Baseball

It is surprising how one minute you're considered a genius and another minute a fool.

Frank Wren has already at the very beginning pulled off two sensational signings. Yet Rafael Soriano's consideration for the offer of arbitration has everyone second-guessing.

"How could Wren sign those aging pitchers?"

"How's he going to get a bat if Soriano ties up $7 million?"

First off, relief pitchers can easily go into their mid to late 40s.  This is simply because they only throw 15 to 20 pitches an outing 40 to 90 games a year.

Reports on Monday afternoon are that the New York Mets have traded for Detroit Tigers starter Edwin Jackson.

Jackson emerged as a solid starter for Detroit after being dealt to the Tigers for Matt Joyce last winter. The 26-year-old righty was 13-6 with a 3.62 ERA in 33 starts. He had one complete game last year, and struck out 161 in 215 innings pitched. Opposing batters only managed a .246 average against Jackson in 2009.

On Friday afternoon, we picked the kids up early from school and headed to Cincinnati for Redsfest.  If you have never been to the annual celebration of baseball during the winter months, it is well worth the time and money.  Opportunities for autographs and pictures with players are just some of the attractions.  

There are games for kids of all ages and more Reds memorabilia than you can possibly imagine.

Baseball's Winter Meetings have begun, and there isn't a team with as clear-cut a mission this week as the Chicago Cubs: get rid of Milton Bradley.

It appears Cubs GM Jim Hendry will do everything in his power to unload the switch-hitting outfielder/designated hitter this week after the marriage between the volatile Bradley and the organization, and Cubs fans, went south in terribly public fashion.

The Seattle Mariners mean business.

General Manager Jack Zduriencik is entering just his second offseason at the club’s helm, but clearly has the franchise headed in the right direction.

Last offseason, he engineered a number of low-risk, high-reward deals and helped turnaround a club that had just 61 wins in 2008 to 85 victories a year ago.

1:00 PM: According to Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com , it appears more and more likely that Twins starter Carl Pavano will accept arbitration, keeping him in Minnesota for at least one more season (thoughts below).

The Yankees, who are reportedly on a quest to reduce payroll this offseason, have traded right-handed reliever Brian Bruney to the Washington Nationals for a player to be named later.

Bruney, who made $1.25 million this year, was due for salary arbitration and could've made around $2 million after putting up what appeared to be a good season.

The 27-year-old's 5-0 record and 3.92 ERA look nice on paper, but Yankees fans know how much Bruney struggled at times this year following his return from injury.

Some things are rock solid for the New York Yankees going into the 2010 season.

To begin with they have the best infield in all of baseball both offensively and defensively.

Mark Texeira - First Base.  Robinson Cano - Second Base.  Alex Rodriguez - Third Base. Derek Jeter - Shortstop.  No need for any changes there.

Jorge Posada will back behind the plate but don't expect him to catch more than 100 games. He will DH a great deal more and they will give his aging legs a lot more rest.

The Lowell Spinners, Class-A Affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, will welcome Red Sox star, and 2001 Spinner, Kevin Youkilis back to Lowell for the Eighth Annual Lowell Spinners Alumni Dinner, Tuesday, December 29 at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium in downtown Lowell.

With the date fast approaching, the Spinners are continuing to add to the guest list, confirming former Red Sox catcher Rich Gedman and former New York Met Mike Glavine will be in attendance.