The Orioles are reportedly looking to add a big bat to the lineup still, which will most likely come in the form of a trade, plus they want to add another starting pitcher. I don't know what exactly they think they're going to trade, but if they trade Chris Ray, I don't see how adding four aging, decent relievers and dropping the two guys that got people out last year is very much of a boost. None of the guys we've picked up are as good as Ray, and none of them were better in 2006 than Britton was.
As for the bat, I dunno. Adam Dunn is likely a possibility, as always, but the Reds -- despite some of the bitching you hear about Dunn from their organization -- have always seemed to respect Dunn to the point of possibly overvaluing him. I love Adam Dunn, but he is so three true outcomes that it isn't funny. What he adds is great, but it's all there is to him. Then again, him in left field in Camden Yards is not something I'll scoff at. It's just that I don't see what deal could be made that doesn't include Bedard, and I see that as counter-productive.
Then again, "big bat" by this front office's terms could very well just mean Kevin Mench.
The Yankees won the Kei Igawa bidding for $26 million, which most reports about Igawa lead me to believe is more of a stretch than what Matsuzaka's bidding came out to be. Cashman sees Igawa (represented by Arn Tellem, who also represents Mussina, Giambi and Hideki Matsui) as a back-end starter, though, which is what Bobby Valentine said he thought Igawa would be in the States. Then again, 26 mil to negotiate with a back-end starter? The market is one thing; it leads to $19 million for Danys Baez, and that's what it is. But $26 million for an unproven commodity that no one has projected very well, and that the winning bidders don't even expect a lot from? That's like $50 million for Gary Matthews, Jr. -- it's stupid in any market. But, it's just the Yankees, and I don't really give a shit what they spend their money on, because they never win anyway.
The A's have offered Mike Piazza a one-year, $7 million-plus deal, and are by far the leading candidate to land him.
The Brewers signed Craig Counsell to a two-year deal with a club option for '09.
...
Pujols, the 2005 NL MVP, said he has bigger dreams -- a spot in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y.
Man, Albert Pujols is a hell of a player, but I'm starting to wish he'd never say anything. "Glavine sucked!" "The MVP should be on a team that makes the playoffs until a year comes along when my team doesn't and I'm still the best player in the league!"
I don't disagree that he should have won the award, because he was a little better than Howard, but it's not the worst decision ever. I think the writers just had a hard-on to give it to last year's ROY after he didn't have a sophomore slump. They always want to create new megastars, so they can use lines like, "Reigning MVP Ryan Howard" next season. Plus, as proven by Barry Bonds and Mickey Mantle and several others, they just don't like to give the award to the same guy every year.
But wait 'til Jim Palmer gets wind of that second part. By God, if Brooks Robinson didn't want to be in the Hall of Fame, Albert Pujols has no right to want to be a great player.
Royce Clayton signed a one-year deal with Toronto, his 10th team.
The Braves have yet to offer a contract to Tom Glavine, which means that, for now, it looks like he'll stay with the Mets. Glavine's agent says he's talked with John Schuerholz several times about Glavine. It seems like the sort of situation where one guy doesn't want to tell another guy that they're, uh, just, well, we're looking in other directions. Not that you're not great, Tom, because you are, you're a great, great, a great pitcher, Tom, it's just, you know. You're, uh. You're 40, and we weren't good this year, and, it's just, well, we're building for the future. But hey, good luck with, uh, whatever you do, Tom. I mean that, man. Nothing but the best.
The Cardinals signed Adam Kennedy and Kip Wells.
How naive do you have to be? Does he think juicers don't have to work out? In fact, I wonder how many people who share their opinion on this subject think that, because it seems like there are still a whole lot of folks that don't have even the first real clue how steroids or HGH or whatever work. It's not like Canseco wasn't working out.
The Dodgers are out of the Barry Zito race, are probably going to lose Maddux to San Diego, and signed Randy Wolf to a one-year deal. Wolf could be a good investment.
Jason Schmidt received a three-year offer from the Cubs. It's believed to be worth $44 million. Schmidt also reportedly told the Yankees, "Thanks, but no thanks."
The White Sox re-upped on Ross Gload, I believe in an attempt to taunt me.