Reds, Athletics Swap Crappy Players

The Cincinnati Reds have traded Willy Taveras along with infielder Adam Rosales to the Oakland Athletics for infielder Aaron Miles and some other guy they'll decide on in the near future.

Things could have gone a whole lot better for Taveras in Cincinnati last season, after he hit just .240 with a shoddy .275 on-base percentage as the team's leadoff hitter. The oft-injured center fielder did, however, steal 25 bases. I guess that counts for something. Maybe a change of scenery will help him get back into the swing of things, and possibly even reanimate his numbers from 2007, where he batted .320 over 92 games.

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Good Riddance Milton Bradley

Seriously, someone out there should start a blog and devote it to the mishappenings of Milton Bradley and his crazy, misunderstood world.

The banished Chicago Cubs outfielder formally apologized Wednesday for his inappropriate behavior and recent negative comments which led to general manager Jim Hendry’s decision to kick him out of the clubhouse for the remainder of the season, and possibly out of Chicago for good.

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Mike Hampton Sucks at Staying Healthy

Before reading this post, feel free to have a listen to Mike Hampton's optimism about the upcoming season.

Papier-mache pitcher Mike Hampton has hurt himself. Again.

The 35-year-old Atlanta Braves lefty, who hasn’t pitched in a big league game since August of 2005 due to various injuries, left his second spring training start against the Detroit Tigers Friday with a strained right groin.

Hampton lasted just 38 pitches into the game before Scott Sizemore fouled off a pitch to give catcher Brian McCann time to head to the mound, along with Bobby Cox and assistant trainer Jim Lovell. Hampton walked off under his own power and left Braves fans everywhere grumbling in disbelief.

Mediocrates from the great site Something You Can Use adds it all up for us...

121,000,000 = dollars in contract
15,000,000 = salary for 2008
2,000,000 = dollars teams spent per Hampton win since 2001
53 = number of wins since 2001
22 = rank on list of largest sports contracts in history
8 = years in contract
3 = years since Hampton played a game in the majors
1 = injuries already suffered in 2008
0 = reasons to draft Hampton in fantasy baseball

But fear not, Braves fans. Hampton's injury isn't serious, and the club will continue to evaluate him day-to-day. As far as how he's doing so far this Spring -- other than sucking at staying healthy -- he tossed 22 pitches in his first outing, 15 for strikes, over two shutout innings against the Houston Astros last Sunday.

[Atlanta Journal-Constitution]

Ian is Trying to Ruin My Day Off

Ian, a dear friend of mine who writes for the excellent Boston sports-based site, SOX & Dawgs, sent a news blurb to me this afternoon, possibly in an attempt to ruin the last day of my four-day weekend.

I kid, I kid.

Actually, this rumor has me more intrigued than feeling like a pissed off/helpless/frustrated fan.

In the midst of my love/hate relationship with the Minnesota Twins organization, more news regarding the imminent trade of Johan Santana surfaced this morning by way of Peter Gammons.

Apparently, the Twins want Phil Hughes, Melky Cabrera and minor league youngster Austin Jackson as a package deal from the New York Yankees for the two-time Cy Young award winner. This may seem like a ridiculous amount of compensation for one 28-year-old pitcher, but when that hurler is considered the best in the biz, all rules are shot out the window.

I'm even a little excited/nervous/terrified to see what happens during next week's winter meetings when the rest of the elite teams lay their offers on the table...

[Rotoworld]

I Think I Just Puked Up My Turkey

Jon Heyman of SI.com reported Friday that the Minnesota Twins recently offered Johan Santana a four-year extension worth $80 million.

Four years. Eighty million.

This heightens the possibility that the best pitcher in baseball may be traded this winter, most likely during the Winter Meetings, which run from Dec. 3-7 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Santana, 28, has been nothing short of outstanding for the Twins rotation over the last four seasons as a regular starter, compiling a 93-44 record and 3.22 ERA with 1,381 strikeouts.

While no one but Johan knows exactly what he's willing to settle for, insiders believe he can and should nail a contract exceeding Barry Zito's seven-year, $126 million deal he received as a free agent from the San Francisco Giants last year. This would put the two-time Cy Young winner roughly $50 million or more out of the Twins budget.

Since the club refuses to grant Santana the six-year extension (including 2008) that he wants, the two sides have agreed to begin exploring trade options.

Sweet.

Twins closer Joe Nathan, who will also become a free agent after next season, is sizing up the club's moves, as well.

"If they're going to get rid of two players like [Hunter and Santana], we better have some darn good players to fill their spots," he told the Pioneer Press. "They better get a really good package for [Santana] and get some guys ready to play now."

Since it's obvious that huge contracts are far outside of the Twins' economics, Nathan is under the impression that he only really has another year there.

[MLB Trade Rumors]

Veterans Committee Elects... No One

Looks like Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn will stand alone at the July 29th Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Cooperstown.

Ron Santo, Jim Kaat, former head of the Major League Baseball Players Association Marvin Miller and all the other candidates were left out of the Hall Tuesday when the Veterans Committee refrained from admitting new members for the third straight election.