Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal is reporting the Cubs are close to signing OF-2B Alfonso Soriano to an 8-year $135 million deal.

Wow, thats a lot of dough.

I'm really suprised by this. Every indication lead us to believe he was headed to Philadelphia, but you really can't take anything you hear in the offseason as fact. Its full of suprises.

Lou Pinella will be a very, very happy man tonight.

Update 3:28 PM
ESPN Radio 1000 in Chicago is reporting Soriano has signed a 8-year $136 million deal.

Rangers GM Jon Daniels said he is “cautiously optimistic” that his club will re-sign P Vicente Padilla.

The Braves and Orioles could be discussing a Tim Hudson for Hayden Penn/Adam Lowern trade.

White Sox GM Kenny Williams denied reports that P Freddy Garcia was on his way to Anaheim for P Ervin Santana.

The A’s might not offer a contract to OF Barry Bonds.

The Angels view OF J.D. Drew as a fallback option for OF-2B Alfonso Soriano.

The Dodgers, yet again, remain close to re-signing 1B Nomar Garciaparra.

The Phillies #1 priority if the club fails to re-sign P Randy Wolf is to sign P Adam Eaton, not Soriano.

Tracy Ringolsby of the Rocky Mountain News reports that the Giants have made a three-year $30 million offer to Juan Pierre and to Gary Matthews Jr.

The SF Gate reports that the Giants have also spoke to the agents for Alfonso Soriano and Carlos Lee. 

The Giants may also bid for Japanese lefty pitcher Kei Igawa.

The Astros appear to be making a statement that they are major players in this seasons free agency market.

ESPN reports that the Astros have made multi-year offers to free-agents Carlos Lee and Alfonso Soriano according to reports out of Houston.

The Houston Chronicle reports that the Astros are in serious discussions with RHP Woody Williams. Astros general manager
Tim Purpura told the Fox television affiliate in Houston that he plans
to make an offer to Williams in the next day or so.

Lee hit .286 with 37 homers and 116 RBI last season with the Brewers and Rangers.

Soriano hit .277 with 46 homers, 41 steals and 95 RBI for the Nationals.

Williams was 12-5 with a 3.65 earned-run average for the Padres.

Soriano is looking for a long term seven-year deal worth around $120 million. Lee is expected to earn about $15 million a year. The Astros most likely cannot afford to sign both.

Lee seems like the best fit for Houston, Soriano reportedly wants to remain on the east coast and the Phillies are said to be prepared to make him a significant offer. If they're willing to pay him $17 million a year remains to be seen. If Houston or Philly blinks then we're looking at quite an expensive precedent set for outfielders, and the Manny Ramirez option becomes that much more attractive.

Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports has a crapload of nuggets this morning:

The Mets are still interested in White Sox P Javier Vazquez, but he views the Rangers as the most likely trade partner. Rosenthal suggests the Sox trade Vazquez and OF Brian Anderson to Texas for some of Texas’ pitching prospects, namely Thomas Diamond and John Danks.

The Dodgers are close to signing 1B Nomar Garciaparra to a 2-year deal.

With the departure of DH Frank Thomas to the Blue Jays, expect the A’s to inquire about C Mike Piazza, OF Cliff Floyd, OF Aubrey Huff, OF Frank Catalanotto and 1B Shea Hillenbrand. The alternative route would be to acquire a bat by trading P Esteban Loaiza.

The Giants, Rangers, Orioles and Astros are the four teams most interested in OF Carlos Lee. Lee is a fallback option for the Giants if they fail to re-sign OF Barry Bonds.

If the Devil Rays move either OF Carl Crawford or OF Rocco Baldelli, they will be moved for a young pitcher with ace-like potential. Possible targets include Angels P Ervin Santana, Dodgers P Chad Billingsley and one of the Marlins young pitchers.

Astros.com reports Astros GM Tim Purpura denies having discussions with the Red Sox about P Brad Lidge.

Newsday reports Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez has no plans to waive his no-trade clause.

The Boston Herald is reporting that the Red Sox and Scott Boras plan to keep the Daisuke Matsuzaka contract negotiations “as quiet as possible”.

The Philadelphis Inquirer is reporting that free agent OF-2B Alfonso Soriano has said he prefers to stay on the east coast.

The Denver Post reports that the Cubs, Rangers and Astros are all showing interest in P Jason Jennings.

Joel Sherman of the NY Post reports that the Rockies have told the Yankees they will take on half of the $23 million still owed to P Carl Pavano.

With the alleged bid of $50 million dollars by the Red Sox for the rights just to talk to Daisuke Matsuzaka, I think its safe to say that baseball has once again lost its mind.

Buster Olney reports on his ESPN blog that after a bit of a recession in the market over the last few years, we are likely looking at a major market correction.

He cites the Matasuzaka bid, the price the Cubs paid to resign Aramis Ramirez at a higher price than they paid to resign Derek Lee, Gary Sheffield getting $41 million over the next three years, and the Phillies supposedly willing to pony up to $120 million to sign Alfonso Soriano as indication that we are looking at an expensive offseason.

According to the Palm Beach Post, a National League GM said that the Marlins are telling teams that P Dontrelle Willis is not avaliable.

So much for that trade. For what its worth, the fish also said 1B Carlos Delgado wasn't avaliable last winter, but you all know where he is now.

The LA Times reports the Los Angeles Angels have made an offer to OF-2B Alfonso Soriano and it is believed to be a 6-year deal worth $80 million.

MLB.com reports the Rangers made a $27 million bid on P Daisuke Matsuzaka.

Thats $27 million that could be used to lure P Barry Zito to Arlington.

The Oakland A's have eliminated Nippom Ham Fighters manager Trey Hillman from their managerial search. Bench coach Bob Geren, Rockies bench coach Jamie Quirk and ESPN analyst Orel Hershiser are the final 3 canidates.

Seeing how the Foot has been getting a lot of traffic and commentators lately, I figured I might try to stir up the community and see who people would wish to see in a Met uniform (and not as well), a la forum-style — because, hey… we're all “Hot Foot Fans of the Day,” right?

In a recent conversation with Anthony (Ambassador Foot to y'all — rag on me all you want, but I still find it easier to say it than “you all” all profoundly), we compiled a list and came to the conclusion to four players we'd both want to see as a Met.  Before I get started, remember: a) all of the increased revenue that has picked up this past season due to attendance and merchandising (I'm even seeing a bunch of Mets propaganda in Atlanta, and I never used to come across that), b) we have a new television network coming soon, and c) oh, that ridonkulously beautific stadium that's supposedly going to be open on Opening Day of 2009.  Let's get retarde — err, wait… started (sorry, that stupid, unedited Black Eyed Peas song came up after visiting a friend's lame MySpace).

The List/Rundown/Rome Is Burning:

Starting Pitcher - Daisuke Matsuzaka

The so-called gyro pitcher, or who I like to call “Suzi,” short for “Matsuzi,” if that even makes sense (but now I'm just thinking of calling the dude “Sushi.”  All of this would probably change, of course, if he were to be a Skank or any less equivalent.   Anyways…).  Only 26, he already has 108 wins under his belt in the NPB.  He has ridiculous movement on his fastball, but even moreso with his “whatever-you-want-to-label-it” breaker.  Either way, it's mentioned that he doesn't throw the Gyroball and that the ball spins in an unorthodox fashion due to release “mistakes.”  Hah!  He will be sitting out the MLB/NPB All-Star Game this November (obviously).  The guy can pitch and not just at an overseas-level, and he would easily contend with Chien-Ming Wang (or, for the Chinese savy: 王建民) in the Clash of the Asians.  I really can't see any dropout from the transition to the MLB's talent and a bigger ball, but then again… scouting overseas talent ain't my cup of tea.  No way Omar lets this slip… I think he'd be able to perform in New York, seeing as if he's been in the Japanese limelight his entire baseball career (he apparently was a God in high school).  Also, after watching the YouTube video in Anthony's earlier article where he strikes out 14 batters, I've noticed two things: 1) live bands at baseball games would be cool as hell, and 2) he rocks LIVESTRONG, which makes him “baaawlin'!”* in my books.

*See New York Giants defense for more info.

Highlights of Matsuzaka from the WBC Championship against Cuba:


Pitching for the Seibu Lions (04/14/06):


Rotation of Matsuzaka's “Gyroball:”

Starting Pitcher - Barry Zito

He tied the A's in team wins (16) in a young-but-effective (or just plain good) rotation with Joe Blanton, tying for eigth in the American League and also becoming a 10-game winner for his sixth consecutive season, dating back to 2000.  His 3.83 ERA was ranked 10th in the AL.  His most memorable moment last season is when he outdueled Johan Santana in Game 1 of the ALDS, in a game/series where everyone counted Oakland out.  He's been one of my favorite pitchers since he emerged in 1999 and have been infatuated with the rumors of him becoming a Met (as much as I love these parenthetical remarks) for the past two or three years.  Him moving to the NL will no doubt lower his ERA, and if anyone thinks he's beginning to wash up, consider this: his 16 wins this year have been the most since the year he won the Cy Young in 2002 and could have easily been a 20-game winner. The ace will be turning 29 years old after the 2007 season starts and already has 102 career wins.  His best month of the season was in May, when he went 3-1 with a 1.32 ERA in 6 starts.  In that one loss of the month, he lost to the Yankees albeit allowing only 1 ER, and did the same for the two no-decisions.  He also went 4-1 in both June and August, with 3.95 and 3.40 ERAs, respectively.  Yeah, he's known to have a bad game here or there, but my mind is set on wanting some baked Zito once every five dinners (or lunch, I suppose).

Second Baseman/IF/OF - Julio Lugo

The man can play multiple positions, as seen when playing for with the Dodgers.  He started 29 games at second, 16 and third base, eight at shortstop, two in right field and once in left when coming over to the National League from the Devil Rays.  He hit a .278 batting average for the season, with 69 runs scored, 12 home runs, 37 RBIs, 24 stolen bases in 33 attempts and had a .341 OBP, .001 higher than his career average.  Before being traded to Los Angeles, he was hitting .308 with 53 runs scored, 12 homers, 27 RBIs and 18 stolen bases with Tampa Bay.  Since the move, his numbers have declined to a .219 batting average, 16 runs scored, no home runs, 10 RBIs and only 6 stolen bases, but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt due to the fact that he was injured, playing on a team that had a surplus of infielders and switched to an entirely new league of pitching.  Although he's not the best of fielders due to the errors he sometimes commits, there's no doubt he's got a glove.  I like to think he's a good fielder who takes chances and sometimes lets the play get the best of him.  Either way, no matter who plugs up second, it's going to be hard to follow up Jose Valentin's stellar defense in '06.  I'd be well more than satisfied with him hitting in the bottom half of the lineup.  He'll be 31 years old later this month.

Left Fielder/Second Baseman - Alfonso Soriano

The so-called “bad teammate” I've been hearing about.  The vibe I get from some fellow Soriano-hater bloggers/commentators is that he is portrayed as the T.O. equivalent in baseball which I honestly don't get.  Maybe someone can help me out with this one.  I just can't see one player ruining the dynamic and chemistry both Omar Minaya and Willie Randolph have created in the clubhouse, so to think that Soriano would break up the somewhat “band of brothers”  mentality that lies in Captain Red Ass and the Intrepid Mets completely baffles me.  He's part of the prolific 40/40 club in which only Jose “Bash & Dash” Conseco, Barry “Cream & Clear” Bonds and Alex “Gay & Gayer” Rodriguez are a part of.  His numbers for the season?  They were either slightly better or right on track of his career averages: .277 batting average, 119 runs scored, 46 home runs, 95 RBIs and 41 stolen bases.  Yeah, his strikeouts were at a career-high with 160, but he also came slightly close to doubling his walks count to 67 (his career high prior to that was 38 in 2003 with the Yankees).  He also led the Majors last year with 22 outfield assists, six more than second place RF Brad Hawpe, nine more than our boy Carlos Beltran who led center fielders with 13, and twelve more than Jason Bay, who was second in left field assists with 10.  He had 11 errors last year, which is around Adam Dunn country (eww…), though this was his first year starting in the outfield.  I don't see how the Mets can't make a huge bid on him.  He'll be 31 years old in January.

From The Washington Post…

According to the source, Soriano is seeking a deal similar to
the seven-year, $119 million deal given to center fielder Carlos
Beltran by the New York Mets before the 2005 season. It’s unlikely the
Orioles will be in the running for Soriano if he doesn’t back off those
demands. Teams can start bidding on free agents on Nov. 12.

Ken Rosenthal reports on Fox Sports…