Not that this has anything to pertain to the Mets, but Padres starting pitcher, and 2007 NL Cy Young award winner Jake Peavy appeared to have ‘dirty hands’ in a recent 2-hit performance against the Dodgers. The Big Lead has the story and a picture of Peavy’s hands on the day of the start.

Peavy on the dirty hands…

“I laughed, to be honest with you. Anybody that wants to check me, feel free. There’s nothing on my hands that’s not supposed to be. I thought it was funny that it was such a big deal. I’ve got no problems with anytime anybody needs to check me. I can’t imagine my hands being that dirty. That being said, your hand doesn’t look clean when you’re out there. Obviously I pick up rosin, pick up dirt, I do hit. There’s no way you could have a foreign substance on your hand that’s black. I don’t know what you could put on your hand. My whole hand was covered, the picture I saw. Wouldn’t that come off on a ball? How could you throw a ball with pine tar on your hand?”

Padres manager Bud Black on the situation…

“When you play baseball, your hands get dirty.”

Dodgers manager Joe Torre on Peavy and his next start against the Dodgers this upcoming Friday…

“I don’t want to make excuses for not winning. I didn’t suspect anything Saturday. It was the first time I’ve seen him pitch. We’ll be the home team on Friday, so the balls that get thrown out of the game will come over to our dugout.”

Peavy’s reply to Torre’s statement…

“The Dodgers are more than welcome to look at any balls I throw. I hope that they’re worried about my hand more than they’re worried about my pitches. I honestly hope that’s a cause of concern. Anytime Joe wants to have anybody check me, I welcome that.”

Dodgers owner Frank McCourt is quoted in the Boston Globe today regarding the Dodgers intentions this off season.

“I think we’re in good position right now,” McCourt said. “We don’t have to make a deal. We made the biggest move we needed to make in signing Joe.”

Hey, good luck with all that. I hope Joe Torre has a wicked fastball and can drive in 100 or more runs considering the Dodgers finished last season in fourth place with this current cast of characters.

According to Peter Gammons over at ESPN Insider, the Minnesota Twins want a three-player deal from the Yankees for Johan Santana. The Twins are asking for SP Phil Hughes, CF Melky Cabrera and CF Austin Jackson.

Over the weekend, it was reported that Johan Santana is likely seeking a six-year, $150 million deal.

Cabrera, 23, played centerfield in 131 games for the Yankees last season, hitting .273 with 8 home runs and 73 runs batted in. Cabrera managed to steal 13 bases and score 66 runs during the course of the 2007 season.

Hughes, 21, widely considered the best pitching prospect in baseball, went 5-3 with a 4.46 ERA last season in 13 starts. In just his second career start, Hughes took a no-hitter into the 7th inning, before tearing his hamstring with just 84 pitches thrown. In the playoffs against the Indians, Hughes relieved SP Roger Clemens after just 2.1 innings of work. He took over in the 3rd inning and recorded the next 11 outs while only giving up 2 hits and got the win for the team.

Jackson, 20, considered a top 10 prospect within the Yankees organization. He was named the No. 2 prospect in the Hawaii Winter Baseball League. An NL Scout on Baseball America had to say about Jackson. “Once he gets underway he’s a plus-plus runner. He’s the best athlete in this league. He doesn’t have that first-step explosion, but this guy is a real crowd pleaser on the bases.”

In this week’s New York Magazine, Amy Odell writes a piece regarding the possibility of Alex Rodriguez reuniting with Joe Torre in Dodger blues.

At the New York Comedy Festival’s “Stand Up for Heroes” benefit November 7, the new Dodgers manager noted that, when it comes to A-Rod,

“you’ve got to understand there aren’t a lot of clubs that are going to be able to afford what he certainly—I don’t want to say ‘demands’—but, um, commands.”

“I think the Dodgers are certainly interested in him, absolutely,”

ESPN has reported that the Dodgers have finalized a deal with Joe Torre. According to Jayson Stark, its a 3 year deal for over $13 million. The AP further ads that Don Mattingly, Larry Bowa and current SNY employee the Mazz will join Torre in Los Angelos.

Days of speculation are finally over, end as expected Torre and his core staff all end up in LA, with Girardi taking over the Yankees. All thats really left now is to see who else ends up in the now vacant spots on the Yankees roster. And hey, maybe we’ll get that answer on a Met first base coach soon. This is a Met blog after all.

But it’ll be interesting to see if Torre and his crew can take their winning ways with them, teach the Dodgers how to win Torre style (you know, four quick championships then six years of just playing well).

According to Peter Abraham on his blog for The Journal News, a deal has been reached to make Joe Torre the new manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The deal is for three years and worth close to $15 million dollars.

Peter Abraham of the Journal News was on WFAN with host Steve Somers early this morning. Abraham discussed the news of the day, that being Joe Torre signing on to manage the Dodgers.

Abraham believes that it’s going to be a three-year deal for Torre and that it could get done within the next 24 hours.

Click Here to listen to the interview.

Peter Abraham of the Journal News reports former Yankees manager Joe Torre will manage the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2008. The Dodgers have chosen to fire Grady Little and hire Torre to replace him and an announcement could come as early as tomorrow.

Don Mattingly is expected to accompany Torre to Los Angeles as his bench coach. Torre is also interested in hiring Kevin Long, his hitting coach with the Yankees.

Jon Heyman on SI.com writes that the Yankees appear to be focusing on Joe Girardi to replace Joe Torre as Yankee manager and an offer could come as early as today.