Here’s a news story special for loyal reader Youppi:
The Yomiuri Giants of Japan’s Central League have signed former major league infielder Edgardo Alfonzo to a one-year contract worth $380,000.
The Giants signed the 35-year-old Venezuelan after giving him a tryout at their spring training camp.
“It’s an honor to become a member of the Giants and I’ll play my hardest to contribute to the team,” Alfonzo said Monday.
Alfonzo has 1,532 hits and a .284 batting average over 12 seasons in the major leagues, mostly with the New York Mets with later spells with the San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Angels and Toronto Blue Jays.
His last season in the majors was 2006 when he had 11 hits and five RBIs in 30 games with the Angels and Blue Jays.
Since leaving the majors, he had played in Mexico and in the independent Atlantic League.
I have nothing to add…
…except that this cover is hilarious.
The Slanch Report 
defensively, that infield WAS the tits… too bad olerud turned into zeile…
The Most Replacement-Playerly Infield Ever?
Hilarious cover. Chalk another one up for the SI jinx.
Unbelievable. Greatest SI cover ever.
Here are the two truly important questions:
1. Was Olerud juicing?
2. What was Olerud hiding underneath that batting helmet?
I think Olerud wore a tiny cloth hat under his helmet to fit in. Also, the one in the picture is his fielding helmet. The batting one had both ear flaps. Anytime someone plays professional sports and they have to invent special gear for them, I think there should be an award given.