Cubs sign Samardzija to five-year, $8 million deal  —  Notre Dame wide receiver Jeff Samardzija has decided to forego a pro football career for that of a baseball pitcher — and he'll be well compensated for it.  —  Samardzija signed a five-year deal Friday to play baseball full-time, starting in the Chicago Cubs' minor league system.

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.

Who's going to fill Selig's shoes? … Bud Selig recently announced plans to step down as baseball commissioner in 2009, when his contract expires.  He'll be 75 years old then, and he plans to spend his free time teaching, writing a book, enjoying scenic Milwaukee sunsets and doing whatever else it is that former commissioners do.

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 …

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?"

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 …

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 …

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 …

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.