Adam Dunn to Sign with Nationals

Adam Dunn, former OF for the Cincinnati Reds, has agreed to a reported two year, $20 million contract to play for the Washington Nationals.

Mets sign Tim Redding to One Year Deal

Home-state boy Tim Redding, a former top prospect in the Astros organization who spent all of 2006 in the minors, only to seem to find his way last year, signed a one year, $2.25 million contract with the New York Mets to be a starter with that organization. Redding, 30, was 10-11 with a 4.95 ERA with the Washington Nationals last year but was non-tendered by that team. Redding likely will battle rookies Jonathon Niese and Bobby Parnell for the fourth or fifth spot in the Mets' rotation. The Colorado Rockies had been showing interest in Redding over the last few weeks before the Mets got it done.

Chad Cordero to Have Throwing Session for Interested Teams

Chad Cordero, the 26 year old former Washington Nationals closer who is recovering and rehabbing from shoulder injury, is planning to have throwing sessions with teams that might be interested in his services. Current teams reportedly in the hunt are the Nats, Diamondbacks, Brewers and Tigers.

Nationals Sign Daniel Cabrera

The Washington Nationals signed free agent Daniel Cabrera, RHP, to a $2.6 million deal for the 2009 season. Cabrera was 8-10 with a 5.25 ERA for Baltimore in 2008 and was shut down last year due to elbow pain. The contract is actually less than Cabrera made last year, despite logging 30 starts before the injury surfaced. The Nats required an MRI before making it official, but apparently he passed inspection.

Rich Get Richer III: Mark Teixeira Goes to NY Yankees

And it is done. Mark Teixeira has agreed to an 8 year, $180 million contract to be the first baseman for the New York Yankees. Obviously this does not mean that the Yankees will win the World Series, of course, but they certainly made a few Yankee fans happy. But as I read somewhere, being a Yankee fan, unless you grew up in NYC, is a little like cheering for Brad Pitt to get the girl at the end of the movie. Teixeira, Sabathia and Burnett were the girls, and Brad Pitt got them all.

Frankly, I'm wondering if other MLB owners aren't a little excited about the spending spree, given the luxury tax money going to the other clubs. If I were an owner of a small ballclub in this market and economy, I might hope NY continues to spend, spend, spend.

Anyway, there will be rumbling, but essentially the problem is with the ownership structure and lack of salary cap in baseball. I think a system like the NBA makes sense, with the allowance for guaranteed money and "Larry Bird" exceptions. But I don't foresee Boston and NY agreeing to that anytime soon.

So for now, Yankees and Red Sox will build through free agency, smaller clubs will build through signing their young talent to long term deals before they know how good they are, and that will be baseball.

Teixeira: Decision before Christmas?

There have been many reports that Mark Teixeira will be making a decision on which team with which he will sign before December 25, 2008. The Washington Nationals are reported to have offered Mark Teixeira an 8 year deal worth $178-184 million according to Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN), with discussion of a ten year deal. It may be the length of time that made the Red Sox and Angels seemingly back down this past week, but the Red Sox and the Nationals are the front runners, according to Peter Gammons of ESPN. I'm guessing it is now down to opt out and no trade clauses if it is indeed the Nationals. Time will tell.

Angels say "Uncle" to Teixeira

A report on Foxnews.com is stating that the Anaheim Angels have pulled out of the race for signing Mark Teixeira, meaning likely that he will not return to the Halos next year. With the Red Sox previously stating that they were being outbid, it looks like Teixeira will go closer to where he grew up (in Baltimore), with the Nats and Orioles still apparently bidding, but recent word is that the Yankees are considering tendering an offer. Nothing like Boras negotiations to keep the Hot Stove warm.

Astros sign 3B Aaron Boone

Astros, in need of 3B help after non-tendering Ty Wiggington as a cost cutting move, signed Aaron Boone, formerly of the Nationals, to a one year deal worth reportedly $750,000.