Jose Canseco Back In The Limelight

I haven't seen this mentioned anywhere as yet, but Jose Canseco, the man who first put baseball's steroid issue into the forefront with his book "Juiced", will soon be releasing his followup.

Appropriately titled "Vindicated", the book will build on the revelations from the Mitchell Report and subsequent fan and public opinion of the players named and baseball's drug problem. Jose Canseco highlighted this on a recent episode of HDNet's Inside MMA on which he appeared to talk about a new reality TV show he was producing. The show will pit him and a team of professional sportsmen outside of MMA (mixed martial arts), against a team of MMA stars.

Canseco spoke briefly on the steroid issue on Inside MMA. He reiterated his opinion (first mentioned in "Juice") that while steroids definitely gave a person size and some advantage in strength and speed, but if not used in conjunction with proper training and natural talent, it would not provide any significant advantage over other players. He stated that during his time, many players had already been using (as proven by the Mitchell Report), but just as many did not become superstars as a result. Several of the players named in the Report also gave credibility to his argument.

It will be interesting to read the book once released. While not having the best of image as a result of his straight talking, Canseco does speak a lot of truths. Unfortunately, they are usually only understood when things have gone too far.

Bonds A Strong Possibility For A's

Susan Slusser has a piece on Oakland's interest in signing Barry Bonds for '08. Given Billy Beane's recent assertion that the A's wanted to win in '08, this might be a strong possibility. Slusser also spoke to a Major League exec who indicated this was a deal waiting to happen.

More Activity From Nationals

The Washington Nationals today signed Aaron Boone to a one-year, $1 mil contract with incentives. Boone was with the Marlins for 2007 and went .286/.388/.423.

Willy Mo Pena also received a $2 mil extension, with a mutual option for '09.

Additionally, Ryan Langerhans has also been re-signed on a minor league deal.

Willis To Be Flipped To Mets?

From Adam Rubin, the Tigers might have to spin Dontrelle Willis to the Mets (or any other team). Apparently the Marlins insisted that Detroit take both Cabrera and Willis, which the Tigers willing took on despite knowing their payroll could not accomodate both players.

Inside sources in the Mets are looking at this possible scenario and would be willing to speak to the Tigers. There has also been talk of Ivan Rodriguez included in the mix but I don't really see that happening since the Tigers exercised their option on him.

Giants Looking For Yankees' Matsui

Bryan Hoch reported that the Giants have inquired about Hideki Matsui's availability, in a bid to boost their offense. Despite the veteran outfielder's full no-trade clause, Hoch implied that the Yankees might consider any possible trade if it improves their pitching - a primary objective of the team this off-season.

Hoch suggested Noah Lowry as a potential target for the Yanks in any deal with the Giants, who would fit in the middle rotation to beef up a still unknown innings totals from the trio of youngsters Chamberlain, Hughes and Kennedy.

Santana Sweeps: Thursday

There's not been much happening the past 2 days on the Johan Santana talks after a mad start to the week. Theo Epstein left without any end in sight, although they still seem to be ahead of the pack, but just slightly.

Now, the rest of the pack includes the Yankees, Mets, Mariners and perhaps Angels. Newsday says Mets won't have a chance unless they include Jose Reyes in the package, which won't happen.

La Velle E. Neal III shares his thoughts on the whole affair. He believes the Red Sox are serious about Santana after speaking to some officials last night, but does not believe the Twins will budge easily without both Lester and Ellsbury in the deal. His sleeper pick is the Angels although they have not spoken to the Twins as yet, apparently.

According to Jon Heyman, the Met are offering Carlos Gomez, Mike Pelfrey, Aaron Heilman, including others for Santana. Here's how the other teams shape up with their packages:

Boston - Jon Lester, Coco Crisp, Jed Lowrie, Justin Masterson
Yankees - Phil Hughes, Melky Cabrera, Jeff Marquez
Mariners - Adam Jones, Brandon Morrow (what's this? A joke?)

Boston Herald's Rob Bradford had a talk with Josh Beckett and the Boston ace said he was earning enough money as it is and was more concerned about winning than any contract re-work if Santana joins the team. He did state that he would be upset with good friend Jon Lester being traded but understands that baseball is a business and that Boston would do whatever it takes to ensure that. And he would be fine with that.

Update: Joel Sherman reported that the Twins and Yankees had a brief discussion on including Joe Nathan in the deal. If this were to be realised, would the Red Sox change their stance on Ellsbury?

Dodgers Sign Andruw Jones for $36 Mil

Not much of a choice there - Andruw Jones had only 2 teams in for him with concrete offers - the Dodgers and Royals. With the latter's offer being for two-years, $25 mil, it was an obvious choice for the Boras corporation. Dodgers offered two-years, $36.2 mil.

Still, it was good business by Ned Colletti - remember Jones is a Boras client - they could have gotten more if not for their falling stock with recent star departures and Jones poor 2007, which by the way, has been attributed to a secret elbow injury.

Moving on, Tony Jackson suggests that the Dodgers will now trade Matt Kemp or Andre Ethier for a frontline starter.

Lo Duca Heading To Toronto?

Joel Sherman has reported that Lo Duca might have made a deal of one-year with the Toronto Bluejays after meetings between the player's agent and the team earlier today. The deal was rumored to be worth less than $5 mil, but it appears that Lo Duca might have accepted it with final figures reported to be around $3-4 mil, according to Robert MacLeod.

Update: Robert MacLeod and then Joel Sherman are saying the deal is in the stage of being finalized and signed, with Lo Duca coming on board for one-year $3 mil.

More Interest in Prior

There are now four teams interested in Mark Prior - the Reds, Padres, Phillies and Rangers. Seattle might also some interest but I am not sure how far that would go.

Santana Sweeps: Wednesday - Yankees Have No Money, Boston Interest Turning Cold

It appears that even the Yankees have a payroll ceiling - Brian Cashman pulled out of the Santana negotiations as he felt that the Yankees could not afford to load their payroll now that Pettitte had re-signed.

What had heated up last night now seems to have gone soft - Boston are still talking and shuffling their feet over the whole deal. They are STILL talking to the Twins and looking over their shoulder at the Yanks. It appears that some doubts still remain over going for the ace lefty.
The Twins are also turning out to be quite a player - they insist they do not necessarily want to trade Santana, and are spinning the roundtable again by re-opening invitations to other teams. The Mets are one of them and suddenly they appear to have pushed their way into the reckoning according to Santana's agent Peter Greenberg.

There was also an earlier rumor that a three-team trade was on the cards with Santana going to the Mets, Haren to the Twins and Jose Reyes to A's. But this has been quashed as a hoax but it was fun while it lasted. Good reporting if you ask me.

Rolen Needs To Go: Cards

Despite earlier assurances that manager La Russa and Jimmy Rolen could play happy as a team, it appears that La Russa has re-opened old wounds, this time with a scathing attack on the player.

La Russa basically questioned the player's responsibility to the team and fans - that is extremely heavy accusations and in effect, calls for the fans to turn on Rolen if it continues like this.

I wouldn't be surprised if fresh talks with teams are opened again soon. The Brewers were interested earlier before talks broke down. Perhaps they would come back in again given the fresh revelations.

Bonds Wants To Play - Would You Sign Him?

The embattled batter still wants to play next year, according to his agent Jeff Boris. He would be able to do so as his trial would likely only start at the end of the year, thus freeing him up for the season.

However, with his baggageluggage, would any team take him on, that remains the question. He might increase his chances with a lower asking price, since any possibility of him providing service beyond 2008 seems remote.

If anything, perhaps Hank Steinbrenner should take him on for an annual boost. Would you take Barry Bonds on with all the issues surrounding him?

Johan Santana Sweeps : Latest Tuesday

Most of the talk flying around has dwindled to Boston being in the prime seat for Santana now. There have been a million stories circulating throughout the day on this, with many saying the deal has been done, naming different combinations of players involved.

Theo Epstein expects negotiations with the Twins to carry on throughout the night and that they are likely to finalize an agreement. The Twins have also stated that they hope to end the whole affair by tonight. Meanwhile, here's what you might have missed:

- Lester, Crisp, Ellsbury and Lowrie?
- Lester, Crisp, Lowrie and Masterson?
- 3 for 1 or 4 for 1?
- Yankees have no chance to best Boston's offer?
- Hank does not want Santana anymore and that's final
- it's Lester, Masterson and Kalish

It would be interesting to see what happens next if the Red Sox do get Santana. The Beckett contract renegotiations would become an issue.

Fukudome Heading To Cubs?

Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times mentioned that Kosuke Fukudome would likely get a similar deal to that of Torii Hunter's five-year, $90 mil, even though Fukudome is not looking for such a long term arrangement.

But here's what's interesting - Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times has claimed that the Japanese outfielder is certain to sign with the Cubs.

Tigers Set To Acquire Cabrera and Willis

In what would be a blockbuster trade involving up to 8 players, the Detroit Tigers are set to acquire Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis from the Marlins in exchange for 6 studs!

There was an earlier report by Jim Molony with regards to the rumor, but now Joe Frisaro of MLB.com has published another to substantiate the whispers.

The Tigers will be packing outfielder Cameron Maybin, lefty starter Andrew Miller, catcher Mike Rabello, and pitchers Dallas Trahern, Eulogio De La Cruz and Burke Badenhop. Badenhop, De La Cruz and Trahern have been ranked as the Tigers' prospect list as #1, 7 and 11 respectively, by Kevin Goldstein of The Baseball Prospectus.

While there has been no official confirmation, several of the named players involved are already making statements based on the assumption. Expect some announcement before the end of the Winter Meetings on Thursday.

Erik Bedard Rumors

There are now 11 teams officially interested in the Baltimore Orioles' southpaw ace Erik Bedard. These include the Phillies, Cardinals, Yankees, Mets, Mariners, Angels, Dodgers, D'backs, Tigers, Jays and Cubs.

The Dodgers appear to be the frontrunners, as noted by Joel Sherman. Peter Angelos does not want Bedard to be traded within the division as well, so the Yanks and Jays would seem to be out of the running. I would also doubt that the Tigers would have much interest, as they are now involved in an 8 player swap with the Marlins for Cabrera and Willis.

Elijah Dukes To Nationals

The Rays have traded Elijah Dukes to the Washington Nationals. In return they will get Glenn Gibson, a 20 year old southpaw starter.

Jim Bowden hopes that Dmitri Young will act as a mentor for Dukes, who's widely known to be trouble. It also leaves the Nationals with an outfield surplus, although Bowden does not appear to be worried.

Gibson would be a good trade for the Rays. He is known to have "a decent fastball, very good curve, and tons of polish.".

Santana Updates Around The Majors

Joe Christensen of the Star Tribune had an interesting writeup on the whole Johan Santana affair. He says that Hank Steinbrenner's earlier comments on the whole negotiation process was blatant tampering, and goes on to give his assessment of how the Yankees are really the only serious party for Santana, and they might be pulling off a similar stunt to that of Randy Johnson a few years ago - back the Twins into a corner and get Santana later on a deal better weighed for them (Yanks).

The Twins themselves are not amused with Steinbrenner's comments, and it appears that they will pursue tampering charges. They are also stated to be in no hurry to trade Santana and would keep him if required.

Dodgers Offer Andruw Jones 2 Years, $32 Mil

According to ESPN's Jerry Crasnick, the Dodgers have offered Andruw Jones a two-year, $32 mil contract. On the one hand, Jones is asking for an offer similar to Torri Hunter's five-year, $90 mil signing with the Angels. On the other hand, he had a less than stellar 2007 and the Dodgers would not want to risk a long term deal.

The MLB.com report added, for what it's worth, that the Dodgers are actively and aggressively pursuing Hiroki Kuroda for rotation depth.

White Sox Sends Chris Carter To D'Backs For Quentin

Not very good news for White Sox fans - they will send Chris Carter to the D'Backs for outfielder Carlos Quentin.

Chris Carter was recently ranked as the White Sox's 4th best prospect, and best positional prospect by Baseball Prospectus. In return they will get Carlos Quentin who has had recent injury problems, although he has been making a nice progress at Triple A. It does look like a better trade for Arizona in my opinion.

Miguel Tejada Draws Interest From Giants, Astros

Jon Heyman says that the Giants and Astros are keen on Miguel Tejada. Again, there are more details on Astros' interest - they're moving a lot for many players along with the Angels. Heyman noted that Tejada's production has been dropping in recent years, and this time, the Orioles would like Michael Bourn, Adam Everett and other prospects from Astros.

Miguel Cabrera Move On The Cards Soon

Another blockbuster move in the off-season would obviously be that of Marlins' Miguel Cabrera. This is definitely on as the latest Marlins' marketing materials do not include him, despite all the protracted negotiations with other teams.

The Angels have laid their offer on the table and stopped further talks and asked Florida to get back to them on an acceptance. The Marlins demanded both Nick Adenhart and Ervin Santana, while Angels would only push either one. It is highly unlike LA will surrender both.

It'll be interesting to see how far Marlins can push their luck on this trade. They need to shave Cabrera's high salary off their budget and push might come to shove with Angels backing out. The Dodgers have already pulled their names out of the hat, although there are other teams still showing strong interest.

Boston In Shock Move For Santana?

Earlier, the news making the round was that the Yankees were in the clear in the race for Santana's pitching arm, but ESPN's Buster Olney has reported that the Red Sox have decided to include Jacoby Ellsbury in the deal. On the other hand, this offer will not include Lester.

The Twins are now expected to decide on one of the two offers, as Santana has told them he will not waive his no-trade clause during the season. The main sticking point appears to be the Twins desire to milk the trade for all it's worth. They insist on better selections with each offer the Yankees or Red Sox return on the table.

With the renewed Red Sox package, I might have to retract my earlier assessment and feel that the Red Sox might have edged closer to Santana.

More on the Red Sox, Eric Gagne will not take up Boston's offer of arbitration as he prefers to close. Texas are keen to take him on, but only for one year.

Update: The Yankees have placed a deadline on their offer at end of Monday.

Mike Timlin Stays In Boston? Erik Bedard To Mets?

The Boston Globe has a report that an unnamed Red Sox official revealed Mike Timlin has been re-signed for a one-year $3 mil deal. While Timlin continued to have a steady 2007, he turns 42 in March and the deal is a very good one for him.

The NY Daily News has also implied that the Mets might have traded for Ryan Church to acquire Erik Bedard, with the Orioles indicating that Church in place of Milledge then would have been a more attractive offer.

In another interesting tidbit in the same report, Yorvit Torrealba will be pursuing an action against the Mets for the breaking down of their deal after his physical. Torrealba ended up re-signing with the Rockies after the failed move.

Randy Wolf Joins Padres

Randy Wolf has signed with the San Diego Padres from the Dodgers. The deal will be for one-year while the figures are not out as yet. Wolf had shoulder surgery in late August but is expected to be ready for Spring Training. The general consensus is that he will be a good stable addition to the Friars' starting rotation despite a generally topsy-turvy 2007.

The Padres are still shopping for relatively cheap starters with strong interest in Matt Clement and Mark Prior.

Japanese Players Announcing MLB Destination

After announcing that he will definitely be heading to the MLB from Japan, speculation is on which team Hiroki Kuroda will end up with. The Mariners, D'Backs, Dodgers and Royals have all shown interest, with Seattle having offered a four-yearl deal earlier.

Kosuke Fukudome is another who should be in the MLB next year. Of the few teams who have shown big interest, the Cubs remain the most vocal. They failed to get Kaz Matsui, hoping to use him as bait to lure Fukudome to Wrigley's. It would be interesting to see if the White Sox step in to outbid their neighbours. They lost out on Aaron Rowand and Torri Hunter, and Fukudome would fit right in on their requirements.

The Padres are another team who have already enquired about the player, while the Yankees and Red Sox are the customary mentions. Both teams have scouted Fukudome but I would be surprised if either team added to their present Japanese stock. The Rangers are another team looking at the player.

Santana Likely To End Up With Yankees

Earlier in the day, Buster Olney reported that the Yankees had agreed to include Phil Hughes in the Santana trade, and made it official. He also noted that the Twins would have another round of talks with the Red Sox, but that appears to have gone nowhere with Boston still insisting on Coco Crisp instead of Jacoby Ellsbury.

La Velle E. Neal III mentioned that Ian Kennedy would be included in the Yankees' offer. However, Jon Heyman disagreed and claimed the third player will not be from any of Kennedy, Alan Horne or Jose Tabata.

Ken Rosenthal is the latest to add to the mill. The Twins are apparently making additional demands of either Alberto Gonzalez or Alan Horne as the third player. It would be interesting to see if the Yankees relent to it as Phil Hughes had already been thrown in for good measure.

All the movement has been from the Yankees camp. The Red Sox have not budged from day one and Dan Haren would be a better bet to end up at Fenway.

Notable Deals: Rogers, Milledge, Izturis

Some deals that closed as of today:

• Kenny Rogers has joined up with the Tigers again, on a one-year deal possibly around $9 - $10 million.
• According to SNY via Metsblog, the Mets have traded bright prospect Lastings Milledge to the Washington Nationals for Brian Schneider and Ryan Church. It appears that Milledge was not such a lasting starter afterall. Still, the Nationals might have pulled off a coup.
• David Eckstein should be on his way out of St Louis, now that the Cardinals have signed shortstop Cesar Izturis on a one-year deal worth $2.85 million. The report also mentioned the Cardinals' interest in Brewers' Chris Capuano.
• Kaz Matsui has finally joined the Houston Astros for three years, $15 mill. Despite all the talk about Matsui being ineffective and not worth the money, I believe it is a good signing for the Astros as he can improve their infield.

Johan Santana Updates

Whoever thought that it would be down to any other team other than the Yankees and Red Sox must have been in Never Never Land. Anyway, it appears now that the Yankees are doing much more to land the ace lefty. Peter Gammons reported earlier today on Mike & Mike In The Morning that Hank Steinbrenner could step in to push Phil Hughes in the trade, something which the other franchise staff are not keen on. It's the traditional Steinbrenner get-stars-at-all-cost approach and forget about building a club from the ground up (although I must say that baseball rarely does that nowadays).

ESPN's Buster Olney also has the same opinions, including Melky Cabrera and one other prospect to be included in the package.

Meanwhile, the Yankees are also talking to the A's about Dan Haren. There has also been suggestions that the Red Sox are not really keen on Santana, being on the table only to push up the price for the player, while side stepping the Yankees for Dan Haren. Whatever that amounts to, it has gone to dust anyway. Getting Santana on the Boston team would also bring up questions about Josh Beckett's salary - a rework would have to be done.

In my opinion now, the Yankees are the clear favourites to land Santana.

Update: The Yankees have confirmed that Phil Hughes will be included in any package for Santana. As mentioned earlier, with this addition, Yankees will be at the forefront of any race for Johan Santana.

Yankees Relief News

According to Peter Abraham, LaTroy Hawkins, Ron Mahay and Luis Vizcaino are among the names bandied around by the Yankees as possible additions to their relief pitching. There is competition for both Hawkins and Mahay from the Tigers, Rockies, Braves, Brewers and Royals. On the other hand, Yankees could off-load Kei Igawa as he does not have a spot in the rotation - interest in Igawa might not be strong though.

Santana Trade Talks: More News

The rumor mill intensifies with each passing day. Here's what the various reports have on possibly the blockbuster move of the off-season:

SI.com's Jon Heyman has the Yankees leading the way in the Santana Sweepstakes. Boston comes a close second and his main reason being that they do not necessarily need him, and the sticking point remains their refusal to let go of Ellsbury. Smart move.

ESPN's Jason Stark notes that there are other teams interested in Coco Crisp, but Boston have stalled any discussions on those as they look to include Crisp in any Santana deal. He also mentions Mariners being keen on Santana, but let's face it - the other teams are there just to make up the numbers, really.

The Boston Herald says that the Twins want at least two from the trio of Ellsbury/Buchholz/Lester. We all know what Boston thinks of that.

ESPN Insider Buster Olney says it's not Masterson that should be in the package, but Michael Bowden. He also suggests that the Red Sox and Yankees are pushing each other to go high in their offers. A stumbling block would be Santana's full no-trade clause and his asking for a market ceiling-type contract of six years and $150 million.

Riske Joins Brewers To Prop Up Crumbling Bullpen

Buster Olney reports that David Riske will join the Brewers on a multi-year deal. The veteran reliever will bring some relief for a Milwaukee bullpen that has seen Cordero and Linebrink departing in the offseason.

Riske had a strong outing in 2006 - 52 strikes in 69 2/3 innings, 2.45 ERA in 65 games.

Red Sox In Lead For Santana?

TwinCities.com's Shooter Charley Walters reports that the Boston Red Sox are now in the lead for Santana's signature, despite refusing to include Jacoby Ellsbury in the trade. The package for Santana includes Coco Crisp, Jed Lowry, Jon Lester and Justin Masterson.

The Twins' free agent Carlos Silva is also mulling over offers from the Tigers, Mets, Phillies and Royals. Both pitchers will be celebrating impending moves at Silva's wedding in Venezuela this weekend.

And a reason why clubs are throwing cash around on players this off-season is due to potential per-club revenue from online media properties possibly reaching $25 million. The revenue generated by the MLB this year alone has reached $6 billion and further growth is expected.

Troy Percival Agrees To Deal With Rays

According to ESPN's Buster Olney, Troy Percival will be coming on board the Rays on a 2-year deal. The move is pending a physical and should be made official sometime today.

Earlier yesterday, Ken Rosenthal sounded some caution to the news as the Yankees were also offering a setup role for Percival, while the Milwaukee Brewers had also stepped in, albeit only a one-year deal as a closer.

Update: Another report from Ken Rosenthal that not only does Percival NOT need a physical now, he will receive a two-year, $8 million deal. He also turned down a Yankee offer which had more money. Sentimentality still wins sometimes.

Herges And Torrealba Remain In Colorado

The Rockies have finalized deals with two members of their World Series team - relief pitcher Matt Herges and catcher Yorvit Torrealba. Pending physicals, the team will be making official announcements on Thursday.

Torrealba decided to remain with the Rockies after breaking off from contract talks with the Mets at a late stage. He has agreed with Colorado to a two-year deal with a mutual option while Herges has taken up a one-year deal with a club option for a second year.

The Rockies now turn their attention to another member of their NL Pennant team - LaTroy Hawkins. Currently a free agent, the reliever could be a target for the Detroit Tigers.

Santana Trade Talks Heats Up

The LA Angels are getting busy - despite a fantastic rotation, they are still keen on Santana. The Twins want a third baseman, center fielder and pitcher in return for Santana, with Angels third-base prospect Brandon Wood, Gary Matthews Jr. and Reggie Willits stoking their fires although LA would be hesitant on any trades on Wood.

Meanwhile, Aaron Gleeman gives a nice analysis on the possible Yankees and Santana scenarios, as there is talk of Santana being very keen on New York. Yankees fans who are dreading any trade involving Chamberlain and Cano should read this.

A Red Sox move seems unlikely given that they would prefer Coco Crisp to be the one involved rather than Ellsbury. What would be shocking - Kevin Youkilis included in the trade.

The Mets have a number of names bandied around including Mike Pelfrey, Carlos Gomez, Lastings Milledge and Kevin Mulvey, but might have to include David Wright or Jose Reyes for any possibility of Twins considering their offer.

The Cubs, Dodgers and Mariners remain on the hotstove but given their respective situations and potential, they remain unlikely destinations for Santana.

Update: Since the news about the Young move to Twins, it appears that the Santana trade has taken a whole new dimension. With the loss of Garza and acquisition of outfielders, Bill Smith might be looking at a new pitcher and third baseman. The Angels and Dodgers would have an upper hand in those departments, pushing the Yankees and Red Sox down the queue.

Matsui Heading To Cubs Afterall?

Just when I thought a move by the Cubs for Kaz Matsui had gone dead, ESPN Insider Buster Olney says that the Cubs are still in the mix for the left-handed hitter. The news started as a rumor about a Denver radio report which went unverified but now that some credibility has been given on ESPN, it starts looking interesting again.

If the Cubs do get their man, naturally expect a big concerted effort for Fukudome. Still, it would be a big gamble given that they would not necessarily need Matsui if any Fukudome prospect goes dead.

Delmon Young Twins Switch In Blockbuster Move

According to La Velle E. Neal III, the Twins and Rays are finalizing a multi-player trade soon to be announced today. Delmon Young will be switching to the Twins along with Brendan Harris and Jason Pridie, while Matt Garza, Jason Bartlett and Juan Rincon will head to the Rays.

Young is a good young hitter (.288 in 2007 with 13 homers and 93 RBIs) and the Twins would shave their payroll offloading Rincon. Harris and Pridie are no slouchers either, and looks like a great deal for the Twins, especially for their outfield.

For the Rays, if anything, it adds on to their good young rotation with Garza now in the frame.

Update: The trade has been completed with all the players named above involved, except for Eduardo Morlan from the Twins heading to the Rays instead of Rincon.

Santana Trade Talks Intensifies

As reported by SI.com's Jon Heyman, it is not surprising the Yankees and Red Sox are at the forefront of the negotiations. The Twins have stated their demands:

- Red Sox bright prospect Jacoby Ellsbury plus either Clay Buchholz or Jon Lester. Coco Crisp remains in the mix.

- Yankees' Melky Cabrera plus one from the following trio - Chamberlain, Hughes or Kennedy.

The Red Sox appear to have a strong rotation, so to speak. My personal opinion is that while Coco Crisp would be easy to let go, Ellsbury might be another matter altogether. The rookie performed in the World Series and it might be interesting to see how he develops if given a chance to remain with the World Champions. I am not sure if the Red Sox really need Santana that badly.

Huge Interest In Kuroda

The Mariners, Phillies and now Diamondbacks have made offers to Japanese starter Hiroki Kuroda. Other teams keen on the player are the Dodgers, Cubs, Rangers, Tigers, Royals and Mets.

So far the largest offer appears to be from Seattle, made 10 days ago at 3 years at $30 million. The other offers do not seem to match the Mariners', with the D'Backs offer of $9 million annually for 3 years to be the closest matched.

The Cubs' interest might have cooled as well now that Matsui does not appear to be on their minds, and he was key to any firm approach for Kuroda.

Can Matt Clement Revive Career?

Free agent Matt Clement is attracting a lot of interest, with the Pittsburg Pirates now throwing their bid in the hat along with the Rockies, Diamondbacks, Royals, Padres and Blue Jays. Having been in rehabilitation for the whole of 2007 since season ending shoulder surgery since September 2007, the once promising pitcher, nicknamed "DoorMatt" during his unfortunate stint with the Boston Red sox, is looking to revive his career.

Known for his sinking fastball and hard slider mixed with a four-seamer and changeup, Clement might do well to seek a suitable team with modest prospects to re-establish himself as a Major League pitcher that teams had difficulty facing in the past. Away from the intense media glare would suit someone hoping to recover from potential career threatening injuries, while he would need to temper his tendency to overwork his arm.

On that point, if the Cincinnati Reds do show any interest, given that ex-Cubs manager Dusty Baker (who coached Clement during his time with the Cubs) now presides over them, it would be ill-advised to make that move a reality. Baker was known to push Clement and leave him in games for too long, which could have indirectly contributed to the right-hander's subsequent decline.

Cordero Joins Cincinnati On Record 4 Year Deal

Francis Cordero is set to join the Cincinnati Reds, pending a physical, on a record 4 year deal for a major league closer. The package is worth $46 million, and includes an option for a fifth year that would bring the total value up to $57 million.

In an off-season filled with record contracts and obscene amounts of money being thrown around, you wonder how long this will go on before Major League Baseball becomes a full-on marketing machine to rake in even more to cope with skyrocketing player wage demands.

Cordero has been brought in to help improve the Reds' horrible save conversion opportunities, which was only at 54.8 percent in 2007, the lowest percentage in the National League. Cordero converted an impressive 44 of 51 opportunities last season.

Joe Kennedy Dies At Age 28

Joe Kennedy of the Toronto Blue Jays has passed away this morning at his home in Florida. The cause of death has not been determined as yet and it has come as a shock. Kennedy was a stable pitcher at every club he played with, and a dependable player when required. To lose a young man at 28 years old is tragic.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Joe Kennedy's family.

Torii Moves To Angels

In a surprising development that saw Torii Hunter signing for LA Angels in a five-year deal reportedly worth $80-$90 million, the Angels now have a formidable outfield that includes Garret Anderson, Vladimir Guerrero, Juan Rivera, Gary Matthews Jr. and Reggie Willits.

However, questions will now be asked who will make way for Hunter. It could be possible that he has been acquired for another stealth move for the Marlins' Miguel Cabrera, although it was more likely that one of the other present group would be used instead.

Hunter would be an excellent addition to the LA franchise, with career batting average of .271, 192 homers and 711 RBIs in 1,234 games. He is also a motivational presence in the clubhouse and committed to the game.

Nationals Interest Still In Elijah Woods

There has been reported interest in the Washington Nationals adding to their pool of troubled players made good, with the latest search focusing on the Rays' Elijah Dukes. The deal might be balanced on whether a deal can be agreed on an exchange for a pitcher or shortstop in return, according to MLB Trade Rumours.

With Washington's third base coach coaching Dukes in winter ball, there could be more than a likely chance that the deal will go through eventually. With Jim Bowden having established a system in mentoring such players, it might be Elijah's crack at a second chance.

Jimmy Rollins Wins NL MVP

He did not make the All-Star team in July, but ended up with 16 of 32 first-place votes in balloting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America to win his first NL MVP award. Philadelphia Phillies' Jimmy Rollins bagged it after batting .296 with 30 homers, 94 RBIs and 41 steals for 2007. He also led the league in runs (139) and triples (20).

But like A-Rod, did he deserve it?

Mets Get Rid Of Mota, Trades For Estrada

In what could be a low-risk trade, the New York Mets have gotten rid of poor reliever Guillermo Mota and acquired catcher Johnny Estrada from the Milwaukee Brewers.

While Estrada has decent numbers on the plate, hitting .278 with 10 homers and 54 RBIs with the Brewers this year, he threw out only 7.6 per cent of runners attempting to steal - the lowest among NL catchers. So Omar Minaya was only half right with his assessment:

"Johnny adds depth to our catching situation. He’s a former All-Star who switch-hits and has hit over .300 three times in his career."

Meanwhile, Mota was often booed by home fans, going just 2-2 with a 5.76 ERA in 52 relief appearances this season.

Indians Strengthen Bullpen With Kobayashi

The Cleveland Indians have added more depth to their already strong bullpen, in signing Japanese free agent closer Masahide Kobayashi. Both parties have agreed to a $6.25 million, two-year contract. This is a great addition to a Cleveland department that brought them within a game of the World Series this year. Kobayashi, 33, has had at least 20 saves in each of his past seven seasons in Japan, has totaled more than 200 saves in the country's baseball leagues, and should be a strong set-up guy for Indians closer Joe Borowski, for at least an inning.

White Sox Busy Hunters In Off-Season

Fresh off the trade which saw Orlando Cabrera joining them from the Angels, the Chicago White Sox have moved quickly to add more strength to their defense, with negotiations with Torii Hunter expected to be finalised in the next few days. MLB Rumors Correspondent Brady Yu reports that Hunter is looking forward to wrapping up the deal before Thanksgiving.

It would be interesting to see which players the White Sox are interested in to improve their rotation, now that they have beefed up the other departments and with Garland gone.

Yankees Money Machine Rolls On

The New York Yankees are continuing to bankroll their aging stars, making Mariano Rivera the highest paid reliever in history - at 37 years old. The three-year deal, worth $45 million is pending a physical.

While there is no doubting the quality that Rivera offers, the Yankees may seem to be throwing money in desperation with the free agent market lacking in quality relievers. Rivera has put up falling numbers in recent times and with his age, those numbers do not offer much in return value. While the club and players have voiced his contribution in terms of experience, I am not sure if it should come at such cost.

Red Sox Secure Lowell

Mike Lowell has finally decided to stay with the World Champions. The deal is for three years, worth $37.5 million and Boston have managed to retain a consistent and hardworking high-quality performer. And World Series MVP to boot.

It was also comforting to find a star player like Lowell to have turned down extra money to stay with a team that would offer better chances of more professional glory. The player had 4 year deal offers from the Phillies and Dodgers, but chose to remain with the Red Sox. While the value of those offers are not known, and might be lower relatively to what he got with Boston, you are not remembered by most in history for bagging more money, but trophies.

A-Rod Wins Third AL MVP

Despite being a serial under-performer in the playoffs, Alex Rodriguez comfortably captured his third AL MVP award by capturing 26 first-place votes in balloting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Detroit's Magglio Ordonez finished a distant second-place behind with two first-place votes and 258 points overall.

While over the season, A-Rod dominated the headlines with a major league leading 54 homers, 156 RBIs and 143 runs, it highlighted his post-season failings even more. The player himself is aware of his less-than-appealing record and hopes to improve it eventually, no less with the New York Yankees, with whom he played cat-and-mouse in post-season negotiations.

There is no doubt over his abilities, but it remains to be seen if A-Rod can fulfill his promise as a player and win a World Series ring.

White Sox Trades Garland For Cabrera

In what seems like a trade for future negotiation weigh-ins, the Chicago White Sox have dealt pitcher Jon Garland to the LA Angels for Gold Glove shortstop Orlando Cabrera.

It could signal the use of Juan Uribe as a bargaining chip in other trades, since he was just re-signed a couple of weeks ago. You would not see Cabrera on the bench, that's for sure:

"We saw an opportunity to acquire one of the best shortstops in the game and one of the smartest shortstops in the game. Somebody who can fit into the No. 2 spot in our lineup for 155 games," Chicago general manager Ken Williams said.

The White Sox may need to look for a capable replacement for Garland though. The right-hander had youth on his side and despite a 10-13 record with a 4.23 ERA over 32 starts this year, was dependable and had 18-game high wins in the previous two years.

For the Angels, Garland now joins a strong rotation, although you wonder if they are strengthening the right department. For a team that relies heavily on their defensive abilities, dealing away a productive batter in Cabrera (.301, 8 homers, 86 RBIs, 101 runs for 2007) does not improve the team overall. The White Sox have also gotten the better end of the deal financially.

Barry Bonds - Hall Of Shame, Going, Going...

"This record is not tainted at all.
At all. Period."

Barry Bonds has been indicted for perjury and obstruction of justice on Thursday and reports are that there is strong evidence to prove that he had lied to a federal grand jury that he had not knowingly used steroids.

Obviously most baseball fans would be saying that they have known this for years, but it is only now that a report has been published that has pointed out 19 occasions when Bonds had lied under oath.

Bonds is now scheduled to appear in court on Dec 7 to face the charges. Investigators seem to be confident that they have a strong case against the baseball star.

"During the criminal investigation, evidence was obtained including positive tests for the presence of anabolic steroids and other performance enhancing substances for Bonds and other athletes," the indictment said.

It appears that the Giants have pulled out at the right time, and Bonds' off-season would be spent defending his legacy against accusations of it tainted by heavy drug use. This comes after a season when Bonds broke the home run record previously held by Hank Aaron. The home run king was looking for a new team to call home when these fresh new charges surfaced.

Facing the possibility of not entering the Hall of Fame would be the furthest thing from Bond's mind now. He might be facing a long time in prison instead if proven guilty.

A-Rod's Yankee Negotiation A Likely Ruse?

In a move that has clearly shown that you should never say 'never' in the business of sports, Alex Rodriguez is now in discussions with the New York Yankees over a new deal that will see him stay in pinstripes.

The Yankees are believed to be offering A-Rod a 10 year contract worth about $280 million, which could amount to a total over $300 million due to incentives.

After fanning off the Yankees' attempts to talks before declarations of free agency, A-Rod seems to have had a change of heart and now professes to want to stay a Yankee because "...Cynthia and I have a foundation with the club that has brought us comfort, stability and happiness."

While Hank Steinbrenner has gotten feedback that the star third baseman wants to remain in pinstripes, it is a likely scenario that this could be nothing more than a move to boost his market value. As long as he does not put pen to paper, A-Rod is still free to discuss any potential offers from other clubs.

As long as there is another team determined to land A-Rod's services, overcoming the high cost package is possible. On the other hand, it could be that the player and his agent have realised that perhaps no other team could meet their desired $350 million deal and have offered an olive branch to their previous team. Afterall, other than Boston, the Yankees are realistically the only teams who can afford that obscene amount of money and still present a practical chance of winning a World Series.

Something which A-Rod has always claimed that he wishes more than just... money.

Will We Have A Phil Jackson In The MLB?

It appears that the Lakers' Phil Jackson might have gotten too Zen and lyrical in his latest comments alluding to the film Brokeback Mountain which have landed him in hot water. After Tuesday night's game against the San Antonio Spurs, Jackson was asked if there was too much penetration in the game which led to open outside shooters, after Spurs sunk 13 three-pointers.

"We call this a Brokeback Mountain game, because there's so much penetration and kickouts," Jackson said. "It was one of those games."

The 2005 Oscar winner is a film about two homosexual cowboys who hide their affair from society.

Since then there has been outrage from the public over Jackson's comments.

While the remarks are certainly distasteful, as many tend to say - bad publicity oftentimes is still good publicity. It draws attention and creates interest, no matter what form.

While the MLB has its fair share of colorful characters, too often there has been a lack of comments that stir the ire or imagination of the media and fans. Certainly, we do not wish to see such ill-thought behavior, but the more controversy the game generates, the better and greater media space it will be afforded.

The NBA and NFL have prospered in this manner, due to somehow a lack of thought the sportsmen seem to afford their minds before opening their mouths. Yet despite all the negativity it produces at times, both leagues are still grabbing the headlines. If the MLB hopes to one day gain an even greater share of marketing potential, perhaps it might hope to leverage on a few borderline 'Phil Jackson's someday.

Is The Cy Young A Consolation Award?

With the news that C.C. Sabathia has beaten Boston powerhouse Josh Beckett to the AL Cy Young Award, no doubt many fans and media alike will start to question the validity of the award.

Understandably so since it was Beckett who seemed invincible throughout the season, which continued right through to Boston sweeping the World Series against Colorado.

Beckett also overpowered the Cleveland ace when the two teams met in the ALDS, steering Boston from being 3-1 down to a remarkable (although surprisingly easy) comeback win.

Even I questioned if Sabathia's win was no more than a consolation prize (thus the title of this post), given that he performed well in the season after two disastrous seasons destroyed by injuries and Cleveland were sympathetic losers in the postseason.

However, such awards are not based on popular opinion. Sure enough, Beckett did a fantastic job and stormed to a 20 game winning season - the first big leaguer to do so since 2005. The man had amazing numbers and was often portrayed in the media as the best pitcher in the game right now, with clutch performances down the stretch.

Unfortunately, statistics play a big part in determining who snares these awards. And Sabathia just about shaded it in most departments.

3.21 ERA
241 innings
209 strikeouts
37 walks

Compare that to Beckett's numbers:

3.27 ERA
200 innings
194 strikeouts
40 walks

There will still be a sneaking feeling that Sabathia might have collected a fair share of sympathy votes from the Baseball Writers' Association of America. However, another clincher could be that comparatively, Sabathia plays behind a team on the whole, admittedly weaker than Boston. At least in terms of run support.

At the end of the day, it will be Sabathia's name in the history books.

Fukudome Fever To Descend On Wrigley?

There has been talk about the new Japanese free agent Kosuke Fukudome joining the major league ranks, with the Cubs in particular showing much interest. Sports Illustrated's John Donovan wrote a piece on the slugger's credentials and his transfer and performance potential should he cross the Pacific.

In all aspects according to SI.com, Fukudome's career statistics in Japan are highly impressive. He had a hitting percentage better than .340 twice, has led the Central League in hitting on a couple of occasions, and a career on-base percentage of .400. To top it off, his career slugging percentage is better than .500.

Patience at the plate is also a virtue that major league teams treasure and Fukudome squeezes walks out of pitchers like water from a sponge. 93 walks in 142 games in 2005, 76 walks from 130 games in 2006.

However, those are still in a relatively less taxing league compared to the MLB, and with some health issues in 2007, there will be a few question marks over his ability to acclimatise on a bigger stage.

Still, Japanese players have shown a marked trend of performing better as a hitter and outfielder, than a pitcher. There have been much better showcases in recent years with Boston benefiting most (Matsuzaka and Okajima come to mind), but it is the Yankees's Matsui and Seattle's Ichiro whom you hear of more often. Even Kaz Matsui of the Rockies garnered some attention this year. So there is more than a fair chance that Fukudome Fever might descend on the MLB, with the Cubs enjoying a possible rise in temperatures if they pull off a coup with Kosuke.

Posada Stays With Yanks - Now Highest Paid Catcher

Jorge Posada has agreed to sign on with the New York Yankees for a further 4 years on a $52.4 million deal. In doing so, he will become the highest paid catcher in the major leagues, topping Detroit Tigers' Ivan Rodriguez who will collect $13 million in 2008.

The deal is now pending Posada passing a physical before putting pen to paper.

Mariano Rivera is however, still in talks with the franchise. There has been no agreement thus far with the passing of the Tuesday deadline when free agents will be allowed to discuss financial terms with other teams.

Rivera appears to be keeping his options open. Hoping to secure a multi-year deal, the closer has stated that he will likely follow ex-Yankee manager Joe Torre to the Dodgers should contract negotiations with the Yankees break down.

Some Thoughts On Mets, Cubs, Rockies Trade Rumors

According to Eli of MLB Rumors, the Mets will not be going after Alex Rodriguez. However, there is speculation that they might be interested in Eric Gagne. Gagne was clutch with the Dodgers, but failed to live up to expectations with the Yankees, so you wonder how that will turn out if he ends up with the Mets.

Another ex-Yankee is also on their minds - Jose Contreras. Contreras has done well the past 2 seasons and could be a good addition, although quite honestly, Jon Garland might be a steadier bet given Contreras' streaky form.

There have been much talk about how the Rockies would be a force to be reckoned with in years to come. Not if they go the Marlins way and dismantle their emerging squad. Eli reports that they are likely to lose both Kazuo Matsui and Yorvit Torrealba. While baseball might be 70% pitching, if you do not have the other 30%, close games will not go your way. Matsui has been a strong contributor so why start from the beginning again?

Colorado's loss is Chicago's gain. The Cubs, to be precise. Looking to break their jinx in the 100th year, they are swooping for Matsui for second and shortstop. It is looking like they will hold on to Kerry Wood but you wonder if he can regain past glories. Eli says that the Cubs plan to be fairly active despite the pending ownership sale, and I do not expect otherwise - this could be their year and absolute sports history if they make the right decisions and end up winning the World Series.

Time To Let Rivera And Posada Go, Yankees?

With Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada planning to shop themselves around, is it time for the New York Yankees to finally break apart the team that Torre built?

No doubt new Yankees manager Joe Girardi would prefer a smoother transition instead of the massive team rebuilding going on now at the ballclub. However, are these players, no matter the experience they have, worth keeping around for long term contracts?

Both Rivera and Posada are still effective, the latter more so than the former. But the Yankees management have offered attractive deals no matter what, and Hank Steinnbrenner is adamant that playing for the uniform would mean just as much. The question now is if these players ultimately decide to decline the new contracts, what alternatives can the Yankees opt for?

It would seem that the Boston Red Sox have been approached regarding Mike Lowell, and there is a good chance that the third baseman might join the Yankees. However, Boston are likely to pull out all the stops to secure Lowell's signature, as surely the next best option of Alex Rodriguez would unsettle the established stability of the Red Sox.

Decisions by all parties will be reached soon in the coming weeks. Until then the Yankees will do well to look at other prospects for the new Girardi empire.

The Magic of Sports

In a recent article, Bryan Burwell talks about how the old traditionalists of baseball should welcome the introduction of instant replays and technology, for the good of the game. He argues that no longer would games, and important ones at that, be marred by wrong umpire decisions on wrong home run calls.

However, proponents of technology-assisted game calling fail to see the core reason why any sport, like baseball, fascinate millions of fans worldwide:

The controversy and drama that sports can create.

It is all good if games always have the right decisions made - so that in fairness, every team get what they deserve. However, in such a perfect scenario, there would be nothing to talk about except for the performances and results. There would be nothing to be enthralled over except achievements of the best teams.

Getting the bad end of the stick of an errorneous umpire decision can suck for the team on the receiving end, but it creates talking points. It creates news. It generates controversy which fans all over the world will remember over time.

And that is what sports, and baseball, needs to thrive on. Without it, you get pure, sanitised and boring games. Why bother with that when you get the same from playing computer sports games?

Bonds Threatens To Boycott Hall Of Fame

In a typical display of arrogance, Barry Bonds has said he will boycott the baseball Hall of Fame if they choose to put up his record-breaking home run ball on display.

This is because the ball has been marked with an asterisk. Bonds vehemently disputes the right of having an asterisk in baseball.

"I don't think you can put an asterisk in the game of baseball and I don't think that the Hall of Fame can accept an asterisk in their Hall of Fame," Bonds said. "You cannot give people the freedom, the right, to alter history. You can't do it. There's no such thing as an asterisk in baseball."

However, Bonds did say that he had the right to change his mind if in any case the situation were to arise. There is still no certainty that the major league home run record holder will be inducted into the baseball museum, as he remains embroiled in a steroid controversy.

Andy Pettitte To Quite Baseball?

While the southpaw Pettitte has still to make up his mind, he has given a strong indication that if he was not to play with the Yankees in 2008, he would not be in any other team. Many players have previously made similar statements, but one certainly hopes that Pettitte would be a real man and stay true to his proclamations.

Unfortunately, money really talks in this world, and now with the MLB turning in a whole lot of moolah, it would not be a surprise if Pettitte turns down any deal offered by the Yankees and bring his wares to another higher paying team. The lefty went 15-9, with a 4.05 ERA this season, and certainly looks to be able to continue for a couple more seasons. If not with the Yankees, at least with another middle-of-the-road team in the majors.

Rivera Likely To Stay With Yankees

In a move that showed how much more class and dedication he has to the pinstripes compared to another big-earning star, the New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera have met up with team management to discuss a new deal.

While this would be his last contract in a career that has seen Rivera only with one club - the Yankees, it still showed there are players in this time who do not place money as their only priority. Mariano has insisted he wished to stay at the club, and everything he has done so far affirms that.

According to the NY Times, the Yankees have made an initial offer to Rivera relative to his demands. They now await further negotiations with the star closer.

Padres' Mike Cameron Suspended For Failed Drug Test

The San Diego Padres' Mike Cameron has been suspended for the first 25 games of 2008 after failing a second drug test. The player made the announcement before any official statement from the MLB, and filed for free agency soon after.

While this news would certainly affect his value on the market, what was most worrying and ridiculous was his claim that a nutritional supplement that he took must have been tainted with the banned substance.

In other words, it was not his fault that a banned drug was found in his system. Blame it on the supplement manufacturers who must have left it in there without informing consumers.

He would not be the first professional baseball player to be caught, nor will he be the first sportsman to blame his cheating ways on others.

"Hey, I just did my job and took care of my body based on what nutritional scientists recommended. They were the ones who put the stuff in my body."

Statements from the Padres management were more damning (depending on how you interpreted it):

"He was a great teammate, a great person. He made a mistake, got caught and will pay for it now.", said Padres General Manager Kevin Towers.

There you have it. Quite a signal of intention.

A-Rod Headed To Boston?

Scott Boras, Alex Rodriguez's agent, has come out to make this statement in reply to what kind of deal his client was looking for:

"Alex's goals are to win a championship and achieve the historical records that are within his reach, all in the same uniform," he said.

If his claims are taken to be serious, and A-Rod does prioritize winning championships more than adding more zeros to his bank account balances, then that would point him to only one team that would ensure that.

The Boston Red Sox.

His game is suited to the new World Series Champions. However, his personality and attitude does not appear to, as he is known to have a continuing feud with certain Boston players.

Yet, Boston is now currently the team to beat. And they look likely to dominate the game for a few more years yet. The decisions made by the management have mostly turned to gold, and there has been a gradual change in the image of a team from one that was fun to watch but always failing at the final hurdle, to one that is all professional and methodical in dispatching all competition, yet maintaining a distinct quality to their play.

Boston - the only place for A-Rod to win championships now, if he is serious.

Schilling Bids Farewell To Boston On A High, 43 More Players File For Free Agency

On a day when Boston Red Sox great Curt Schilling bidded farewell to many teammates and leaving a team on a high after winning the World Series, a total of 43 players, including Schilling and 3 other of his teammates (Matt Clement, Eric Hinske and Bobby Kielty), filed for free agency.

Chances are Schilling will not return to Boston, given his age and losing his power game this season. While he demonstrated he could adapt with a 3-0, 3.00 ERA in four 2008 postseason starts, Boston would do better turning to a younger and more powerful prospect. Boston skipper Jason Varitek expressed hopes that Schilling will return, but that had to be more of a sentiment vote than anything else.

Other notables who filed for free agency were Sammy Sosa, Tony Clark, Darin Erstad and Aaron Boone (who will only be remembered for that walk off homer that sealed the Yankees comeback win against Boston in the 2003 ALCS).

A-Rod To Join Torre At Dodgers?

With the imminent hiring of Joe Torre as their new manager, could the LA Dodgers now make Alex Rodriguez their next record signing?

A-Rod has always enjoyed a close relationship with Torre during their time together with the New York Yankees. Now that the dust is settling on Torre's next destination, the Aaron Award winner might make LA the next stop in his glittering career.

A-Rod's agent, Scott Boras, who on Tuesday apologised to the MLB and fans in general for releasing news on Rodriguez's decision to opt out of his Yankees contract while the World Series was still going on, has refused to comment on any further development of his client's contract talks with other teams. However, Torre would be an attractive incentive if the Dodgers could come up with a sizable offer. The ex-Yankees manager has often shielded his star player from criticism and stuck by him when A-Rod faced a difficult time last year in the pinstripes.

It would be interesting though, to see how the Dodgers would balance their payrolls if they were to sign A-Rod, and how that could in turn affect their acquisition of other players and prospects in team development.

Joe Torre Joins Dodgers With Don Mattingly, Grady Little Resigns

Following news reported earlier that the LA Dodgers were lining up ex-Yankees manager Joe Torre to replace Grady Little, the latter resigned from the team today amidst reports that the Dodgers and Torre had already agreed terms to his contract. All that was left of Torre desire to have his own coaching staff.

This coaching team would possibly include Don Mattingly, who had also left the Yankees after announcements that he had lost the job to Joe Girardi.

While there are still differing reports on the size of his new contract, Torre is expected to have signed with the Dodgers for at least 2 to 3 years. He would replace ex-Boston Red Sox manager Grady Little at the helm, who left in a cloud of player unrest and a certain amount of bitterness, while hinting at various personal reasons for his decision.

Torre To Replace Little At Dodgers?

In what appears to be an October managerial merry-go-round, Joe Torre is rumoured to replace Grady Little as the new manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, according to The Journal News of White Plains, N.Y.. It could be as early as Tuesday. On his appearance last night on the Late Show with David Letterman, Torre appeared to sidestep the issue when his host broached the subject.

"That's a bad question to ask. I know what's been rumored. The local paper today is talking about going to LA. There has been a time or two that something that has been in the newspaper hasn't been true." replied Torre, when asked if he would be taking up the post with Dodgers or the LA Angels.

However, the Dodgers' reaction appeared to contradict his statements' intention. When approached late Monday, the franchise declined to comment. You know things are fishy when that happens.

It would not be a surprise if Little was to be replaced though. Despite holding baseball's best record in July, he failed to quell unrest between senior players and the younger ones down the stretch and they were inspired enough to end up fourth in the NL West, with an 82-80 record.

Joe Girardi Becomes Yankees Manager, Mattingly Quits, Yankees Rebuild

The New York Yankees have offered the vacant manager's post to Joe Girardi, who beat out bench coach Don Mattingly and first-base coach Tony Pena to take on the most challenging job in baseball. He now inherits a team with the largest payroll in the Major Leagues and the uneviable task of following in the footsteps of one of the sport's most successful managers in history, Joe Torre.

Girardi's contract is rumoured to be worth $6 million for three years. He faces a team rebuilding process that would make his main job of delivering the World Series even tougher than it already is. On Monday, star third baseman Alex Rodriguez chose to opt out of his contract with the Yankees to become a free agent, while veteran and No. 1 closer Mariano Rivera and catcher Jorge Posada have also entered free agency. Pitcher Andy Pettitte is another who stands to walk away from the team, although he has not made any announcement on a decision.

Changes will also take place in the management team. Much respected and great crowd favourite Don Mattingly, who served as Torre's bench coach this year, has resigned from his position with news that he had been bypassed for the manager's job. Mattingly had been the Yankees' hitting coach for three years prior to sitting next to Torre in 2007, and made no secret of his long term desire to take over the manager's post. He was understandably disappointed at missing out, but sent his well wishes to Girardi when the news broke. It is still to be seen if Pena would remain with the Yankees, although he has signalled previously there would be no problem working with either Girardi or Mattingly if either were chosen over him.

It is clear the Yankees are entering a new turbulent chapter in the club's history. With the departures of Torre, A-Rod and possibly the other 3 long-time Yankees, Girardi might in fact be allowed to craft a team more in his own image. It was interesting to note that he served as Posada's backup as a player in pinstripes in 1996, 1998 and 1999. It might be awkward given the roles are not interchanged. Girardi's fiery and passionate personality could also bring in a different face to the team previously under Torre, who was not known to resort to emotional methods in motivation. As the franchise continues to roll out the changes and attempt to stabilise the situations, it remains to be seen how a personality like Girardi, who famously won the NL Manager of the Year Award in 2006 before getting fired from his Florida Marlins post after falling out with its owners, would blend with the Steinbrenner style.

Replacing A-Rod presents another challenge. With Boston's Mike Lowell also to become a free agent despite winning the World Series, Yankees have a ready-made solution in going for a player with a proven track record of consistency and top-class performances. Lowell's postseason experience and clutch hitting would also outshine that of A-Rod's. Girardi's playing time with Derek Jeter and Rivera in the past would also see how the new man copes with being on the other side of the line with ex-colleagues. The next few weeks should reveal more.

A-Rod Opts Out - A Loss To Yankees?

As the baseball fraternity woke up this morning to the announcement that Alex Rodriguez had opted out of the final three years of his Yankees contract, many will no doubt question if the decision would deliver a knockout blow to the franchise's hopes for next season.

A-Rod led the Major Leagues this season with 54 home runs, 156 RBIs and 143 runs, batting .314 in leading the team to the postseason. Based on this form, any team would consider him an asset and be hard-pressed not to keep the player. However, the American League's Hank Aaron Award winner was an almost non-existent force in the postseason.

Yankees management have come out quickly to defend what many have said to be a lack of desire to keep the star player in New York. Rodriguez was mentioned to have turned down a request to meet with club officials to discuss the new offer and Yankees Senior Vice President Hank Steinbrenner issued a terse statement denouncing the player's oft-repeated claim that he wanted to stay.

It is clear and likely that there is no chance of A-Rod returning. Whether the Yankees can recover from the loss next season remains to be seen. There are many more unsettled issues in the horizon.

2007 World Series - Boston Red Sox Are World Champs

At the end of the day, the Boston Red Sox proved that they were indeed, the best team in baseball over a long season. Not even a curse that once took control of them for 86 years could be repeated this time, as Boston won the 2007 World Series for the second time in four years. Clinching the title in Coors Field with an exciting 4-3 win over the Colorado Rockies, the Red Sox swept their National League opponents with a powerful display of clutch hitting, precision pitching and all-round tactical genius. Surely now, Terry Francona will go into the record books as one of the best, if not THE best, Boston Red Sox manager in history.

So much for walking into the ballclub on the back of critics' snipes about how he did not deserve the manager's job - the man did not have an impressive resume. Most were betting that he would not even last a year.

Now, Francona is smiling as his carefully assembled team of professional stars and sparkling rookies once again showed that a balanced mix of class and hard work would pay off in the end - no matter how many still claim that the Boston Red Sox are only second to the Yankees for buying their way to trophies. This time, it was MVP Mike Lowell - one of the hardest working honest professional in the game, and starting pitcher Jon Lester, both cancer survivors, who carried the Red Sox on their backs.

Looking at their roster, it would be no surprise if this team goes on to add more World Series rings to their collection. The veterans like Ortiz, Ramirez and Varitek are nowhere near their sell-by date, coupled with an exciting array of rookies like Dustin Pedroia and Jacoby Ellsbury. Their starting pitchers, other than Curt Schilling and Tim Wakefield, are all up-and-comers (if you can even consider World Series 2-time winner Josh Beckett to be one) with strong fundamentals and powerful arms. To illustrate their dominance in this series, consider this - Boston only trailed for three and a half innings to the Rockies in Game 2, in the whole series, and all four starting pitchers won their games - the first team to achieve that since the 1927 Yankees.

Credit to the Colorado Rockies for putting up more of a fight from Games 2 to 4, pushing Boston all the way until their bullpen put up a show for all, in particular Hideki Okajima and Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon. Francona has fashioned a steely bullpen - a traditional weakness of past Boston teams. Many will now make much of the Rockies' eight day layoff prior to the start of the Series, but in truth, they never had any answer to an experienced team that made plays when it mattered most.

While it is back to the drawing board for a youthful Colorado team that showed much promise in the future, the question on everyone's lips would be whether Boston will bring back Lowell, who now becomes a free agent after the Series. While certain quarters have suggested that the Red Sox could pursue Alex Rodriguez (who is scheduled to announce he will be opting for free agency), it would be interesting to see if they would risk bringing in an individual who has had continuing feuds with their captain Varitek. The pair have clashed in the past and did not even speak to each other in the locker room during this year's All-Star event.

Whatever the Boston Red Sox does, you can be sure the aim would be for continued world domination. With a canny manager and an all-action lineup that has learnt to fuse style, class and determination over the years, that can only be another World Series win away.


References:
Red Sox Sweep to 2nd World Series Title in 4 Years
Mountain Men: Sox are Champs

Alex Rodriguez To Opt Out Of Yankees Contract And Become Free Agent

The latest news of the A-Rod "will-he-or-will-he-not" saga on the wire is that he will in fact, opt out of his contract with the New York Yankees come the end of the 2007 World Series.

A-Rod's agent has come out to declare his client's intention, attributing the decision down to the Yankees not having confirmed their new manager for the 2008 MLB season, as well as the potential of other present Yankees entering into free agency. They include Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada and Andy Pettite.

It remains to be seen what will definitely happen if the Yankees choose to announce a decision on their new manager. Currently, Joe Girardi appears to be the front runner.

World Series Game 3 - Class Finally Tells as Boston Storms Into 3-0 Series Lead

At Coors Field, the Colorado Rockies were set to show the world that on their stage, they were more than a match for anyone. They could come back and grab the World Series by the scruff of its neck. The Boston Red Sox would be driven to the edge by the Rockies' voracious fans and put to the sword by a team bidding to upset the ALCS majority stranglehold on the MLB in recent years.

But nobody told them that at the end of the day, it takes more than enthusiasm and youthful vigour to unhinge a Red Sox team bolted to strong fundamentals of professionalism, skill, talent, and ultimately, class.

The Boston Red Sox first silenced the Coors Faithful with a powerful 6 run blast in the third inning. Double act David Ortiz and Mike Lowell crashed early into Rockies starter Josh Fogg, who struggled all night with his control, before Boston starting pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka surprised many with a two-out, two-run single into deep third base territory, sending Fogg off the mound. At such an early point in the game, Colorado looked out of the reckoning as they struggled to come to terms with Matsuzaka's renewed confidence and their own stone-cold bats.
That lasted till the bottom of the sixth inning, Matsuzaka issuing 2 walks before Terry Francona sent on the bullpen. The Boston bullpen had been magnificent throughout the World Series before tonight. Francona expected the same when he sent on Javy Lopez. But two consecutive singles by Brad Hawpe and Yorvit Torrealba later, Rockies pulled it back to 6-2. Boston then quickly called for Mike Timlin to quell the rumbling uprising which he did by sending Ryan Spilborghs and Jeff Baker back to the dugout. But not before a preview of what was to come as Spilborghs almost reached home run territory in deep centre field and only an amazing leap from Red Sox shortstop high into the air prevented Baker from adding more Rockies runs to the board.

Colorado came storming back in the bottom of the seventh inning. With previous night's strong showing, Okajima was put on the mound to finish off another strong comeback by the Rockies. Matt Holliday sent the crowd into raptures and hoping for more, by firing the ball whistling deep into centre field. Home run, another 3 runs, and Colorado was back within one at 6-5 to Boston. Okajima still managed to sneak out of the inning without allowing more, but the team in black and white were feeling pumped, with fans going insane in the stands and expectations were now high of a comeback win.

That was when class finally told.

Boston have been slowly rebuilding the side after the 2004 World Series. The team still had the nucleaus of that Championship winning team, with deliberate additions to the roster which have strengthened the club in all areas. While many have accused the ballclub of being nothing more than another Yankees in disguise buying its way to success, the players have always displayed more joyful play and professionalism in the way they carried themselves both on and off the pitch. Francona was another icon of class in managerial study, never to stalk the media and often all about the game. The team sauntered to a 96 win season and have shown time and again to be the best team in baseball this season.

Tonight they showed that class again. 6-5 up and with their backs pinned to the wall on the back of a rowsing Colorado fightback, the Red Sox went into the eigth inning determined to shut the door on the Rockies. They did that in emphatic style from 2 clutch hits from two rookies, and five runs later 10-5 up, all signs of the World Series returning to Boston were on the cards. Jacoby Ellsbury first sent an RBI double that just eluded Rockies right field Hawpe, before exciting rookie Dustin Pedroia sent another two-run double to the right. You could see the deflated Rockies in the dugout with heads hung low.

Just as another Rockies comeback threatened to steal the show in the bottom eigth with two on and two outs, Boston closer Jonathan Papelbon then stole the show. Proceeding to retire the next four Colorado bats, he rounded off the ninth inning with aplomb and a second World Series save. Not bad for his first appearance at the biggest baseball stage of all.

Then again, class is all over this Boston Red Sox team. And class separates the best from the good.

Youkilis To Sit Out World Series Game 3

With no designated hitter under National League rules, Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona has decided to go with David Ortiz at first base for Game 3 of the World Series. This would mean Kevin Youkilis sitting on the bench, while Mike Lowell remains at third base.

How would this affect Boston? Would it at all?

Youkilis has been hitting a searing .396 in the postseason, and you could see the burning dedication and passion by the bearded pro. He practises his swing non-stop in between at-bats. He has been instrumental in some of Boston's crucial postseason plays so far this year.

Unfortunately, the brand of Ortiz sits larger than life in Boston. It represents quality and results - Ortiz has been more consistent in recent years than even Manny Ramirez. And if you wonder at his defensive abilities - read this - Ortiz started seven games at first base in the whole of this year with no errors made.

While Youkilis sits on the bench, Francona had not ruled out any participation on his part. With Ortiz facing a wobbly knee, if there were to be any signs of that troubling him, Francona would look to Youkilis in the later stages of Game 3. Ortiz has dismissed the issue though - he figures that the adrenalin rush of playing in the World Series and sitting pretty on a 2-0 lead would negate any pain to be felt from the injury.

One wonders if JD Drew had not rediscovered his hitting form, such a selection dilemma would have arisen.

Baseball Pays Well - Closing In On NFL as America's Top Money Sport

In a report by Chris Isidore of CNNMoney.com, baseball in the United States is now closing in on the National Football League as the top money sports in the US. While the $6 billion in revenue this year will not surpass NFL figures yet, the rate of revenue growth (double NFL's figures) will surely see the MLB ascend to that coveted throne.

While Chris writes about a number of factors presented by MLB to explain the phenomenal results, one thing that has also contributed is the more aggressive marketing campaigns from the MLB in recent years. The slogan has been making its rounds in every possible advertising media, much more than in the past. Unsolicited exposure in the form of drug scandals have also created more exposure worldwide, regardless of its negative nature. And as the article mentioned, a key factor has been the leveling of the playing field, with more unfancied teams carrying sustained campaigns for postseason involvement. Nothing attracts fans more than seeing their own local team fighting for a chance at success.

Another interesting point brought up was how the MLB and everyone associated with it closed ranks on spinning the game's economics in a bad light, to control player salaries in the past. That has since changed with the league's disclosure of the revenue figures, and it will set off even higher player contracts subsequently. One waits to see if this will result in future requests for exorbitant contracts, and how it will affect the next stage in baseball's development.