Around the Horn

The mouth that roared, Curt Schilling reported to Red Sox camp yesterday, and quickly threw management under the team bus. Schitbag is upset that the team is forcing him to choose rehab over surgery on his balky shoulder.

"I don't have any choice. If their course of action doesn't work I don't pitch this year, and I may never pitch again," Schilling said. "I have to mentally get behind it and do everything I can do to make it work."

Schilling had earlier sent this email to the AP.- "When you understand the depths of the different diagnosis, the incredible variations in potential treatments and timetables you should be able to understand to some degree why I might be upset at being forced to take this course of action," Schilling said. "That being said, that process is over and right now I am focused on trying to find out as quickly as possible whether or not this course of action will work."

Miguel Tejada reported to his new team, the Houston Astros today, but refused to comment on being named in the Mitchell Report. Tejada's attorneys advised him to keep a lid on things. The FBI has already launched an investigation to determine if Tejada lied during an interview in 2005.

Odalis Perez has reportedly joined the free-for-all to make the Nationals pitching staff, by inking a minor league deal.

The Angels can't find this to be good news. Vlad Guerrero is still bothered by elbow problems that forced him to DH down the stretch of last season.

Lou Piniella has made Bobby Howry the front-runner to be the Cubs new closer. Last year's closer, Ryan Dempster, was moved back to the starting rotation.



Ownership is now 5-0 in arbitration cases after defeating Mark Loretta.

Talk about a sophomore jinx. Hunter Pence has gotten off to a rough start in '08, suffering cuts to his hands and knees after walking into a sliding glass door.

Ian Kinsler has joined the recent group of young players to receive long-term contracts. The Rangers and Kinsler agreed to a 5-yr, $22 million deal.

Andy Pettitte wasn't the only one offering up apologies yesterday. Eric Gagne said his sorrys for being a distraction to his new Milwaukee Brewers club.

In what has to be a simple case of nepotism, the Nationals have inked Brett Boone to a minor league deal. The 39-yr old hasn't played in a major league game in over 2-1/2 years. His younger brother Aaron is also in Nats camp and his Dad, Bob, is an assistant to GM Jim Bowden.

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Friday Hot Stove

Update 3:25 - Well apparently even Peter Abraham can be wrong. It appears, Vizcaino is indeed signing with the Rockies for that 2 year deal.

Update 2:25 - Luis Vizcaino, rumored to be signing with the Rockies, agreed to a 2-year, $7 million deal with the Brewers.

So what's going on in the minds of the Houston Astros' front office and their fans? They may have suspected that Miguel Tejada would be named in a steroid report- his name had surfaced before- but did they expect it would happen one day after they traded for him? Surely if they had waited they could have gotten him for less than 5 players.

The Astros are also interested in Mark Prior, who happened to be named in the report as well.

Eric Gagne, not surprisingly, was on the list yesterday as well. Are the Brewers still happy they gave him $10 million?

Johan Santana will want a contract extension of at least 7 years and $140 million. According to a report from the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Santana's agent gave that info to the Yankees, Red Sox, and Mets.

The Blue Jays inked veteran David Eckstein to a 1-year, $4.5 million deal. Oh and in case you missed it, Howie Clark, the Blue Jays infielder that A-Rod yelled, "HAH" at, was named in the Mitchell Report yesterday. Maybe that's why A-Rod was yelling!

The Twins signed Adam Everett, the same day the shortstop was non-tendered by the Astros. Everett, signed to a 1-year, $2.8 million deal, certainly won't help the Twins' lineup.

The Nationals signed Rob Macowiak and Willie Harris, to help strengthen their bench.

The Phillies are looking at Akinori Otsuka to help out their bullpen. Otsuka was non-tendered by the Rangers.

The Rays are working on a deal to bring Cliff Floyd to the AL.

The Cubs are thinking of making a run at Twins' closer Joe Nathan.

The Rangers have signed pitcher Kazuo Fukumori (not to be confused with Fukudome) to a 2-year, $3 million deal, with an option for 2010.

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Hot Stove Update

And we could use that hot stove. 22 degrees and a storm on its way. Dreaming of Tampa, mid-February.

So all day long we've read how the Twins have gone back and forth on who has made the better offer, the Yankees or Red Sox. We don't even know what other teams, such as the Mariners could be offering. There was even one reporter- we'll call him Dick- who reported that the Twins wanted both Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy from the Yankees. Then he later admitted he was merely speculating.

Tonight we get word from SI's Jon Heyman that the Twins want either Alan Horne or Austin Jackson, in addition to Hughes and Melky Cabrera.

Earlier this evening, Buster Olney said the Red Sox and Twins were re-working an offer, thought to maybe include Jacoby Ellsbury or Clay Bucholz.

On and on it goes, and it won't stop until Santana is actually traded. In the meantime, it's creating a heated debated amongst Yankees fans who do or don't want to see Hughes included.

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The Yankees offered salary arbitration to Alex Rodriguez, Andy Pettitte, Mariano Rivera, and Luis Vizcaino. The Yankees did not offer arbitration to Roger Clemens, Ron Villone, Jose Molina, and Doug Mientkiewicz. For A-Rod, Molina, and Mariano, this is merely a formality until their deals get formalized.

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Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the Padres have snared free agent pitcher Randy Wolf, pending physical. There had been a lot of speculation that Wolf was going to return to the Phillies. The Padres have also reportedly talked to the Cubs about Mark Prior.

The Red Sox offered arbitration to Eric Gagne and Mike Timlin. The didn't offer it to Bobby Kielty, Eric Hinske, Doug Mirabelli, Royce Clayton and Matt Clement. Gagne is almost a certainty to sign elsewhere, while Timlin is close to returning to the Sox.

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Gagne Dealt to Red Sox

ESPN is reporting that Engel Beltre would be included in an Eric Gagne deal with the Rangers, giving Texas three players. Kason Gabbard and David Murphy are believed to be the other two.

Gagne still has to waive his no-trade clause to make the deal happen.


UPDATE 3:45 PM - Gagne has waived his no-trade clause and the deal is official.

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