No chance. The 3 year/$45 million is more than enough. If he goes we should try and trade for Hanley Ramirez.

Where is Cliff Lee going folks?

It sounds like the Rangers are pulling out the stops to compete with the Yankees. Hopefully Lee isn't just after the money and plumps for the Rangers because without him they won't have enough to get back to the series again. The Red Sox have definitely pulled out the stops though with Gonzalez and Crawford. Great stuff for them and bad news for both the Rays and Blue Jays.

As for the Reds, I'll be delighted if we can wrap up Votto and Bruce to multi-year deals of at least five years. If we can do that we've got a chance of making a run at a couple of division titles if our pitching holds up.

The Reds just locked up Jay Bruce to a 6yr/$51m deal with a 7th year option, this takes away all his arbitration years. Votto will be harder to tie down I think, he will want more $$$ than I think the Reds can afford.

Cliff Lee? I'd say Yankees, he has been to the last 2 WS and they offer him the best chance of returning quickly. Plus he has been a Yankee killer, so for that reason as well they will push the boat out.

Texas only advantage is that they are closer to home for him.

Even though a few unfashionable teams have made the world series in the last few years I think a salary cap is needed in the MLB.The money the Yankees and Red Sox are throwing around gives other teams no chance to pick up the best free agents year after year.What chance do teams like Baltimore,Toronto,KC have in ever getting a decent team when they can't afford to keep their best players and haven't got anywhere near enough money to compete in the FA market with the richest teams.

Completely agree with you sir but it's something that never comes up in baseball circles for discussion. I think that over the past decade it may have come up once at the winter meetings. I sincerely doubt the players union would want a salary cap.

How much money have the White Sox spent compared to the rest of your division?

They can spend more than the rest because they are in a big market city and they have to spend to try and get coverage from the local media and sponsors.Chicago will always be a cubs town,but even though we can send more than most I still want a more level playing field in the league.

Cliff Lee to Philly. They may as well give them the trophy now. I'm not sure who we will go for now.

Can't argue with the Phillies rotation now. Better than the Giants. It's going to be tough next season in the NL but what perfect practice for the young Reds on their way to facing one of the weak AL teams in the World Series

Wonder if the Yankees will chase Greinke now. Heard they didn't fancy him as he has a bad record at Yankkee Stadium.

Jays look to be doing nothing but losing pitching right now. Not happy about the Marcum trade, although he was the clear choice if we needed to trade a starter. Will miss the little bulldog!

My understanding of the Grienke situation is that he doesn't like being exposed to pressure cooker environments which is why him and the Yankees isn't a natural fit. I read that he'd prefer somewhere with a smaller market. I could see the Yankees being involved in a three way deal for someone via Grienke though. There was a rumour around that the Reds might be interested in Grienke but I think we've got too much money to commit to several of our arbitration youngsters and Votto.

[url=http://www.mlb.com/network/greatest_games/index.jspMLB's greatest ever games vote[/url.

[url=http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/mlbs-greatest-game-ever/Here is a great write up of[/urlthe Braves at the Mets from 1985. Amazing game and one of the few nominated which wasn't a play off game.

Greinke i dont think can handle the pressure of the Yankees, he does well at KC because they are a stable team that really arent going anywhere.

Put him into pressure like Yankee Stadium, Fenway et al and he wont shine IMO

The Yanks need to think hard about the bottom end of their rotation including AJ and also think carefully about Mariano

I agree r.e Burnett but not the Great Rivera. He had one of his best years ever last year. I'd be more concerned about Papelbon and I don't mean just for the daft face he pulls.

Aye he struggled BIG time last year

We have just signed up Bobby Jenks and Albers to hopefully ease the bullpen woes we had last season, means that either Atchison and Wakefield will be the only long man for us next season

Decent minor league contracts signed up too.

Epstein has had a good winter.

P.S Mark [urlhttp://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2010/12/16/rivera_red_sox_were_an_option[/url

Jenks is a good signing for you if he can stay fit.

Bit of a fallout r.e jenks with Guillen.

Everybody falls out with Guillen at some point

Live broadcast from 7pm tonight i.e. five minutes time, of the election results to the hall of fame. Barry Larkin should get the nod and maybe one or two fringe candidates i.e. Bagwell. If Larkin does get elected he'll be the first Reds hall of famer I've seen play

New job for Rogers Wireless means I get a discount on Toronto Blue Jays tickets, as Rogers is the owner of the Jays

I approve of this greatly! I expect to go to more games this year. Also planning on doing a road trip to Chicago to see the Jays @ White Sox in June

Some interesting moves in recent days. Nice acquisitions by the Yankees and rumours of the Rangers being in for Fielder. He would be awesome in that team.

For those of you that aren't aware of it, you might want to read [url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/tom_verducci/01/18/year.after.effect/index.html?eref=sihp&sct=hp_wr_a2the Verducci effect[/url in preparation for choosing your fantasy league pitchers.

[url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/tom_verducci/02/07/young.pitchers.traded/index.html#ixzz1liy5zHuHRanking the 25-and-under starting pitchers traded this winter[/url

MLB 2K12 - Verlander vs. Verlander

on YouTube, it's the trailer for new MLB game.