Yankees win rights to Igawa for $26,000,194  —  NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Yankees got a chance to sign a Japanese pitcher on their second try this offseason, winning the rights Tuesday to Kei Igawa after losing out to the Boston Red Sox two weeks ago for Daisuke Matsuzaka.

Cardinals close to bringing back Kennedy  —  The Cardinals, bringing back one of their former prospects, are on the verge of signing free-agent second baseman Adam Kennedy to a three-year, $10 million contract, FOXSports.com has learned.  —  Kennedy, 30, will replace free agent Ron Belliard …

What are the Orioles thinking?  —  There are two ways to view the Orioles' investment of nearly $42 million in relievers Jamie Walker, Danys Baez and Chad Bradford.  —  A. The Orioles, coming off nine consecutive losing seasons, needed to overpay each reliever in a three-year contract to attract him to Baltimore, or,

Any deal for Figgins full of complexity  —  The agent for speedy Chone Figgins believes the Los Angeles Angels will trade his client.  —  With 114 stolen bases over the last two seasons, Figgins, 28, would appear to be a potential help to the White Sox.  —  But other factors suggest …

Throw clueless GM Littlefield off Pirates' sinking ship  —  The Pittsburgh Pirates might be one of baseball's two or three franchises truly beyond resuscitation, and I can tell you why in three words: Dave Motherbleepin' Littlefield.  —  In his five tragic years as the team's executive zookeeper …

Guillen Named DIBS Player of the Year  —  Rogers and Verlander also garner hardware  —  DETROIT, Mich. — The Detroit Independent Baseball Scribes announced Tuesday (Nov. 28) the winners of the 2006 DIBS Awards.  Shortstop Carlos Guillen was named the DIBS Player of the Year as voted on by DIBS members.

Blue Jays, Zaun agree on $7.25M deal  —  In a stunning turn of events, the Blue Jays have reached agreement with free-agent catcher Gregg Zaun on a two-year, $7.25 million contract, FOXSports.com has learned.  —  The Jays had a two-year, $5.25 million deal in place with free-agent catcher Rod Barajas …

Brewers closing in on Counsell  —  The Milwaukee Brewers are getting closer to a deal with free-agent infielder Craig Counsell, FOXSports.com has learned.  —  If the Brewers are able to land the former Diamonbacks shortstop, it could result in the Padres making a move to obtain Tony Graffanino as their every day second baseman.

Leaving Tucson will be tricky  —  Sox need replacement before Glendale move  —  Moving their spring-training home from Tucson to Glendale, Ariz., might seem easy for the White Sox.  —  Their toughest task will be finding a team to replace them at the facility they share with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Notes: Wolf says he'll miss Philly  —  Lure of pitching at home for Dodgers too strong to pass up  —  PHILADELPHIA — Randy Wolf is already picturing himself throwing that first pitch from the Dodger Stadium mound, this time for the home team.  —  "I think every kid grows up wanting to play for the team he watched," Wolf said.

Mailbag: A call to arms  —  Beat reporter Marty Noble answers fans' questions  —  What do the Mets plan to do about their starting pitching for next season?  So far, they've acquired only Jason Vargas.  Also, why are we trying to make Aaron Heilman a starter again?