AL East

The winter meetings are underway, and multiple important details have already dripped out.  Jason Bay is unlikely to re-sign with Boston.  Because of this setback, the Sox have taken the opportunity and extra money from not signing Bay, and have invested it in John Lackey, a 31-year-old ace.  The deal is about the same as Burnett's.  Five years for about 82.5 million dollars. 

The never-ending game of one-upmanship continues.

The Boston Red Sox are reportedly on the verge of inking the top pitcher on the market, John Lackey, to a five-year, $85 million contract.

Reports out of Boston claim that Lackey took a physical with the Sox on Monday, an indication that an official deal is close.

The short list on the 40-man roster became even shorter late last night, as the Blue Jays whittled their roster down from 38 players to 37 after tendering contracts and non-tendering one...that of Raul Chavez.

It's not like we are heartbroken to see him go, but the Mariners made Ryan Langerhans a Free Agent and will not be retaining his services.

Despite his pedestrian offense and mediocre defense, Langerhans did churn out two walk off wins for the Mariners with his bat. 

His essential release creates an opening on the 40 man roster, a spot that is more then likely going to be filled by a Free Agent. 

This is when it sets in.  Same time every year.  The leaves fall.  The skies turn cold and grey.  The winds of November whip across the Great Lakes.  And baseball fanatics …the kind that subscribe to the Sporting News , play fantasy baseball and always read the line scores….go into withdrawal mode.

Members of the Bautista Appreciation Society , buckle yourselves in, because the next 24 hours could be a bumpy ride.

We will learn by 11:59 pm on Saturday evening whether or not the Blue Jays will offer Bautista a contract and thus avoid arbitration.

Well...another year of Baseball's Winter Meetings is officially in the can.

Alex Anthopoulos and the Toronto Blue Jays essentially left Indianapolis as the same team as they arrived as. No trades, no free agent signings, and no crazy statements from the general manager.

The Yankees, Red Sox, Angels, or Phillies could have started laying the groundwork for a Roy Halladay trade, but we won't know for sure until the official announcement comes down from AA himself.