Before the football starts...
- The Dodgers are looking to bolster their bullpen and may explore options in the relief market, according to ESPN.com. That includes free agents Jason Frasor, Jesse Crain, and Grant Balfour, among others. They could also look to explore trades for cheaper candidates.
- The Cubs are interested in adding a starting pitcher this offseason, setting their sights on the likes of Kevin Millwood, Vicente Padilla, Jeremy Bonderman, and Jon Garland. The Cubs are all about the right financial move, which makes me think that some how Vicente Padilla will become the prime target. Close your eyes. You can see it too?
- The Yankees negotiations with Derek Jeter are going as expected. Both sides are far apart on what they believe Jeter deserves and neither are making any concessions. Jeter is coming off the worst year in recent memory, if not his entire career, and he will be 37 next season. If Jeter started negotiating on the open market, he would have trouble landing more than a two year deal.
- The Nationals are searching for starting pitching help and plan to talk with free agents Javier Vazquez and Carl Pavano. A pitcher to lead the rotation for the next two, possible three years would do wonders for the Nats, especially because Stephen Strasburg should not be expected to lead the rotation right off the bat in 2012, even though he very well could.