In the Toronto Sun, Mike Rutsey notes that the Blue Jays efforts to upgrade their starting rotation by offering up OF Alex Rios have been unsuccessful.
According to Rutsey, “Simply put, teams aren’t willing to give up a quality starter at any cost.”
…from what i can gather, the Jays are not looking for a guy like Mike [...]

Last week at Baseball America, Mike Berardino authored the site’s Top 10 Marlins Prospect list.
In a chat from later that day, Berardino was asked if he feels the Marlins would consider trading Dontrelle Willis for Carlos Gomez, Mike Pelfrey, and either Aaron Heilman or Lastings Milledge?
According to Berardino…
“No.  Dontrelle means too much to this franchise, on [...]

Last week, in the Star-Tribune, beat reporter Patrick Reusse wrote that he believes the Twins will now end up trading LHP Johan Santana after next season, thanks to Barry Zito’s $126 million deal with the Giants.
Meanwhile, at ESPN.com, columnist Bob Klapisch wonders if by accumulating so many young starting pitchers this off-season, are the Yankees [...]

Over the weekend, MLB.com’s Eric Justice posts an update on how several Mets players finished up during the year’s Venezuelan and Mexican Winter Leagues.
 Our old friend, 33–year-old infielder Edgardo Alfonzo, finished with a .220 batting average, one HR and 12 RBI in 32 games.
On the hand, LHP Edgardo Alfonzo went 2-1 with a 3.38 ERA in [...]

The Mets and RHP Duaner Sanchez reached agreement on a one year deal worth $850,000.
Sanchez, who earned the league minimum last season, was eligible for salary arbitration this off-season for the first time in his career.
The Mets have the rights to Sanchez through 2009, at which time he’ll be eligible for free agency.
The Mets, who [...]

At his blog titled Bobby’s World, Bobby Valentine writes about a private dinner he recently attended with Mets GM Omar Minaya, actor Tim Robbins and columnist Joe Klein, among others.
…wait, omar, bobby v, joe klein and tim robbins…now that’s an interesting group…great conversation, i would imagine…
…thanks to greg h for the link…

In the New York Post, Kevin Kernan pens an outstanding article about Willie Randolph, who is set to enter the final year of a three-year deal.
The article is peppered with a collection of great anecdotes and quotes regarding last season’s emotional roller coaster.
Randolph, on conventional wisdom, as quoted by Kernan…
“I don’t believe you always play [...]

At Bucco Blog, a Pirates blog, Lou sits down with a veteran scout from the National League East to talk about a variety of players linked to the Pirates.
Asked to choose between Oliver Perez and Xavier Nady, the scout says…
“Oliver Perez for anybody but the Pirates.  I think you will be pleasantly surprised with Nady’s [...]

Each year around this time, Baseball America releases a report on every team’s minor league system. 
BA’s list of the Top 10 Mets Prospects will be released today, complete with projections and commentary for each player ranked. 
The report’s author, Matt Meyers, will be conducting an in-depth chat at Baseball America at 2 pm EDT for fans [...]

Over this past weekend, Mets GM Omar Minaya appeared as a guest at Temple Emanu-El in Closter, NJ.  Proceeds from the event benefit Esperanza International in the Dominican Republic.
During his appearance, Minaya told listeners that his team would not pursue free-agent RHP Roger Clemens.
Regarding Lastings Milledge, Minaya emphasized that the young outfielder is just a kid [...]