Wow, Rosenthal .... ... lots of juicy tid-bits

[wrveres]

The A's are enamored of free-agent CF Mike Cameron and would move Mark Kotsay to a corner outfield position if they could squeeze Cameron into their payroll. Switch hitter Bobby Kielty would become a fourth outfielder, with RF Jermaine Dye serving as an occasional DH. . . .

The Padres also like Cameron but might need to settle for CF Kenny Lofton unless they trade OF Terrence Long and/or RHP Kevin Jarvis. The team wants to add a lefthanded reliever such as Steve Kline or Ricardo Rincon, then acquire a bargain starting pitcher after December 20, the date when RHPs Freddy Garcia, Carl Pavano and Livan Hernandez can be had in a trade. . . .

The Giants are considering free-agent Todd Walker at first base, and the Devil Rays see him as a third baseman/DH. The Royals viewed Walker as an option at third before re-signing Joe Randa. . . .

The Cubs remain overloaded with righthanded hitters after adding 1B Derrek Lee and want to sign a lefthanded-hitting fourth outfielder such as Chris Singleton, Orlando Palmeiro or switch hitter Jose Cruz Jr. . . .

The Astros are willing to take back a starting pitcher in the $6 million range to purge their $14 million commitment to RF Richard Hidalgo.

The Braves think they can find a more cost-efficient right fielder -- someone such as Jacque Jones or Juan Encarnacion -- to replace Gary Sheffield. . . .

Free-agent LHP Gabe White held first batters to a major-league low .152 on-base percentage last season. Braves RHP John Smoltz was next at .177. The major league average was .325. White is expected to receive a two-year, $5 million offer to rejoin the Yankees. The Astros, Cardinals and Cubs also have interest.

The Astros are willing to take back a starting pitcher in the $6 million range to purge their $14 million commitment to RF Richard Hidalgo.

How about say ... Jarvis and Long ... hmmm

oops ... he is owed 12 million next year with a 2 mill buy out for '05 .... nevermind ..

[Justise]

Thats some good stuff.

[Madison]

The Cubs and Jose Cruz Jr.?

Yuck. I guess it's better than him possibly landing on my Rangers.

[wrveres]

The Cubs and Jose Cruz Jr.?

Yuck. I guess it's better than him possibly landing on my Rangers.

as a 4th OF? .... He won't go for that. Its where he belongs, but he won't go for it... I say Tampa

[mtarail]

Good stuff. But is Todd Walker really a viable option for anybody at 3B? He looked sketchy enough at 2nd.

[wrveres]

Good stuff. But is Todd Walker really a viable option for anybody at 3B? He looked sketchy enough at 2nd.

or 1B in SF ???

[DieHardCubbie]

The Cubs and Jose Cruz Jr.?

Yuck. I guess it's better than him possibly landing on my Rangers.

as a 4th OF? .... He won't go for that. Its where he belongs, but he won't go for it... I say Tampa

Come on Sweet lou...pick up the phone...give Jose's agent a call.....he needs to be down in the warm tropical Tampa air...Chicago is just to cold for him......

Thanks for the article wrveres.....

[DK]

The Cubs and Jose Cruz Jr.?

Yuck. I guess it's better than him possibly landing on my Rangers.

They could use him out of the pen, he'd be respectable on the Rangers.

OK, that's enough Ranger-bashing by me for this decade.

[shortsavage]

Good stuff. But is Todd Walker really a viable option for anybody at 3B? He looked sketchy enough at 2nd.

or 1B in SF ???

I think Todd Walker's defensive skills are screaming for him to be placed at another position.

I could see him being Scott Spiezio-like at 1b and Tony Batista-like at 3b.

Even though I would love to have Pedro Feliz manning 1b for SF in 2004, I could see the Giants signing Todd Walker to play there if he settles for a contract in the $3 million a year range.

If Todd Walker hit the weight room and put on around 15 lbs of muscle, he would look more like a 1b and his power numbers would climb (not a far fetched scenario if you ask me).

[stevelabny]

The Braves could very well capitalize on a fish-take and replace Sheffiled with Encarnacion.

And people wonder why they keep winning the NL East.