Dontrelle Signs One Year Deal

Marlins starting pitcher, Dontrelle Willis (who just turned 25 on Friday) signed a pact at 1 year and $6.45 million. He made $4.35 million in 2006. This is not a big story because Willis has another three years before he is eligible for free-agency.

In other words, the Marlins can simply sign Willis to one-year-contracts over this time period. Which means the financially strapped Marlins don't have to worry about long term deals.

Their other superstar, Miguel Cabrera, is also arbitration eligible for the first time this offseason. He is probably going to agree to terms on a deal around $5.5 million for 2007. Monster contracts await both of these up-and-coming allstars.

***

Fun-fact of the night and proof that Knicks center Eddy Curry doesn't play defense:

At halftime of Friday's game between the Knicks and the Bobcats, Emeka Okafor had eight blocks. As most fans realize, Okafor is a dominant defensive presence and eight blocks at the half is pretty supportive of such belief.

Here's the punchline. For the season, Curry had posted 23 blocked shots. Okafor tallied 10 blocks by game's end, while Curry posted another donut. Essentially, Emeka blocked 1/2 of Curry's season total in one game. If that's not an indictment of EZ-Eddy's defensive malaise I don't know what is.