Jacques Jones will join Juan Pierre in the Chicago Cubs’ new-look outfield, the former having signed a 3 year, $16 million deal earlier today.

Former Mets/Astros/A’s pitcher Octavio Dotel is close to signing with the Yankees reports the Sporting News’ Ken Rosenthal, rebuffing interest from the Mets. Dotel should be ready to help the Bombers no later than August. Or maybe September.

1B Hee Seop-Choi, likely relegated to a utility role with the arrival of Nomar Garciaparra, has signed a one year contract extension with the Dodgers.

Texas and San Diego have completed a 6 player deal, writes the Dallas Morning News’ Evan Grant.

While Rangers officials met with free-agent ace Kevin Millwood on Tuesday, the team agreed in principle to a deal with San Diego that will bring them right-handed starter Adam Eaton (above) and hard-throwing setup man Akinori Otsuka and a minor league prospect in exchange for pitcher Chris Young, first baseman Adrian Gonzalez and outfielder Terrmel Sledge, major league officials confirmed. The trade is also contingent on the players passing physicals. Rangers GM Jon Daniels, who was scheduled to meet with Millwood and agent Scott Boras on Tuesday afternoon, declined to comment.

The Rangers had been working on a deal to land Eaton for nearly six weeks, but had been reluctant to give up catcher Gerald Laird. To add depth to the bullpen, the Rangers agreed to include Young, who tied the club record for victories by a rookie starter last year. Young, from Highland Park, went 12-7 but struggled with fatigue later in the season.

With an approach that would surely warm the cockles of Harvey Sid Fisher’s heart, Cardnilly turns to the stars for answers about the 2006 Redbirds.