No wonder this man is smiling

News Corp. is taking a 49-percent-equity share in the Yankees Entertainment and Sports (YES) Network. To say this is a significant development would be an understatement. It is impossible to know if the Steinbrenner family is in the process of divesting their holdings in the franchise. Such may represent an overreaction on my (Evander’s) part. But there were whispers this past summer that the club might be in-play—and not solely on the ball field. News Corp soon could have an 80-percent stake in YES.

So much business in this recession-era offseason. The Miami Marlins brought off a blockbuster deal involving a dozen players, including stars Jose Reyes and Mark Buehrle, with the Toronto Blue Jays. This represents the second or third (I’ve lost count) South Florida purge in memory. Colorful art-collector-owner Jeffrey Loria follows in the footsteps of former Blockbuster (that word again!) magnate Wayne Huizenga.

Back to Murdoch. What does an Aussie cricket-and-rugby man know about baseball? Apparently plenty. Imagine if he has read Right Off the Bat!