Baseball

According to ESPN and the New York Post, the New York Mets are deep in talks with hurler Chris Young.

Any time you can say your starting rotation is set before December 1, you're doing something right.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are definitely able to say that. In just a few short weeks, the Dodgers have made several big moves which they hope will translate to success in 2011.

The process of solidifying their starting rotation started with signing LHP Ted Lilly to a three-year contract on October 19. Lilly went went 10-12 with a 3.62 ERA in 30 starts while splitting time with the Chicago Cubs and Dodgers.

The Red Sox are kicking the proverbial tires on veteran backstop Rod Barajas, according to FoxSports.com's Jon Paul Morosi and MLBTradeRumors.com.

While the Red Sox reportedly made a bid to retain Victor Martinez behind the dish for at least the next couple seasons, they lost him to a more aggressive Detroit Tigers' organization early last Wednesday.

The future location of free agent outfielder Carl Crawford has been a hot topic this off-season and interest continues to grow in the star player since his contract ended with the Rays this past season.

Although many teams might not be able to afford his large contract requests(some say he is looking for $100 million), he could still be an early Christmas present for any team that bids the right price for him.

It's not often you will read an article that's primary focus is on utility player who has never been an All-Star, has one season of 30-plus home runs, and has seen his playing time consistently dwindle.  This, however, is one of those articles.

If Sandy Alderson and the rest of the New York Mets' brass are reading this, I suggest they pay close attention. 

I proclaim that Bill Hall would be a perfect fit for the 2011 New York Mets.

Now what? The Pirates hit their 18th straight losing season in 2010. The 105 losses of the 2010 season are six more than 2009, which would lead most people to think they only got worse. That isn't exactly the case. Although they had one of their worst seasons in franchise history, they also showed off a few guys that could really make an impact down the road. Maybe these few guys could even get the Pirates back into the light of a winning season.

Baseball is a unique sport for a lot of different reasons.

One of them is payroll. Unlike the NBA, NFL and NHL, there isn't a salary cap in MLB.

That's the main reason the Yankees and Red Sox are able to compete every year while the Pirates are close to 20 years of consecutive losing seasons.

Traditional big spenders like the Angels and the Tigers are going to have some money to blow. But there are some traditionally cheap teams looking to dish out some dough as well. Don't sleep on the Orioles, Nationals and A's to make a splash in free agency.

We here at Bleacher Report, every Monday throughout this offseason, will be giving fans the inside edge into the lives and history of the Milwaukee Brewers' up-and-coming prospects.

As our honorary first edition, we'll get acquainted with one of Milwaukee's most promising young stars -- none other than third baseman Mat Gamel.

I'm confused. It isn't the first time I've been confused, of course, because I'm blonde.

I don't think of myself as a ditzy blonde, though. I think I have a good grasp on most things, although I still can't quite figure out why anyone older than 14 would consider Adam Sandler a funny man. I mean, Sandler is funny like Tiger Woods is a virgin. But the mystery of a non-funnyman's appeal to the masses is not the source of my bafflement. Derek Jeter is.

Derek Jeter will be a New York Yankee next season. Let's just get that out of the way.

Both sides have been a little wrong and a little right in the ongoing negotiations for the free agent and future first-ballot Hall of Famer.