Sox sign reliever Okajima  —  As reported earlier today by the Herald, the Red Sox announced that they have signed Japanese relief pitcher Hideki Okajima to a two-year contract with an option for the 2009 season.  —  General manager Theo Epstein will introduce the left-handed pitcher …

Coveted lefty Zito meets with Rangers  —  Owner, GM made pitch to ace and agent Boras on Thursday  —  ARLINGTON — Snow, sleet and ice hit the Dallas-Fort Worth area on Thursday.  —  So did free-agent pitcher Barry Zito and his agent, Scott Boras.  —  The Rangers are hoping …

Glavine Reaches a Full Count  —  Tom Glavine is on the verge of making his decision.  "He's going to make a decision, I would think, by tomorrow," Gregg Clifton, Glavine's agent, said yesterday, meaning that today is the day that Glavine should decide if he wants to remain with the Mets …

Beyond Igawa, Yankees Consider a Few Others  —  The Yankees will have five starting pitchers once they sign Kei Igawa, the left-hander from Japan whose negotiating rights they won Tuesday.  But two of those starters have serious health questions, which is why the Yankees may not be done shopping.

Selig set to retire happy when contract ends in 3 years  —  NEW YORK — Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig says he will be stepping down in three years when his contract ends, content that the sport is in good health.  —  "I plan to retire," Selig, the former Milwaukee Brewers owner, said Thursday.

NO BLOCKBUSTER DEALS FOR TRIBE  —  Attention, Indians fans.  It's time to cheer, in unison: ``Whoop-de-doo.''  —  That spontaneous show of support for the team is in honor of the impending signing of David Dellucci, an outfielder from the Philadelphia Phillies whose agent says has agreed to work for the Tribe.

The Best Minor League Defenders  —  Prospect analysis has always been one of the most contentious issues in the "stats vs. scouts" debates.  However, for all the breakthroughs in statistical techniques, analysts have almost always had to rely on scouting to assign a value to the defensive contribution of a young player.

Spring training in Tucson now concern for team  —  Scrapping winter caravan plans, the Rockies are considering hosting a one-day Fanfest in downtown Denver before spring training.  The inaugural event could offer a distraction from the team's concern about its spring training site in Tucson.

M's add a pitcher - really!  —  This isn't going to show up in the local dailies, and no one in town is going to care, but the M's have signed a pitcher who has a legitimate chance to help them in 2007.  —  Justin Lehr.  —  Okay, I know what you're thinking - he's 29 and has a career 5.31 ERA in 83 innings in the majors.

Notes: Rox being cautious with Morales  —  Highly regarded southpaw seeing light duty this offseason  —  DENVER — Rockies left-handed pitcher Franklin Morales gained notice throughout baseball with his strong work against Major League-caliber hitters in Venezuela last winter, but this winter, he'll throw for a limited audience.

Pirates announce Minor League managers and coaches  —  The Pittsburgh Pirates today announced their minor league managerial and coaching assignments for the 2007 season.  The announcement was made by Brian Graham, Pittsburgh's Director of Player Development.