 2003  —  SAN FRANCISCO — Government investigators are entitled to the names and urine samples of about 100 Major League Baseball players who tested positive for illegal drug use in 2003, a federal appeals court ruled Wednesday.

Chris Brown, infielder in the '80s, dies after house fire  —  HOUSTON (AP) — Chris Brown, a third baseman who played six seasons in the majors in the 1980s, died Tuesday, nearly a month after he was burned in a fire at his home outside Houston.  He was 45.  —  He died at Memorial Hermann Hospital.

How Good Is Your #4 Starter?  —  When pundits talk about a free-agent pitcher, they often refer to him as a "#3 starter" or, say, a "#4 starter for a contender."  It's common enough usage that most baseball fans know what that means, or at least know what the pundits are getting at.

Gwynn recalls father as big day nears  —  With Hall beckoning, outfielder thinks of his mentor  —  SAN DIEGO — The void is still there and will be always.  At his son's wedding last month, on the day he smacked his 3,000th hit, on the day he homered at Yankee Stadium in Game 1 of the 1998 World Series …

Healthy Sledge may hit leadoff  —  M. Giles to bat 2nd, Gonzalez at cleanup  —  When the Padres signed Marcus Giles last week, it was assumed the second baseman became the leading candidate to be the Padres' leadoff hitter in 2007.  —  Not so fast.  —  The Padres are considering Terrmel Sledge …

Brewers Heat Up January With The Winter Warm-Up  —  Selig, '82 Brewers stars highlight second annual event  —  MILWAUKEE - On Thursday, January 11 at Miller Park's .300 Club, the Milwaukee Brewers will host the team's Second Annual Winter Warm-Up, an event that will serve as the official preview for the team's upcoming season.

Injuries weighed down Brewers in 2006  —  Milwaukee finished in fourth place in the NL Central race  —  When Brewers manager Ned Yost looks back at 2006, a couple of numbers jump immediately to mind:  —  Six and 17.  —  That was the Brewers' record in games started by replacements …