Angels sign Gary Matthews Jr. for $50 million  —  In yet another eye-popping free-agent signing, the Angels have reached agreement with center fielder Gary Matthews Jr. on a five-year, $50 million contract, FOXSports.com has learned.  —  The 32-year-old Matthews, who still must pass a physical …

Morneau Wins M.V.P. Over Jeter in Close Vote  —  Last month, Derek Jeter hit .500 in the division series but could not stop the Yankees from losing.  On Saturday, he watched helplessly from the sideline as his favorite college football team, Michigan, lost at Ohio State.  —  Yesterday brought another letdown.

Dodgers shell out $45 million for light-hitting Pierre  —  CBS SportsLine.com wire reports  —  LOS ANGELES — Center fielder Juan Pierre and the Los Angeles Dodgers finalized a five-year contract worth about $45 million on Wednesday, giving the team additional speed at the top of the lineup.

Orioles ink Walker to three-year deal  —  Left-hander completes physical; veteran Parrish re-signs  —  BALTIMORE — The Orioles confirmed a long-standing rumor Tuesday when they announced that they had signed left-handed reliever Jamie Walker to a three-year contract worth $12 million.

Colangelo confirms interest in buying Cubs  —  CHICAGO — Former Arizona Diamondbacks owner Jerry Colangelo would be interested buying the Chicago Cubs if Tribune Co. puts his hometown franchise up for sale.  —  Colangelo, chairman of the NBA's Phoenix Suns and former controlling owner …

Rockies reward Francis with four-year contract  —  Lanky lefty Jeff Francis, one of the poster boys of the Rockies' youth movement, should be around long enough to see if the club's strategy pans out.  —  The Rockies and Francis agreed in principle Tuesday to a four-year contract worth $13.25 million.

Up next at pay window  —  Zambrano figures to benefit from Soriano deal with Cubs  —  The second-happiest Cub, after Alfonso Soriano, is probably Carlos Zambrano.  —  Soriano scored big with his $136 million contract and Zambrano stands to become the next beneficiary of general manager Jim Hendry's spending spree.

Michael Irvin Does His Best Jimmy the Greek Impression on the Dan Patrick Show  —  Once the suits at ESPN hear the latest garbage to emit from Michael Irvin's mouth, Christmas may come early for NFL fans who have long grown tired of his idiotic shtick: Maybe they'll fire his ass.

A Modest Baseball Proposal  —  Would Microsoft pay an overseas competitor $26 billion just for the right to talk to one of its software engineers about a job?  Not likely.  Any board parting with 9% of its company's market value for an individual would face a lynch mob at the next shareholder meeting.

La Russa looks at variety of subjects  —  Cardinals' run to title, steroids, best player he has coached  —  ALAMO — The view from the top of baseball's mountain: Tony La Russa enjoying a strawberry smoothie on a Sunday morning at Starbucks.  —  But La Russa feels as high as Mt. Diablo at the moment …