MLB

Well, there goes one article from the offseason que.

The Rays, finding themselves with a surfeit of infielders, seem to be on the verge of dealing second baseman Akinori Iwamura and another player to the Pirates for reliever Jesse Chavez. However, for much of the day, it looked like the Twins might have achieved an offseason before the season even officially ended.

The most recent interruption that had the media criticizing a single man was rapper Kanye West's during Taylor Swift's acceptance speech at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards.

The most recent interruption that had the media criticizing a single man in baseball was when Alex Rodriguez had a Kanye-like moment in the 2007 World Series. That year, he decided to announce to the world that he would be opting out of his contract with the New York Yankees to pursue a more luxurious one. 

San Diego Padres

More than any other hitter available on the free agent market, first baseman Adrian Gonzalez would be a perfect fit in the Mets lineup.  Due to salary limitations, San Diego will likely not be able to afford re-signing him when his contract ends after the end of the 2011 season.  Former Padre GM Kevin Towers speculates that Gonzalez will be traded.

I think it’s safe to say that Joe Girardi is no Joe Torre.

Sure the Yankees made it to the World Series this year under Girardi, but not without him making some blundering decisions.

This whole season the guy has had a tendency to overmanage or undermanage games and Monday night was no different.

Let me preface this piece by saying that Bobby Meacham, the new Houston Astros first-base coach, is described as a very classy guy and a respected coach. They say that those who can, do and those who can't, teach. Baseball's filled with successful managers who were mediocre players (Tommy Lasorada had a lifetime pitching record of 0-4 while Earl Weaver never even made it to the big leagues).

Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports announced Tuesday that the Tampa Bay Rays have sent 2B Akinori Iwamura to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for right-handed relief pitcher Jesse Chavez.

While trades are generally encouraged to wait until after the completion of the World Series by MLB officials to avoid distraction, details of the trade were leaked Tuesday with an official announcement by the clubs to be expected in the next 24 hours.

Reports out of Tampa late Tuesday afternoon are that the Rays have dealt second baseman Akinori Iwamura to the Pittsburgh Pirates. It is believed that the Rays will receive reliever Jesse Chavez in return, but the full details of the deal have not yet been released.

Iwamura was hurt early in 2009 and lost his job to surprising All-Star Ben Zobrist. The Rays had been rumored to be shopping Iwamura to a number of teams, including a deal that would have sent him to the Chicago Cubs with Pat Burrell in exchange for Milton Bradley.

Filed: Nov. 3, 2009

Bruce Levine of ESPN 1000 is reporting that the Cubs and reliever John Grabow are in the midst of heavy talks for a multi-year deal. Levine reports that the offer is reportedly to be a $6.5 to $7.5 million pact, with a third year being a possibility.

As the 2009 World Series moves back to the Bronx, the Philadelphia Phillies once again put the ball in the hands of Pedro Martinez.

The Phillies, after witnessing Martinez's performance in Game Two of this series, believe he is the right choice to get the win and force a game seven.

Martinez has performed well this postseason, posting an ERA of 2.08 and has showed signs of pitching like his former self.