New Year's wishes for baseball fans  —  So you've got images of pitchers and catchers clogging up your neuro-processor.  You're counting down the days (admit it, hours) before CC Sabathia and Johan Santana deliver their first fastballs in Florida.  Waiting out January's odyssey is torture, but you can't beat the payoff.

Source: Cuba defector Aroldis Chapman works out for Toronto Blue Jays  —  A surprising bidder has emerged in the Aroldis Chapman sweepstakes.  The Toronto Blue Jays held a private workout for the touted Cuban pitcher Thursday morning in Florida, then met with his representatives, a source close to Chapman told ESPN The Magazine.

Met ‘mob’ contracts  —  Shady firms got $52M to build Citi Field  —  The Mets shelled out $51.6 million in taxpayer money to contractors shunned by the city for their ties to the Mafia, labor corruption or bribery, The Post has learned.  —  At least seven contractors the city avoids …

Redskins fire Zorn after 2 seasons  —  The Washington Redskins fired Coach Jim Zorn this morning, ending a two-year stint that began with his surprising elevation from an obscure quarterbacks coach and finished with a dismissal that seemed inevitable after the Redskins' disastrous four-win season.

The Year and the Decade to Come  —  First off, I hope everyone had a fantastic holiday season.  As it turned out, 2009 was a successful year for Prospectus Entertainment Ventures, but this coming year has the potential to be the biggest for us since the year we went to a premium product …

If Granderson and Gardner were swapped...  We can debate all day whether Curtis Granderson or Brett Gardner is the better defensive center fielder.  Frankly, I think they're both pretty good, but I know there are several who completely disagree.  Bottom line is (I think) both can handle the position …

What can Yanks do for an encore?  —  Bombers retool in preparation for title defense in 2010  —  NEW YORK — The Yankees had just about everything go their way in 2009, which should make many in pinstripes just a little sad to see the year finally go.  —  As anyone around the Yankees can tell you …

Prospectus Q and A: A.J. Hinch by David Laurila  —  A.J. Hinch … David Laurila: You became the Diamondbacks' manager in atypical fashion, moving over from the front office in midseason.  Can you talk about how that process worked?  —  A.J. Hinch: Well, it was obviously a unique situation …

Introducing ARJS  —  The other day on Twitter, Sky, and I were discussing how to value relievers.  The conversation was triggered by a comment from Colin Wyers where he said an average reliever would successfully complete 82% of all save situations a closer finds himself in.

What's the matter with Johnny?  —  At the beginning of the offseason, nearly everyone had Johnny Damon pegged for a return to the Bronx.  It's become apparent, however, that the likelihood of his returning to the Yankees is slim to none and slim's as likely as Milton Bradley Day at Wrigley Field.

Mets, Molina continue slowest-ever game of Chicken  —  Every time I read an update on the Mets' pursuit of Bengie Molina, I think about the following scene from the best television show of all-time:  —  The latest report — the one linked above — says the Mets are willing to give Molina …