Yanks, Cano talk long-term deal  —  The Yankees and star second baseman Robinson Cano are in serious negotiations on a deal that could keep him in pinstripes for up to six years, SI.com has confirmed.  —  The contract being discussed would pay Cano a guaranteed $30 million over the next four years …

Three weeks until it begins anew  —  It might not feel like it to most of you out there across North America, but winter as we baseball hacks know it is quickly fading.  Seems hard to believe, but it's just three weeks until we relocate to Dark Star for six weeks of painful wakeup calls …

Wright: Lo Duca deserves penalties if report true  —  David Wright's feelings about players' use of peformance-enhancing drugs are firm — even when it comes to good friend Paul Lo Duca's connection to the Mitchell report.  —  The New York Mets third baseman said Wednesday that his former teammate deserves …

Sox' Henry delivers hard sell … Fenway Park isn't getting any younger and that will not help the Red Sox [team stats] compete on the revenue front with the Yankees and Mets in the years to come, team owner John Henry pointed out yesterday.  —  The final payroll information regarding …

Forward (and backward) thinking  —  In the palindrome game from an earlier entry, I challenged readers to list eight players whose last names are the same forward as backward.  I omitted Tampa Bay pitcher Juan Salas, who came up as Salaz, so make that nine names.

A Long Struggle To Get Back Up And Running  —  16 Months After Breaking Leg, Nats' Johnson Is Ready to Battle for the Job at First Base  —  SACRAMENTO — It is 8:40 a.m., and the sun is just beginning to bake through the windows of a gym that sits anonymously in a business park on the edge of California's capital city.

Blue Jays sign catcher Barajas  —  The Toronto Blue Jays have agreed to a one-year contract with catcher Rod Barajas worth $1.2 million with an option for 2009.  —  Barajas, 32, spent last season with the Philadelphia Phillies.  —  In 48 games, he posted a .230 average with four home runs and 10 RBI.

Fastball 101: Bringing The Heat  —  Pitchers with premium velocity have an advantage because their heat gives themselves a bit more margin for error.  A quicker fastball has a better chance of missing bats, keeping the ball out of play and leading to more strikeouts.

Chat with Keith Law  —  Welcome to The Show!  On Thursday, Scouts, Inc. senior baseball analyst, Keith Law, will stop by to talk some baseball.  —  Keith was formerly the special assistant to the general manager with the Toronto Blue Jays and has a wealth of knowledge for you to tap into.

Schrodinger's Bat  —  Simple Fielding Runs Version 1.0  —  “Let him hit it, you've got fielders behind you."  —Alexander Cartwright, attributed by Bob Chieger in Voices of Baseball  —  When it comes to fielding analysis, there really is no such thing as simple.

I'm OK, You're OK  —  I think the most productive discussion is the one where, after spirited debate, each person argues in favor of his opponent's case.  And the least productive is when each person comes away convinced he is right and has demolished his opponent's arguments.

Pirates, Chacon still discussing his return  —  Team reaches minor-league deal with pitcher Wright  —  The Pirates and free-agent reliever Shawn Chacon continue to discuss his possible return, a scenario that is looking increasingly logical from each side.