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Something to Talk About

I want to remind everyone the following are rumors and it is just the speculation of those who have heard some information.  That doesn't mean it's going to come true.

With the disclaimer behind us, here goes.

In what could be the first step of a major housecleaning in Florida, the Marlins and Rangers are close to completing a trade that would send Beckett and Lowell to Texas for first baseman Hank Blalock and a top pitching prospect, two baseball sources said Friday night.

Yes, you read that right - the Marlins have Beckett on the block.

There is a possible snag in the deal, in that, the Rangers are reluctant to give up a top pitching prospect.  But given the Rangers history in identifying pitchers, one has to wonder just how good could the kid really be anyway.

Blalock is set to earn 4.5 million per year for the next 3 years.

The Mets have started a full court press to get Delgado from the Marlins.  This of course has two advantages for the Mets, it strengthens their offense and weakens the Marlins.

There is a possible stumbling block to completing this transaction.

An official with one of the teams involved said the Marlins would insist that Mets right-handed pitching prospect Yusmeiro Petit be part of any deal for Delgado.

That could be a deal-breaker, however. The 21-year-old Petit, 9-3 at Double-A Binghamton last season, is considered one of the crown jewels of the Mets system.

Nice to know that the team is employing the same strategy as 1997 in trying to get the best prospects off the other clubs.

Next up is Mr. Lo Duca.

Marlins catcher Paul Lo Duca, who appears available as well, has drawn interest from the Rockies, but his $12.5 million remaining obligation the next two seasons could be a deterrent.

The Mets also have some interest in Lo Duca.  So time will tell.

Finally, this one I find funny in a macabre kind of way.

The Rockies also like reliever Guillermo Mota, whose salary could climb past $3 million next year through arbitration.

Mota!?!  In Colorado!?!  I can't even imagine.  I will leave it to you to do so.

The rumor mill at this point is not pretty, to say the least.  So, in my best Mr. Rogers:  Can you say Fire Sale?