Afternoon Baseball

ESPN's baseball page
Bronx Banter
Baseball Musings
Aaron Gleeman
ThreeTrueOutcomes
Baseballblogs.org (all sorts of coverage and blogs)

I haven't been feeling that well and work is pressure-filled right now, so I've not much at the moment. Plus I keep hearing about these topless Jennifer Aniston photos and people debating whether they are real or not. The photos.
No, I'm not going to link to them. This. is . a. family. blog.

Anyways, back to the wholesome game of baseball, and the cutthroat business that is winter meetings. I'll finish the HOF reviews next week, by the way. But here's a quick roundup -- and check the above links for the best coverage. Some links below also go to quality blogs, others are ESPN links.
There's a few other sites that I just can't think of at the moment. Go out and search with the intensity with which you'll search for those pictures.

But let's forget the trades (although the Soriano deal is fascinating -- it also removes Brad Wilkerson as one of the last longtime Expos).
The biggest non-trade was the biggest transaction: The Astros not offering Roger Clemens salary arbitration. He may retire, but he may just decide to load up the "hired gun" truck one last time for the most glamorous bidder.
The other big non-trade? Trevor Hoffman staying in San Diego. Next to Tony Gwynn, this man is the franchise, and very likely the most consistently excellent regular-season closer ever.

From the Yankees' perspective, the biggest non-trade was Juan Pierre. The National League is a better fit for him in the first place, and the Cubs love these moves that get the fans excited regardless of whether the deal makes sense (which it may). In faded-superstar news, the Yanks also offered salary arbitration to Bernie Williams. I'm indifferent to this part of the process.

The Toronto Blue Jays have decided carpe diem, baby. Now, they have Overbay from the Brewers.
They've learned from the Marlins and to lesser degrees, the Padres (1998,2005), Astros (2004-2005) and Red Sox (2003-2004). The Marlins went way over their financial heads to win two championships, knowing that they could dismantle and still claim success. The Padres, Astros and Red Sox were all already in better shape, both in talent and money, but made the bold moves that said, we're not waiting anymore because our window is here and now. The Padres' window is still open, but the 'Stros and Sox are in a new phase. Both had success, though, so it's not a total loss.

On the other hand, the Blue Jays could just be another 1980s Yankees, post-1997 Orioles or post-1988 L.A. Dodgers. But they have realized that going for broke is the only shot they have in the AL East. It remains to see whether they also nailed the timing. It's too early, I feel, to do anything but idle speculation. But that is fun.