Park Chan-ho Signs With Phillies  —  Free agent pitcher Park Chan-ho has found a new team in the World Series champions Philadelphia Phillies.  —  In a press conference in Seoul Monday, the 35-year-old right-hander said he had been signed to a one-year deal by the National League (NL) East division team.

TRIED TO STEER CC AWAY FROM YANKS  —  Early in his career, Kenny Lofton hurt the Yankees as an Indian when he batted .330 against them across his first four years in a Cleveland uniform.  —  In the fall of 2007, he helped the Indians dismiss the Yankees from the first round of the AL playoffs …

With bullpen in order, Mets are starting to cry Wolf  —  After remaking their bullpen at the winter meetings, the Mets this week are planning to welcome new relievers Francisco Rodriguez and J.J. Putz and also move on to another area of concern:  —  The starting rotation.

A possible throw in  —  Taking Igawa might key Cameron deal  —  By Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel  —  Talks between Milwaukee and New York involving a swap of centerfielders Mike Cameron and Melky Cabrera broke down Thursday at the winter meetings in Las Vegas because the Yankees asked …

Oh Rickey, You're So Fine  —  Last week, I discussed the Hall of Fame Veterans Committee ballot results, and previewed Clay Davenport's revisions of the Wins Above Replacement Player system, the underlying currency of my JAWS Hall of Fame analysis system.  Today, I begin tackling the 2009 Baseball Writers Association of America ballot.

Current Cooperstown Conversations  —  As readers of my regular Monday gig here at THT have no doubt noticed, I have an almost pathological interest in our nation's least highway-friendly tourist trap.  So you can imagine my interest in not one, but two separate important pieces of information emerging from Cooperstown.

Pirates eye return of Wigginton  —  Third baseman became free agent Friday with Houston's non-tender  —  The Pirates are looking to a familiar face for the right-handed power bat they wish to acquire.  —  Management has expressed interest in free-agent third baseman/outfielder Ty Wigginton …

Trouble at 18th and Vine  —  It's been a long two years for the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.  Buck O'Neil died in October 2006, and since then there has been haggling over (a) an education and research center that O'Neil hoped would be his legacy; and (b) a new Executive Director of the Museum itself.

Yanks improve rotation, keep young talent  —  The winter obsession last year was Johan Santana — and the Yankees or the Red Sox could have had him.  They could have traded for the accomplished left-hander who was about to turn 29.  But what folks in both front offices decided was that the double-barreled cost was prohibitive.

Wrigley neighbors can skate on field Jan. 4  —  Would you pay $10 to skate at the Friendly Confines?  —  If you're a neighbor of the Cubs, you're about to get that opportunity.  —  The Cubs sent e-mails to neighbors and neighborhood groups last week announcing a community skate …