Congratulations to the Cards. Good organization, good fans, and a good example of how silly the "why bother making the playoffs, we'll just get swept in the first round" mentality is.
There's an interesting article in the Detroit News today, about the Tigers' offseason plans. The Tigers are mentioned as a possible suitor for Carlos Lee, along with former Rangers Alfonso Soriano and David Dellucci.
Of more interest, though, is the writer's contention that the Tigers are going to be looking to deal pitching, and in particular, deal Jeremy Bonderman.
The thinking, according to this writer, is that Bonderman's value is at its highest right now, and he's going to be a free agent after 2008, and will want a ton of money. Dombrowski, it is suggested, will look for a return like the Indians got for Bartolo Colon, to try to re-stock the farm system.
I'd love to see the Rangers get in on Bonderman...however, I don't know that they've got the trade chips to do it. I can't imagine that they'd be able to get a deal done without including Ian Kinsler as part of the package, and I don't know that, say, a Kinsler/Danks/Hurley offer would either be worth it, even if it were enough to get it done.
Out in San Fran, Bruce Jenkins is lobbying for the Giants to pursue GMJ. The more I think about it, the more I think GMJ is gone...I don't think the Rangers are going to be willing to break the bank to keep him, and I think he'll get significantly better offers from some other teams.
The Denver Post mentions Bud Black and Trey Hillman as prime candidates for the San Diego managerial job, and claims that Don Wakamatsu is the favorite in Texas.
Meanwhile, the New York papers continue to say that the Yankees will pick up Gary Sheffield's option, and trade him to a team outside the A.L. East, and other than the Mets. It sounds like part of the Yanks' motivation for doing this is just to keep him from going to Boston.