Opinion

Rumors have surfaced in recent days that Milwaukee Brewers' GM Doug Melvin has talked with Tigers' GM Dave Dombrowski over the possibility of acquiring starting pitcher Edwin Jackson. Jackson is being shopped in a cost-cutting move by the Tigers.

Jackson is coming off the best statistical season of his career, and he is under team control for two more years. He made $2.2 million in 2009.

It was a tale of two seasons for the young righty. He was named to his first All-Star team in July with a 7-4 record and a 2.52 ERA.

While the big fish in the pool all seem like good fits for the Phillies vacant third base hole, the answer may be someone who could be had in a trade or become available via free agency in a couple of days.

And with all the Phillies faithful calling for the team to sign Adrian Beltre , Mark DeRosa or Chone Figgins to man the hot corner for the Phils in 2010 and beyond, I’m thinking they should go a different route.

Baseball can be a great game, a dream come true, if you will.

However, baseball can also be a fickle game.

That sentiment rings especially true for Edgardo Alfonzo.

Left Field is arguably the Mets biggest need this off season.  They have many holes to fill, but left field stands out the most.  The Mets lacked power last year and that is something that they are looking for in their new left fielder.

The Mets are interested in not only one left fielder.  The Mets are looking at multiple left fielders such as, Matt Holliday, Jason Bay, Carl Crawford, and Mike Cameron.  All of those players can greatly contribute to the team. 

Curtis Granderson is a nice guy. He’s the kind of man any father would be thrilled to have his daughter marry. He is one of the true ambassadors of baseball, and I don’t throw those kinds of words around willy-nilly.

But I’d trade him in a heartbeat.

Every 1990’s little leaguers’ favorite player will be back for another year in 2010.

On Wednesday, Ken Griffey, Jr. signed a one-year deal worth $2 million plus performance incentives to stay with the Seattle Mariners for at least one more season.

Griffey turns 40 on November 21, but many still remember him as “The Kid.”

Ben Sheets, the former Milwaukee Brewers' ace, has not filed for free agency this year. He hasn't needed to. For the last year, Sheets, 31, sat on the free agent market, the most notable in-season free agent. Last offseason, the New York Mets and Texas Rangers were in hot pursuit of Sheets.

Christmas shopping for all of us is about 30 days away.

For the Yankees and General Manager Brian Cashman, he may be starting his shopping in six days.

Friday, November 20 will mark the beginning of Major League Baseball's free agency period for all teams and all players.

So far, the 30 teams have six more days to re-negotiate with their players before they hit the open market for good.

Last year, the Yankees spent $161 million to get CC Sabathia, $82.5 to get A.J. Burnett, $180 million to get Mark Teixeira, and traded for Nick Swisher.

I repeat my assertion that the Reds need a solid shortstop to be an authentic contender for the Central Division championship. I have had my fill of Juan Castro's, Felipe Lopez's (though look at him now), Enrique Cruz's and Alex Gonzalez's until I could puke.

Jeff Keppinger filled in for nearly a year and did an adequate job. I think they sent him to Houston while my back was turned shortly before the season began.

Kyle Drabek, the son of former NL Cy Young Award winner Doug Drabek, has seen his name pop up in trade rumors quite a bit in recent months. With the Phillies angling to acquire Cliff Lee (which they did without parting with Drabek) and potentially Roy Halladay, it would make sense that teams would target the player who may be the best pitching prospect in the system.