At SI.com, Jon Heyman reports that the Red Sox and Daisuke Matsuzaka have agreed to a six-year, $52 million deal.
Heyman provides information on how the deal could end up being worth more, while recapping what was a unique negotiation.
…ok, Scott Boras, let’s talk about Barry Zito…

Of the 26 free-agent starting pitchers available on the open market, only Roger Clemens, Jeff Suppan, Mark Mulder, Jeff Weaver and Barry Zito are considered top-half-of-the-rotation type pitchers.  Otherwise, the list consists of people along the lines of Tony Armas, Ramon Ortiz and Steve Trachsel.
…from a Mets perspective, clemens is not an option, since it [...]

At his blog for the Daily News, Adam Rubin appears to be posting real-time photos from the Mets holiday party being held today at Shea Stadium for local elementary school children.
…is that Willie Randolph i see in the background, looking all slick in his Santa hat, turtle neck and slacks…slick, man, very slick…
…as rubin has [...]

According to Gordon Edes from the Boston Globe, Daisuke Matsuzaka and his agent, Scott Boras, will be flying back to Boston this afternoon with Red Sox GM Theo Epstein and the team’s owner.
…the logic had been that if theo and company took off for boston without matsuzaka, then a deal would never happen…however, if the pitcher [...]

The Blue Jays have made a formal contract offer to Vernon Wells, reports the Globe and Mail of Toronto.
However, according to the report, Ricciardi would not confirm that he had ‘floated’ a $126 million, seven-year deal to Wells, such as Scott Miller reported at Yahoo! Sports yesterday.
…either way, it’s clear that the Blue Jays intend to [...]

For a complete list of players who were non-tendered last night, thus putting them all on the open market, go to Baseball Digest Daily.
The majority of the group appears to be potential relief pitchers, such as RHP Jerome Williams, RHP Chris Reitsma, RHP Jorge Sosa and RHP Todd Williams.
…i would not be at all surprised to see the [...]

In the Dallas Morning News, Richard Durrett reports on Mark Mulder, who visited with Rangers owner Tom Hicks yesterday in Texas.
Mulder, who is 103-57 with a 4.11 career ERA and had rotator cuff surgery last season, is positive he will return to action by spring training.  However, multiple reports suggest he will not get back until May.
Last week, [...]

At his blog for the Houston Chronicle, citing his ‘best baseball source,’ John P Lopez is convinced that Roger Clemens will play for the Red Sox next season.
…i hope he does…a) get him out of the national league, b) give me a chance to watch him against Andy Pettitte, now with the yankees, which i [...]

The Red Sox and Japanese RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka have to reach an agreement.  The deadline to do so in midnight on Thursday.
…however, from what i understand, because of physicals, paper work, contracts, etc, all of which need to be approved by the commish’s office, if a deal is not agreed to today then the kid is [...]

In the San Francisco Chronicle, Henry Schulman wonders, “Could the Giants possibly have enough room in their 2006 payroll for both Barrys, Bonds and Zito?”
According to Schulman, Bonds has agreed to defer a ‘significant portion’ of his $16 million salary for next season, allowing the team to afford another big-ticket free-agent signing.
Barry Zito, as quoted Schulman…
“The [...]

Last night, the Associated Press reported that the Braves had non-tendered 2B Marcus Giles, thus making him a free agent.
In Newsday, Jim Baumbach writes that Giles could ‘potentially’ intrigue the Mets, who pursued Red Sox SS Julio Lugo, even after having re-signed Jose Valentin.
…as i wrote yesterday, it is widely believed that the Padres will step in [...]

Yankees 2000: Promote the Curse, a fellow Mets blog, has re-designed their website, so be sure to check it out.
…good luck, fellas…

According to multiple reports, the Mets did not tender a contract to Victor Zambrano prior to last night’s deadline, thus making him a free agent.
Each report suggests that the Mets plan to entertain re-signing Zambrano to a more affordable deal.
…however, i get the sense that this is very unlikely…be it because the Mets do not [...]