Mark Teixera - Manny Ramirez - CC Sabathia - AJ Burnett - Derek Lowe - Brad Penny - Pat Burrell - Orlando Hudson - Franscio Rodriguez??

The names that appear to be holding back everyone else like corks in a bottle are Sabathia and Teixera.  Until Sabathia signs a contract, it is a bit difficult for other pitchers like Derek Lowe or AJ Burnett to find their market value.  For position players the cork is Mark Teixera. 

Sabathia has been offered  $140 million for a deal with the Yankees, but he has not made a move toward them, and by all reports he would rather play on the West Coast.  The Red  Sox are apparently very interested in Teixera.  As a Sox fan, this is a bit troubling to me.  While I would love to have a player of the caliber of Teixera, what happens to the third base position if he comes and plays first base?  Youkalis will likely move to third - what does that do to Mike Lowell, our World Series MVP in 2007 and who was offered a nice contract last year, which was what Red Sox Nation really, really wanted. Do they trade him now?  Not going to go over well with the fans if they do. The first really important thing the Red Sox have done was today, they signed AL MVP Dustin Pedroia to a 6 year contract with an option for the seventh year, so he is sewed up.  But what about Jason Varitek? 

24 of these free agents were offered salary arbitration Monday by their former teams.  They have until Sunday to accept.  That in itself may start things moving.  These are:

American League:

• Boston  Red Sox - Paul Byrd, rhp; Jason Varitek, c.   
• Chicago White Sox - Orlando Cabrera, ss.
• Kansas City Royals - Mark Grudzielanek, 2b.
• Los Angeles Angels - Jon Garland, rhp; Darren Oliver, lhp; Francisco Rodriquez, rhp; Mark Teixeira, 1b.
• Minnesota Twins - Dennys Reyes, lhp.
• Seattle Mariners - Raul Ibanez, of
• Texas Rangers - Milton Bradley, dh.
• Toronto Blue Jays - AJ Burnet, rhp.

National League:

• Arizona - Juan Cruz, rhp; Orlando Hudson, 2b.; Brandon Lyon, rhp.
• Cincinnati Reds - David Weathers, rhp.
• Colorado Rockies - Brian Fuentes, lhp.
• Los AngelesDodgers - Casey Blake, 3b; Derek Lowe, rhp; Manny Ramirez, of.
• Milwaukee Brewers - CC Sabathia, lhp; Ben Sheets, rhp; Brian Shouse, lhp.
• New York Mets - Oliver Perez, lhp.

So, what do you think? Which free agents will decide to stay with their current teams?  Which will make the "big" deal with another team? And if after the day the LA Dodgers season was over he made the comment, "Gas price is up and so am I," does this mean that now that gas prices are mercifully down, his price goes down?  I think not.  :)

You have until Sunday to make any predictions!

I am not much of a baseball fan so I can't really comment on this in any substantive way, but I did want to thank you for the write-up. I certainly know a lot more about what's going on in the "hot stove league" after reading this than I normally would! ;-)

Well, here we go. The baseball winter meetings were held this week, and so far, this is what has happened:

CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett to the Yankees, who seem to continue to think they can buy a World Series Championship.  Unfortunately, they've done a pretty good job this year I think.  

Not to be outdone, the NY Mets have landed K-Rod as a closer.  (Franciso Rodriquez)

Mark Teixera has been offered a new contract with the Angels, not sure yet if he will accept.

Jason Varitek has been offered a two year contract with the Red Sox and appears to still be cogitating about that.  Rumor has it that he has received no offers from other teams.  While I am happy that he may be back, other teams don't know what they will be missing with his great knowledge of pitching & catching.  Besides, he can't have such a low batting average two years in a row, can he?

And, for anyone who has the money in their pocket, Manny is still available.  Now he's grumbling that he may retire.  I would say that isn't going to happen, but you never know what he will do, after all, Manny being Manny is pretty unpredictable.  :)  One certainty however is that he will not be back with the Red Sox.

Only two months until pitchers and catchers start reporting for Spring Training!!!!

Pretty quiet on the "Hot Stove" so far this week.  Mark Teixera (1b, Los Angeles Angels) is the topic of the week as it seems he is close to making a decision within the next couple days about where he will play next year.  The Angels as well as the Red Sox, and the Yankees (how much money do they have any way???) are pretty much the ones still in the running.  Apparently he wants 6-8 years at around 22 million a year. 

Now here's a thought ~ why don't we let the baseball owners do some "bailing out" of the economy? 

Poor Manny.........he's just not feeling the love out there in the free agent market.  Still threatening to retire if he doesn't get the money he wants.  His options pretty much at this point are remaining with the Dodgers or possibly going to the Yankees.  Now that would sure ratchet up the Sox-Yanks rivalry wouldn't it? 

Until the next update................................

...and the Yankees (how much money do they have any way???)

How do you feel about that? Seriously. Do you wish there was a salary cap in baseball like in the other leagues?

The Yankees must be sitting on a pot of gold somewhere.  I cannot believe they have paid such huge salaries to CC Sabathia and Mark Teixera.  And who knows who else they'll end up with.  Well, we'll see if they can buy a World Series this year.  As a Red Sox fan, I am of course not anywhere near a Yankee fan.  :)

The Red Sox have traded for Brad Penny, pitcher and Josh Bard, catcher this week.  Penny will join the starting rotation and should be a great addition.  Not sure what Josh Bard is going to do, I'm assuming it is replacing Jason Varitek.  :(

Manny's agent has started talking with the Los Angeles Dodgers about a contract with them.  Of course he was with the Dodgers for the last 3 months of the season.  I don't think Manny is going to get anywhere near what he thinks he is, but I may be wrong.  Goodness, the Yankees probably have enough money left over to make Manny happy. 

And the beat goes on...............