The Dodgers and Padres tied 3-3 in what was the first MLB game in China. The game, played last night, gathered a crowd of over 12,000 people in a newly constructed venue for the Beijing Olympics this summer.

A true testament to the fact that the game wasn’t played in the US was:

The concessions were cheaper than the U.S. - about $1.50 for a soft drink or a beer, and $3 for a bag of peanuts.

There will be a second game between the teams is set for Sunday.

Wow, normally priced concessions, what a dream.

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.

According to Corey Brock over at MLB.com, The Cardinals and Padres agreed to a deal that would send four time all star Jim Edmonds to the Pads and 3B David Freese to the Cards.

The 37 year old Edmonds hit 252. with 12 Homers in 117 Games this year.

Padres GM Kevin Towers is famous for these low risk high reward deals, we’ll see if this one works out.

Gorden Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times reports that the Cubs are currently the team to beat in the race to sign OF Kosuke Fukudome. The White Sox, Padres, Mariners, Rangers and Giants have reportedly had serious interest in signing him.

The report also has a couple of trade rumors regarding the Cubs. As it stands right now, Mark Prior appears likely to land in his hometown of San Diego if dealt this offseason, though the Reds have also been linked to the 27-year old southpaw.

Also, Wittenmyer notes that the Toronto media have had reports out that suggest the Jays may pursue Cubs closer Ryan Dempster, who is prepping a return to the rotation next year.

While appearing on WFAN, Jon Heyman stated that he has heard buzz in the lobby that CF Jim Edmonds‘ name has been discussed and the Cardinals could be shopping him.

Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported yesterday that Edmonds would considering waiving his no-trade clause if he would be moved to a Southern California team.

Edmonds, 37, is due $8 million next season after his average, runs scored, home runs, on-base and slugging percentages, and RBI have dropped each of the past three seasons.

The Padres are believed to be interested in Edmonds.

Here’s a rundown of Hot Stove news this morning…

Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is reporting that the Pittsburgh Pirates could look to trade former Mets outfielder Xavier Nady during the winter meetings. If the team cannot find a taker for Nady, they are considering non-tendering him before the Dec. 12 deadline to offer salary arbitration. That would allow him to become a free agent.

Nady, 29, hit .278 with 20 HRs and 78 RBIs for the Pirates last season playing the majority of time in right field. In 94 games in right field, Nady didn’t commit a single error and made four assists from the position. Nady’s lone error in the outfield came when he was forced to play centerfield due to an injury from another player.

The only scenario that could envision him returning to the Mets at all is a platoon in right field with Ryan Church. Nady is a career .320 hitter against lefties in 465 at-bats. Church is a career .275 hitter against right-handed hitters, compared to his .254 average against lefties. If there is any chance that he returns to Flushing, it would likely be as the starting RF against left-handed pitchers. The Padres are also reportedly in bringing him back to San Diego.

According to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com, the San Diego Padres and SP Randy Wolf have reached an agreement on a one-year deal pending a physical.

Wolf, 31, went 9-6 with a 4.73 ERA in 18 starts for the Dodgers last season before straining his shoulder that ended his season after requiring surgery.

The briefly used Chip Ambres has signed a minor league contract with the Padres.

Ambres had just three at bats as a Met, all against the Dodgers, getting one hit for an RBI (a game winning one), after which he was DFA’d to clear room for Easley. In 2005 he appeared in 53 games as a Kansas City Royal, going .241 with 4 home runs.

Chip Ambres fact of the day: He was originally going to go to Texas A&M, to play football.

Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald notes that some of the whispers heard in the lobby that the Padres are letting other teams know that Padres SP Jake Peavy is available. Silverman also notes that the Twins have yet to let it be known that Johan Santana is available.

Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com believes the Angels have emerged as a most intriguing possibility for Marlins 3B Miguel Cabrera to land through a trade. The Dodgers, Red Sox and Yankees all have interest as well, however the Red Sox are trying to re-sign Mike Lowell and the comments from Yankees’ representative Hank Steinbrenner saying that he would not trade one of the big three young pitchers.

Rosenthal also adds that the Washington Nationals would like to sign CF Andruw Jones but will likely have a tough time chalking up the money it will take to get him. He also notes that he sees the Giants and White Sox as two potential suiters with the Dodgers a possibility. The Padres would be more involved with him if his price dropped.

The Phillies believe that CF Aaron Rowand may command a four-year, $52 million contract. Both the Astros and Mets remain interested in free agent 2B Luis Castillo. The Indians, Padres and Dodgers could also enter the mix pending decisions within their franchise. The Twins are one of the teams attempting to trade for Red Sox CF Coco Crisp, but the Red Sox are demanding too much in return it appears. Teams with too many starting pitchers may look to the trade market to get rid of them. Indians starter LHP Cliff Lee, Brewers RHP Dave Bush and LHP Chris Capuano are amongst the possible choices.

Rosenthal ends on one final note. The Washington Nationals would like to trade for another young major league-ready starter. Mets 2nd-round draft pick in 2006 Kevin Mulvey is among one of the choices that Rosenthal adds, with the other being the Twins Kevin Slowey.

With the Mets in need of bullpen help. Could we be looking at a trade for one of the Nationals relievers? Chad Cordero or Jon Rauch could help this team in the bullpen and the Nationals are looking to get younger. The Nationals reportedly have interest in OF Carlos Gomez as well.

A Jake Peavy for Manny Ramirez deal could be in the works.

The Mariners have contacted the agent of OF Luis Gonzalez.

The Giants and C Bengie Molina are in serious contract negotiations.

The Phillies as well as the Indians and P Joe Borowski are working on a 1-year deal.

The Cubs are more likely to trade OF Jacque Jones than OF Matt Murton.

P Gil Meche spent the night at a Maple Leafs game accompanied by Blue Jays GM J.P. Riccardi.

The Red Sox and OF J.D. Drew are expected to sign a 4-year deal worth $15-16 million a season with a vesting option for a fifth year.

Sources told the Chicago Sun Times that the Cubs did not offer P Jason Schmidt a 3-year contract worth $44 million. It is still believed the club has interest in Schmidt though.

Now a bunch of nuggets from Mr. Baseball, Ken Rosenthal:

The Orioles are ridiculiously dumb for spending so much money on Ps Jamie Walker, Chad Bradford, Scott Willamson and Danys Baez.

OF Manny Ramirez would be a great fit for the Dodgers because he has experience with manager Grady Little.

The Red Sox plan on making a run at Devil Rays OF Rocco Baldelli.

The Braves are unlikely to sign P Tom Glavine if they cannot trade P Tim Hudson.

C Rod Barajas did not sign with the Blue Jays because his wife didn’t want to move to Canada.

The Cubs, Mets, Royals and several NL West clubs have shown interest in P Miguel Batista.

The Diamondbacks, Padres, Giants, Rangers and Indians are showing interest in P Mark Mulder, who isn’t expected to return before the all-star break.

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.