DC Hot Stove

Here is what's going on around the MLB...

- Varitek's deadline might be fake. That is what is coming out of Boras' camp anyways. I really don't know, and I really don't care. I am so sick of this.

- The Mariners may be taking a look at Bobby Abreu. This would be a great fit, since Seattle has a lot of great pitching, and could really use a bat. The problem is they are at their payroll limit, so the report suggests they would have to trade Jarrod Washburn ($10.35MM), Miguel Batista ($9MM), or Carlos Silva ($11MM) to clear '09 payroll space for Abreu. Not going to happen, because all those players are terribly over paid.

- Pedro Martinez has received no new contract offers, so it looks like he will use the World Baseball Classic to sell himself to MLB teams.

- The Mets avoided arbitration with John Maine by signing him for $2.6M (plus another $25K based on innings pitched).

- The Orioles will not resign Kevin Millar. He shot back at them saying "Yeah, the bottom line is, obviously, they want to go in a different direction. Now, what that means, I don't know. Are they going to win games this year? No. Obviously we know that going in. You've got to be realistic (sportsline)." HAHA that guy cracks me up. Teams will look at him as a decent hitter off the bench.

- The Dodgers resumed contract talks with Randy Wolf, but he will not sign till Perez signs with the Mets. That way he can probably get the same kind of deal.

- The whole "Manny going to St. Louis" is already over. Sorry Pujols. When asked by the newspaper if the Cardinals are interested in the free agent slugger, St. Louis General Manager John Mozeliak said "The answer is no." Wow, arguably one of the best hitters of all time can't find a job.

- There are no Bonds rumors today, probably because he is a douche bag.

- Tom "Flash" Gordon may be heading to Philly. He is one of my favorite pitchers of all time, but had to shut it down in July with an elbow injury that eventually required surgery in October. No word on what the contract might look like, but it will most likely be a minor league deal.