Signings...

SEATTLE -- Going with the theme of the day, hopefully the Times didn't jinx the reported contract extension with Ichiro with their front page story in today's paper. In my opinion, this would be Bill Bavasi's first good move as the Mariners GM. Even if the speculative price is $20 million per year, it's worth it considering the box office draw, market appeal both here and in Asia. It's a no-brainer. And something Seattle should have done in the offseason.

The story is starting to get national media attention, and with good reason. If Ichiro becomes a free-agent next Winter, Seattle will have lost to free-agency their fourth HOF in his prime, following Randy Johnson, Ken Griffey Jr. and Álex Rodríguez out of town.


If Ichiro indeed re-ups with the M's, it'll be a great day. And it might buy Bavasi another year or two as MLB's worst GM... but hey, we'll take the bad with the good, eh!?! At least we have Kevin Durant in the Northwest for the next three years...

UPTON PARK -- From the Irony Department, another reported signing is the transfer of Craig Bellamy to West Ham United in a club-record £7.5million move. Bellamy joins a West Ham club that barely escaped regulation this past season after two shady signings of now notorious Argentinians. I think Bellamy thinks by signing with United, he gets to roll with the Green Street Hooligans firm, and saw the appeal in a guaranteed fight every week.