Top News:
MLB.com:
Cubs' Samardzija commits to baseball — Standout wide receiver at Notre Dame forgoes football career — CHICAGO — Jeff Samardzija, whom the Cubs selected in the fifth round of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft, will forgo the National Football League Draft and commit to a baseball career.
RELATED:
Fox Sports:
Is Samardzija a sound investment for Cubs? — Carl Yazstrzemski, Red Schoendienst, Orel Hershiser and now ... Jeff Samardzija? — Yes, add one more to the litany of baseball names that are nigh impossible to spell. We speak, of course, of Jeff Samardzija.
Bernie Wilson / Associated Press:
Padres, Wells agree to 1-year deal — SAN DIEGO (AP) — David Wells is all but penciled in as the No. 5 starter for his hometown San Diego Padres. — The Padres and Wells' agent agreed in principle Friday to a $3 million, one-year deal that gives the 43-year-old left-hander the chance to make another $4 million in incentives.
RELATED:
Bill Ordine / Baltimore Sun:
The price is ... different … The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox might be tough on the Orioles on the field, but they've been terrific at the box office. — So to apparently cash in on the popularity of their fiercest rivals, the Orioles are charging extra for single-game tickets …
Lyle Spencer / MLB.com:
Padres reach deal with Wells — Veteran southpaw opts to return to hometown team — SAN DIEGO — The Padres and David Wells have agreed in principle on a one-year deal, pending a physical exam, club general manager Kevin Towers said on Friday. — The contract is for $3 million guaranteed …
Bill Center / San Diego Union-Tribune:Wells agrees to one-year deal with Padres
Discussion:
Ducksnorts
Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com:
Tribe, Nixon agree on one-year deal — Veteran brings leadership, playoff experience to outfield — CLEVELAND — Trot Nixon picked the team. His 5-year-old son, Chase, picked the number. — When Nixon's one-year, $3 million deal with the Indians, which was announced Friday, was finished …
Discussion:
A Red Sox Fan …
RELATED:
Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times:
A few twists for Angels at first — Kotchman is healthy, Morales needs a knee examination and McPherson's back is once again a sore subject. — The news was mixed on the Angels' first base front today. For Casey Kotchman, it was very good. For Dallas McPherson, it was bad.
RELATED:
Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times:
McPherson expected to miss most of year — A lower-back injury that limited Dallas McPherson to 61 games in 2005 and 40 games in 2006 probably will sideline the Angels infielder for most, if not all, of the 2007 season. — McPherson all but conceded Friday night that he would need surgery …
Discussion:
Halos Heaven
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Cubs already thinking big — Piniella, players expect to contend for title in 2007 — Derrek Lee sent Michael Barrett a text message on his cell phone the other day reminding him of what to expect during the long road ahead. — "He [said]: 'This is our year,'" Barrett said Friday on the opening day of the Cubs Convention.
RELATED:
Rick Gano / Associated Press:
Zambrano looks for new deal, Prior for a spot — CHICAGO (AP) — Carlos Zambrano insists he would like to stay with the Cubs. He could be on the verge of a new multiyear contract or he could be a free agent after the 2007 season. One way or the other, he wants it resolved by opening day.
Eric Justic / MLB.com:
Chavez on a tear in winter ball — Major Leaguer among the top hitters in Venezuelan league — Endy Chavez is used to making highlight-reel plays during the postseason, so his performance in the Venezuelan Winter League playoffs has come as no surprise. — The 28-year-old outfielder stole …
RELATED:
MLB.com:
Pirates announce details for 2007 PirateFest — The Pittsburgh Pirates will host PirateFest 2007 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, January 26 - 28. Now in its 17th year, PirateFest is a giant indoor baseball carnival for the entire family, featuring live events, free autograph sessions …
RELATED:
Richard Sandomir / New York Times:
Extra Innings Package and 24-Hour Channel Headed Exclusively to DirecTV — Major League Baseball is close to announcing a deal that will place its Extra Innings package of out-of-market games exclusively on DirecTV, which will also become the only carrier of a long-planned 24-hour baseball channel.
Carol Pogash / New York Times:
Giant Does Not Blame Bonds for Link to Positive Drug Test — This should have been a feel-good event, part of a fanfest weekend being staged by the San Francisco Giants. Maybe some softball questions from reporters and some home run responses from the 14 Giants players who were taking part.
Jason Beck / MLB.com:
Rodney, Tigers finalize two-year deal — Setup man prevents arbitration with incentive-filled contract — DETROIT — A couple of days after agreeing to a one-year deal, the Tigers and reliever Fernando Rodney added another. Rodney now has a two-year contract worth at least $2.7 million …
