Bird Watching special addition December

It has been a busy week in MLB this week, yet no game was played. The Mitchell report came out, and several free agent signings and trades were made around the league. The Blue Jays added David Eckstein as the new SS for 2008. Also this week the potential trade of Alex Rios for Tim Lincecum fell through.

The Blue Jays made their biggest off-season move so far this year signing David Eckstein to a one year deal worth $4.5 Million. The Jays did not offer arbitration to RHP Josh Towers to make room for Eckstein. Towers was due to make $2.4 Million this year, but with a record of 7-20 over the last two years Towers was hurting the team more than helping. Eckstein hit .309 with 3HR and 31 RBI in 2007. Eckstein will probably be the new leadoff hitter with an OBP of .356 and 10 SB. Eckstein is the only starting SS to win a World Series in the AL and NL. He won the MVP in both Series. He won with Anaheim in 2002 and St. Louis in 2006. With all the talk of The Yankees or Red Sox signing Santana, the Jays want to continue to add depth to the team. A two time World Series MVP will help. In other signings; the Jays signed catcher Sal Fasano as the Jays back-up catcher. John-Ford Griffin left the Blue Jays and was invited to spring traing by the LA Dodgers.

The Mitchell Report came out this week and had two Blue Jays players on the list. Greg Zaun and Troy Glaus. 10 former players made the list Roger Clemens, Jose Canseco, Scott Schoeneweis, Glenallen Hill, Howie Clark, David Segui, Benito Santiago and Bobby Estalella. Troy Glaus has already been cleared by MLB. Greg Zaun released this statement "I am stunned by the allegations set forth in Senator Mitchell's report," Zaun said in a statement released by the Blue Jays on Thursday night. "I emphatically deny these allegations but am not prepared to comment further at this time."

Jays CF Vernon Wells is ready to pick up the bat and begin swinging again. Wells had shoulder surgery this past fall. Wells expects to be in shape for Spring Training and ready for the start of the season in April.

The Blue Jays announced December 3 that they will be using the 1979 uniforms on "Flash Back Fridays" every Friday home game. Alumni will be at the games to sign autographs. The Blue Jays said that fans expressed they wanted to see the team wear the throwback uniforms one in a while.

List of Friday Home Games:

April 4th (Home Opener)  vs. Boston Red Sox

April 18th vs. Detroit Tigers

May 2nd vs. Chicago White Sox

May 23rd vs. Kansas City Royals

June 6th vs. Baltimore Orioles

June 13th vs. Chicago Cubs

June 27th vs. Atlanta Braves

July 11th vs. New York Yankees

July 25th vs. Seattle Mariners

August 8th vs. Cleveland Indians

August 22 vs. Boston Red Sox

September 5th vs. Tampa Bay Rays

September 19th (Irish Night) vs. Boston Red Sox

Check out the photo gallery, which has Vernon Wells with the retro uniform.

This week was a busy week around the league, here are some of the major deals.

The Yankees have begun talks with Minnesota for a trade for Johan Santana. The Yankees also inked a deal with Andy Pettitte. The big deal was to keep the AL MVP and near triple crown winner 3B Alex Rodriguez to a 10 year deal. 

The biggest deal this week was an eight player deal between Arizona and Oakland. The Diamondbacks picked up all-star starting pitcher Dan Haren for six prospects. The Diamonbacks also picked up another pitcher

The Cubs sign Kosuke Fukudome  to a 4 year $48 million dollar contract. The Cubs win the draw on the highly touted outfielder. Several other clubs were looking in to Fukudome including the crosstown rival White Sox. Fukudome hit .305 in nine seasons with the Chunichi Dragons. He is also touted as a Gold Glove fielder.

Eric Gagne signes with the Brewers. The Brewers had a void at the closer position. Gagne will fill that void signing a $10 million deal. 

The Giants signed CF Aaron Rowand to a five year $60 million deal filling the opening for that position and closing the potential deal with the Blue Jays for Alex Rios. Rowand brings hustle along with a .309 average and gold glove to the Giants.

The Rangers signed RHP Kazuo Fukumori from Japan. Fukumori was an impressive closer in the Japanese pacific league, though he had a lack luster year in 2007 the Rangers think he can be a big help to the club.

The Astros picked up Jose Valverde RHP in a trade with Arizona

The Nationals signed Paul Lo Duca to a one year $5 million contract. Lo Duca hit .278 with the Mets last year.

The Pirates signed free agent SS Chris Gomez. He hit .283 last year with the Indians. Gomez signed a one year deal worth $1 million.

The Padres sign Jim Edmonds the 8 time gold glover and power hitter. Edmonds hit .252 last year with 12 HR and 53 RBI. They also sign veteran RHP Randy Wolf to a one year $4.75 million deal. Wolf was lost last July to a shoulder injury. in 2006 he was 4-0 with a 5.56 ERA with the Phillies.

Dodgers sign CF Andruw Jones. The deal is two years $36.2 million. Jones hit .222 last year in Atlanta. The other big signing by the Dodgers was RHP Hiroki Kuroda, who pitched for the Hiroshima Carp and went 12-8 last year.

Coming soon from Bijou Media, the Dime for Your Thoughts Year of 2007 Report. I will give my 10 cents on the top news including sports and many other topics. Included in the article will be my top 25 ridiculous things of the year.

Dime for Your Thoughts?