Sidedeals

• Carlos Zambrano and the Cubs agree to one year $12.4 million deal just before the deadline. The Chicago Tribune has a lot of money, huh?

• Barry Bonds says he's happy to be back. In a performance about as believable as Hilary Swank in The Black Dahlia, surly Barry eventually returned when the questions turned toward steroids, tainted records, and all of that unpleasantness.

• Ichiro speaks up. For the first time, the lefty implied he may test the free agent waters.

• Johnny Damon is about as easy-going as it gets. Forget the Bernie, Mariano and A-Rod issues. If Damon were in the center of a tornado he'd be asking for hairspray and an umbrella.