Opinion

The Washington Nationals are interested in Mark De Rosa.

I’m going to let that one sink in for just a minute before I continue.

The 2009 Major League Baseball season ended just about a month ago, and with the New York Yankees capturing their 27th championship, the offseason officially began.

It seems like forever ago, especially for Mets fans, as their favorite team's season was basically over before the leaves even began to change color, but indeed it has only been about a month.

So the hot stove season has basically just begun, and with that said, what the hell are the Mets waiting for?

With the Boston Red Sox signing of former Toronto Blue Jay Marco Scutaro to (hopefully) become the steady shortstop until Jose Iglesias is ready for full-time duty (approximately the 2012 season).

Boston signed Scutaro for two years, with an option for a third, for $12.5 million.

Let’s get one thing straight. This isn’t a done deal. Yet.

We all remember how close the Mariners have come to signing other free agents over the years (Miguel Tejada, Vladimir Guerrero, Omar Vizquel, to name three), only to have the deals fall through at the 11th hour. So let’s not assume this thing is all locked up, at least not until the papers have been signed.

During Spring Training in 2009, Eduardo Nunez and Ramiro Pena started to get a lot of hype after showing decent hitting skills and making flashy defensive plays. A quick glance at either of their numbers would've told you that neither was a particularly strong prospect, and neither could be counted on as thee Yankees' shortstop of the future.

With the recent announcement from Commissioner Allan Huber "Bud" Selig that he will step down in 2012, it has brought to reality that soon, though not soon enough, we will see the end of the "Selig era" of Major League Baseball.  Though there have been some positive things that have come from Mr. Selig, there are three overpowering negatives that override the positives.

This Column Originally Published At GetOutofMyBallpark.com

With only a few days left until the Winter Meetings (my favorite non-baseball season week of the year), nobody really has any idea what is going on with the Red Sox.

Last year we all knew that they were going to go hard after Mark Teixeira and that the Yanks were going to sign CC Sabathia.

This week, the arbitration deadline came and went with few surprises. One player that became an unprotected free agent intrigues me as an option for the Chicago Cubs.

The Minnesota Twins have decided to part ways with Joe Mauer's backup, Mike Redmond.

Redmond's name on the availability list made me wonder who would be the better option to back up Geovany Soto in Chicago this summer between Redmond and Koyie Hill. Let's examine how these two backstops compare.

With Major League Baseball recently revealing the players on the 2010 Hall of Fame ballot, I though I would weigh in on who I would vote for.  Let’s take a look:

The Definites

Roberto Alomar - Everyone remembers him for the spitting incident and the latter years, which certainly has left a black eye on his career.  It’s unfortunate, because he was one of the best offensive second baseman of all-time.  He hit .300 or better in nine out of ten seasons from 1992-2001. 

With the Winter Meetings less than 48 hours away, the San Diego Padres will be looking to add a right handed bat as well as pitching depth.

Whether that comes by free agency or by trade is yet to be seen, but here are a few names that are being talked about.