Uncle Cliffy to the Friars

Veteran outfielder Cliff Floyd continued his end-of-career, across-the-USA farewell tour by signing a deal with the San Diego Padres for reportedly less than a million dollars. A good deal for the Pads, I think, and good for Cliff, too, if he desires to keep on playing.

In another mini-transaction involving an ex-Met this week, Brian Bannister avoided arbitration by signing with the Royals, receiving quite a tidy bag of loot for his 9-16, 5.76 season--more than $1.7 million.