DBAHO

Ok here are 5 possible options for teams that could take on Paulie's contract. 1) Los Angeles Dodgers - Evans likes him, they don't hav a good offensive 1B, this is easily our best chance of makin a deal. But I still think Evans would rather take Lee 1st, than Maggs, than Paulie. Valentin could be a possible throw in, with Isturis comin back this way. 2) Baltimore Orioles - If they don't sign Vlad or Sheff, this could become quite possible. Even if they do sign one of those 2, Jay Gibbons mite not move to 1B, do Konerko could still be an option. Da short Left Center fence I think at Camden Yards could mean Konerko could put up good #'s there. 3) Tampa Bay Devil Rays - If they don't end up with Tino Martinez, they mite end up wantin Paulie. They r gonna spend bout $10 mill in FA, and if they r willing take on some of Tino's $7 million salary they could do the same with Paulie's. 4) Arizona Diamondbacks - Not much of a chance but only if they don't end up with Richie Sexson, cos they didn't want to trade their young arms e.g Jose Valverde. 5) Detroit Tigers - Carlos Pena could move to DH, but I'd think the Tiggies would want us to take back Bobby Higginson's bloated contract.

Garcia needs to get outta Seattle as soon as he can. I'd luv Konerko for Garcia strait up but they won't do that I'd think, but I've seen stranger things happen. I'd think Seattle would demand Joe Crede cos they'd want a 3B desperately, and mayb if they did that we could steal Rafael Soriano of em. I think Garcia will hav success if he pitches in anywhere but Seattle.

#2 for sure. Just check out those legs.

Well this was an offseason lock if there ever was 1. From MLB.com. White Sox: Catcher Sandy Alomar Jr. told MLB.com that he has reached a verbal agreement with the White Sox for a one-year deal and hopes to have the actual details hammered out next week. ... Roberto Alomar is on vacation right now, and Sandy said he's not sure what his brother's situation is. Roberto appears to be leaning toward testing the market, according to Sandy, but they haven't talked for a couple of weeks. Also news about Kerry Lightenberg, mayb a possible option in da pen for 2004. Orioles: Baltimore declined the option on the contract of right-handed reliever Kerry Ligtenberg, who had been one of the team's most dependable relievers against right-handed betters, allowing a .206 average.

No cos he was a bust, simple as that. Jags could be pretty good next year, if they sign a top notch corner, and some stud Offensive Lineman to protect Leftwich.

He's one of the only catchers who can actually steal a base as well. I think he'll hav a very similar career path and numbers to Jason Kendall of the Pirates, but his Ave. won't be as high.

Hmm it ain't workin for me either

Jose Cruz Jr. will be wearing a Devil Ray uniform in 2004 or Mike Cameron will. I guarantee u one of those 2 will be playin for TB. Actually about Cameron, I wouldn't mind at all if we took a chance on him. Just look at these stats, (.223, 30 HR at Safeco Field the last four years; .286, with 67 HR everywhere else)

Hmmm I wonder if this'll affect anythin, Ozzie Guillen was back in Venezuela when a report surfaced out of the general managers meetings in Phoenix that the White Sox are shopping star right fielder Magglio Ordonez. After returning to his Florida home Friday, the new Sox manager said he firmly hopes he will be writing Ordonez's name in the lineup every day next season. But with Ordonez and the Sox still far apart in talks over a contract extension, Guillen couldn't predict Ordonez's immediate future. "I think we want to re-sign him," Guillen said. "I want him. But I can't control that. I'd rather keep him, but it's a business." Guillen's whirlwind off-season hasn't slowed down since he celebrated a World Series title with the Florida Marlins. He returned to his native country this week to meet with friends and fulfill dozens of media commitments. Guillen is the first Venezuelan to be named a major-league manager, a major topic of discussion in the baseball-crazed country. "It was a huge deal there," Guillen said. "I must have done 20,000 newspaper and TV interviews." Guillen's new job has him so busy that he still hasn't found time for his proposed meeting with Sox first baseman Frank Thomas. "Not yet," Guillen said. "But I've talked to [general manager Ken Williams], and I don't think there's going to be any problem. I just want him to be the way we want him to be. Not 'me,' but 'we.' I need him on the field. The way he is going to act is the way the kids are going to act." Guillen said he hopes to talk to Thomas as soon as next week. What Thomas feels about Guillen's hiring is unknown, but Guillen's candid remarks about Thomas during his opening news conference have been widely publicized. In assessing the hiring of Guillen last week, an ESPN.com report said he would be popular with sportswriters because he "does not have a mute button," but added, "[Guillen] can not possibly succeed while offering blunt, day-to-day assessments of his players." Guillen said he and Thomas will get along fine if Thomas understands the organization wants him to change, not just the manager. "A lot of people think I want him to do it my way," Guillen said. "It's not my way. It's our way, the White Sox way. We have to care about each other. It wasn't all his fault. I told the coaches if all those things I heard happened the last couple of years, they had to say something to him and not let him do whatever he wants to do." What specifically does Guillen want Thomas to do? "Be there on time, and I want you to run hard all the time, and not have times when you're frustrated with [your at-bat] and you don't want to [run hard]," he said. "I want to show the people, to let the fans know, that we'll play the right way."

There's no way Schilling's goin to Philly when da D-Backs r asking for Jimmy Rollins and Brett Myers.

Pulford said about 2 months, so Anderson and Leighton r gonna hav to play until then. Looks like another long season for da Hawks.

Did it end up workin BEGOOD?

If the Twins can get Joe Nathan and Boffer for Alphabet A.J, then we must be able to get sumthin good for Maggs or Lee. I would luv to hav Greg Miller on this team, he's gonna be a good 1.

Didn't we get a SoxTalk ESPN Insider thing goin?

Hmm I don't buy that, I still think the Yanks would rather hav Castillo or Walker to play 2B for em, and that's IF they ship out Soriano or move him to the outfield.

The Yanks r gonna hav to pay da Luxury Tax though, just look at this article from Jayson Stark. The good news for the Yankees is that the threshold for teams that have to pay the luxury tax will go up next season, from $117 million to $120.5. The bad news is, the Yankees have no shot at getting under that threshold -- and that means the tax rate they pay on every dollar over $120.5 million will nearly double, from 17.5 percent to 30 percent. And if they're not below $128 million in 2005 or $136.5 million in 2006, their tax rate will hit 40 percent. So if George Steinbrenner enjoyed watching his luxury-tax dollars at work as the Marlins were upsetting the Yankees this October, he should really get a charge out of future Octobers, as even more of his dollars go to the teams he's trying to beat. But if all the Steinbrenner fans in all those other owners boxes thought the tax would stop the Boss from spending to win, they need to consider Plan B. The tax has acted as a quasi-cap for most teams, but not the Yankees. They've chosen to pay it, which is the way this system works. And they're budgeting to pay it down the road. Good thing, because there's just about no scenario in which they won't pay it. They already are on the hook in the (gulp) 2006 season for $75 million to five players -- Derek Jeter, Jason Giambi, Bernie Williams, Jorge Posada and Mike Mussina. Assuming they re-sign Andy Pettitte, that should get them close to $90 million. And don't even think about how much money Alfonso Soriano will be looking for by then, assuming he isn't dealt. Also I found this interesting, And what are the odds of the Astros moving Hidalgo? Here's one rival GM's assessment of how much of Hidalgo's salary ($12 million, plus a $2-million buyout) the Astros would have to eat to trade him: "My guess is, maybe $8-9 million." Any1 else think that if we ship Maggs and can't resign Carl although today I heard he'll be out of TB's Price Range, that we should take a chance on Hidalgo for $3 or $4 million?

Maybe u hav to BEGOOD 1st.

Man that's some crazy s*** there. I wouldn't be suprised if some students sued the principal or school for doin that. That photo looks more like sumthin from a terrorist or hostage situation there.

Think he'll be back in December. He offered me Mourning and Murray for Chandler and Thomas. I rejected that deal. I want Zach Randolph and Murray together.

LeCroy will probably be the DH again next year, he's a liability at Catcher think Mike Piazza behind da plate but he's not that bad. LeCroy may start the season at Catcher, but I think definitely by the end of 2004 Mauer will be the catcher.

No real suprises there, I still think he'll be an Angel though, no matta how much money Steinbrenner throws at him.

Cool nice to see da locations and posts per day back.

Happy B-Day! Make sure u hav a good 1!

Perez and Isturis looks likely, if da Sox throw in Valentin as well, plus we'd mite be able to get sum prospects as well.

I've actually heard a Maggs or Lee and Valentin for Perez, Isturis and some prospects, which I don't think is that bad of a deal. Here's the article from Phil Rogers bout all the Dodgers and Sox deals. If Evans had the flexibility to take on a little payroll, he could make a huge splash by using Perez and perhaps Izturis and one of his young relievers to pry Magglio Ordonez and offensive-minded shortstop Jose Valentin away from the Chicago White Sox, who are forced to pare down payroll before they can re-sign their own free agents, who include Carl Everett, Robbie Alomar and Tom Gordon. The Sox are listening to offers for the ultra-reliable Ordonez -- Manny Ramirez without the migraines -- because he figures to explore free agency after 2004, in which he's due $14 million. But the White Sox's outfielder Evans appears focused on is Carlos Lee, who set career-highs in 2003 with 31 home runs and 113 RBI. A trade of Lee and Valentin for Perez and Izturis makes sense. Evans also has some interest in Sox first baseman Paul Konerko, who averaged 26 homers and 95 RBI in 1999-2002 before slipping to .234-18-65 last season. The White Sox would love to move Konerko, who is owed $16.75 million over the next two years.