Thinking out loud...

Random thoughts on recent baseball stories....

Big Unit lands in the Bay

Not literally, of course. Great move by San Fran and a decent one by the Big Unit. He's from Walnut Creek, CA, he gets to start half his games in a pitcher's park and he could be one heck of a trade piece late in the '08 season if he's healthy and pitching well, so he could still find his way to a contender.

He'll get his 300th win early in the season - he only needs 5 more - and based on how he finished the '08 season there's still something left in the tank.

Not a bad rotation for the Giants: Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Randy Johnson, Barry Zito, Jonathan Sanchez (if he's not traded for some offensive help).

Now if they could just get a decent bat or two...

Dodgers-Mets reportedly kicking around Andruw deal

What would the Mets want with a head-case like Jones? Even if the Dodgers pay every single dollar that Jones is owed, how does a guy who hit .222 in '07 and .158 in '08 make your team better? You also have to convince Mr. My-Range-Is-Gone-Cuz-I-Got-Fat to move to RF.

No thanks, this guy's toast. When he was a 35-HR guy with a Gold Glove you could live with the .250-.260 average and mental lapses but this guy slugged .249 last year and doesn't cover ground like he used to.

Two more ballplayers flee Fidel

SP Yadel Marti and OF Yasser Gomez have reportedly defected and will be looking to sign Major League contracts soon. They were both impact players in Cuba - Marti was their best pitcher in the 2006 World Baseball Classic.

Maybe their arrival will make up for the lack of Japanese talent coming to the U.S. this year, though I haven't seen any estimate regarding a timetable for either player signing and being ready to play. It's gonna be a while.

Red Sox find a shiny new Penny and a Bard

Great, great move. I think Penny is a big-time sleeper this season. He's gonna come cheap right about now (reportedly $5 million w/ $3 million in incentives) and he's got a lot of talent. I'm surprised more teams haven't been in on this guy.

If the Sawx land him it'll be a steal and it'll buy time for some of the younger SP's to develop a bit more. He's still only 30 years-old and went 16-4 with a 3.03 ERA over 208 IP in '07.

Signing Josh Bard is a solid idea. He's a good backup who has actually hit pretty well the last few years when he's been healthy. Could be a decent part-timer if they don't bring back Jason Varitek.

O's sign lefty Hendrickson

Huh? What part of the 5.07 career ERA don't the Orioles understand? The guy throws beach balls up there and the O's are considering him a potential part of their rotation? In that ballpark?

No wonder they've been crappy for so long.

Nats sign Corey Patterson

Speaking of stupid...

What the hell does Jim Bowden need another OF for? Having Josh Willingham, Elijah Dukes, Lastings Milledge, Austin Kearns, Wily Mo Pena and Willie Harris wasn't enough?

Oh, did I mention that Patterson stinks?

Jeez.

Nats make up for stupidity by signing Cabrera

At least signing Daniel Cabrera makes sense. This guy has an All-Star arm and a Little League brain but at least he's got talent and will come cheap.

He's got upside if he can ever figure out how to throw the ball over the plate. I doubt he'll ever live up to his potential but he's at least worth taking a shot at, unlike Patterson.