As expected, the Red Sox have been granted permission to negotiate with Japanese RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka in exchange for $51.1 million, according to MLB.com.

According to the Associated Press, the Mets have re-signed 2B Jose Valentin to a one-year, $3.8 million contract with a club option for 2008.  The option is guaranteed at $4.3 million if nets 400 plate appearances in 2007.
Also, the AP notes that Orlando Hernandez will earn a $1 million signing bonus, and will be paid $4.5 million next season [...]

At his blog for the Journal News, John Delcos quotes Mets GM Omar Minaya as saying the Mets have made a proposal to free-agent OF Cliff Floyd, as well as to free-agent RHP Chad Bradford.
Minaya also informs Delcos about the return of Jose Valentin and Orlando Hernandez, and the team’s post-Matsuzaka plan.
…for starters, this club has got to get [...]

Initially, the Daily News, Newsday and SI.com reported that the Mets and RHP Orlando Hernandez have agreed to a two-year deal worth $6 million in total.
At his blog for Newsday, David Lennon confirms what Ken Rosenthal originally reported at FOXSports.com, which is that the two-year deal is worth $12 million, thus $6 million per season.

The Cubs and free-agent Mark DeRosa have agreed to a three-year deal worth $13 million, reports Buster Olney at ESPN.com.
…i am a bit disappointed…i think this guy would have been a good fit here with the mets, but not three years from now…so, good luck in chicago…
…more than anything, though, i am disappointed for my [...]

…the buzz from the pitcher’s market is insane…the early word on what teams are asking for in trades, and the salaries requested by free-agent pitchers, are downright painful to hear…for instance, talk out of chicago suggests the White Sox are seeking a young pitching prospect, along the lines of Mike Pelfrey, or Phil Humber, in exchange [...]

For some photos from yesterday’s groundbreaking for Citi Field, check out Adam Rubin’s blog for the Daily News.

D’Backs RHP Brandon Webb has been awarded the NL Cy-Young Award for 2006.
Padres RHP Trevor Hoffman finished second in the voting, Cardinals RHP Cris Carpenter finished third and Astros RHP Roy Oswalt finished fourth.

At Hot Foot, Anthony links to an interesting photo of Padres RHP Jake Peavy, in what appears to be the pitcher taking shots of Jagermeister straight from the bottle.
…ah, brings back memories…
…good times, good times…

According to the Associated Press, former-Mets OF Darryl Hamilton has been hired by the commissioner’s as MLB’s senior specialist of on-field operations.
Hamilton has spent the last three years working as a broadcaster MLB Radio…
…i haven’t listened to mlb radio in a while, but does ham-bone still have a ban on all things mets, thanks to [...]

According to the Los Angeles Times, there is ‘a chance’ the Dodgers could bring back C Mike Piazza to serve as a back-up to C Russell Martin, while also making the occasional start at first base.
…odd, i don’t know why, but i am very uncomfortable with the idea of mike returning to the dodgers…

As it stands, the Mets are in need of a starting left-fielder, since it looks unlikely that the team will re-sign free-agent OF Cliff Floyd.
…the buzz around OF Dave Roberts suggests that the the brewers may make a big push to sign him…if they do, they will likely trade one of OF Kevin Mench or OF [...]

…the buzz from naples suggests that free-agent RHP Danys Baez has no interest in being a set-up man again, as a free-agent he intends to seek out a job as a closer…
As a closer for Tampa Bay in 2004 and 2005, Baez logged 71 saves while posting a 3.21 ERA. 
As a closer for the [...]

The Mets and RHP Orlando Hernandez have agreed to a two-year deal worth $6 million, reports Jon Heyman at SI.com.
…as i wrote this morning, i can see how fans may react poorly to this…the thing is, i would say half of that money is for el duque’s physical ability, the other half is for his [...]

…after having read a variety of newspapers and blogs, and listened to a variety of experts, be it in person, on the phone or on talk radio, it appears the three teams most likely to sign free-agent OF Alfonso Soriano are the Cubs, Phillies or Angels, and one of these teams will do so with a minimum [...]