Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2007, 3:40 p.m.
I need to update this more often...

The MLB Winter Meetings are under way in Nashville. Everyone is talking about where Johan Santana will be traded to... Personally, while that is a whole week's worth of stories in itself, I like to look at all the small trades and signings going on throughout the week. Not only small, but some big trades (or trade talks) that are getting completely bypassed because of the whole Twins/BoSux/Yankees/Santana thing.

-For example, the Nationals have had a decent offseason. Trade away a sub-par catcher (Schneider) and lifelong journeyman outfielder (Ryan Church) for future stud Lastings Milledge. Then they trade for Elijah Dukes of Tampa Bay. Those are two awesome young outfielders with loads of potential. The only drawback is that Milledge is a future head case and Dukes may just be play crazy.
-Speaking of Tampa, how about that trade with the Twins that works out great for everybody? Tampa gets Matt Garza and Bartlett plus a minor leaguer for Brendan Harris, Delmon Young, and a prospect. Each team wins. Young is now out of the talented-killing infectious field known as Tropicana Field, Harris is practically a black Bartlett, and the Twins now have a few more pieces of the puzzle filled since losing Torii Hunter. Tampa, meanwhile, loses a talented headcase and their shortstop, but picks up pretty much the same shortstop in return as well as a pitcher who will start the season as the team's #2 or #3 starter. If I were a Rays fan, I wouldn't mind this deal at all. Same goes for the Dukes trade. The Rays also signed former stud closer Troy Percival, who had a great year last year in middle relief for the Cardinals. Am I seriously thinking the Rays may be a .500 team next year? (Don't I say this every year, though?)
-The Braves acquired pitcher Will Ohman and infielder Omar Infante from the Chicago Cubs for pitcher Jose Ascanio. Atlanta gets a bullpen piece and a young (Infante is only 25?!?!?!?!) infielder to come off the bench. Chicago loses an inconsistent arm and an infielder that was expendable. I don't know if this trade is necessarily a win-win trade for them (I think they would lose with either these players), but the Braves continue to make good moves. I don't think the ATL will miss Schuerholz that much, now...
-The Tigers traded for pitcher Denny Bautista from the Colorado Rockies for pitcher Jose Capellan. As a former Brewer (and Brave) Capellan had tons of talent and potential. Now he's a head case. Maybe that high altitude will lighten his head a little. The Tigers got a veteran pitcher that the Rockies had no use for, so good news for them, too.
-The White Sox got Carlos Quentin for top 1B prospect Chris Carter. Which says either Connor Jackson is trade bait or the D-Backs are moving him to a new position.
-The Astros signed Kaz Matsui, who will do everything that Biggio did in his final 3 years -- hit under .280 with 10 dingers and play solid defense.
-The Yankees keep A-Rod, Mo Rivera, Jorge Posada, Andy Pettite, and Jose Molina. Had they lost those five, this team would be half the team of a year ago, and I would have been willing to go as far as saying a sub-.500 season could be possible.
-Yorvit Torrealba is an idiot. That is all.
-The Angels are having a solid offseason, trading away some good talent for some better used talent, as well as signing Torii Hunter. Now if they can get Johan or Miguel Cabrera in a trade – look out for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim of Orange County of California of the United States of America of North America of the Northern Hemisphere, of the Western Hemisphere of Planet Earth of this amazingly crazy large (yet relatively small) solar system of this galaxy of this universe.
-Fransisco Cordero will save 35 games next year for the Reds. Then 30, then suck, then will get traded. Serves him right for leaving the crew for the extra $4M without even consulting with Doug Melvin on a price. (Though compliments to him on at least getting paid)
-Finally, Milwaukee signed Jason Kendall, probably David Riske, and might be trading for Scott Rolen. I love the Riske signing. You know what you're getting from him out of the bullpen. I don't mind the Kendall signing (he'll get paid less to do exactly what Estrada did last year, except hustle more). Rolen I am a little iffy about. Depending on how much Doug has to
trade and how much of Scotty's large contract the Crew will have to eat depends on how worth a trade will be for a guy who will play 115 games, bat .260 with 15 dingers and drive in 65 runs (with solid defense). Honestly, I'd rather shop around for an outfielder, keep Braun at third, and keep Capuano who may have a bounce back year. In no way am I saying Cappy is good – he's nothing more than a decent lefty without power. However, he was more unlucky last year than just being bad. Another trade I hope the crew pulls a trigger on, Hall (and pieces) for Joe Nathan. I would hit that up in a second. A certified closer for a transition utility player. With Milwaukee's outfield becoming increasingly gap-happy (besides Hart and Hall, Mench, Gwynn, and Gross are the only OF left, and none of which should start), I would suggest getting rid of another piece of the puzzle (Gwynn packaged for pitching) and go after either Mike Cameron (despite his suspension), Aaron Rowand (despite his payday), Carl Crawford (why not package a nice deal for this top outfielder – who is younger than Gwynn – to be our new CF/LF and leadoff hitter), or [gasp] offer Geoff Jenkins a one or two year free agent discount contract. With Jenks, a platoon of him and Mench again would not be a terrible thing.

Who knows what's in the deck of cards for the rest of this week's Winter meetings, but I can't wait to find out...