Sources: Zito's Giants deal worth about $18M per year  —  Barry Zito is staying in the Bay Area with the San Francisco Giants.  —  Sources told ESPN's Peter Gammons that Zito will receive a seven-year contract from the Giants, with the deal averaging approximately $18 million per season.

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 …

Yankees want 3 pitchers in swap for Johnson  —  The New York Yankees are seeking a package of three young pitchers from the Diamondbacks for Randy Johnson, including at least one reliever, according to a source with knowledge of the negotiations.  —  The Yankees have expressed interest …

DIPS, LIPS, and Hips  —  Thank Jay Jaffe for this column.  Or, alternately, send your hate mail his way—either way, all that follows is due to him.  —  See, Jay e-mailed me about a week ago asking for some DIPS 3.0 numbers.  I had actually calculated everything at the end of the season, but had forgotten about it.

Indians nearing deal with Foulke  —  Keith Foulke, conceivably the last addition to the Indians' new bullpen, continues to inch closer to Cleveland and a one-year deal.  If an agreement is reached, it probably won't be announced until next week.  —  The deal is contingent on Foulke's physical exam …

Since Williams, no greater hitter than Gwynn … Tony Gwynn loved hitting so much, he visited the Hillerich & Bradsby factory more than once so he could handpick the billets of wood for his bats.  His bats were his magic wands, and they had to feel right in those little hands of his.

Posey a goon, Wade too good to be true  —  As a defensive back, James Posey would be considered a headhunter.  As a basketball player, he's an out-of-control thug who continues to seek and destroy Bulls players like he's on some maniacal video-game mission.

Ruling Erases Players' Victories in a Steroids Case  —  The federal court system and Major League Baseball have different ways of operating.  In baseball, if Tom Glavine shuts out Atlanta for the Mets on Monday and the Braves come back the next day and knock John Maine out of the game …

Clicks for tix a growing online fix  —  Web-based ticket purchasing simplifies process for fans  —  A couple of suggested New Year's resolutions, courtesy of Major League Baseball's Online Ticketing Generation:  —  1. Stop wasting valuable time ordering baseball tickets through the mail and waiting in stadium will-call lines.

Baseball loses some of collective family  —  Hall of Fame player, broadcaster among those lost in 2006  —  It has been a year of significant loss for the baseball community.  The list of those who have died over the last 12 months features a Hall of Fame outfielder (Kirby Puckett) …

Sox sign Cintron; Crede all alone  —  Third baseman Joe Crede remains the only White Sox player eligible for arbitration after shortstop Alex Cintron signed a $1.9 million contract on Wednesday.  —  Crede, who avoided arbitration last winter when he signed for $2.675 million …