Top News:
NY Daily News:
Yanks, D-Backs close to Unit deal — The Diamondbacks have been the most aggressive suitors for Randy Johnson and sources close to the negotiations said yesterday that the Yankees and Arizona could complete a trade to send Johnson back to the desert before next week.
Discussion:
Replacement Level …, AZ Snakepit, YanksBlog.com, Pride of the Yankees, MLB Trade Rumors and WasWatching.com
San Francisco Chronicle:
Giants finally make a big splash, sign Zito to largest pitcher contract ever — (12-28) 13:50 PST — A four-dollar toll? That's nothing. — The Giants have reached deep into their wallets and agreed to pay $126 million to bring longtime A's ace Barry Zito across the Bay Bridge …
RELATED:
Rich Draper / MLB.com:
Zito agrees to huge deal with Giants — SAN FRANCISCO — The Giants' rotation just got better. — Left-handed pitcher Barry Zito has agreed to a seven-year, $126 million contract, according to The Associated Press and an MLB.com source. — Zito, 28, who has starred for the Oakland A's …
Transaction Oracle:
Giants - Reportedly have Signed Zito — San Francisco Giants - Have reportedly come to terms with P Barry Zito on a 7-year, $126 million contract. — When I see the "7-year, $126 million contract" I think that I'm looking at some NFL contract in which a team gives this amount to their QB …
Discussion:
Roto Authority Fantasy …
Associated Press:Giants, Zito reach whopping $126M deal, biggest yet for pitcher
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
Bill Madden / NY Daily News:
Murcer surgery called a success — Bobby Murcer emerged in good spirits yesterday from six hours of surgery to remove a brain tumor and, according to close family sources, the Yankee legend's doctor was "completely happy" with how the operation went. — According to former Yankee publicist Marty Appel …
RELATED:
Ed Price / New Jersey Online:
Murcer is recuperating from brain tumor surgery — NEW YORK — Yankees broadcaster Bobby Murcer yesterday underwent a five-hour operation to remove a brain tumor. No prognosis was immediately available. — The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston announced that Murcer …
Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
No joy in Metville; Omar has struck out — Columnist Ken Davidoff feels the Mets have taken a step back by not signing the high-profile pitcher. — The Giants completed their seven-year, $126-million agreement with Barry Zito very late Wednesday night, and immediately …
Discussion:
Can't Stop The Bleeding
RELATED:
Marty Noble / MLB.com:
With Zito off market, Mets move on — Mets GM says it's a 'long shot' team will acquire an ace — NEW YORK — No team ever has won or lost a pennant or even a game in December. Of that Omar Minaya is certain. So the Mets general manager, while disappointed Barry Zito …
Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Bombers reunion on tap in April — The Big Cat's big honor, induction into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame, will likely extend beyond a formal banquet. The Rockies are planning to honor the Blake Street Bombers in conjunction with Andres Galarraga's induction on April 10.
Rocky Mountain News:
Ringolsby: Endorsed checks for Gwynn, Ripken — Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken Jr. represented what baseball would like to be during their playing careers. — Each played for only one team - Gwynn with San Diego for 20 years and Ripken with Baltimore for 21 - ignoring the lure of the bright lights …
Discussion:
Purple Row
Enrique Rojas / ESPN:
Ramirez will have precautionary shoulder checkup … MIAMI — Hanley Ramirez, last season's NL Rookie of the Year, arrived in Miami for a checkup on his left shoulder due to a recurrence of soreness while playing with the Licey Tigers in the Dominican winter league.
Discussion:
FishStripes
Sun-Sentinel:
Larry Beinfest — Marlins — 2006 highlights: Beinfest could already boast sculpting a World Series champion in 2003, but last season the front office did some of its finest work. Faced with the task of trading all of the club's high-priced veterans, Beinfest and his lieutenants assembled …
Discussion:
FishStripes
Jeff Sackmann / Hardball Times:
More Fun With Rotation Numbers — My article on Wednesday, How Good Is Your #4 Starter, presented some counterintuitive findings on starting rotations, such as—big surprise—how good an average #4 starter is. Due to injuries and the related fact that the guy who starts the year …
Richard / SportsJustice:
As spring training approaches, the Astros are still busy. — Just 49 days until pitchers and catchers report to Kissimmee... • This is an interesting part of the off-season because the big-ticket acquisitions are pretty much done. Now teams begin stocking their roster with low-profile additions.
