I'm sorry but this picture of Dmitri Young arriving at Washington Nationals camp made me laugh and I had to post it.  Courtesy of AP.

Carrie Muskat at MLB.com reports that the Chicago Cubs and Carlos Zambrano have agreed on a one-year, $12.4 million contract Tuesday.

Muskat notes that the new deal includes an awards package that offers bonuses if Zambrano finishes in the top five in Cy Young voting, or wins the Most Valuable Player Award in the World Series or League Championship Series, or is named to the All-Star team. He also receives bonuses if he wins a Silver Slugger or Gold Glove award.

Well there you have it, he's off limits atleast for now.

The Associated Press reports that Atlanta Braves centerfielder Andruw Jones is looking to get paid "market value" in his new deal.

According to the AP, Jones said:

"I'm under contract to the Braves right now, hopefully, by the end of the season, we'll be able to accomplish something so I can stay here. I want to be a Brave for life."

"It could be $50 million a year. It doesn't matter if that's what the market is."

Braves skipper Bobby Cox replied:

"We'll try everything we can to keep him, he's a great talent, but he's got one of the toughest agents to deal with. [Boras] is not afraid to move his players from their home teams."

Naturally he wants to see what people like Vernon Wells are seeing.

With the recent sale of the Braves though, who knows if they can be bullied by Boras into a big money, long-term deal.  He won't hesitate to shop Andruw around.

In an article for the Rocky Mountain News, Tracy Ringolsby notes how former Mets 2B Kaz Matsui hopes to start where he left off...in Japan.

In Japan, Matsui was a highly touted player with a ton of potential.  In New York, almost none of that potential was realized.

Matsui regarding playing in NY, as quoted by Ringolsby:

Now Kaz hopes to continue with his brief success in Colorado where he hit .345 in 32 games with the Rockies, compiling a .392 on-base percentage and stealing eight of nine bases.

However doubtful, if Kaz goes on to become the player the Mets thought he would be before his weak stint in NY, I might jump in front of a bus.

I don't know anyone that didn't want Kaz to do well here, so I suppose his "pressure" came from his contract.  Maybe now since that has diminished he can get back to being himself...whatever.