Jan lays down and wrestles in her sleep
Moonlight spills on comic books
And superstars in magazines
An old friend calls and tells us where to meet
Her plane takes off from Baltimore
And touches down on Bourbon Street
The Blue Jays are in Anaheim this week, but not to play the Angels. The Winter Meetings are getting underway, and at the rate that free agents are being gobbled up, it seems likely that GM JP Ricciardi will try to make his moves as early as possible. Fiscal responsibility in baseball? The broken-down, 111-loss Diamondbacks are about to sign broken-down Troy Glaus to a 4-year, $41 million contract. What fiscal responsibility?
Welcome to the Winter Meetings, folks. First come, first served.
Spencer Fordin: Jays set for busy winter meetings
"That likely means a starting pitcher and at least two bats -- and perhaps some relief help as well. The offense is the clear priority, for a multitude of reasons. Toronto needs support at catcher and left field, in addition to whoever plays in Delgado's shadow. Oddly, for a fifth-place team, the pitching wasn't the problem."
and Jays' winter meeting checklist
"Dealing strengths: The Blue Jays have some depth in the outfield, where Reed Johnson and Gabe Gross are battling for the left-field slot. One of those two could get dealt for pitching help, much like the Jayson Werth deal at the end of last year's Spring Training. Other than that, most trades may involve mid-range prospects, which are starting to course through Toronto's system."
Geoff Baker: Jays aim for Clement, Koskie
"[T]he good news for Toronto management is that sources in Minnesota say Koskie is losing patience with the Twins — holding firm at a two-year, $8 million (all figures U.S.) offer — and won't wait until the Dec.19 deadline to decide whether to accept arbitration. That means the Jays, one of three teams already believed to have made Koskie an offer, can troll the deal-making lobbies and corridors of the Anaheim Marriott Hotel this weekend knowing they have a strong shot at the 31-year-old native of Anola, Man."
Winnipeg Sun: Koskie, Twins to split
"After 11 years with the organization, six years of manning the hot corner for the Twins, Koskie has come to grips with the idea of leaving the only team he's ever known." Sound familiar?
Mike Rutsey: Jays GM targets free agents
"Ricciardi is still interested even though signing them will cost him a second-round draft pick. 'We have to look at the fact that these guys (Koskie and Clement) are better (than potential second-rounders),' Ricciardi said. 'We have interest in both players.'
And hold on to your hats:
"To that end, Ricciardi also has mild interest in former Jays reliever Billy Koch, who last season was 1-1 with a 5.40 earned-run average in 24 games with the Chicago White Sox. He fared better in the National League after being traded to Florida in June. With the Marlins, he was 1-2 with a 3.51 ERA in 23 appearances."
https://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20041209095328999