Winter Meetings Heating up

The Winter Meetings began on Monday in Dallas and nothing really happened.  The Jose Reyes signing by the Miami Marlins actually happened on Sunday.  There were lots of rumors and suprisingly but not unexpected the Yankees have been quiet.  Tuesday was a different story.  The Mets in a span of an hour this evening became very busy signing two relievers and making a trade.  The Albert Pujols derby has really heated up.  We first heard that the Marlins wanted a resolution by tonight and are believer to have offered 10 years and as much as 220 million.  The Cardinals also upped their offer apparently and then we heard there was a third mystery team involved.  In the last half hour or so it looks like the mystery team has been revealed as the Anaheim Angels who may also have a 10 year offer out there.  Stay tuned on this, I don't think we will know tonight but maybe on Wednesday. 

I want to look at the Mets action more closely since I do cover the Mets as well as the Yankees.  The Yankees right now are very quiet so we will look at them later.  The Mets signed Frank Francisco and Jon Rauch.  This should solidify the back end of their bullpen.  I wouldn't say that Rauch is great but Francisco is good.  The deal the Mets made was Angel Pagan to the Giants for Ramon Ramirez and Andres Torres.  Torres will most likely be the leadoff hitter.  There had to be someone replacing Reyes at the top of the lineup and Pagan didn't like doing that, the Mets also didn't like Pagans non baseball instincts for lack of a better word.  Ramirez is a very solid reliever, one of the better ones in all of baseball so it will be interesting to see what they do for the closer. 

The Yankees are interested in bringing Eric Chavez, Andruw Jones and even Bartolo Colon back.  These will be one year deals and maybe even only minor league deals so they are on the back burner.  The Yankees are interested in starting pitching but find the prices to be too high and that hasn't changed yet.  They like Hiroki Kuroda and we heard today he would come east but doesn't look like the Yankees will get him.  Gio Gonzalez was another rumor, even heard a three team between Oakland, the Yankees and Royals but I don't think that was a legitimate rumor.  Heard the A's were asking for Jesus Montero and Manny Banuelos or Dellin Betances which isn't going to happen.  The Yankees like John Danks but for right now they want too much for him also.  I think the Yankees will come away with a pitcher this offseason but not yet, the prices will drop eventually and then they will strike.  The Yankees aren't desperate remember with a full rotation right now and young guys who are looking to get into the major leagues. 

Tomorrow could be a big day with news of the big guys like Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson signing.  Wilson looks like it could be the Angels, the Marlins and Rangers are also involved.  Prince Fielder is the other big name out there and it looks like the Mariners may be the front runner for him.