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View Article  Orioles Close to Signing Huff


According to Fox Sports, the Orioles are close to signing free agent Aubrey Huff to a three-year contract worth at least $18 million. The Orioles plan to use Huff mostly in left field, but he also could get at-bats at first base and designated hitter.
View Article  News and Notes for the Last Friday of 2006
Hanley Ramirez, this year's top rookie in the National League, will miss the rest of the Dominican winter league season because of a left shoulder strain. The Marlins shortstop is expected to be ready for the start of spring training.

The Florida Marlins today announced the signing of infielder
Aaron Boone to a one-year contract. The announcement was made by Marlins Executive Vice President and General Manager Larry Beinfest.

Boone, 33, spent the past two seasons with Cleveland, batting .251 with seven home runs and 46 RBI in 104 games last year. He has played 969 ML games with Cincinnati (1997-2003), New York-AL (2003) and Cleveland(2005-06) and was named to the NL All-Star team in 2003. He missed the 2004 season recovering from a pair of left knee surgeries. Primarily a third baseman, Boone has also appeared at second base and shortstop in the Majors, and owns a career .264 average with 115 home runs and 499 RBI.

The Milwaukee Brewers today officially signed RHP
Jeff Suppan to a four-year contract with a club option for 2011. The announcement was made by Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug Melvin. Suppan passed a physical earlier today in Milwaukee and will be introduced during a press conference to take place at Miller Park at a time to be determined on January 11.

Texas Rangers General Manager Jon Daniels announced yesterday the club has signed C
Guillermo Quiroz to a major league contract. The club also announced the signing of right-handed pitchers Mike Wood and Willie Eyre to minor league contracts with invites to major league spring training.
View Article  Murcer Resting Comfortably

Now for some news that really matters...

Bobby Murcer, New York Yankees broadcaster and former star outfielder, is awake and resting comfortably following surgery for a brain tumor at The University of Texas.


Murcer had been having headaches and feeling a loss of energy, and the tumor was discovered following an MRI on Christmas Eve.

Murcer played 17 seasons in the Major Leagues from 1965-83 and was a five-time All-Star and a Gold Glove-winning outfielder. In his career with the Yankees, Giants and Cubs, he batted .277 with 252 homers and 1,043 RBIs.


After his retirement, Murcer won three Emmy Awards for live sports coverage as the voice of the Yankees.
View Article  Zito Chooses Money Over Winning
What is now old news already, here's what the AP is reporting...

Barry Zito and the San Francisco Giants reached a preliminary agreement on the largest contract for a pitcher in baseball history, a $126 million, seven-year deal.

While there was no immediate confirmation from the Giants, details of the contract were provided Thursday to The Associated Press by two persons familiar with the negotiations who spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal wasn't announced by the team.

Zito's agreement, reached late Wednesday night, includes an $18 million option for 2014 that could increase the value to $144 million. The option would become guaranteed if Zito pitches 200 innings in 2013, 400 combined over 2012 and 2013 or 600 combined from 2011-13.

Zito is scheduled to have a physical Friday, and the Giants planned to announce their agreement with the three-time All-Star later in the day.

View Article  Yankees Officially Ink Igawa
The New York Yankees announced today that they have signed left-handed pitcher Kei Igawa to a five-year contract worth an estimated $20 million. The Yankees won the exclusive rights to negotiate with him on November 28.

Igawa, 27, posted a 14-9 record with a 2.97 ERA in 29 starts with the Hanshin Tigers of the Japanese Central League in 2006 (209.0IP, 180H, 77R, 69ER, 49BB, 194K). He was tied for the lead among all Central League pitchers with his 194 strikeouts, ranked second in the league in wins and complete games (eight), third in innings pitched and ranked seventh with his 2.97 ERA.

On April 14, 2006, Igawa became the fifth-fastest pitcher in Japanese baseball history to record 1,000 career strikeouts (in 1,058 innings pitched). Including 2006, he has now led the Central League in strikeouts three times during his career, having also captured the league strikeout title in 2002 (206 strikeouts) and 2004 (228).

A three-time Central-League All Star (2001, 2002 and 2003), Igawa has won at least 10 games in each of the last five seasons. In 2003, he was named the Central League MVP after going 20-5 with a league-leading 2.80 ERA in 29 games for the Tigers. He was also honored as the co-winner of the prestigious Sawamura Award in 2003, given to the top pitcher in Japanese baseball each year.

Originally selected out of Mito Shogyo High School as Hanshin’s second draft choice in 1997, Igawa owns a career record of 86-60 with a 3.15 ERA and 1,174 strikeouts in 190 appearances
.
View Article  White Sox Re-Sign Cintron
The Chicago White Sox have agreed to terms on a one-year, $1.9-million contract with infielder Alex Cintron, avoiding arbitration.

Cintron, who turns 28 on December 17, batted .285 (82-288) with five home runs and 41 RBI in 91 games in 2006, his first season with the White Sox. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound switch hitter played in 41 games at shortstop, 26 at second base and 11 at third base.

Cintron is a career .280 (480-1,712) hitter with 30 home runs and 193 RBI in 530 games with Arizona (2001-05) and the White Sox (2006). He was acquired by the Sox from the Diamondbacks on March 8, 2006 in exchange for pitcher
Jeff Bajenaru.
Joe Crede is the White Sox lone remaining arbitration eligible player.
View Article  Angels Sign Hillenbrand

Free-agent first baseman Shea Hillenbrand agreed to join the Anaheim Angels on Tuesday after splitting last season between Toronto and San Francisco.
View Article  Free Agents: Those Signed and Those Still Available

FREE AGENT SIGNINGS

Here are the 93 free agents who have signed, with name, position, former club if different, and contract. The contract information was obtained by The Associated Press from player and management sources:

AMERICAN LEAGUE

BALTIMORE (6) -- Signed
Jamie Walker, lhp, Detroit, to a $12 million, three-year contract; signed Danys Baez, rhp, Atlanta, to a $19 million, three-year contract; signed Chad Bradford, rhp, New York Mets, to a $10.5 million, three-year contract; re-signed Kevin Millar, 1b, to a $2.75 million, one-year contract; signed Paul Bako, c, Kansas City, to a $900,000, one-year contract; signed Jay Payton, OF, Oakland, to a $9.5 million, one-year contract; re-signed Chris Gomez, inf, to an $850,000, one-year contract.

BOSTON (3) -- Re-signed
Alex Cora, ss, to a $4 million, two-year contract; signed Julio Lugo, ss, Los Angeles Dodgers, to a $36 million, four-year contract; re-signed Doug Mirabelli, c, to a $750,000, one-year contract; signed J.C. Romero, lhp, Los Angeles Angels, to a $1.6 million, one-year contract.

CLEVELAND (4) -- Signed
Roberto Hernandez, rhp, New York Mets, to a $3.5 million, one-year contract; signed Aaron Fultz, lhp, Philadelphia, to a $1.65 million, one-year contract; signed David Dellucci, OF, Philadelphia, to a $11.5 million, three-year contact; signed Joe Borowski, rhp, Florida, to a $4.25 million, one-year contract.

DETROIT (2) -- Re-signed
Sean Casey, 1b, to a $4 million, one-year contract; signed Jose Mesa, rhp, Colorado to a $2.5 million, one-year contract.

KANSAS CITY (3) -- Signed
Gil Meche, rhp, Seattle, to a $55 million, five-year contract; signed Octavio Dotel, rhp, New York Yankees, to a $5 million, one-year contract; signed David Riske, rhp, Chicago White Sox, to a $2.25 million, one-year contract.

LOS ANGELES (3) -- Signed
Justin Speier, rhp, Toronto, to an $18 million, four-year contract; signed Gary Matthews Jr., OF, Texas, to a $50 million, five-year contract; signed Darren Oliver, lhp, New York Mets, to a $1.75 million, one-year contract.

MINNESOTA (2) -- Signed
Jeff Cirillo, 3b, Milwaukee, to a $1.5 million, one-year contract; re-signed Rondell White, OF, to a $2.75 million, one-year contract.

NEW YORK (2) -- Re-signed
Mike Mussina, rhp, to a $23 million, two-year contract; signed Andy Pettitte, lhp, Houston, to a $16 million, one-year contract.

OAKLAND (2) -- Signed
Alan Embree, lhp, San Diego, to a $5.5 million, two-year contract; signed Mike Piazza, c, San Diego, to an $8.5 million, one-year contract.

SEATTLE (2) -- Signed
Jose Guillen, OF, Washington, to a $5.5 million, one-year contract; signed Miguel Batista, rhp, Arizona, to a $25 million, three-year contract.

TEXAS (4) -- Signed
Frank Catalanotto, OF, Toronto, to a $13.5 million, three-year contract; re-signed Vicente Padilla, rhp, to a $33.75 million, three-year contract; signed Kenny Lofton, OF, to a $6 million, one-year contract; signed Eric Gagne, rhp, Los Angeles Dodgers, to a $6 million, one-year contract.

TORONTO (4) -- Signed
Frank Thomas, 1b, Oakland, to an $18.12 million, two-year contract; re-signed Gregg Zaun, c, to a $7.25 million, two-year contract; signed Royce Clayton, ss, Cincinnati, to a $1.5 million, one-year contract; signed Matt Stairs, OF, Detroit, to a minor league contract ($850,000).

NATIONAL LEAGUE

ATLANTA (2) -- Signed
Tanyon Sturtze, rhp, New York Yankees, to a $750,000, one-year contract; signed Chris Woodward, ss, New York Mets, to an $850,000, one-year contract.

CHICAGO (8) -- Re-signed
Aramis Ramirez, 3b, to a $75 million, five-year contract; re-signed Kerry Wood, rhp, to a $1.75 million, one-year contract; signed Mark DeRosa, 2b, Texas, to a $13 million, three-year contract; re-signed Henry Blanco, c, to a $5.25 million, two-year contract; signed Alfonso Soriano, OF, Washington, to a $136 million, eight-year contract; signed Ted Lilly, lhp, Toronto, to a $40 million, four-year contract; signed Daryle Ward, 1b, Atlanta, to a $1.05 million, one-year contract; signed Jason Marquis, rhp, St. Louis, to a $21 million, three-year contract.

CINCINNATI (3) -- Signed
Alex Gonzalez, ss, Boston, to a $14 million, three-year contract; signed Mike Stanton, lhp, San Francisco, to a $5.5 million, two-year contract; re-signed David Weathers, rhp, to a $5 million, two-year contract.

COLORADO (3) -- Re-signed Kaz Matsui, 2b, to a $1.5 million, one-year contract; signed
LaTroy Hawkins, rhp, Baltimore, to a $3.5 million, one-year contract; re-signed Tom Martin, lhp, to an $800,000, one-year contract.

HOUSTON (2) -- Signed
Carlos Lee, OF, Texas, to a $100 million, six-year contract; signed Woody Williams, rhp, San Diego, to a $12.5 million, two-year contract.

LOS ANGELES (6) -- Re-signed
Nomar Garciaparra, 1b, to an $18.5 million, two-year contract; signed Juan Pierre, OF, Chicago Cubs, to a $44 million, five-year contract; signed Randy Wolf, lhp, Philadelphia, to an $8 million, one-year contract; signed Mike Lieberthal, c, Philadelphia, to a $1.25 million, one-year contract; signed Jason Schmidt, rhp, San Francisco, to a $47 million, three-year contract; signed Luis Gonzalez, OF, Arizona, to a $7.35 million, one-year contract.

MILWAUKEE (2) -- Signed
Craig Counsell, 2b, Arizona, to a $6 million, two-year contract; announced Tony Graffanino, 2b, accepted salary arbitration; signed Jeff Suppan, rhp, St. Louis, to a $42 million, four-year contract.

NEW YORK (6) -- Re-signed
Jose Valentin, 2b, to a $3.8 million, one-year contract; re-signed Orlando Hernandez, rhp, to a $12 million, two-year contract; signed Damion Easley, 2b, Arizona, to an $850,000, one-year contract; signed Moises Alou, OF, San Francisco, to an $8.5 million, one-year contract; re-signed left-hander Tom Glavine to a $10.5 million, one-year contract; re-signed Guillermo Mota, rhp, to a $5 million, two-year contract.

PHILADELPHIA (3) -- Signed
Wes Helms, 3b, Florida, to a $5.45 million, two-year contract; signed Adam Eaton, rhp, Texas, to a $24.5 million, three-year contract; signed Rod Barajas, c, to a $2.5 million, one-year contract.

PITTSBURGH (1) -- Signed
Einar Diaz, c, Los Angeles Dodgers, to a minor league contract ($600,000).

ST. LOUIS (5) -- Re-signed
Scott Spiezio, 1b, to a $4.5 million, two-year contract; signed Adam Kennedy, 2b, Los Angeles Angels, to a $10 million, three-year contract; signed Kip Wells, rhp, Texas, to a $4 million, one-year contract; re-signed Gary Bennett, c, to a $900,000, one-year contract; signed Russ Springer, rhp, Houston, to a $1.75 million, one-year contract.

SAN DIEGO (4) -- Re-signed
Geoff Blum, 3b, to a $900,000, one-year contract; announced Todd Walker, 2b, accepted salary arbitration; signed Greg Maddux, rhp, Los Angeles Dodgers, to a $10 million, one-year contract; re-signed Doug Brocail, rhp, to a $500,000, one-year contract.

SAN FRANCISCO (7) -- Re-signed
Ray Durham, 2b, to a $14.5 million, two-year contract; signed Dave Roberts, OF, San Diego, to an $18 million, three-year contract; signed Rich Aurilia, inf, Cincinnati, to an $8 million, two-year contract; re-signed Pedro Feliz, 3b, to a $5.1 million, one-year contract; signed Bengie Molina, c, Toronto, to a $16 million, three-year contract; re-signed Steve Kline, lhp, to a $3.5 million, two-year contract; signed Ryan Klesko, 1b, San Diego, to a $1.75 million, one-year contract.

WASHINGTON (2) -- Signed
Ray King, lhp, Colorado, to a minor league contract ($850,000); re-signed Robert Fick, 1b, to a minor league contract ($850,000).

REMAINING FREE AGENTS (Officially)

Unofficially, some of these guys may have agreed to terms but contracts have yet to be finalized (for example, J.D. Drew and Barry Bonds).

The 83 remaining free agents are:

AMERICAN LEAGUE

BALTIMORE (4) --
Bruce Chen, lhp; Russ Ortiz, rhp; Fernando Tatis, 3b; Chris Widger, c.

BOSTON (4) --
Keith Foulke, rhp; Gabe Kapler, of; Mark Loretta, 3b; Trot Nixon, of.

CHICAGO (3) --
Sandy Alomar Jr., c; Dustin Hermanson, rhp; Jeff Nelson, rhp.

CLEVELAND (2) --
Aaron Boone, 3b; Lou Merloni, 2b.

DETROIT (1) --
Troy Percival, rhp.

KANSAS CITY (2) --
Doug Mientkiewicz, 1b; Mark Redman, lhp.

LOS ANGELES (1) --
Darin Erstad, of-1b.

MINNESOTA (4) --
Phil Nevin, 1b; Brad Radke, rhp; Shannon Stewart, of.

NEW YORK (4) --
Miguel Cairo, 2b; Ron Villone, lhp; Bernie Williams, of; Craig Wilson, of.

OAKLAND (2) --
Steve Karsay, rhp; Barry Zito, lhp.

SEATTLE (1) --
Eduardo Perez, 1b.

TAMPA BAY (2) --
Brian Meadows, rhp; Tomas Perez, ss.

TEXAS (1) --
Eric Young, 2b.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

ATLANTA (3) --
Brian Jordan, of; Todd Pratt, c; John Thomson, rhp.

CHICAGO (1) --
John Mabry, 1b.

CINCINNATI (7) --
Ryan Franklin, rhp; Eddie Guardado, lhp; Todd Hollandsworth, of; Jason Johnson, rhp; Kent Mercker, lhp; Scott Schoeneweis, lhp; Paul Wilson, rhp.

COLORADO (2) --
Vinny Castilla, 3b; Mike DeJean, rhp.

FLORIDA (2) --
Matt Herges, rhp; Brian Moehler, rhp.

HOUSTON (3) --
Jeff Bagwell, 1b; Roger Clemens, rhp; Aubrey Huff, 3b.

LOS ANGELES (2) --
J.D. Drew, of; Aaron Sele, rhp.

MILWAUKEE (4) --
David Bell, 3b; Rick Helling, rhp; Dan Kolb, rhp; Tomo Ohka, rhp.

NEW YORK (6) -- Mike DiFelice, c;
Cliff Floyd, of; Yusaku Iriki, rhp; Ricky Ledee, of; Steve Trachsel, rhp; Michael Tucker, rf.

PHILADELPHIA (4) -- Alex S. Gonzalez, ss;
Jose Hernandez, ss; Arthur Rhodes, lhp; Rick White, rhp.

PITTSBURGH (2) --
Jeromy Burnitz, of; Joe Randa, 3b.

ST. LOUIS (6) -- Ronnie Belliard, 2b;
Mark Mulder, lhp; Jose Vizcaino, ss; Jeff Weaver, rhp; Preston Wilson, of.

SAN DIEGO (5) --
Shawn Estes, lhp; Sterling Hitchcock, lhp; Chan Ho Park, rhp; Rudy Seanez, rhp; David Wells, lhp.

SAN FRANCISCO (5) --
Barry Bonds, lf; Steve Finley, cf; Todd Greene, c; Shea Hillenbrand, 1b; Jamey Wright, rhp.

WASHINGTON (3) --
Tony Armas Jr., rhp; Ramon Ortiz, rhp.