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.
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.
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.
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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 …
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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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 …
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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
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Kelly Thesier / MLB.com:
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.
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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.
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 …
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.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
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 …
Discussion:
The Detroit Tiger Weblog
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.
