Cards up 2-1 in the World Series...I have to admit, I've been sort of pulling for the Cardinals. I just don't have any particular desire to see the Tigers win, at least this year.
I've been talking for some time about the possibility of the Rangers trading for Gary Sheffield this offseason. Bill Madden is reporting today that Sheffield will be traded, but the question will be, to whom:
The biggest buzz among the few general managers attending the World Series is the silent auction the Yankees have apparently already begun for Gary Sheffield. It turns out that Yankee GM Brian Cashman had always intended to pick up Sheffield's $13 million option for next year - but not for the purposes of keeping him. Once the Yankees acquired Bobby Abreu from the Phillies at last July's trading deadline, it was clear Sheffield no longer fit in their plans, but by picking up his option, they can now get something for him. And it could be a nice return as at least a half-dozen teams - the Angels, Orioles, Cubs, Giants, Astros and Rangers - are in the market for a power-hitting corner outfielder, and that doesn't include the Red Sox and Mets. The Yankees can now prevent Sheffield going to such rivals, not a possibility had they let him flee.
What makes Sheffield especially attractive is that much of his $13 million salary for next year is deferred, making him a much cheaper alternative to the only two premier corner outfielders on the free agent market, Alfonso Soriano and Carlos Lee.
Again, something to keep an eye on...
Details of the new CBA are out, and Rob Cook has a good breakdown of the main items in this diary entry.
Evan Grant has a piece on it, as well, although Grant's article indicates that the change in Type B free agents, with teams getting a sandwich pick instead of the signing team's first or second round pick, kicks in immediately. That shouldn't impact the Rangers all that much...GMJ, Vicente Padilla, and possibly Mark DeRosa could be Type Bs, but the Rangers will still get a pick if they leave. It will just be within a narrower range of possibilities.
The other big thing is in regards to the Rule 5 draft...since the eligibility for the draft has been moved back a year, Thomas Diamond, John Danks, and Ben Harrison don't have to be added to the 40 man roster this year. In light of that, the Rangers could conceivably end up adding no one from their system to the 40 man this year.
Kat O'Brien also has a write-up on the new deal, although she says that a team losing a Type A would get a first round pick or a sandwich pick, which I believe is incorrect.
She also identifies Rod Barajas as a Type B free agent, which I think will end up being wrong...looking at comparable catchers the past few years, I'd be very surprised if Barajas isn't a Type A free agent.
And that could end up backfiring on the Rangers...if what Grant says is correct, and a team loses a draft pick for signing a Type A, but not a Type B, Barajas would be a less attractive free agent option if he's a Type A free agent.