Milton Bradley

By the end of the Winter Meetings, most people believed that Milton Bradley would return to the Padres on a 1-year deal worth $4 milion. Well, those people were wrong. Today, the Texas Rangers and OF Milton Bradley have agreed on a one-year contract worth approximately $5 million plus incentives. Bradley injured his knee in an argument with umpire Mike Winters on Sept. 23, had surgery on Sept. 27 and was expected to be out at least six months. That would take him right up to Opening Day and he may end up needing more time to get ready. Either way the Rangers are satisfied with this signing. Last year, Milton hit .306 with 13 home runs and 37 RBIs in 61 games and 209 at-bats for the Padres and the Athletics. Multiply that production to 162 games, and thats a pretty darn good middle of the order presence.

In other news, the Yankees are close to signing reliever Latroy Hawkins to a one-year deal worth $3.75 million dollars. The Rockies and Rangers were also in on Hawkins who was 2-5 with a 3.42 ERA in 62 games last season.

The Brewers have agreed to a deal with Free Agent CL Eric Gagne. The deal is rumored to be for 1 year and $10 million dollars with incentives.

Report: Brewers closing in on Gange

With the loss of CL Fransisco Cordero to the Reds and SU Scott Linebrink to the White Sox, the Brewers bullpen is in a flux. The Brewers GM has been working hard to build a solid bullpen for his team by trading for RHP Guillimero Mota, Salomon Torres, signing RP David Riske, and now close to signing former All-Star CL Eric Gagne. Gange has expressed his desire to closing and the National League. Well. this deal makes all the sense in the world for Gagne and the Brewers are now forming a good bullpen for the '08 season. Heres a look at the Brewers '08 pen' as of today (assuming Gagne signs with the Brew Crew):

• CL Eric Gagne
• SU David Riske
• SU Derrick Turnbow
• MR Salomon Torres
• MR Guillimero Mota
• MR Matt Wise
  
• LR Brian Shouse
  

Not too shabby considering you lost your closer and #1 set-up guy via free agency. But if, for some reason, Gagne doesn't sign with the Brewers, this bullpen will be just mediocre again.
Gange was 2-0 with a 2.16 ERA and 16 SV with the Rangers, and 2-2 with a 6.75 ERA and 0 SV with the Red Sox. Thats an overall of 4-2 3.81 ERA and 16-20 in save opportunities.

Torres traded. Thinking about retirement.

Yesterday, the Brewers acquired reliever Salomon Torres for minor league relievers Marino Salas and Kevin Roberts. Torres had been a workhorse for the Pirates, averaging 85 appearances from 2004-06, including a career-high 94 games in '06. During a five-year period from 1997-2001, Torres coached in the Expos farm system. The Brewers thought that they were getting a proven set-up or middle relief guy, but not so fast big guy. According to MLBTR, Salomon Torres is contemplating retirement. If he does end up retiring, the Brewers might have given up two prospects.. for nothing. One of those two prospects, Marino Salas, is believed to be a future big league closer. Salas split time last season between Double-A Huntsville and Triple-A Nashville. He posted a 2.77 ERA with 17 saves in 51 games. The Pirates think highly of him.

Noah Lowry

According to multiple sources, the Mets and Giants held discussions about Giants' SP Noah Lowry. Last year, Lowry was 14–8 with a 3.92 ERA, during which opponents hit .265 against him. The rumored deal was to be former met OF Lastings Milledge and a "young pitcher" for Lowry. Omar thought that Milledge and say, Phillip Humber would not have been a good deal for the amazins.. well it would've been. I'm telling you that right now. I'd rather have a solid SP rather than a washed up catcher (Schneider) and a left-handed Xavier Nady (Church). Come on Omar, you said it yourself that we need starting pitching. If you would've done this deal, we could have signed OF Jose Guillen or OF Kosuke Fukudome. Noah Lowry is a solid #3 pitcher on any staff in the National League. Now that this deal has passed us by, how about we send Ryan Church and one of SP Jon Niese, SP Phillip Humber, RP Carlos Muniz, or SP Guillaume Leduc.

Willis and Pudge?

Over at Metsblog.com, Matt Cerronne writes that the Detroit Tigers have spoken to the Mets about trading them recently acquired SP Dontrelle Willis and C Ivan Rodriguez. though, Cerrone did not mention what they would want in return for the two players, I think a deal of OF Carlos Gomez, SP Kevin Mulvey, C Johnny Estrada, and one of SP Phillip Humber/SP Mike Pelfrey should get that deal done. Maybe Gomez, Mulvey and Estrada would get it done, but I don't know, i'm not a GM. All I know is that Dontrelle Willis, with the help of Rick Peterson, CAN return to his 05' form. Peterson worked his magic on Oliver Perez and John Maine so he can work with Willis too.

1. Pedro Martinez
2. John Maine
3. Dontrelle Willis
4. Oliver Perez
5. Mike Pelfrey, Livan Hernandez, Philip Humber, or Orlando Hernandez

That rotation sounds good to me? Thoughts?

3-Way trade in the works?

Mlbtraderumors.com is reporting a 3-trade between the A's, Twins, and Mets. The Writer for mlbtraderumors.com says that if the source wasn't good, he wouldn't post it. Minnesota has initiated talks for a three-way blockbuster with the Mets and A's. Here's how it would go down:

• Mets send Jose Reyes and Kevin Mulvey to the A's

• Mets send Hector Pellot to the Twins

• A's send Bobby Crosby and Dan Johnson to the Mets

• A's send Dan Haren to the Twins

• Twins send Johan Santana to the Mets

This means:

• The Mets acquire SP Johan Santana, SS Bobby Crosby, and 1B Dan Johnson.

• The Athletics get SS Jose Reyes and Kevin Mulvey.
  

• The Minnesota Twins get SP Dan Haren and 2B Hector Pellot.

I'm sure the A's and the Twins would love this deal but I just can't think of the Mets without their heart and soul, Jose Reyes. Who would bat leadoff? Bobby Crosby? If I were Omar, I would pass on this one. It weekens our lineup too much and we just CANNOT trade Jose Reyes!

Lo Duca, Green on the move?

The Blue Jays have contacted the agent for C Paul Lo Duca. Paulie made around $6.25 Millionllast year and the Jays only have approx $2.5 million to offer. Also, The Rays are considering offering OF Shawn Green a contract for the 08' season. He would be a leader in that clubhouse but would be a bad addition if they were looking for a power bat.

Winter Meetings- - Day 2

I have a cyst on my eye, the room is spinning and The Mets still haven't made any deals. Though, every name on every team has been talked about, only one major agreement has been reached so-far today.. that is RF Jose Guillen and The Royals agreeing to a 3-year deal worth $36 Million. Here is the rest of the trades and signings of the day...

• The Braves have acquired reliever Will Ohman and OF Omar Infante in exchange for minor league pitcher Jose Ascaino.
• The Tigers have sent reliever Jose Capellan to the Rockies for reliever Denny Bautista.

Mets rumors...

• The Nationals have interest in SP Mike Pelfrey and C Johnny Estrada.
• According to sources, the Mariners, Mets, Dodgers and D’Backs are all offering free agent SP Hiroki Kuroda three years and $30 million. He could sign with the first team to offer him 4 years.
• There is belief that The Mets have interest in Giants SP Noah Lowry, should he become available for trade.
• The Mets are also believed to be the "front-runners" for free-agent SP Freddt Garcia. He will not pitch until atleast June of 2008.
  

Other Rumors around the league...

• The Braves have offeres SP Chuck James to the Royals for OF/3B David Dejesus.
• The Twins and The Red Sox are "close" to a deal that will send Johan Santana to Boston.
• The Orioles and Dodgers are in talks concerning SP Erik Bedard.
• The Twins are shopping CL Joe Nathan around the league.
• According to the New York Post, the Indians have talked about trading SP Cliff Lee and Franklin Gutierrez to the Blue Jays for Alex Rios.
• The Dodgers and Brewers are in serious talks about 3B Scott Rolen and SP Chris Capuano.

Thats all for now. Hopefully, I'll post regularly for the next few days. Thanks for the support.. if there is any..

Random Rumors.

According to Amy Nelson at ESPN, The Red Sox have emerged as a potential suitor for Rockies reliever Brian Fuentes, and Colorado could ask for 2B Jed Lowrie in return. Nelson also reports that..

"The agent for Johan Santana was on the same flight from New York as Yankees GM Brian Cashman and Mets GM Omar Minaya. All that was missing were Twins GM Bill Smith and Red Sox GM Theo Epstein, and a deal might have been hammered out."

Also, The Reds are listening on third baseman Edwin Encarnacion and center fielder Josh Hamilton. The Cubs seem like potential suitors, and the Marlins have inquired on OF Josh Hamilton.. Remember when he was available last year in the Rule 5 Draft? Yeah, any team could have bought the #1 pick in that draft for $100,000.

Bedard and Tejeda?

According to Metsblog.com, The Mets are discussing a deal in which The Mets would receive SP Erik Bedard and SS Miguel Tejeda for some young prospects. This deal is probley a long shot because The Orioles seem to be looking for more than The Twins want for Santana.. Maybe we could take some of those bad contracts off of their hands and this deal might be more attractive to them. I'd trade OF Carlos Gomez, SP Kevin Mulvey, OF Ryan Church, 1B Mike Carp and possibly another high regarded relief pitching prospect or two. That should get the deal done. Even if The Mets had to take on another salary dump, they should do that trade. Then turn around and trade Miguel Tejeda for prospects while eating some of his salary.. sounds like a plan to me.. what do you think?

Winter Meetings- - Day 1

The rumors are flying around like freaking mosquitoes. Starting pitchers seem to me the hot commodity this year, as Johan Santana, Dan Haren, Joe Blanton, Dontrelle Willis, Jason Jennings, and Livan Hernandez have all been linked to The Mets. The thing is, no one is interested in any of the mets prospects besides Carlos Gomez. So I think Omar will sign one of his over-the-hill former Expo. For Example, Bartolo Colon or Livan Hernandez. Thought, I wouldnt mind if we got Bartolo Colon, just as long as we give Mike Pelfrey and Phillip Humber a chance at starting consistently. But anyways, back to the winter meetings. There have been a few trades, here they are...

• The Devil Rays have traded OF Elijah Dukes to the Nationals for P Glen Gibson.
• The Diamondbacks have traded OF Carlos Quentin to the White Sox for 1B Chris Carter.

Many other thing have been discussed. Such as Free Agent possibilities and possible trades...

• SP Andy Pettite will pitch for The Yankees in 2008. He will earn $16 million in 08.
  
• The Royals are pursuing OF Jose Guillen very aggressively.
  
• SP Matt Clement is drawing interest from the Blue Jays and Mariners.. The Phillies also have some interest in the former Red Sox.
• Peter Gammons thinks that the Cabrera deal could get done, because The Marlins have lessened their demand.
• The Dodgers have made an offer to free-agent OF Andruw Jones. The deal is believed to be worth $32 million over a 2-year period.
• The Rangers and Padres are believed to have interest in trading for Cubs SP Mark Prior.
• The Orioles are seeking "4 top Prospects" for SP Erik Bedard.. Count us out.
• The Rockies and Mariners have interest in free-agent 2B Marcus Giles.
• How about a return of OF Xavier Nady? He's on the trading block..

Thats all for now folks.. please leave comments or suggestions.

Is Andruw Jones really a possibility?

In Mid-November, The Braves signed former Met, Tom Glavine, to a one-year contract. Well, payback's a bitch. As Yahoo Sports noted last week, The Mets have had internal discussions about the possibility of signing Andruw Jones to a 1-year contract. If Andruw blossomed in New York, he would deffinately require a $100 million dollar contract next off-season. last year, Andruw Jones batted .222/26/94, which was his worst output in his entire career. In 05', Jones belted 51 homeruns which lead the MLB. Jones followed up that season with a 41 homerun campaign in 06'. If Andruw Jones is open to playing RF then im all for it. Sign him to a 1-year deal for $15 million, and then collect the draft picks at the end of next season or shop him at the trade deadline next july. This deal makes perfect sense and would help The Mets keep OF Carlos Gomez in AAA for a full season.