ESPN's Buster Olney writes that the Phillies are working to trade Ryan Howard.
It's not surprising news and it's ultimately easier said than done. Howard is still owed $60 million, with $25 million salaries for 2015 and 2016 and a $10 million buyout of a 2017 team option worth $23 million, so the Phillies would have to cover nearly all of his remaining contract or find a player with a similarly bad contract in order to find a match. Howard had 23 home runs and 95 RBI this season, but he hit just .223 with a .690 OPS. He turns 35 later this month.

Still hacing trouble understanding why nobody wants him to play for them, I see Johnny Damon is still having trouble finding things to fill up his day. It is so bad, he is going this less than path into T.V.

Geraldo Rivera, Kate Gosselin, Vivica A. Fox and Johnny Damon are among the cast members who will enter the boardroom in the next season of Celebrity Apprentice. The cast was revealed on Tuesday morning’s Today, with host Donald Trump also making an appearance to talk up the new lineup and share his thoughts on former winner Joan Rivers.

Other luminaries: Ian Ziering, Brandi Glanville, Gilbert Gottfried, Keshia Knight Pulliam and Terrell Owens.


Sadly, Terrell Owens seems to have the same problem.

Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2015

Angels (10)

•Gordon Beckham (5.123) – $5.0MM
•David Freese (5.028) – $6.3MM
•Kevin Jepsen (4.163) – $2.6MM
•Fernando Salas (4.048) – $1.4MM
•Vinnie Pestano (3.054) – $1.2MM
•Hank Conger (3.051) – $1.1MM
•Wade LeBlanc (3.038) – $800K
•Hector Santiago (3.016) – $2.2MM
•Collin Cowgill (2.151) – $900K
•Garrett Richards (2.148) – $4.0MM
Astros (8)

•Dexter Fowler (5.168) – $9.0MM
•Tony Sipp (5.100) – $1.5MM
•Jason Castro (4.104) – $3.9MM
•Carlos Corporan (3.019) – $1.0MM
•Alex Presley (2.162) – $1.2MM
•Chris Carter (2.159) – $3.5MM
•Anthony Bass (2.148) – $600K
•Marwin Gonzalez (2.133) – $1.0MM
Athletics (14)

•John Jaso (5.032) – $3.3MM
•Jeff Samardzija (5.028) – $9.5MM
•Kyle Blanks (5.005) – $1.3MM
•Brandon Moss (4.160) – $7.1MM
•Sam Fuld (4.140) – $1.6MM
•Jesse Chavez (4.108) – $2.5MM
•Craig Gentry (4.084) – $1.5MM
•Josh Reddick (4.050) – $3.7MM
•Fernando Abad (3.073) – $900K
•Eric Sogard (3.064) – $1.0MM
•Fernando Rodriguez (3.053) – $900K
•Ryan Cook (3.036) – $1.3MM
•Jarrod Parker (3.000) – $900K
•Josh Donaldson (2.158) – $4.5MM
Blue Jays (8)

•Marco Estrada (5.035) – $4.7MM
•Brett Cecil (4.152) – $2.6MM
•John Mayberry Jr. (4.095) – $1.9MM
•Justin Smoak (4.077) – $3.0MM
•Juan Francisco (3.147) – $2.2MM
•Andy Dirks (3.139) – $1.6MM
•Danny Valencia (3.118) – $1.7MM
•Brett Lawrie (3.055) – $1.8MM
Braves (8)

•Kris Medlen (5.137) – $5.8MM
•Jonny Venters (5.000) – $1.6MM
•James Russell (5.000) – $2.4MM
•Ramiro Pena (4.089) – $900K
•Jordan Walden (4.043) – $3.0MM
•Brandon Beachy (4.014) – $1.5MM
•Mike Minor (3.138) – $5.1MM
•David Carpenter (3.016) – $1.1MM
Brewers (3)

•Gerardo Parra (5.145) – $6.4MM
•Brandon Kintzler (3.101) – $900K
•Martin Maldonado (2.156) – $1.0MM
Cardinals (6)

•Jon Jay (4.134) – $4.5MM
•Peter Bourjos (4.062) – $1.6MM
•Daniel Descalso (4.016) – $1.4MM
•Lance Lynn (3.119) – $5.5MM
•Tony Cruz (3.105) – $700K
•Shane Robinson (2.141) – $500K
Cubs (10)

•John Baker (5.141) – $1.1MM
•Wesley Wright (5.105) – $2.0MM
•Chris Coghlan (4.148) – $1.4MM
•Luis Valbuena (4.148) – $3.1MM
•Justin Ruggiano (4.019) – $2.5MM
•Travis Wood (4.004) – $5.5MM
•Pedro Strop (3.156) – $2.4MM
•Jake Arrieta (3.145) – $4.1MM
•Felix Doubront (3.120) – $1.3MM
•Welington Castillo (3.009) – $2.1MM
Diamondbacks (7)

•Cliff Pennington (5.114) – $3.3MM
•David Hernandez (5.095) – $2.1MM
•Daniel Hudson (4.117) – $700K
•Mark Trumbo (4.027) – $5.7MM
•Wade Miley (3.044) – $4.3MM
•Addison Reed (3.027) – $3.8MM
•Jordan Pacheco (3.005) – $1.0MM
Dodgers (6)

•A.J. Ellis (4.151) – $3.8MM
•Kenley Jansen (4.073) – $8.2MM
•Darwin Barney (4.053) – $2.5MM
•Justin Turner (4.045) – $2.2MM
•Drew Butera (4.018) – $900K
•Dee Gordon (2.154) – $2.5MM
Giants (7)

•Juan Gutierrez (5.035) – $1.7MM
•Gregor Blanco (4.164) – $3.5MM
•Yusmeiro Petit (4.016) – $1.6MM
•Brandon Belt (3.128) – $3.4MM
•Travis Ishikawa (4.012) – $800K
•Brandon Crawford (3.094) – $2.5MM
•Hector Sanchez (2.166) – $1.0MM
Indians (5)

•Marc Rzepczynski (4.132) – $1.9MM
•Josh Tomlin (4.033) – $1.7MM
•Carlos Carrasco (3.147) – $1.4MM
•Bryan Shaw (3.081) – $1.5MM
•Lonnie Chisenhall (3.027) – $2.2MM
Mariners (7)

•Austin Jackson (5.000) – $8.0MM
•Michael Saunders (4.138) – $2.9MM
•Logan Morrison (4.069) – $2.6MM
•Charlie Furbush (3.121) – $1.0MM
•Tom Wilhelmsen (3.091) – $2.1MM
•Dustin Ackley (3.087) – $2.8MM
•Kyle Seager (3.085) – $5.0MM
Marlins (6)

•Casey McGehee (5.028) – $3.5MM
•Giancarlo Stanton (4.118) – $13.0MM
•Mike Dunn (4.079) – $2.3MM
•Steve Cishek (3.143) – $6.9MM
•Henderson Alvarez (3.051) – $4.5MM
•Nathan Eovaldi (3.013) – $3.1MM
Mets (7)

•Bobby Parnell (5.132) – $3.7MM
•Daniel Murphy (5.109) – $8.3MM
•Eric Young Jr. (4.123) – $2.3MM
•Dillon Gee (4.028) – $5.1MM
•Ruben Tejada (3.171) – $1.7MM
•Lucas Duda (3.137) – $4.3MM
•Jenrry Mejia (2.140) – $3.1MM
Nationals (12)

•Kevin Frandsen (5.151) – $1.2MM
•Tyler Clippard (5.148) – $9.3MM
•Jerry Blevins (5.081) – $2.2MM
•Doug Fister (5.058) – $11.4MM
•Ross Detwiler (5.002) – $3.3MM
•Craig Stammen (4.160) – $2.1MM
•Drew Storen (4.140) – $5.8MM
•Stephen Strasburg (4.118) – $8.1MM
•Wilson Ramos (4.047) – $3.2MM
•Jose Lobaton (3.138) – $1.2MM
•Danny Espinosa (3.113) – $2.3MM
•Bryce Harper (2.159) – $2.5MM. Note: Harper’s arbitration eligibility is in dispute.
Orioles (11)

•Alejandro De Aza (5.139) – $5.9MM
•Matt Wieters (5.129) – $7.9MM
•Steve Pearce (5.116) – $2.2MM
•Bud Norris (5.068) – $8.7MM
•Tommy Hunter (5.066) – $4.4MM
•Chris Davis (5.061) – $11.8MM
•Brian Matusz (4.156) – $2.7MM
•Chris Tillman (3.113) – $5.4MM
•Miguel Gonzalez (3.095) – $3.7MM
•Ryan Flaherty (3.000) – $1.0MM
•Zach Britton (2.158) – $3.2MM
Padres (10)

•Ian Kennedy (5.124) – $10.3MM
•Blaine Boyer (5.070) – $1.0MM
•Everth Cabrera (4.144) – $2.9MM
•Andrew Cashner (4.126) – $4.3MM
•Tyson Ross (3.126) – $5.7MM
•Yonder Alonso (3.116) – $1.6MM
•Rene Rivera (3.082) – $1.3MM
•Dale Thayer (3.071) – $1.3MM
•Alexi Amarista (3.053) – $1.5MM
•Joe Wieland (2.161) – $500K
Phillies (4)

•Antonio Bastardo (5.054) – $2.8MM
•Ben Revere (3.149) – $4.0MM
•Domonic Brown (3.078) – $2.6MM
•Cesar Jimenez (3.020) – reached agreement 10-23-14
Pirates (11)

•Gaby Sanchez (5.025) – $2.7MM
•Neil Walker (4.166) – $8.6MM
•Ike Davis (4.155) – $4.4MM
•Mark Melancon (4.098) – $7.6MM
•Chris Stewart (4.091) – $1.3MM
•Travis Snider (4.091) – $2.0MM
•Pedro Alvarez (4.085) – $5.5MM
•Tony Watson (3.101) – $2.0MM
•Josh Harrison (3.033) – $2.2MM
•Jared Hughes (2.162) – $1.1MM
•Vance Worley (2.139) – $2.9MM
Rangers (4)

•Adam Rosales (5.022) – $1.0MM
•Neftali Feliz (4.151) – $4.1MM
•Alexi Ogando (4.114) – $2.6MM
•Mitch Moreland (4.067) – $2.8MM
Rays (9)

•Sean Rodriguez (5.133) – $2.0MM
•Matt Joyce (5.123) – $4.9MM
•Jeremy Hellickson (4.045) – $3.9MM
•Cesar Ramos (4.003) – $1.3MM
•Jake McGee (3.127) – $3.8MM
•Logan Forsythe (3.113) – $1.2MM
•Desmond Jennings (3.101) – $3.2MM
•Alex Cobb (3.061) – $4.5MM
•Drew Smyly (2.154) – $3.0MM
Red Sox (2)

•Junichi Tazawa (4.086) – $2.0MM
•Daniel Nava (3.045) – $1.9MM
Reds (9)

•Alfredo Simon (5.142) – $5.1MM
•Mat Latos (5.079) – $8.4MM
•Mike Leake (5.000) – $9.5MM
•Chris Heisey (4.157) – $2.2MM
•Logan Ondrusek (4.125) – $2.3MM
•Aroldis Chapman (4.034) – $8.3MM
•Zack Cozart (3.084) – $2.3MM
•Todd Frazier (3.071) – $4.6MM
•Devin Mesoraco (3.028) – $2.8MM
Rockies (9)

•Drew Stubbs (5.047) – $5.7MM
•Jhoulys Chacin (5.012) – $4.9MM
•Rex Brothers (3.117) – $1.3MM
•Michael McKenry (3.097) – $1.5MM
•Adam Ottavino (3.087) – $1.0MM
•Juan Nicasio (3.084) – $2.4MM
•Jordan Lyles (3.060) – $2.5MM
•Tyler Chatwood (3.039) – $1.0MM
•Wilin Rosario (3.023) – $3.6MM
Royals (11)

•Jayson Nix (5.055) – $950K
•Greg Holland (4.028) – $9.3MM
•Aaron Crow (4.000) – $2.0MM
•Eric Hosmer (3.146) – $5.2MM
•Mike Moustakas (3.111) – $2.7MM
•Tim Collins (3.097) – $1.5MM
•Jarrod Dyson (3.088) – $1.3MM
•Danny Duffy (3.085) – $2.6MM
•Lorenzo Cain (3.074) – $2.3MM
•Louis Coleman (2.162) – $700K
•Kelvin Herrera (2.157) – $1.5MM
Tigers (5)

•Rick Porcello (5.170) – $12.2MM
•David Price (5.164) – $18.9MM
•Alex Avila (5.061) – $5.4MM. Avila has a $5.4MM club option with a $200K buyout for which the decision is due on November 20th.
•Al Alburquerque (3.147) – $1.7MM
•J.D. Martinez (3.036) – $2.9MM
Twins (7)

•Brian Duensing (5.104) – $2.5MM
•Jordan Schafer (4.121) – $1.5MM
•Anthony Swarzak (4.038) – $1.4MM
•Trevor Plouffe (3.162) – $4.3MM
•Eduardo Nunez (3.090) – $1.2MM
•Tommy Milone (2.165) – $2.8MM
•Casey Fien (2.143) – $1.1MM
White Sox (6)

•Ronald Belisario (4.151) – $3.9MM
•Tyler Flowers (3.148) – $2.1MM
•Dayan Viciedo (3.123) – $4.4MM
•Hector Noesi (3.006) – $1.9MM
•Nate Jones (3.000) – $600K
•Javy Guerra (2.133) – $1.3MM
Yankees (7)

•Shawn Kelley (5.128) – $2.5MM
•Francisco Cervelli (4.146) – $1.1MM
•Esmil Rogers (4.088) – $1.9MM
•Ivan Nova (4.024) – $3.3MM
•Michael Pineda (3.099) – $2.1MM
•David Huff (3.062) – $700K
•David Phelps (2.156) – $1.3MM

Yeah, that's a classic one. 

I agree. After acquiring Lind for a half-decent pitcher. Things are looking up big time for the Brewers. Lind is pretty solid, though he is injury prone he is still better than anything else the Brewers have tried out at 1B. I think this is a super get for Milwaukee. I only wish the Braves were shrewd enough to get a guy like Lind for a throw away pitcher. But they aren't and they won't. 

As first reported by Hector Gomez of the Dominican Republic’s Listin Diario, Alfonso Soriano is retiring from baseball after a 16-year major league career.

Soriano would have struggled to find a deal on the open market this winter following a 2014 season that saw him hit .221/.244/.367 in 238 plate appearances for the Yankees, who released him in July. That was the final chapter of the eight-year, $136M contract that he signed in November 2006 with the Cubs.

Soriano spent time with four different clubs — the Yankees, Cubs, Nationals, and Rangers — during his mostly-illustrious career, batting .270/.319/.500 with 2,095 hits, 412 home runs, and 1,159 RBI in 1,975 total major league games. He began his 16-year run in the bigs as a second baseman with the Yankees but was shifted to the outfield in 2006 when he joined the Nats.

It's been a busy few days for Cubs president Theo Epstein. First, he fired Rick Renteria after only one season as manager -- a season that saw the Cubs improve upon their 2013 win total by seven games. Then he hired Joe Maddon as his new skipper.

The firing of Renteria, which Epstein himself characterized as unfair and undeserved, was widely criticized, and on Tuesday, Epstein elaborated on Dan Patrick's radio show. Via SI.com, an excerpt:

"I recognized it was wrong. We simply were not being fair to Rick. He had his first year under his belt. He did a nice job. We had told him he was coming back, we talked about next year. You really have to separate your instincts as a person -- to never be unfair to anybody -- with your responsibility as an executive."
To Epstein's credit, he's wearing the decision and not shrinking from the tough questions.

Some one stop shopping, to see some of the best plays made by the recently minted A.L 2014 gold glovers.

wapc.mlb.com/cutfour/2014/11/04/100546528/celebrate-the-2014-al-gold-glove-winners-with-these-amazing-plays

I'm still shaking my head over this one. As you should have heard, Terry Francona recently signed an extention that will keep him in Cleveland for the next several years.

However, before he would agree to the extention, he had to get an answer to one question. That being, how much is he making now.

Seriously.

"I e-mailed [GM Chris Antonetti] and said, Chris, before I can send you a proposal, you need to write me back and tell me what I'm making now,' because I didn't know. On one hand, I don't think that's terribly intelligent on my part. But on the other hand, I think it shows that, once I sign a contract and I'm comfortable, I don't look back. That's where I wanted to be with this one, too."

Just saw a story where Jeff Samardzija recalled an incident with Soriano a few years back when they were Cub teammates.  Apparently, another teammate asked Soriano if he had change for a $ 100.00 bill.

Soriano's response, "Hundreds ARE change babe"......



Gotta love that......

I especially like this:


Belief Without Evidence #10: A’s fans are magical elves



I’ve been playing in my mind lately with the idea that A’s fans are like the house elves in the Harry Potter stories.



We exist so that others may abuse us. The greatest triumphs of others often comes at our expense. We dress in ratty clothing (stadium). Yet despite this constant abuse, we are fiercely loyal to our master. We attack viciously anyone who dares attack our master. We perform magic (great stadium atmosphere) on their behalf, no matter how awful our masters treat us in return.


LOL

Back when the A's had Reggie Jackson, Dick Green, Gene Tenace, Catfish and all those guys they were my favorite team.

The only good thing in Atlanta in those days was Hank Aaron. And I aint gonna complain about the Hammer! We love the guy.

Still my favorite player of all time.  Actually, it has always been a tie for me, him and Willie Mays.  And, both used to kill the Dodgers.

Indeed.  The good old days just keep getting better.