I've Been Lazy...Baseball Hasn't Been

Judging from my lack of posts, it's quite obvious that I've been doing other things...unfortunately those are school things. Nevertheless, the offseason baseball roller coaster has started rolling officially with the General Manager's Meetings in Orlando. Now, obviously, I'm not covering them. Thankfully there are plenty of people out there who are. There's been a lot of news that has come down from the top, so let's take a gander.

NYY: I'll usually start with my team from NY, just because, well, I care the most. I reported earlier that Andy Pettitte said he was either going to exercise his $16 million player option for 2008 or retire. He was pretty adament about not playing for any team but the Yankees. Well, yesterday it was reported that Pettitte declined the option. This does not mean he is not going to play for the Yankees, it just means they would have to sign him to another deal. I feel as though it is IMPERATIVE the Yankees do such a thing. Looking at their pitching staff right now, sans Pettitte would include Chien-Ming Wang, Joba Chamberlain (possibly), Phil Hughes, possibly Ian Kennedy and Mike Mussina...Now, there's a lot of promise in that rotation, but to be honest, I know that I, and my friends, and the rest of the Yankee universe, and George Steinbrenner, and Joe Girardi, and Brian Cashman all don't care too much about promise, they want to win right now, and they need one other sure arm in that rotation. That arm would be Andy Pettitte. Supposedly the channels of communication between Pettitte's agent and Brian Cashman are certainly still open. Peter Abraham on the LoHud Blog (you'll see me cite him often, as he is the best place for up-to-date information) said that in an e-mail he received, the agent for Pettitte said Andy just isn't sure yet what he wants to do, but if he wants to play, he's going to come back to the Yankees. Brian Cashman has reiterated that the Yankees "need" Pettitte, and I agree. Supposedly Andy is going to take some time, and Hanky Steinbrenner has offered that time to him, but the Yankees can't afford to wait too long or they'll be in trouble. They better buy Pettitte a Hummer or something, whatever Houston did to get Clemens to sign in '04. Anyway, there's also news regarding the other two high profile Yankee free agents: Posada and Rivera. On the Mariano Rivera front, reports are the Yankees are really close to announcing a 3 year/$40 million deal, maybe by the end of the week. So, that looks good, the Posada front is a little bit more hazy...Posada has said that he wants to remain with the Yankees, but it also looks as though he will enter the market, and make the Yankees bid for him, with the likes of possibly the Mets and Blue Jays. Abraham says the Yankees want him to take the same deal as Rivera, maybe adding on a fourth year and fifteen million per, but, Posada was pretty much underpaid, then he went ahead and had like the best offensive season for a catcher ever so...he's due.

Other new regards some rumors around the Yankees. Some of those include possible trades for Johan Santana of the Twins and Scott Kazmir of Devil Rays. Neither are likely since Cashman has stated that the big three prospects (Joba, Hughes, and Kennedy) are untouchable. Well, kinda untouchable...but it's unlikely that will happen. Same goes for possible trades regarding Marlin's third baseman Miguel "fatass" Cabrera. He's an unbelievable player, but he's straight up out of shape...I would take him, but I wouldn't want the Yankees to give up too much, and any of those three would be too much. And then there is rumors surrounding Douche Prime, or Alex Rodriguez. He just ignored the Yankees, and now, with the Yankees, and judging from what Mets' GM Omar Minaya has to say, the Mets out of the bidding, he could be struggling to find someone to pay him a gazillion dollars, which is what he is looking for. There is some talk that he wants to come back to the Yankees, but I highly doubt that will happen. He stepped all over them with his opt out during the World Series and I highly doubt he will come back. I mean, I wouldn't want to be paying him 40 million dollars at the age of 42, as my cowriter Gelbs said (he should be here soon), he is not Babe Ruth....There is some talk regarding the Yankees and White Sox third baseman Joe Crede, but shoot me in the foot if you think I want him in pinstripes. He has a career OBP of .305? Seriously? He could be the greatest defensive third baseman ever and I would give that trade a second look. No thank you. Especially if it is Johnny Damon for Crede. That's ridiculous. So that's all for the Yankees. On to the other 29, or a couple of them.

LAD: The Dodgers introduced Joe Torre as their new manager yesterday and all I have to say is: good for them. Torre was signed to a pretty big managerial deal and joining him on his coaching staff are former Yankees coaches Don Mattingly (no surprise), Lee Mazzili (no surprise) and Larry Bowa (a little bit of a surprise). The Dodgers were picked by many to finish in first in the NL West by a wide margin, but they underperformed. They have a lot of old players and need to make a few changes. Funny post by one of the bloggers on Fire Joe Morgan linked on the side regarding a piece by ESPN ass face Steve 'I traded Scott Kazmir for Victor Zambrano" Phillips about what the Dodgers have to do to get to the World Series, so check that out. It's a couple posts down. The Dodgers are certainly in the running for A-Rod, they have a lot of money and that would be a good pick up for them. Supposedly, Jeff Kent will not be returning to the Dodgers, or it's unlikely he will, but he's all steroided out anyway. A-Rod following Joe Torre out to LA would not surprise me, though supposedly new Angel GM Tony Reagins was one of few to actually entertain A-Rod talk at the GM meetings. Arte Moreno would love to draw A-Rod out there, we'll see what happens on that front.

BOS: Well, it appears as though big mouth Curt Schilling will return for at least one more year with the Red Sox. Him and Red Sox GM Theo Epstein have spoken and are close to a one year deal worth about $8 million, plus incentives. I think that's probably a good deal. The Red Sox won this year because they had a ridiculously deep pitching staff, and this just maintains the status quo. Especially with the Red Sox keeping Wakefield and Tavarez. Bringing back Schilling puts a veteran in a good spot, just in case one of the rookies/young pitchers, Bucholz or whomever can't cut it. Regarding Mike Lowell, Theo has said it is one of his prime goals to resign Lowell and I think that's going to happen. There's a mutual feeling between the two parties I feel. They don't want A-Rod, I mean, well, they do, if he were free. When asked about A-Rod playing shortstop, Epstein said: "We have a shortstop". I mean, yeah...they do, but he sucks up something fierce...It would be interesting to go after him, I know some smart Red Sox fans who would absolutely appreciate him. I mean, hey, he's the best player in the game, and arguably the best player of this generation. But why would you, as a Red Sox person, want to mess with the team they have now. I mean, I heard they just won some big thing...I don't remember what it is, or maybe I've blocked it out, but they won something...We'll see.

SD: For the Padres, on Monday they agreed to a one year, $10 million deal with Greg Maddux, who has got to be like 55 this year. Nevertheless for a team that pitches in the best pitcher's park in the game, this is a good deal. Maddux is solid and provides stability. Plus, it's in the National League. Good move for the Padres, he only needs to be back of the rotation starter anyway. They have some guy at the top, oh yeah, Jake Peavy and some other solid starters. Plus, Maddux can hit....kind of.

CLE: The Indians resigned Paul Byrd despite the HGH stuff. Whatever, he sucks and I have a feeling he'll have a tough time winning 15 games this year. If you watched Game 4 of the ALDS, it's a miracle he didn't get hammered, but the Yankees were in a funk than's to Carmona, etc...Anyway, so, that matters little with Westbrook, Sabathia and Carmona, they have a great two and a good three, and Paul Byrd. Whatever.

Elsewhere: There's another steroid report out there that former Giants and Diamonbacks third baseman Matt Williams, Seattle Mariners and former LA Angel Jose Guillen and former Marlin pitcher Ismael Valdez all received steroid shipments...I have no idea what's going to happen. Maybe that's why Jose Guillen freaks out all the time. Williams, like Byrd, says he took his HGH on the advice of a doctor for an ankle injury. I have no idea if they're telling the truth. If they aren't, why would they immediately come out lie? I don't know. I have the same question regarding Barry Bonds and the Game of Shadows book. If Bonds really believes everything they wrote was a lie, then...I have an idea; SUE THEM for libel. There's a law in this country that says you can't just print lies about someone, and if you do, then that person can sue. Well, the only thing Bonds has sued for is to halt the sale of the book so the authors can't make money. That's it. Make a stand Barry and telling everyone you wouldn't go to the Hall of Fame if they put an asterisk on your ball is not taking a stand.........The GM's meanwhile today voted to allow instant replay for home run calls. I guess that's a good call, but it works better in football. That sort of human error is part of the game. Baseball games are already long, and the umps usually get the call right when they join together........

Phew. So that's all I have today, surprisingly. There is definitely more to come this week during the meetings and we'll see about Rivera getting signed before next Monday's deadline. Same deal with Mike Lowell. Oh, and the best way to keep track of baseball news is really to update yourself on the links we have posted on this blog. They really are great blogs and sites and offer some great information about the goings on of baseball and sometimes sports in general. So, keep up with that if you want. If you're eyes still work after reading my stuff.....