Baseball

For Chicago Cubs GM Jim Hendry, for Texas Rangers GM Jon Daniels, and for free-agent outfielder Marlon Byrd, the last 48 hours have made an interesting, interwoven series of impacts upon the tone and tenor of the MLB offseason.

Lost amid the flurry of Monday's higher-profile deals, free-agent outfielder Mike Cameron agreed to a two-year pact with the Boston Red Sox.

I realize that the sale of the team will not actually take place today, and that Bud Selig's "deadline" is really just to establish which group will get exclusive negotiating rights to buy the team, but my feelings are still the same.

There are no numbers or stats that support my feelings, simply a strong tug on my gut that really just wants to see Tom Hicks tip his hat and leave the organization.

To complete the blockbuster trade that will net the Phillies their second Cy Young winner in five months, Roy Halladay has agreed to a $60 million three year contract extension with a chance at a fourth year either guaranteed or a vesting option.

Halladay took his physical early Tuesday morning, and an official announcement is expected on Wednesday in a press conference at Citizens Bank Park.

When you look at the Mets' offseason to date, what you see is a whole lot of nothing.

The Mets have made no splashy moves, no free-agent signings, and no impact trades as they determine how the market will play out.

But while the Mets have remained stagnant, the Mets' chief rivals have all made impact moves that will improve their prospects for 2010:

Phillies

Acquired Roy Halladay

Braves

Minaya Out of Answers In Attempt to Improve Hapless Club

Roy Halliday is a Phillie today. John Lackey is in Boston and Matt Holliday may end up staying in St. Louis. The fourth big fish to be had this offseason, Jason Bay, is still out there.

The Mets have an offer on the table to Bay, the player they had the most chance of landing this offseason.  The question is, will they close the deal on this much-needed asset?

On Tuesday morning, the Chicago White Sox acquired Los Angeles Dodgers' outfielder Juan Pierre for two pitching prospects.

Anybody who has followed the Phillies' pursuit of Roy Halladay over the past few days is quite aware of the complexity of the proposed trades to acquire him. Several teams are directly or indirectly involved, and it's even been suggested that the full trade package be broken down into three separate two-team deals.

If last July you were to tell me that the Phillies would acquire Cliff Lee for marginal prospects, make a big run to the World Series only to get stopped by the powerhouse, money driven, New York Yankees, I wouldn't believe you. 

The Boston Red Sox have their new left fielder and no, his name is not Holliday or Bay: