Meetings Over

With the winter meetings now in the books, Johan Santana is still a Twin and the Sox still have the same starting rotation as they did last week at this time. I, for one, am sort of happy. I really, really do not like the trade for Santana. I don't think we need him and we don't need to spend the money on him. Just because you can, doesn't always mean you should.

In all honesty, I'm sort of tired about posting about Santana so I'm going to stop right now. If something real happens, for example if both teams agree to the trade and the Sox ask the commissioners office for the 72 hour window to negotiate on a contract extension with Santana, then I'll put something up. Till then, I'll post about the bore that will be the Sox offseason outside of the Santana talks.

Veteran set-up man and reliever Mike Timlin was resigned to a one year agreement. It's probably all he'll be getting from now on since he is in the 40+ club with starter Curt Schilling. But since no one has really been able to figure out his stuff, especially in the post season, he remains a stalwart in the Sox bullpen. The Sox will pay Timlin $3 million for the 2008 season.

Trade deadline pick-up Eric Gagne declined the Sox option for salary arbitration. Happy trails Eric, it was a nice thought bringing you in, but you can collect your World Series ring and close for some other team. I'd rather we kept Kason Gabbard I guess. The move was meant to solidify the Sox already dominant bullpen, but the 2003 Cy Young award winner never adjusted. The Sox still have the right to sign him to a contract, but I'd tend to believe they'll just turn him loose.

For the first time in awhile, the Sox didn't pick up anyone in the Rule 5 Draft. The Sox did lose two pitchers however. The San Francisco Giants picked up lefty starter Jose Capellan and the Philadelphia Phillies picked up Lincoln Holdzkom. The Sox picked up Capellan in the amateur draft in 2003 and he never panned out quite like the Sox had hoped. Holdzkom had a decent year for Double-A Portland but even better for Triple-A Pawtucket, going 1-0 with a 1.59 ERA in 12 appearances. At least they went to NL teams.

If you have been living under a rock this week you missed the trade between the Detroit Tigers and the Florida Marlins. The Marlins shipped Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis to the Tigers and the Marlins got six minor league players in return. The Motor City Kitties are going for broke gutting the farm on this one, but will be one of the favorites to win the Series in 2008. The lineup scares me, and if need be they could always bring Willis in to DH. They'll be damn good and probably the best if not the second best lineup next to the Yankees.

Speaking of the bombers, I know A-Rod is going back to the Yanks as a third baseman, but my pet peeve of the year had to be people forgetting that he's a shortstop, plain and simple. Here's proof of that and his and Derek Jeter's mutual man-love for each other. At least before things got chilly.