I’m hearing some very strong talk that the A’s just acquired Matt Holliday. Does anyone else have confirmation?

MLBtraderumors.com jsut reported it, according to Jon Heyman from SI.com

Marte signs with the Yanks. 3 years 12 mil.

Marte signs with the Yanks. 3 years 12 mil.

 

That isn't going to end well...

for what its worth, the Twins extended manager Ron Gardenhire's contract for another couple of years

 

link to mlb.com for the story

 

looks like his coaching staff gets 2 year contract extensions also

Jeremy Affeldt signed by the Giants for 2 years, $8M total. Seems like a pretty decent signing. I think Affeldt could have gotten a bigger deal, but we'll see how this FA market looks.

Former White Sox catcher Don Wakumatsu will be named the new Mariners manager. Joey Cora shut out.

Chase Utley will need hip surgery and may well be out until June.

A's Owner Lew Wolff wants the ALDS to be a one-game playoff

 

Plus a fun addendum about the A's draft and Scott Boras.

The Royals designated Tyler Lumsden for assignment

The Royals designated Tyler Lumsden for assignment

I was PISSED when the Sox traded him. Odd how Cortes is the name that may come back to haunt us.

More on the M's from Espn.com

 

Yet Zduriencik, in barely three weeks on the job, has already begun transforming the organization. Scouting director Bob Fontaine -- responsible for the much-lamented decision to bypass University of Washington star and Seattle-area native Tim Lincecum in the 2006 draft in favor of Cal's Brandon Morrow -- was fired. Benny Looper, who had spent 23 years in the Seattle front office, most recently as vice president of player personnel, quit the organization rather than accept a demotion. He is now an assistant general manager with the Phillies. Greg Hunter, director of player development, was reassigned to the pro scouting department.

 

In their places has come a string of new hires -- Tom McNamara, former Brewers' scout, as scouting director; Tony Blengino, Zduriencik's assistant in Milwaukee, as a special assistant to the GM; Pedro Grifol, promoted from within to director of minor league operations; Tim Tolman, the former Nationals' third-base coach, as director of minor league instruction.

 

Zduriencik put Blengino in charge of creating a new department of statistical research, a sign that the Mariners are going to lean more on sabermetrics than they have in the past. That came as welcome news to many in the stats-minded blogging community who correctly predicted a negative outcome for many of Bavasi's moves -- including the so-far disastrous trade for Bedard that cost the Mariners several top prospects in addition to All-Star reliever George Sherrill.

 

Don Wakamatsu, right, takes over a Mariners team that had the worst record (61-101) in the American League last season.

"We want to take all the information at our disposal and combine it with our scouting,'' Blengino told the Seattle Times.

Red Sox extend Pedroia through 2014, $40.5 million contract, $10 mil option for 2015.

Cards apparently trade for Khalil Greene. I look for a big year from him and then a terrible contract from a mid-market team.

:25 p.m. — Mets make offer to K-Rod

 

The New York Mets have made a three-year offer to free-agent closer Francisco Rodriguez, a club official said, but are not optimistic about him taking it immediately.

 

"All of these agents think there is more out there," the official said. "They're going to be in for a shock." --Gerry Fraley

 

Rosenthal

 

I can't wait to see the dollar value.

Any reason Cubs play their first 4 games against 3 different AL teams?

 

Is it first time team plays interleague to start the season? Is it a marketing move, they play the Yankees the first weekend, @ the new Yankee stadium.

Any reason Cubs play their first 4 games against 3 different AL teams?

 

Is it first time team plays interleague to start the season? Is it a marketing move, they play the Yankees the first weekend, @ the new Yankee stadium.

 

Those are pre-season games.

Those are pre-season games.

 

I totally missed that!

 

Thanks.

Anybody agree with me we, like Obama, need change.

I don't wanna see Paulie, Dye, AJP, Thome plod around the bases again this year. I want one gone. It's time to change don't you think?

We barely escaped Minnesota due to a gutsy 1-0 win at home, then got smoked by the Rays as most expected.

We need change in our lineup.

Cubs are about to trade Marquis for Luis Vizcaino so that they can sign Milton Bradley. Getting rid of Marquis is a great thing for the Cubs.

Cubs are about to trade Marquis for Luis Vizcaino so that they can sign Milton Bradley. Getting rid of Marquis is a great thing for the Cubs.

 

And signing Milton Bradley in that fishbowl will be a disaster.