Winter Meetings!

Today is a good day to start this blog-type post thing that i am going to do. Why?, you ask, oh, I'll feed you baby birds. Today was the first day of the Winter Meetings for MLB. These meetings consist mostly of the teams higher level management, player's agents and a shit-load of reporters trying to catch the latest breaking news on what's going on inside those Indianapolis hotel doors.

This is when the winter begins for me. I could sit in front of this computer for hours and read all the news and rumors and try to cipher through what is crap and what isn't, what makes sense and see if I am right when it all falls into place. I get so excited when I hear whispers of blockbuster trades that might happen, especially those revolving Boston and Atlanta, free agents on the cusp of signing nine-figure contracts and even the teams rifling through the bargain bin looking for the best low risk/ high reward deals.

No matter what your team does this winter, this week, everyone is in the news about something. Trying to get better, pry the right piece off the market, I don't know, it's just exciting to me. Obviously, anyone who knows me, knows I am a Red Sox fan, but a lot of people don't know I grew up a Brave, and my heart has a tomahawk on it. So, because of this, most of my postings will be on these two teams, but no worries I will not neglect the others!

Today was the first day, a lot of rumors but not much went down. Earlier this week, the Braves signed Billy Wagner and Takashi Saito. Both former closers, though Saito will remain in a set-up role while Wagner locks down the ninth inning for the saves. Interesting note, Rafael Soriano, who closed a lot of games for the Braves last year might accept arbitration, but must be done tonight for today is the deadline for arbitration receptors. It's said that if he does accept, he'll just ask to be traded afterward.

The Tigers have re-signed Adam Everett to a $1.55m deal, very good defensive shortstop with a little to be desired with his bat but still a good deal to me as the are short-gapping for their farmhands (Minor Leaguers) to develop.

The Brewers have signed Gregg Zaun to a one-year, $1.9m deal with a club option for next year at $2.25m.

The Mariners have probably made the biggest deal so far, signing Chone Figgins to a reported four-year, $36m deal pending his physical tomorrow.

The Cardinals have kicked off their winter signing Brad Penny to an amazing for him $7.5m deal. I didn't think he would get that much after the way he pitched last year, though, he did pitch well after he left Boston. Go figure.

The Nationals traded their rule 5 draft pick for Brian Bruney of the Yankees, not a bad pick up for something they probably weren't even going to use.

That's about it for the big stuff so far, but with the names Roy Halladay, Derek Lowe, Edwin Jackson, Milton Bradley and Curtis Granderson on the trade block and the biggest free agents John Lackey, Jason Bay and Matt Holliday still on the market, there will be plenty to write about these upcoming days, weeks and months until that beautiful Opening Day comes.

"The Fanatic"