Baseball Winter Meetings

It is that time again.

The time when all baseball fans wonder and dream about moves that their favorite baseball team will make in the offseason. So many expectations all filled with hope.

Who will they sign? Who will be traded? What rumors will come true?

Johan Santana is on the trading block and the AL East rivals, Boston and New York, and fighting for his arm. But will a wild card team pick him up? Does he want to stay on the East Coast versus the West Coast? What about his no-trade clause?

Boston or New York will pay the money to give Santana the extension he is seeking if he is traded. There is no better way to stick it to your rival than to sign the best pitcher in the majors. Like I said in the past, Boston is the new evil empire. Ultimately I think that Boston has the upper hand on a deal over the Yankees. They have the young, talented center fielder in Jacoby Ellsbury to roam around in place of Torii Hunter.

And how about Miguel "Jabba the Hutt" Cabrera?

I think he ends up with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim by the end of this week. Arte Moreno has said that they had a deal in place and was frustrated over the talks.

"I've felt we had a deal with them twice," Moreno said of the Marlins, who apparently cut bait and decided they needed more in exchange for the 24-year-old slugger.

Do not mess with a frustrated Mexican. This deal will get done. They have plenty of young talent for the Marlins and have multiple players that play the same position that will not hurt the Angels too badly.

Andruw Jones? Word around the block is that the Dodgers are hot on Jones, with the outfielder seeking the money that Hunter got from the Angels.

Erik Bedard and Miguel Tejada are said to be on the trading block as well. Both will help any team, especially Bedard and his strong arm.

There will be some happy fans and some disappointed fans no matter what, and lots of hope will be lost.

Have fun at the bar arguing with your buddies about why your team will be making the best moves. I know I will.