The idea behind these was to have some fun wandering through history. Having started with the AL East, I figured I would then switch leagues and coasts and go to the NL West.

I didn't really think that through, did I? It put Tampa, Arizona, and Colorado directly in my path. In succession. Three teams created in the 1990s. There's no history to wander through here. It's like doing homework.

Alex Rios and the Jays agreed on a one year, $2.535 million contract, essentially splitting the difference between their arbitration figures.

UPDATE (9:00 pm):  Downs and Johnson also agreed to one year contracts.

Today on ESPN.com, the underrated Tim Kurkjian provides a story that headlines Barry Bonds, but which more interestingly examines the possibility of a number of hitting and pitching milestones that could be reached in 2007. At one point, he writes the following:

500 Home Run guys: There is a chance that five players will join the 500-Home Run Club this year, which would be a first. Frank Thomas is 13 away. Jim Thome is 28 away. Manny Ramirez is 30 away. Alex Rodriguez is 36 away. Gary Sheffield needs 45. This used to be an exclusive little club. Now it's up to 20. Soon, the 20 will become 25. In another 15 years, there are going to be 35. Get used to the growth.

It raises an interesting point ...

Well, in Blue Jays history anyway. And for those of you who expect the name "Josh Towers" to appear in this article.... I promise Satisfaction. And we will meet All-Stars and Cy Young winners as well as the Lost and Forgotten.

A Canadian Press story on the Globe's website reports that the Blue Jays have signed Victor Zambrano to a minor league contract.  Additionally, the deal includes a team option for 2008.

Zambrano missed most of 2006 after having Tommy John surgery in May.

In Part 1 last week, I looked at factors that are relevant for the comparison of closers to starters. This week, we'll look at the existing Hall of Fame closers using the adjustments we looked at in Part 1.

Today, John Beamer tells us in THT that most projection systems have Frank Thomas mashing in 2007 for 450-500 plate appearances. Meanwhile Rich Lederer in Baseball Analysts reviews the ground-ball and strikeout tendencies (Shouldn't Strikeout Tendency be the name of a Marxist faction?) of minor leaguers, and finds that Chi-Hung Cheng was in the right place last year before his injury. And the Todd Helton trade talks continue, with money as opposed to players seeming to be the major issue. "Helton for diddlysquat" doesn't quite have the ring of "Manny for nothing", does it?

And don't forget, it's only 3 weeks until pitchers and Molinas.

Jeff Weaver and Arthur Rhodes are about to sign with Seattle, so the M's should be in good shape to win the division -- Oh, wait, it's not 1999 any more ... Willie Randolph re-upped with the Mets at double the salary -- imagine if he'd actually won something! ...

Glendon Rusch has been released by the Cubbies, so he joins the still-available open market with other Names You Probably Know like Gabe Kapler, Phil Nevin, Eddie Guardado, Tony Armas, Jr. and hey, ex-Jay hotshot Steve Karsay ...

What else?

Today's News ... let's see ...

Antonio Alfonseca to the Phillies ... Mark Bellhorn to the Reds ... The legend and greatness of Fernando Tatis to the Dodgers ... The A's traded Kirk Saarloos and a PTBNL to the Reds for David Shafer and a (presumably different) PTBNL ... In The Biggest News of the Day (so far), two-time All-Star Darin Erstad, a Gold Glove at two positions and a silver slugger to boot, signed on with the White Sox ...

So it's not ALL about Tomo Ohka! What else?

Baseball America has confirmed that the Jays have added an affiliate in the Gulf Coast League.

According to Ken Rosenthal the Blue Jays have signed Tomo Ohka to a 1 year contract. Jeff Blair writes that the deal is for $1.5 million with incentives that could push the deal to $3.0 million.

ESPN.com reports that the deal is pending a physical set to take place later this week. Ohka is currently in Japan.

Thanks to Bauxite Jevant for pointing out the link.

The recent induction into the Hall of Fame of Dennis Eckersley and Bruce Sutter, and the rising vote totals for Goose Gossage, have me thinking about standards for greatness in a closer.

Time to get a new all-everything, what-is-there-to-talk-about? thread started up. There is apparently no huge breaking news in the world of the 90-foot baselines right now ... What, are you psyched about Trot Nixon heading to Cleveland? Cliff Floyd possibly landing in Wrigley? Chase Utley getting a gazillion dollars from the Phillies? Have a comment on the loss of one of the sport's good guys, Vern Ruhle?

What's going on out there?

Slick-fielding shortstop Ray Olmedo was claimed by the Jays from Cincinnati. To make room on the 40 man roster, Ryan Roberts was designated for assignment.

Commenting in the Sammy Sosa poll, Bauxite ayjackson explained his "other" vote as follows:

"With a year out of baseball, he was likely able to follow a rigorous program of PEDs - like we've never seen before.  He was probably employed as a guinea pig by the world's PED leaders.  He will have almost "bionic" eyesight and romp to All-star and HOF numbers.  However, these numbers will be taken with a grain of salt by the increasingly skeptical baseball fan and writer and no awards will await him at the end of his comeback."

Which got me to thinking.  It's Friday afternoon, and we are deep in the off-season, so what better time for a Box tradition- the collaborative outrageous story.  Bionic eyesight, guinea pig.  Houston, I think we have a start.  I'll carry on with it.