Giants land Zito

Free-agent left-hander Barry Zito and the San Francisco Giants have agreed to a seven-year, $126 million contract, according to baseball officials.

Zito, the 2002 American League Cy Young Award winner with the Oakland Athletics, considered offers by the New York Mets, Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners before relocating across the Bay.

Bengals C Braham announces retirement

After donning Cincinnati Bengals' black and orange for over a decade, center Rich Braham has decided to call it quits. Braham on Wednesday announced he will retire after this season.

A 13-year veteran, Braham will be honored in a pregame ceremony Sunday when the Bengals host the Pittsburgh Steelers.

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Sammy Sosa begins training for return to major leagues

Sammy Sosa began training Thursday in hopes of returning to the major leagues. "I feel like I did when I was a rookie," Sosa told The Associated Press. "I have a lot of spirit and a desire to return. I think I can play three or four more years in the form I am now."

Sosa hit the ball out of the park 15 times while training at a field in San Pedro de Macoris that is operated by the Japanese Central League's Hiroshima Carp.

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Cubs promote Bush to assistant GM

Randy Bush was promoted to assistant general manager by the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday.

Bush, a member of two World Series winning teams with the Minnesota Twins, had joined the Cubs as a special assistant to general manager Jim Hendry on Jan. 26, 2005. He also served as the organization's minor league hitting instructor in 1999.

Bush, a first baseman and outfielder, was a career .251 hitter in 1,219 major league games, all with the Twins.

Nuggets reach agreement to acquire Iverson

The Denver Nuggets apparently have won the Allen Iverson sweepstakes. According to a report on ESPN.com, the Nuggets on Tuesday reached an agreement in principle to acquire the superstar guard from the Philadelphia 76ers.

The report stated that pending league approval, the trade would send guard Andre Miller, forward Joe Smith and a pair of 2007 first-round draft picks to Philadelphia.

Marquis taking physical to complete deal with Cubs

Right-hander Jason Marquis was having a physical Tuesday, the last step to completing his three-year, $21 million contract with the Chicago Cubs.

The deal was agreed to earlier this month, but Marquis had to pass a physical before it could be announced. The signing is the latest in a flurry of deals for the Cubs, who have committed almost $300 million to upgrade a team that went 66-96 last season.

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Cubs sign Ward to one-year deal

The Cubs secured a backup first baseman and outfielder as well as a left-handed bat all in one on Friday when they signed free agent Daryle Ward to a one-year contract with a mutual option for the 2008 season.

Ward, 31, led Major League pinch-hitters with 17 RBIs and a .645 slugging percentage last season, and his four pinch-hit homers were tied with Cincinnati's Javier Valentin for the most in the Majors. He batted .355 off the bench, fourth best among pinch-hitters last season. Being a pinch-hitter isn't easy.

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Pollack needs neck surgery, career in doubt

Bengals linebacker David Pollack will need surgery for the cracked bone in his neck, likely ending his football career. Pollack cracked the bone while making a tackle against the Cleveland Browns on Sept. 17 and was placed in a halo brace that immobilized his neck. Doctors told him that if the fracture healed on its own, he could resume his career.

The 2005 first-round draft pick was examined Thursday by a specialist who recommended surgery on the fracture, which hasn't healed as hoped. Pollack is expected to have the operation in the next few weeks.

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Marquis likely to join Cubs

Pitcher Jason Marquis is likely to become the latest acquisition in the Chicago Cubs' offseason spending spree. Marquis and the Cubs are negotiating a three-year contract, a person with knowledge of the talks said Saturday, speaking on condition of anonymity because no announcement had yet been made.

Terms have not yet been agreed to -- the deal is likely to be in the $20 million range. Talks were delayed when Cubs general manager Jim Hendry was hospitalized for two days during the winter meetings. Hendry was released from an Orlando, Fla., hospital on Friday and planned to return to Chicago on Sunday.

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Bengals WR McNeal arrested in Houston

Once again, a member of the Cincinnati Bengals is in trouble with the law. The Cincinnati Enquirer reported Monday on its web site that Bengals rookie wide receiver Reggie McNeal was arrested and charged with resisting arrest in Houston over the weekend.

According to the report, McNeal struck a police officer after being refused entrance to a nightclub which was closed. McNeal's bond was set at $1,000 and he is scheduled to appear in court Friday.

McNeal, 23, was selected in the sixth round of last April's draft but has not received much playing time this season for Cincinnati. He is the seventh Bengals player arrested this season.