NL West

When the Arizona Diamondbacks representatives left for the Winter Meetings in Indianapolis they took with them a war chest of roughly $10 million and a laundry list of needs to fill on their roster. Given their financial position they were not expected to be major players during the meetings.

Instead the expectation was that Arizona would talk to several clubs and perhaps meet with the representatives of the second and third tier free agents on the market. It was therefore somewhat a surprise to hear the Diamondbacks mentioned in so many rumors from day one of the meetings.

This is far from comprehensive. But here goes.

1. Peter Gammons is leaving ESPN. Never liked the guy. I hate the Red Sox.

Throughout baseball, team representatives and members of the media have packed their suitcases and found themselves in Indianapolis. What could possibly possess the baseball community to make a trip to the frozen mid-west in the dead of winter?

The Winter Meetings begin today and with them the hopes and dreams of your team becoming a contender are born.

Just under two weeks ago the Arizona Diamondbacks made a slew of roster changes setting their 40-man roster . I found the timing of that somewhat interesting since they entered the free agent period with no openings on the roster.

This leads you to believe that any changes that will occur will be the result of a trade rather than a free agent signing. Not only a trade; but one that would include a member of their 40-man roster.

The Arizona Diamondbacks current management team has made a conscious effort to be available not only to the media but to the everyday fan. Since taking over as president of the Arizona Diamondbacks, Derrick Hall has offered an open communications channel to anyone.

Besides offering his email address up to those wanting to speak with the team, Hall has also implemented a monthly forum where members of the Diamondbacks front office are available through the team website to answer questions from the fans.

Chad Tracy could make for a nice addition to the Mets. (PHOTO BY ICON SMI)

BY MICHAEL GANCI
EDITOR

The passing of the deadline for Major League Baseball teams to offer arbitration to their former players clears the landscape slightly in the free agent market.

Players who have been offered arbitration have until Monday to decide whether to accept, but at least now teams know which players will cost them draft choices if they decide to sign them.

The Dodgers have just confirmed, to the great pleasure of their fans, the return of their most valuable asset—Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully.

In the middle of last season, the 60th of Scully's Dodger career, there was a lot of conjecture regarding how much longer baseball fans would be able to enjoy the unique poetic narrative Scully provides.

The shortstop who stole 104 bases, the catcher who was a great Dodger long before he was a great Met, and the third baseman who may have had one of the best single offensive seasons in L.A. history.

Power or speed? The past or the present?

It all points to one question with hundreds of possibilities: Which Dodger had the greatest offensive season at his position?

Major League Baseball has been asking fans this same question in an effort to choose each team's best-ever collection of stars.

They are calling it MLB 9s.