What the hell is going on???

No, seriously, what the hell is going on.

-Richard Hidalgo got a 1yr/$5 million deal from the Texas Rangers, plus easily attainable incentives for another $500,000. He is not even close to the player Jermaine Dye is yet he gets Dye money. What the hell were the Rangers thinking?

- The Red Sox decide that its worth more of thier time and money to get the boozed-up wonder David Wells than to sign soon to be 29 year old Carl Pavano. Wells signed a 2yr/$8 million deal and if he makes 31 starts this year he recieves another $5 million and there is a possibility of $5 million more in incentives in the next year. It appears the only reason they're doing this is because they are on the verge of signing Edgar Renteria, according to Peter Gammons, and needed the extra money in thier budget for this season. But this would go against everything the Red Sox have said about only signing a one-year stopgap at SS till thier prospect Hanley Ramirez gets there in 2006 - unless they're planning on moving him to either 2B or 3B. This also gives the Red Sox a rotation which has ages, if Pedro returns, of 27 (Arroyo), 33 (Martinez - with shoulder problems), 38 (Schilling and Wakefield), and 41(Wells). Age and injury could be a real concern for the pitching staff next year, making me wonder what the hell the Red Sox were thinking?

- So because of the Wells signing Carl Pavano has apparently decided to play with the Yankees for $39 million over 4 years, with an option for a 5th. So even though Pavano said repeatedly that he really didn't like the prospect of playing in New York, he signs with them anyway - despite having larger offers from other teams out there. Seriously, what the hell was Carl Pavano thinking? This, also coupled with the expected signing of Eric Milton, will give the Yankees at least one starter too many with the cheapest being the newly signed Jared Wright at $7 million a year. Unless the Yankees move Javier Vasquez and Kevin Brown within the next couple of weeks, they can effectively be dropped from the Pedro Martinez derby.

- The Braves traded for a new closer today, Danny Kolb, getting him from the Milwaukee Brewers for one of the top pitching prospects in the game Jose Capellan, plus a PTBNL. This move makes John Smoltz a starter once again, something he's been pining for since after the first season he became the teams closer. Smoltz will make $12 million next season plus $100,000 for EVERY START HE MAKES. So if he stays healthy for the entire season, that is an extra $3.5 million dollars. Good thing for the Braves that him staying healthy for the entire year is a very unlikely proposition. Smoltz was moved to the bullpen in 2001 after it was determined his elbow couldn't hold up starting for an entire year anymore after missing the 2000 season for reconstructive surgery, and to top that he has even been on the DL with elbow trouble in three of the four seasons since he came back. Plus, the Braves traded one of the top ten pitching prospects in the game for Danny Kolb, someone they could have used to go after Tim Hudson. Kudos to Brewers GM Doug Melvin for getting someone this good in return as the Cubs wouldn't have given him any prospect of this calibre, but seriously, what the hell were the Braves thinking?

- Jayson Stark is reporting that the Devil Rays are close to signing OF Juan Gonzalez. What the hell is Tampa Bay thinking??

Movin' on....again

The Pirates got a leadoff man to fill Jason Kendall's role when the traded newly acquired LHP Arthur Rhodes to the Indians for OF Matt Lawton. This trade fills holes for both teams and is very good for the Indians. They needed a lefty in the 'pen and have a zillion young outfielders. Good for everyone involved.

What to do??

Now that the Brewers have traded Danny Kolb to the Braves, the Cubs last options for obtaining a closer in the offseason is either trading for the Tigers Uge Urbina, who's still pre-occupied with his mothers kidnapping, or signing Robb Nen and hoping he'll be ready to close when the season comes around. Or they can wait till July of next season and hope that the Mariners are so helplessly out of it that they will trade away 'everyday' Eddie Guardado for one of the Cubs young arms. They might (and probably will) give the chance to Ryan Dempster.

- Jayson Stark is reporting that if the Cubs get shut out for either Carlos Beltran or J.D. Drew that they'll go after Twins OF Jacque Jones, who would only be available if the Twins re-sign Corey Koskie.

- The Cubs brass is kicking around ideas of turning Kerry Wood into a closer if they cannot find someone. Although he could be a good closer with his stuff and heat, the only way i see this happening is if Wood turns into a John Smoltz situation where he has another elbow problem so bad that moving him to the bullpen is the only option.

- The Braves, Orioles, and Nationals are the other teams interested in trading for Sammy Sosa if a deal with the Mets doesn't work out.