ESPN.com says that Kevin Youkilis is the newest of relatively few players to take up arms for Team USA in the upcoming 2009 World Baseball Classic. Boston teammate and AL MVP Dustin Pedroia was the last to commit, if I recall.

ESPN says that Youkilis, Pedroia, Derek Jeter, David Wright, Chipper Jones, John Lackey, Brian McCann and Grady Sizemore have also signed on, though you can expect at least one of those to drop out by the time the rosters are officially set.

Davey Johnson's going to have a hell of a time, really. The first WBC saw the Americans pretty well embarrassed, including a loss to Canada, and the word back in '06 was that the next time out, some of our proud American ballplayers might step up and compete for national pride or whatever it is they're competing for in the WBC. Instead, A-Rod took his purse-slapping and purple lips and old woman fetish to the Dominican team.

Also, if you were waiting, it's that time of year where Sammy Sosa wonders aloud why no one's knocking his door down.

"Those who saw me training know that I'm hitting the ball with the usual authority. I just hope to get the chance to prove that I'm still a threat," said Sosa at a charity event sponsored by his foundation.

I remember the olden days, when Mr. Sosa's English was so patchy he had to bring a translator to Washington with him. Baseball been berry berry goo to he. It's so reeeeaaaal.

From RotoWire (sort of):

It’s apparently a mutual interest, while Hendrickson could provide a veteran presence in what figures to be a very young rotation. He fell apart as a starter in Florida last season, so we doubt that a move to the American League East is going to make him a better fantasy option.

Hendrickson is really not any good at all. There's my analysis.

My feelings in song:

Career ERA: 5.05

Career WHIP: 1.55

Career BB/9: 5.1

Have fun, whatever team decides to hitch a star to this crap wagon.

So long, sucker!

Free Agents can begin talking to other teams this Friday, and Yahoo has a nifty list of Free Agents that will be updated as the off season progresses. I'll be glad when Teixeira is signed somewhere and we can stop pretending he'll end up in Baltimore.

Trades! Reports are the Matt Holliday has been traded to the Oakland A's. In return for Holliday, the A's will send the Rockies Carlos Gonzalez, Greg Smith, and Huston Street. This trade perplexes me just a bit as it seems to be the opposite of Billy Beane's MO, although if he in turn flips Holliday before the deadline I'll feel better about my understanding of the world. Beane is regarded as being brilliant, and I'll give him that his trades do make sense generally, but he is perpetually rebuilding which will never let the A's catch the Angels. Maybe Billy Beane is realizing that.

In the "who cares" category, the Nationals traded Emilio Bonafacio plus minor leaguers to the Marlins for Josh Willingham and Scott Olsen. The Nats were just god awful last year so they can use any pitching they can get, even if it is Scott Olsen.

No news on the Orioles front yet, although that's hardly surprising. If Andy doesn't pick up his snail pace this off season I might go insane. In looking for any information on the O's, I found mlb.com's Orioles Hot Stove Blog. Nothing much going on over there except for the Khalil Greene rumor and Danyz Baez's desire to be a starter, but it might be a good place to keep an eye on.

Tomorrow is the big Orioles rally at the Gallery to reveal their new uniforms. Some info on the uniforms from Roch's blog. It seems that Nick Markakis, Jeremy Guthrie, and George Sherrill will be there for the big reveal. A co-worker and I are planning on taking a long lunch to check it out, so hopefully I'll get some good pictures for you.

From the ESPN rumor mill:

Although Jason Varitek's numbers show that he has declined offensively, his agent, Scott Boras, is eyeing Jorge Posada's contract from last offseason -- four years, $52.4 million -- as a benchmark for Varitek, according to the Boston Globe.

"The idea of it is there aren't many players in the marketplace who lead a team like Jason Varitek can, and that's got to be his value," Boras said.

Wow. REALLY? Varitek hit .220/.313/.359 this year. He has not had a good season since 2005. He is 37 years old.

This is one of those instances where I have to genuinely admire Scott Boras. If he can convince Boston, Detroit or the Dodgers to pay Jason Varitek anywhere near Posada money, I don't know why a player would go with any other agent. Varitek has earned over a 50% pay cut on this upcoming contract. If Boras keeps him in the same neighborhood as what he's currently being paid, he's some sort of double-talkin' jive genius.

Maybe if he showed them this awesomely stern photo, Varitek's stock would be more likely to stay where it was four years ago:

via farm3.static.flickr.com

Once a year or so, it's good to update these. Players come and players go, much like the asinine nicknames that generally spring out of the game threads. So here's a quick primer for anyone who's new and might not know what in God's name we're talking about during certain points of a game.

Albers, Matt

• Fat Albers

This is not in any way intended to be mean. Honest. I know the dude's a little pudgy, maybe still carrying some baby fat, or maybe he's just like most of the rest of us and likes to reward himself for a fine day's work of breathing air and being a cool dude by wolfing down a Baconator or six. I'm not here to judge Matt Albers. It's just something that happened in my head and then I put it on a blog. Hey, hey, hey!

You gotta do it right though. Listen for yourself, if you're unfamiliar. It starts loud, so be prepared. That site is long faded as far as being funny goes, but whatever. RAN-DOOOOOR!

Bradford, Chad

• ChadBrad
• Chadwick
• Chadstache

Ain't found a way to kill me yet

Eyes burn with stingin' sweat

Seems every path leads me to nowhere

Wife and kids, household pet

Army green was no safe bet

The bullets scream to me from somewhere

Yeah, they come to snuff The Rooster

Yeah, here come The Rooster

You know he ain't gonna die

Walkin' tall, machine gun man

They spit on me in my homeland

Mora, Melvin 

• MelMo
• Melly Mel
• Melvin Moron
• Playoff Hero Melvin Mora

Did Babe Ruth ever slap at someone's glove while they tried to tag him? Did Mickey Mantle? Did Hank Aaron? Did Cal Ripken? Did Dane Iorg? Did Kiko Garcia? Seriously. He's a player to admire, but a total weiner.

That's why I prefer "Brian Bob."

Sarfate, Dennis

• Dennis the Menace