The Crack Technical Staff wrote up a docket of topics this week, so there’s some actual content in between the ramblings in this episode. Topics include:

Reds not the most newsworthy team for a minute.

Astros sign Kaz Matsui (3 yrs, $15 M).

Cardinals sign Cesar Izturis (1 yr, $2.85 M).

Pirates involved in trade rumors.

• Jason Bay. Indians: Pittsburgh would get catcher Kelly Shoppach and left-hander Cliff Lee for the two-time All-Star.
• Xavier Nady, Matt Morris, and Jack Wilson are also on the trading block. At one point last week, Morris and Wilson were both attached to the Cardinals.

Brewers

• Rumored to be close to signing reliever David Riske to a multi-year deal.
• Rumor of sending starter Greg Capuano to the Cardinals for Scott Rolen.
• Andruw Jones might be interested in signing.

Cubs mostly happy that they lost the Kaz Matsui sweepstakes, but are interested in Kosuke Fukudome, or at least the bloggers are.

• Al at Bleed Cubbie Blue translated a letter into Japanese.
• Rob at The Goat Riders of the Apocalypse described Fukudome as the “best chance of ending the 99 years of misery.”

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