BASEBALL RUMORS WE CAN CLEAR UP

SI.com does a page of rumors collected from daily newspapers every day that is to my mind a must-read. Today's page was particularly juicy with some early off-season talk. That's gotta interest me as I wait for the Red Sox to play instead of watching the Cards crush the Pads.

Let's start with the Philadelphia Inquirer:
Rangers GM John Hart has a thing for sluggers, Jim Thome in particular. They were together in Cleveland. The Phils would have to take Phil Nevin's $10 million contract and probably throw in Cory Lidle or Vicente Padilla. If the Phils really got creative, they might be able to work out a blockbuster and get a catcher (Rod Barajas or Gerald Laird) and a third baseman. Baseball sources say the Rangers may listen to offers for Hank Blalock, who is owed $13.7 million over the next three years.
-- Philadelphia Inquirer

If they can get Vincente Padilla and Thome for Nevin, who is done, I think it's worth taking on the extra years of the Thome contract.

On the managing scene, the Dodgers parted ways with Jim Tracy...

Former Dodgers manager Jim Tracy is considered a leading candidate for the Pittsburgh Pirates' opening, and his name has been mentioned for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays' vacancy. Neither the Dodgers' front office nor Tracy could reconcile disagreements over roster changes made last off-season, and Tracy did not want to continue without an extension that would provide him security through 2008.
-- Los Angeles Times

Baseball managers are a funny thing. It's not like in the NBA or football where players tend to burn out on managers. Tracy made a lot of questionable decisions, let's put it that way. I'd like to see a new face in L.A. and going the Eric Wedge way with a young guy who gets the program would be terrific.

Meanwhile, the Mets seem ready to overreact to a few bullpen problems. Focus on the lineup, Omar!

General manager Omar Minaya addressed other Mets needs such as strengthening the bullpen, finding a closer to replace Braden Looper (Billy Wagner? Kyle Farnsworth? The Marlins' Todd Jones?), adding a bat or two to the lineup and somehow coaxing the kind of production out of Carlos Beltran that was expected of him in the first season of his seven-year, $119-million deal. -- Newsday

I'd say Looper is a safe bet to outperform all the guys mentioned in that statement. Wagner demanding big money is a joke. He can throw, but not for $10 million a year. That's money far better spent on a position player if you're the Mets.

Some ears in Tampa were perking up at this...

There is a distinct possibility the Marlins will decline to tender center fielder Juan Pierre a contract, thus making him a free agent.
-- Washington Post

Throwing big money at Juan Pierre while passing on Beltran last off-season would rank as a major misstep if I'm the Yanks.

Lastly, let me offer some comment on the trade for Eddy Curry that Isiah made. Any way you look at it, it's a steal. If he never plays a game, they really didn't jeopardize much to get what could be one of the top centers in the East. Michael Sweetney? Come on. If the plan was to compete now, Larry Brown should be able to make the playoffs with this group.