El Guapo's Ghost Rambles on about the Red Sox

Baseball transactions and rumors. It is time to heat up the Hot Stove for the winter.

A ton of transactions went down after the regular season. Now and in the future, I will only discuss the ones that interest me which are most.

• Steve Reed, RHP, Colorado - declined $1.15 million option becoming free agent (D$=FA). Not much of a surprise since it is hard to justify that kind of money to a ROOGY on a rebuilding club. Reed is a very interesting pitcher that dominates RHB. He would be a nice addition to any contending team's pen.

• Mike Williams, RHP, Philly - D$4.0. Even Philly is not that stupid. M.W. is the typical overrated closer.

• Shane Spencer, OF, Texas - refused minor league assignment becoming a free agent (RMLA=FA). Texas has plenty and better corner outfield options. Spencer should come cheap and can hit LHP around the tune of 800 OPS, which makes him an above average platoon partner for rhymes with Vixen.

• Ellis Burks, DH, Cleveland - D$5.0. I would not expect for Burks to resign with the Indians with Hafner, Gerut, Broussard (kick ass BP hitter), etc. getting the bulk of the at-bats. If Burks has not lost any bat speed, he is still valuable with the stick and would fit nicely as a DH on a contender like Oakland.

• Miguel Batista, RHP, Arizona - D$5.0. The D-backs can not afford to pay both Batista and Dessens a combined $9 million to man the back of the rotation. Batista is coming off his best DIPS stat season and the D-backs are looking at re-signing him at a reduced rate.

• Glendon Rusch, LHP, Capital of Cheap Beer - D$5.0. I always liked Rusch - the NYM. He was a durable, innings eater, southpaw in his mid-20s with a 3-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio but gave up a lot of hits. I thought in the right park and defense behind him, Rusch could be an All-Star. Every since moving to Selig's world, Rusch has gone from below average last season to horrible in 2003. His DIPS stats stink too. Rusch is a lefty with past “success” so he is worth a flyer. If it does not work out, I would see if he can throw side-arm.

• Jimy Williams and Gerry Hunsicker, Manager and General Manager of Houston, received contract extensions through 2005. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

• Brad Fullmer, DH, Anaheim - released. Is this the NFL? A player gets hurt then released. If Fullmer is healthy, he can mash RHP for an AL team.

• John “Way Back!” Wasdin, RHP, Colorado of the AL - signed to a minor league deal. If he makes it back to the show at Arlington, fans should not spend the extra cash for a closer parking spot. It is a great jingle but you never want to call it: 1-800-54-GIANT.

• Manny Alexander, UTIL, Texas - signed to a minor league deal to help expedite the supply of pharmaceuticals.

• Jose Jimenez, RHP, Colorado - RMLA. A ground ball pitcher over his career made him effective at Coors becoming the Rockies closer for the past couple of seasons. He is a sinker/slider pitcher without an effective off-speed pitch which makes the recent conversion to a starter even more difficult. Jimenez did not find success as a starter or reliever this season. Control problems, that were never an issue in the past, appear to be the major factor in his poor performance in 2003. If Jimenez can regain his control, he would be a valuable commodity like Mendoza was for the MFYankees as a long, middle reliever and spot starter. Jimenez should be a low cost/high reward option on the market, especially for a club with a good defensive infield.

• Jose Cruz, Jr., OF; J.T. Snowhite, 1B; Eric Young, 2B; San Fran declined options. Overpaid players - bad contracts finally expiring - should find jobs but at a much lower rate - further proof of market correction.

• Frank Catalanotto, LF, Toronto - signed a one-year contract for $2.3 mil. I am surprised J.P. and company jumped on the F.Cat so quickly. First the positive, F.Cat can hit (299/351/472 last season) which is nearly identical to his career and 2000-2002 numbers. Next season, should be much of the same with the bat, perhaps a slight decline due to aging. Now onto the negative. First, F.Cat is an average left fielder with a below average arm. He has very little value in the field. Second, he can't hit southpaws so the Jays need to spend additional funds and a roster spot for a platoon partner. Third, the signing and allocating of at-bats to F.Cat could hurt the growth of Kielty, Phelps, Reed Johnson and possibly Gross and Rios, who I believe all could figure into the Jays next championship run. It is understandable to have F.Cat as a stop-gap once again in 2004 (with the possibility of moving him in a mid-season deal although at $2.3 the Jays are not going to get much in return), but with cheaper alternatives both in-house and probably on the market J.P. pulled the trigger too fast for too much cash.

•Greg Myers, C, Toronto - signed a one-year deal for 900K. The Jays got a good hitting catcher with a short-term commitment at a bargain price once again. Since the Jays have no in-house, young and cheap alternatives ready to play behind the plate full-time in 2004, this will not block player development and could be used to ease Kevin Cash or another young backstop into the Show against lefties. On the other side, if I were Myers, I fire my agent. I have a hard time understanding not filing for free agency with his numbers last season as a CATCHER. Myers should have gotten at least a commitment of $2-3 million from a club.