Top News:
ESPN:
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.
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Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
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.
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.
Paul Sullivan / Chicago Tribune:
Notre Damer picks Cubs over football — Jeff Samardzija's dreams of becoming the next Bo Jackson are over. — The Cubs announced Friday that the pitcher will forgo an NFL career to sign a five-year deal to play baseball full-time, beginning in the team's minor league system.
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.
ESPN:
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 …
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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.
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 …
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 …
Discussion:
Oriole Post
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Troy E. Renck / Denver Post:
Hurdle on hot seat in '07 season — For a manager on notice, Clint Hurdle has never looked more relaxed. He's letting his hair grow out, is well-rested following successful treatment of sleep apnea and feels healthy after changing his diet, eschewing chocolate and Fritos.
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.
Bill Simmons / ESPN:
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 …
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 …
Discussion:
The Detroit Tiger Weblog
Lee Jenkins / New York Times:
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?"
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 …
Discussion:
Hot Foot
Doug Tucker / Associated Press:
Glass promises Royals will be competitive — KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The owner of the most woeful major league team this century made a bold promise Friday to long-suffering fans. — The Kansas City Royals will not just be better in 2007, David Glass said at the team's annual forecast luncheon …
Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
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.
