Top News:
Joel Sherman / New York Post:
FRISCO COULD BE ZITO FRONT-RUNNER — The Giants, despite reports, have no interest in Randy Johnson. However, they are very, very interested in a left-hander who could impact a New York team's plans. — The Yankees did contact San Francisco about Johnson.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
RELATED:
John Harper / NY Daily News:
Zzzzzz in Zito race — Talks sleepwalk — Barry Zito has been given a weekend deadline by the Texas Rangers, but people close to the situation said yesterday they don't expect it to have any impact on the slow-moving Zito negotiations for the Mets - or the Yankees, if they get involved.
Evan Grant / Dallas Morning News:
Rangers give Zito weekend deadline — The Rangers' have made an offer to Barry Zito to pitch for them in 2007, but the offer won't be around past the New Year. — Rangers GM Jon Daniels confirmed Wednesday that the team had placed a weekend deadline on its current offer to Zito and his representative Scott Boras.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
Ben Shpigel / New York Times:
Rangers Give Zito a Weekend Deadline to Accept Their Six-Year Offer — Even as speculation swirls that the Yankees may jump into the Barry Zito sweepstakes, another team appears ready to pull out. The Texas Rangers have told Zito's agent, Scott Boras, that Zito has until this weekend to accept their six-year contract offer.
Bill Madden / NY Daily News:
Murcer battles brain tumor — Yankee legend Bobby Murcer is scheduled to undergo surgery today in Houston for the removal of a brain tumor. — Murcer, 60, a Yankee institution as a player and broadcaster for 40 years, had been experiencing headaches and a loss of energy in recent days and …
Scott Merkin / MLB.com:
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.
Discussion:
The Bard's Room
RELATED:
Murray Chass / New York Times:
A Marriage Is a Partnership, Except in Baseball — On the Ilitch Holdings Web site, Marian Ilitch is listed as the company's vice chairwoman. Among the 15 "companies and venues" listed and described are the Detroit Tigers. A visitor to the site could easily conclude that Marian Ilitch is an officer …
John Dougherty / New York Times:
Arizona Holding Hope While Holding the Line — The last time the Arizona Diamondbacks took a chance on Randy Johnson, they were a second-year expansion team that soared to the playoffs in 1999. They won a championship in 2001 and ultimately fell into financial ruin.
Mike Fitzpatrick / Associated Press:
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 …
RELATED:
Chris Duncan / Associated Press:
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.
Dick Kaegel / MLB.com:
Royals hit hard early in 2006 — Health problems contributed to third straight 100-loss season — Ah, those fresh winter days of January when eager faces are peering in the frosty windows and looking toward those balmy days of Spring Training and new hope.
Discussion:
Royals Review
Associated Press:
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.
Angel Bucks / Associated Press:
Rivera undergoes surgery on broken leg — ANAHEIM, Calif. — Angels outfielder Juan Rivera had surgery Wednesday to repair the left leg he broke playing winter ball in Venezuela last week. — Orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Michael Abrahams operated on Rivera in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. …
