Off Season Update: Why wait for Winter Meetings

The Winter Meetings are set for December 3rd, still a week away, yet we have seen a bevy of movement already in this young offseason. There used to be a time when moves were rarely made until GM's met at the yearly Winter Meetings, and it was this location that was being hyped with the anticipation of potential deals including Alex Rodriguez, Johan Santana & Miguel Cabrera, among others. Well if you're a GM and have waited this long, you may have missed out. Not even a month has passed since the Boston Red Sox claimed their 2nd World Series ring in the last 4 years, and already the biggest name in free agency, Alex Rodriguez has agreed to a 10- year $305 million dollar contract with the New York Yankees. The Yankees have also already agreed to resign veteran catcher Jorge Posada and soon to be Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera for $60 & $45 million respectively topping the $400 million mark before the 1st of December without making a single change to their 2007 roster.

Meanwhile their playoff counterparts the Los Angeles Angels have been busy as well, trading gold glove shortstop Orlando Cabrera for former 18 game winner Jon Garland. They also shocked everyone by signing perennial gold glove centerfielder Torii Hunter to a lucrative 5 year $90 million dollar contract, while they already had highlight reel regular Gary Matthews Jr. patrolling center. The Angels came out of nowhere stealing Hunter from then favorite Texas Rangers, Hunters hometown, which were reportedly working on a 5 year $75 million dollar contract to land the superstar free agent. In what has become common practice, Arte Moreno and the big budget Angels offered an additional $15 million to pry away Hunter from the Rangers.

All of a sudden Fantasy has become reality and to get your guy you will have to overpay. The Cincinnati Reds got their man and signed closer Francisco Cordero to a ridiculous 4- year $46 million dollar contract. Despite having a void in the bullpen, a long with a league worst 5.13 Bullpen ERA last season, you have to be shocked at this contract. Mariano Rivera held out threatening to leave the Bronx where he has been a post season legend and a sure fire Hall of Famer and signed a similar contract just a few weeks ago. Needless to say Cordero is no Rivera, and it says a lot about Cordero that he went for the money joining a Reds team destined for mediocrity over numerous playoff bound clubs not willing to add that 4th year.

Speaking of overpaying, it seems like the Marlins are trying to get away with robbery. By dangling 24 year old superstar 3rd baseman Miguel Cabrera the Marlins have found many suitors, but few will be willing to part with the package of quality players the Marlins will ask in return. It seems once again Arte Moreno is leading the pack trying to get a deal done to bring a young power hitter to protect all world outfielder Vlad Guerrero and the newly acquired Torii Hunter. Moreno has the prospects and seems willing to part with OF Reggie Willits, C Jeff Mathis, star pitching prospect Nick Adenhart or SP Earvin Santana. The Marlins have also demanded rising star 2nd baseman Howie Kendrick to be included in the deal as well. It seems likely that Cabrera will command 4 legit major league ready prospects and I do see this deal getting done as the Angels have amazing pitching depth and are desperately searching for a hitter of Cabrera's caliber. One thing that could prevent a deal is that according to MLB.com Arte Moreno thought he had a deal done twice already, but not everyone in Florida is on the same page after their Front Office shuffling, Moreno said that the Dodgers had a deal done earlier for Cabrera but the Marlins changed players on Coletti at the last minute.

That being said, the other primary suitors for Cabrera are the Los Angeles Dodgers, but recent reports have both owner Frank McCourt and GM Ned Coletti saying that they are content giving their young kids a full season, this likely being determined after trade talks fell through. This could be the genius of watching the Diamondbacks, Rockies and Indians reach the playoffs last year with little to no veteran presence or it could be a huge mistake not to push a deal through. The Dodgers unlike that Angels don't have the depth and quality in their system and if they acquired Cabrera they would likely be giving up 4 prospects that would otherwise be starting for them. The Marlins reportedly were asking for a package of Matt Kemp, Clayton Kershaw, Chad Billingsley & Andy LaRoche, which is a significant asking price, and more than would be brought in from the Angels package. So why don't the Dodgers try to put together a different package of prospects? It's because they simply don't have the quality and depth in their farm system as the Angels, and in this market teams don't have the luxury to pass on players of Cabrera's caliber as thin as it is.

On another trade front, the Mets seem determined to land Cy Young award winner Johan Santana or another top of the rotation starter. The Mets have the chips necessary to get a deal done with Mike Pelfrey, Phillip Humber, Aaron Heilman, Carlos Gomez & Lastings Milledge. The Mets also have a hole to fill in their rotation when they let Tom Glavine leave for Atlanta. Of course the media has consistently reported that Jose Reyes may be tradable, with this knowledge public any team dealing with the Mets will likely inquire at Reyes' availability. Trading Reyes is likely a last resort for Omar Minaya especially when he has other talent to package for frontline starting pitching like Johan Santana, Erik Bedard, Dan Haren & Joe Blanton who all reportedly could be had for the right price. With the Red Sox and the Yankees also inquiring about Johan Santana look for the Mets and Minaya to target Dan Haren and Joe Blanton of Oakland. Billy Beane has said he is listening to offers though with neither pitcher becoming a free agent for two years, Beane will likely ask a hefty price being in a position of power as far as the market is concerned.

With the Winter Meetings only a week away we will likely see where all the pieces are going to fall in the near future. Of course that's saying that all these trades don't get settled in the next couple of days... What we will know is what teams expect to win now and what teams will remain patient with hopes for the future.