Samardzija going to focus on Cubs career  —  Cubs prospect Jeff Samardzija, a record-breaking receiver at Notre Dame, is giving up football for baseball, FOXSports.com has learned.  —  Samardzija, a right-handed pitcher, was the Cubs' fifth-round pick last summer and projected as a first-round pick in the NFL draft.

Indians agree with Nixon for one year, $3 million … Free-agent outfielder Trot Nixon has agreed to a one-year, $3 million deal with the Cleveland Indians, ESPN.com's Peter Gammons reports.  —  Nixon, who has spent his entire pro baseball career with the Boston Red Sox organization …

Spending time with Yankees  —  If you're planning to catch them against Rockies, dig deep  —  The Rockies-Yankees midweek series occurs in June, long before pennant races crystallize, contending teams feel an urgency to win and scoreboard watching becomes an earnest pursuit.

Ortiz expected to join rotation picture  —  Former Nationals right-hander brings experience to Twins  —  MINNEAPOLIS — The Twins are close to signing right-handed pitcher Ramon Ortiz to a one-year deal.  —  The deal, which the Star Tribune is reporting to be worth $3.1 million, will not be completed until Ortiz passes his physical.

Uneasy at First, Mets Embrace Their New Orleans Connection  —  A woman wearing a pink cowboy hat covered in rhinestones walked down Bourbon Street on Wednesday night and spotted a character with equally outrageous headgear.  —  "Hey there," the woman shouted.  "Who are you?"

Pirates' Chacon agrees to 1-year deal  —  PITTSBURGH - Right-hander Shawn Chacon, the leading contender for the final spot in the Pittsburgh Pirates' rotation, bypassed salary arbitration Friday by agreeing to a one-year contract worth $3,825,000.  —  Chacon, who split last season between …

When did hate take over sports?  —  After one of the greatest victories in Patriots history, after one of the defining Sundays of the Belichick-Brady Era, after an absolute roller-coaster ride of a win, after one of the more memorable they-had-absolutely-no-business- winning-that-thing games in recent memory …

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 …

Mitchell warns government could become involved in steroids probe  —  PHOENIX (AP) — Baseball owners heard a clear warning from former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell on Thursday.  —  Mitchell, who is investigating steroid use in the sport, said the chances of government involvement will …

Young Talent Redux: The Tigers  —  In a previous unfiltered post related to the Cleveland Top 10, I polled a number of people in the prospect ranking game (writers, scouts, front office types) to valuate the futures of a quartet of young Indians.  The Tigers presented a similar quandary.

Andruw wants to finish career in Atlanta  —  Gold Glove center fielder can be free agent after 2007 season  —  ATLANTA — If he were simply fueled by financial greed, Andruw Jones would have spent much of this past offseason salivating.  With every passing day, it seemed a different …

Trade nearly done after Gonzalez passes physical  —  Pirates expected to officially acquire LaRoche today  —  By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette  —  Mike Gonzalez, the reliever the Pirates have agreed to send to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for first baseman Adam LaRoche, passed his physical yesterday.