Milton Bradley Signs With Cubs  —  By Tim Dierkes [January 5 at 3:10pm CST]  —  According to ESPN Radio's Bruce Levine, the Cubs signed Milton Bradley to a three-year, $30MM contract “with some options in the deal.”  Ken Rosenthal has a similar story, noting that the two sides have to “work through language issues.”

Source: A's closing in on Giambi  —  Free-agent first baseman could sign one-year deal this week  —  OAKLAND — The Rays agreed to terms with free-agent outfielder Pat Burrell on Monday, dramatically increasing the likelihood of free-agent first baseman Jason Giambi returning to the A's.

Longtime Twins owner Carl Pohlad, 93, dies  —  Carl Pohlad, a working-poor son of the Great Depression who became one of America's wealthiest dealmakers, has died.  He was 93.  —  A financier who came to be best known through his 1984 acquisition of the Minnesota Twins …

Teixeira introduction set for Tuesday  —  News conference scheduled at Yankee Stadium for slugger  —  NEW YORK — Yankee Stadium is set to host what may be its final gala on Tuesday, as the Yankees prepare to introduce another winter prize in first baseman Mark Teixeira.

Follow Up: Spring Training '08 Cliches (1 of 2)  —  Last season, Tim chronicled various reports out of Spring Training about players claiming to have lost weight, get eye surgery, flirt with Yoga, Ballet, etc. (a personal fav. feature of mine—if for nothing else than the entertainment value, alone).

La Russa focuses on closer options  —  Skipper gives opinion during Animal Rescue Foundation benefit  —  ST. LOUIS — The clubhouse at Busch Stadium is festooned with leftover holiday decorations but no uniforms or baseball equipment.  Manager Tony La Russa is in town to talk about an upcoming benefit for his charitable organization.

Sunnier Times in New Mainstream Media  —  Sports Commentary  —  We all have our career flashpoints.  Mine came in China, perhaps triggered by a near-death experience while climbing the Great Wall.  Or the horror of Bill Plaschke, my TV sparring partner, trying the local delicacy …

Royals re-sign Colon, issue camp invite  —  Right-hander pitched as starter and a reliever at Omaha in '08  —  KANSAS CITY — Right-hander Roman Colon has been re-signed by the Royals to a Minor League contract and invited to next month's Major League camp, the club announced Monday.

Marquis deal may be finalized Tuesday  —  Cubs would send right-hander to Rockies for reliever Vizcaino  —  CHICAGO — The Cubs are expected Tuesday to finalize the deal with Colorado and send pitcher Jason Marquis to the Rockies in exchange for reliever Luis Vizcaino.

Verducci Effect Update: 7 Risky Pitchers for 2009  —  “It's like training for a marathon.  You need to build stamina incrementally.  The unofficial industry standard is that no young pitcher should throw more than 30 more innings than he did the previous season.

Sox get Green  —  The Red Sox have agreed to terms with infielder Nick Green on a minor league deal and will invite him to major league camp in spring training to compete for the utility infielder job.  —  Green, 30, is righthanded hitter (.240 career), has been with four teams including Atlanta …

Thoughts on Teixeira, Joba and the Free-Agent Market  —  Back from vacation, just in time for what should be the official unveiling of Mark Teixeira this week.  Signing Teixeira seemed like an obvious move all along, but the Yankees threw us off-track with comments like this from General Manager Brian Cashman …