Alex Rodriguez Admits A-Rod is A-Fraud

In an interview with ESPN, it is being reported that Alex Rodriguez admitted that while he was with the Texas Rangers from 2001-2003 he did steroids, including the season where he won the MVP and including the time right after he got his super large contract.

An article on the admission is here.

Seems to me that the only person in baseball we can trust about steroids is Jose Canseco.

Andruw Jones Signs Minor League Deal With Texas Rangers

Andruw Jones, who is still being paid millions by the Dodgers, agree to a minor league deal with the Texas Rangers for $500,000 with an invitation to Spring Training. If Jones, who hit .158 with 3 HR, but made $14.7 million in 2008, makes the Rangers' roster, he will make $1 million (and half of that will be refunded to the Dodgers.

Report: Milton Bradley to sign with Chicago Cubs

According to a report on MLB.com, Milton Bradley is traveling to Chicago for a physical after the team agreed to a three year, $30 million contract for the AL's on base percentage leader. Bradley, playing for the Texas Rangers, hit .321 with 22 HR's as a switch hitter. The Cubs sought a left handed bat for their lineup, due to the wealth of starting righties of Alfonso Soriano, Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez and Geovany Soto, and Bradley is a capable switch hitter with some pop.

Adam Everett signs with the Tigers

Former Astros and Twins SS / Defense specialist Adam Everett has reportedly signed a one year deal with the Detroit Tigers. Everett is part of a move by the Tigers to attempt to solidify their defense up the middle along with their trade recently with the Texas Rangers for Gerald Laird. Everett signed for $1 million.

Winter Meetings in Vegas Begin...

Ah, Las Vegas. The perfect backdrop for the bargaining, negotiating and risk/reward associated with a baseball trade.

With the start of the Winter Meetings just underway, an unexpected early trade seems on the horizon...Tigers acquired C Gerald Laird from the Texas Rangers for AA RHP Guillermo Moscoso and hard throwing 17 year old Carlos Melo of the Dominican Summer League. This was pretty early for the Rangers trade, who seemed to have the goods this year in trade discussion given that they had a logjam at catcher and everyone was looking for catcher talent. Seems now all eyes will be on Scott Boras clients, Manny Ramirez, Mark Teixeira, Derek Lowe and Jason Varitek. Boras will be very busy in Las Vegas.

Tazawa to sign with the Red Sox

According to Japanese newspapers, Junichi Tazawa, the amateur right handed pitcher from the corporate team Eneos (Nippon Oil), will sign with the Boston Red Sox. Apparently the Texas Rangers made a longer term deal for more money, but Tazawa chose to join the BoSox due to their "development program", and due to the fact that Diasuke Matsuzaka and Hideki Okajima have been there before to help transition.
This signing apparently is causing some in Japan to stir, in that Japanese and American teams had previously not actively sought amateur players from the others' countries. Tazawa chose to forego the Japanese draft to sign with the Red Sox, which may provide more impetus for a international draft in baseball (particularly if relations with Cuba become less hostile).