Since the other MLB thread is for the 2004 season, maybe we ought to have a new thread for off season Hot Stove talk and the upcoming MLB season.

The Randy Johnson trade is, according to the news (thanks LT!) off. Carlos Beltran is still out there. Edgar Renteria is a Red Sox. Pedro is a Met. Orlando Cabrera is an Angel. Mark Mulder is a Cardinal (YEAH!) Tim Hudson is a Brave.

What's next?

On the Cards front, we need a shortstop and a second basemen, to be sure. David Eckstein and Alex Cora were both released yesterday...what do you think, LT?

Excellent idea, pE. A whole new topic will help me get over the crushing sadness of game four of the 2004 World Series (not to mention games 3, 2, and 1...).

The Johnson deal falling through is the best thing to happen to the Hot Stove League so far. Dragging this soap opera out may be the only thing to get me through to March Madness.

I like the acquisition of Mulder. I thought I wanted Hudson more, but only because I would never have imagined the A's giving up a quality lefty. The hidden advantage is the wealth of experience he brings to the lineup, especially if he can mentor a certain young lefty we've been watching carefully for several seasons now.

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Originally posted by philosopherEric:
On the Cards front, we need a shortstop and a second basemen, to be sure. David Eckstein and Alex Cora were both released yesterday...what do you think, LT?

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As much as I hated to see Edgar go, $10M was just too dear a price to pay. I wish him well in Boston with all sincerity.

Eckstein's release from Anaheim this week seem serendipitous. I think he would be a great addition to the Cards.

Second's going to be a bit tougher. Polanco accepted arbitration with the Phils Sunday, so he's off the table. That's a shame. I would have loved to have seen him back in St. Louis.

Miguel Cairo? The Yanks let him go December 8th. I liked how he looked in Busch stadium in...what was it...'03? The Boss paid him less than $1M in 2004. If somebody else hasn't grabbed him, why not?

Now Playing: The West Wing on Bravo

I was a Renteria fan until he said that The Red Sox were "more interested in having him on the team" because they called him more often than the Cards. Tell the truth, Edgar. You wanted the extra $4-8 million, depending on who you ask.

Reports say the Dodgers have signed J.D.Drew. Hmm. That's a risk. He was hit and miss (mostly miss) with Cards for years, and has a breakout year with the Braves last season...I don't know if I'd risk $55 million on him...

That's an unfortunate comment from Edgar, but just to play devil's advocate, the Cards management said he was a priority all season, but I felt like they dragged their feet since their initial offer ws rejected in Spring Training. That being said, Edgar had to know that the crazy prices being quoted for short stops in the off season were going to put him out of our reach. Nothing personal.

Five years, $55M for Drew? Wow. I'm not going to say that's the craziest thing I've heard lately, but it's right up there. Hats off to "young Mantle" for playing a complete season without landing on the disabled list, but if I'm the Dodgers, that's a scary piece of trivia for a 29-year-old.

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I'm feeling really apathetic towards the Royals right now. This is unusual. Usually by now I'm predicting their ultimate World Series victory (which will, by the way, still happen). I just don't know what to think about them. Ugh.

Well, they're not giving you much to work with, CompmanJX3. So far in December The Royals have traded Benito Santiago to the Phillies for a pitcher named Leo Nunez and re-signed Kevin Appier to a minor league deal with an invitation to come to spring training.

I'd hope they're going to do something with all that cash they're not going to have to pay Beltran, but they've never been in a position to be accused of overspending.

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I love sport. I would watch every game of baseball or grid iron I could, but down here, we don't get free to air US sport, and I can't afford cable.

So I make do with the Aussie equivalants
Aussie rules
Cricket

We've just been towlin' everyone at cricket for yonks, but we came out of the wilderness, so more power to us.

According to the papers, the Cards (who have signed Eckstein to play short) are still looking for a second baseman from the pool of:

Roberto Alomar
Miguel Cairo
Mark Grudzelanek
Ray Sanchez
Pokey Reese (who wants to play short)
Alex Cora

They did add utility infielder Abraham Nunez and lefty bullpen specialist Mike Myers, and they resigned So Taguchi.

The only move that worries me this offseason...the catching....

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Originally posted by burning man:
I love sport. I would watch every game of baseball or grid iron I could, but down here, we don't get free to air US sport, and I can't afford cable.

So I make do with the Aussie equivalants
Aussie rules
Cricket

We've just been towlin' everyone at cricket for yonks, but we came out of the wilderness, so more power to us.

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I went to a summer sports camp when I was 15 and wee played sports from all over the world. I learned rugby and Aussie rules at that camp, and loved playing both. There was an Aussie Rules league in Atlanta, but I never had time to commit to it....