Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports is reporting that a deal that would send Erik Bedard to the Seattle Mariners is getting close. Rosenthal is reporting that among that players being named are OF phenom Adam Jones, reliever George Sherrill, and 17 year old shortstop Carlos Triunfel.

The AP is reporting that relief pitcher Rich “Goose” Gossage was the only person elected to the HOF this year, in his 9th year of eligibility.

Gossage played 22 seasons in the majors for nine teams, spending his best years with the Yankees and Padres.

Fellow Hall of Fame hopeful Jim Rice fell short again, receiving 72.2 percent of the vote.

SNY is currently showing the Giants-Mets Game from April 26, 2006.

Yes, this is the game where Brian Bannister limped home from 3rd. Check it out if you dont remember how we won…

The AP is reporting that pitcher Matt Clement has agreed to a 1 year 1.5m deal with the St Louis Cardinals. Clement missed all of the 2007 season while recovering from shoulder surgery.

The 33 year old Clement is 87-86 with a 4.47 ERA in 9 major league seasons.

Im surprised they actually gave a guy coming off serious shoulder surgery guaranteed money. I guess thats the pitching market for you.

The AP is reporting that the Oakland A’s have dealt 1B/OF Nick Swisher to the Chicago White Sox for Pitchers Gio Gonzalez, Fautino De Los Santos and OF Ryan Sweeney.

The 27 year old Swisher batted 262, hitting 22 Home Runs and Driving in 78 runs in 150 games this past season.

Ken Rosenthal of Foxsports.com is reporting that P Mark Prior has agreed to a 1 year deal with the San Diego Padres.

Over his injury plagued career, Prior has compiled a 42-29 record with a 3.51 E.R.A

Happy Holidays to all our readers here at Hot Foot.

Scott Merkin of MLB.com is reporting that the White Sox and Cuban Shortstop Alexei Ramirez have agreed to a 4 year 4.75m dollar contract.

Ramirez hit 87 Home Runs and drove in 391 runs over 7 seasons with his team Pinar Del Rio, and played on Cuba in the 2006 World Baseball Classic.

Red Sox pitcher Jonathan Papelbon has come out and said that his Dog, Boss, ate the ball from the final out of the World Series.

This comes a few years after Doug Mientkiewicz’s prolonged dispute with the Sox over the 2004 Ball.

Ive heard a few strange stories, but this is up there with the best of them.

According to AP The Cincinnati Reds dealt OF Josh Hamilton to the Texas Rangers for Pitcher Edinson Volquez and a minor league pitcher.The 26 year old Hamilton batted 292 with 19 Home Runs and 47 rbis after making at back from the substance abuse program.

Metsblog.com is reporting that the Mets have signed former Brewers reliever Matt Wise to a one year deal. Wise had been on track for a spectacular season, but had the wheels fall off in the last 2 months of the season.

I recall Wise throwing 20 straight balls against us in Milwaukee in August, and almost falling off the couch in laughter. I know that Wise had been known for a great changeup, that contributed to his early season success. I like it, low risk, high reward deal.

Update - 6:22 p.m. - The contract is worth $1.2 million. If Wise is released before opening day, he will earn $750,000.

According to Ken Rosenthal over at Foxsports.com, The Mariners and Free Agent pitcher Carlos Silva are in “serious negotiations” about a possible 4 year deal that could reach to as much as 44 million.  Silva was 13-14 last year for a mediocre Twins team, posting a respectable 4.19 ERA.

I think Silva would be a nice 4 or 5 pitcher to add to the Mets staff, but 44 million for a 4th or 5th pitcher is a little too rich for my blood.

The AP reports that catcher Javy Lopez is returning to his old team, the Atlanta Braves after signing a minor league deal.

This is nothing more than insurance for their everyday catcher Brian McCann. I thought Javy retired about 5 years ago. I guess i was wrong.

The AP reports Orioles 2B Brian Roberts has acknowledged that he used steroids once in 2003, before realizing he had made a “terrible decision”.