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	As many as five teams have called the Texas Rangers to ask about acquiring second baseman Alfonso Soriano. Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images

The Rangers are getting more calls from other teams about Alfonso Soriano while they continue to explore every possibility of acquiring pitching. That includes Barry Zito, the Athletics All-Star left-hander who could be on the trading block. The Mets, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Angels and Dodgers, Minnesota Twins and Chicago Cubs are among the teams expressing interest in Soriano, according to sources.
-- Fort Worth Star-Telegram

The timing of Billy Wagner's signing was a bit of a surprise, especially after B.J. Ryan, arguably the second-best closer on the market, agreed to a five-year, $47-million deal with the Blue Jays on Friday. That figured to inflate Wagner's value, but after the Mets added a guaranteed fourth year to their $30.25-million offer, with an option for a fifth, he apparently was satisfied.
-- Newsday

A person familiar with the situation said the Mets' four-year, $43 million deal with reliever Billy Wagner -- which features a no-trade clause and a luxury box at Shea Stadium -- includes a fifth-year option for $8 million or a $1 million buyout.
-- New York Post

The Phillies will now turn their attention to signing Tom Gordon, Trevor Hoffman or Bob Wickman. None is a perfect solution. All three are in their upper 30s. All have had significant arm surgeries. Gordon tops the Phils' list and has already received an offer.
-- Philadelphia Inquirer

With Billy Wagner in the fold, Mets GM Omar Minaya can turn his attention to Manny Ramirez, who is very much in his sights heading into next week's winter meetings in Dallas.
-- Newsday

Monday's signing of Esteban Loaiza could spell the end of Barry Zito's career in Oakland, given the team's surfeit of pitching and its need for a right-handed power hitter. With the pickup of Loaiza, not only do the A's have the deepest rotation in the league, they also have a total of seven big-league starters -- for now.
-- San Francisco Chronicle

The Mets might have a shot at Barry Zito. The A's are very interested in Lastings Milledge, but Zito is a free agent after this season, and the Mets' first choice is to use their top position prospect to acquire Ramirez.
-- Newsday

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