ChiSox sign Jenks for 1-year, $5.6M  —  The White Sox have signed closer Bobby Jenks to a record-setting one-year, $5.6 million contract.  —  Jenks  —  The $5.6 million is the highest salary in history by a closer who was arbitration-eligible for the first time, at least for the moment.

O's lock up Markakis  —  Sources: Club finalizes six-year, $66 million extension with right fielder  —  The Orioles have finalized a six-year, $66 million contract extension with outfielder Nick Markakis, according to baseball sources.  Markakis will be in Baltimore later this week to take a routine physical and to sign the contract.

Source: Phils to sign Madson for 3 years  —  One day after locking up No. 1 starter Cole Hamels for the next three years, the Philadelphia Phillies are on the verge of doing the same with their top set-up man, Ryan Madson.  —  Madson  —  The team and Madson have agreed to a three-year …

Another trade (updated again)  —  The Orioles have dealt reliever Randor Bierd, last year's Rule 5 pick, to the Boston Red Sox for right-hander David Pauley.  —  At least the teams aren't afraid to trade within the division.  —  The San Diego Padres selected Pauley, 25, in the eighth round of the 2001 draft.

Rockies Avoid Arb With De La Rosa  —  By Tim Dierkes [January 19 at 4:15pm CST]  —  According to Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post, the Rockies avoided arbitration with pitcher Jorge De La Rosa by signing him for $2MM for '09.  He can make another $100K based on innings pitched.

Classic rosters to be released today  —  Event marks 45 days to the start of the international tournament  —  Provisional 45-man rosters for each of the 16 teams participating in the World Baseball Classic will be released today at 6 p.m. ET.  That will mark 45 days to the start of the tournament …

The Market For Adam Dunn  —  Right now, Adam Dunn wants a four-year, $56 million contract.  And who knows, maybe he gets it.  Maybe he also gets a Lamborghini, a new house, and exclusive use of the Burj Al Arab helicopter pad.  Maybe he can hire Pat Burrell to babysit his kid.

Understanding the Real Value of MLBAM and MLB Network  —  On New Year's Day, approximately 50 million households witnessed the largest cable channel launch to date in the MLB Network, and with it, a new spigot of revenues for the league was born.  And, much like MLB Advanced Media …

Garcia decision likely coming soon  —  All quiet on the Freddy Garcia front on Monday, but look for the free-agent starting pitcher to make a decision sometime this week.  —  As it looks now, the White Sox, Mets and Rangers are still in on the big right-hander, with the Yankees' interest fading.

Zim: I've recovered from stroke  —  Despite a recent health scare, Don Zimmer believes he'll be back in uniform next month to add another digit to his Rays' jersey number and bring it to 61 - one for each season he's been in baseball.  —  Last month, Zimmer says he suffered a “small stroke” …

Marlins find slim pickings behind plate  —  Florida has Baker, but is hoping to land experienced depth  —  MIAMI — Speculation has the Marlins weighing whether to pursue Andruw Jones, but according to a baseball source, the team's bigger priority remains finding catching depth.

Cards Agree to Terms with Wellemeyer and Duncan  —  The St. Louis Cardinals agreed to terms today with pitcher Todd Wellemeyer and outfielder Chris Duncan, avoiding salary arbitration with both players.  Financial terms of the contracts were not released.  —  Wellemeyer and Duncan represent …