The World Series starts tonight, between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Tampa Bay Rays.  Why should we care?  We were the victims of 2 straight September busts, and one of the teams involved happens to be our new nemesis.  What’s worse, that team is making good, albeit a year later, on the trash talk of one of their own star players.

At the risk of sounding like a FOX spokesperson or something (the ratings are going to be awful anyway, and I couldn’t care less), I think this is going to a great series.  Look at the players on both teams, from Matt Garza, David Price, and of course, Evan Longoria for the Rays to Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, and…ugh, Shane Victorino for the Phillies, and you know it’s going to be competitive.

I think Evan Roberts on WFAN put it best this morning when he said that he wanted to watch the Phillies lose and suffer.  That’s exactly what I want and I know that’s exactly what you guys want.  The last thing we need is a team in our own division that’s going to stay almost entirely intact next year with even more confidence and World Series-winning experience to deal with.

Tonight’s matchup is Cole Hamels for the Phillies vs. some guy named Scott Kazmir for the Rays…you might have heard of him.

So I say, why not join me (known as WrightOn for the regulars) and others in the Hot Foot Bleachers and cheer for one last thing this baseball season: that the Phillies get sent home by the team with the best story since the ‘69 Mets?

The AP is reporting that the Rays and LHP Scott Kazmir have agreed to a deal that pays him $28.5 million over the next three years, and a club option that could raise that total value to $39.5 million over four years.

The Mets traded Kazmir before the trade deadline in 2004 for Victor Zambrano. Last year, Kazmir was 13-9 with a 3.48 ERA and 239 K’s.

Cliff Floyd has agreed to a deal with the Tampa Rays. Its a one year deal for $3 million with an additional $2 million possible in bonuses. He’ll replace Delmon Young, who was traded to the Twins.

Floyd signed with the Mets in 2003, staying with the team till 06. He hit .268 with 81 HRs and 273 RBIs as a Met, but struggled with injury, though remained well liked by the fans. He led the team in hit bya pitch for 3 of his four seasons in Queens.

Jerry Crasnick on ESPN reports that Cliff Floyd should be signing with the Tampa Bay Rays by this weekend.

Good luck Uncle Cliff, always a Hot Foot fan favorite.

Adam Rubin writes in the New York Daily News this morning, regarding Dontrelle Willis.

On the Willis front, Mets sources believe the Tigers may look to flip the lefty they just got from the Marlins because of payroll limitations. The Mets would be interested in speaking with the Tigers, but no dialogue is believed to have occurred yet. It is believed the Marlins may have insisted the Tigers take on both their arbitration-eligible players, Willis and third baseman Miguel Cabrera. The Tigers acquired both players knowing they couldn’t afford both, and may be looking to replenish their farm system by flipping Willis.

Rubin also mentions that the Rays may be interested in former Met Cliff Floyd.

Marc Lancaster of the Tampa Tribune has been told to expect a 50-50 chance that the Rays make another trade before the meetings are over in Nashville tomorrow.

Lancaster believes the Rays may be close to landing an outfielder or super-utility guy that they are seeking.

Of the most recent rumors, the Rays have been linked to outfielders Shawn Green, Geoff Jenkins, and Cliff Floyd who are on the free agent market and may look to go that direction if no trade happens.

John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports the Reds have released Jorge Cantu. The team is anticipating taking a player in the Rule 5 draft tomorrow and needed to make room.

Cantu, 25, hit .298 with a home run and nine RBI in 57 at-bats after the Reds got him in a trade from Tampa Bay for RHP Calvin Medlock and LHP Brian Shackelford. In 2005, Cantu hit .296 with 28 home runs and 117 RBIs for the Rays in just under 600 at-bats.

Two sources confirm that both the Tampa Bay Rays and Washington Nationals have been discussing a deal that will send OF Elijah Dukes to Washington. The St. Petersburg Times has more on the story.

There is only circumstantial evidence, including word that Nationals GM Jim Bowden was overheard on his cell phone yesterday at the airport talking to someone named “Elijah.” And both teams have scheduled announcements at 5 p.m. Plus, the deal would explain why Dukes, the troubled outfielder, hasn’t played since his latest eruption after being ejected from a Dominican League game on Thursday night.

UPDATE 2:18pm EST : Dave Sheinin at The Washington Post confirms that the Nats have acquired Dukes.

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

Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com reports that Troy Percival is close to signing a two-year, $8 million contract with Tampa Bay. Rosenthal indicated that the contract includes escalators that could push the total value of the contract to more than $10 million.

Buster Olney of ESPN.com is reporting that the Tampa Bay Rays are close to completing a multi-year deal with RP Troy Percival.

Percival, 38, pitched for the Cardinals last season and compiled a 1.80 ERA in 40 innings. He currently ranks 12th on the all-time active saves list with 324 career saves.

Updating a previous report from earlier today, Scott Miller of CBS Sportsline is reporting that the deal that was to send Delmon Young, Brendan Harris and Jason Pridie to the Twins for Jason Bartlett, Juan Rincon and Matt Garza to the Rays is currently on hold due to an medical issue. Multiple sources tell Miller that the deal was close, though the Rays are said to be “holding things up because of concerns regarding reports on Rincon’s elbow.”

According to the Associated Press, the New York Mets acquired relief pitcher Brian Stokes from the Tampa Bay Rays for cash.

The 28-year-old right-hander was 2-7 with a 7.07 ERA in 59 games for Tampa Bay last season, allowing 49 runs and 90 hits in 62 1-3 innings. He is 3-3 with three saves and a 4.30 ERA in three starts and nine relief appearances for Mexicali of the Mexican Winter League.

According to La Velle E. Neal III of the Star-Tribune, the Minnesota Twins are close to acquiring OF Delmon Young, SS Brendan Harris and OF Jason Pridie from the Devil Rays in a deal that could involve as many as six players. The report states that the Twins will likely be sending RHP Matt Garza, SS Jason Bartlett, RHP Juan Rincon to Tampa Bay.

Young, 22, hit .288 last season with 13 homers and 93 RBI and is considered one of the better young hitters in the game. Harris, 27, hit .286 with 12 homers and 59 RBI.