Sox pick up a new Backstop....

White Sox GM has finally signed one of the two players he's rumored to be in on for the last couple of weeks, as the team is about to sign former Twin and Giant catcher A.J. Pierzynski to a 1yr/$2.25 million deal. Not a bad little pickup for the southsiders, especially since the current catchers on the roster havn't proved they would be anything but a blackhole on the team for next season. Although he isn't superb defensively, Pierzynski can call a very good game and is solid offensively. A left-handed bat, he should probably be good for 10-15 HR's, 70+ RBI's, and around a .300 BA. And although you wouldn't guess it by looking at him, there have been rumors of Pierzynski being a steroid user, but so far nothing has come about of it. All in all though, not to bad a pickup for $2 million.

- The Sox and Japanese 2B Takahito Iguchi are about $600,000 apart on a 2 year deal but it doesn't look promising. GM Kenny Williams said that the two sides will have to get 'really creative' with the rest of the money if they were to agree to a deal. Personally, for a bump in $300,000 a year I cannot believe that either management won't greenlight it or Kenny Williams will not pay it.



A New Door Opening in the Sosa Trade Talks....

Although Randy Johnson agreed to a new extension with the Yankees today like predicted, the other deal involved with this is about to fall apart. The negotiating window between the D-backs and Shawn Green has closed without a new extension, and he is now inclined to use his no-trade clause and kill this deal. Because of this news, Arizona may now want a different prospect than Navarro because they have thier own young catching prospects and do not need another. If Green does go ahead and kill the deal the Cubs may have a new partner in trade for Sammy Sosa, as the deal that went nowhere in early November might start to heat up once again.


As the Gruds Turns....

Former Cubbie 2B Mark Grudzielanek sign a 1yr/$1 million deal with the Cardinals today to fill the vacated spot from Tony Womack signing with the Yankees. I really would have rather had St. Louis sign Robbie Alomar, as that would have been a disaster for them, but you get what you get sometimes. Although Gruds doesn't scare me coming to town as a visitor now, he will be solid for the Redbirds, probaly batting around .300 and playing some good defense. This does come as odd for the Cardinals as they have now replace two guys who could have led off in Renteria and Womack, with guys who are not close to being leadoff hitters and are better suited for batting down in the order. They are going to miss Womack's speed at the top next year as well as feel the defensive downgrade in the middle of the infield.


Pirates actually keep a good player...

Pittsburg actually keep a decent player in the fold for a couple years today, signing SS Jack Wilson to a 2yr/$8 million extension. This isn't a bad price considering the huge inflation for SS prices paid this offseason, so congradulations to the Pirates for tying up someone to the end of thier arbitration is up, just in time for them to leave in free agency.