Valadius

BRISTOL, Connecticut (Ticker) - The Minnesota Twins apparently are the latest team to do some holiday shopping off the Florida Marlins' roster. According to a report on ESPN.com, the Marlins on Friday traded second baseman Luis Castillo to the Twins for young pitchers Travis Bowyer and Scott Tyler. The 30-year-old Castillo hit .301 with with four homers, 30 RBI and 10 stolen bases in 122 games with the Marlins last season. He follows Carlos Delgado, Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell as big-name players shipped out amid the Marlins' rebuilding process. In addition to Bowyer and Tyler, the Marlins also received two prospects each from Boston - which received Beckett, Lowell and reliever Guillermo Mota - and the Mets, who landed Delgado. Castillo, who won his third straight Gold Glove Award in 2005, struck out only 32 times in 439 at-bats while recording a .391 on-base percentage this past season. Bowyer appeared in eight games in September for Minnesota and could get a shot at the closer's role with Florida. While Florida continues to move key players, the team also is looking to relocate the entire operation. The Marlins have received permission from Major League Baseball to begin looking for another home after being unable to reach a deal for a new stadium in South Florida. On Thursday, Marlins president David Samson said seven cities have expressed interest in building a new stadium for the franchise. Samson did not mention the cities that have made contact with the team, but officials in Portland, Oregon, and East Rutherford, New Jersey, have confirmed their interest.

Why is everyone rethinking whether McGwire deserves to get in 5 years after he retired? The consensus 4 years ago was that Gwynn, McGwire, and Ripken were all shoo-ins. Has the steroid controversy really affected his chances that much?

Excellent. Now Chicago has to figure out who plays first base and who DH's.

I'd vote for the following of next year's freshman class: Harold Baines Jose Canseco Tony Gwynn Mark McGwire Cal Ripken Jr. Even with the steroids and the controversy, I gotta give the nod to Canseco for a long, productive career. The fact is that steroids were a part of the game in the 90's, like it or not (I don't). We can't shut out an entire era of baseball.

Eligible for the ballot next year: Harold Baines Derek Bell^ Dante Bichette Bobby Bonilla^ Jeff Brantley Jay Buhner Ken Caminiti Jose Canseco Eric Davis Tony Fernandez^ Tony Gwynn* Darryl Hamilton^ Pete Harnisch^ Charlie Hayes Glenallen Hill Ken Hill Stan Javier Wally Joyner Ramon Martinez Mark McGwire* Paul O'Neill Gregg Olson Cal Ripken Jr.* Bret Saberhagen^ Jeff Shaw Kevin Tapani^ Devon White Bobby Witt * = lock for election ^ = former Met

My ballot: Bruce Sutter Goose Gossage Jim Rice Bert Blyleven Dale Murphy Alan Trammell Andre Dawson Jack Morris Orel Hershiser Albert Belle

Now we have to agree on whether it's Yahoo or not.

I don't WANT Manny. Period. I'd like to build from within for a change.

Looking at Met transactions, it actually appears that Shingo Takatsu is also a free agent.

Snake draft all the way.

Oh, so that's who you meant... by all means, go ahead.

Our own Manny Acta has been given permission to interview for the Dodgers' managerial opening.

I can't remember the last time they signed a free agent to be a starting pitcher.

Oh come on now...

I wouldn't mind seeing Berto back, but I wouldn't be crestfallen if he goes somewhere else.

OlerudOwned might be Kreskin. See page one.

Yes it did.

Thanks CF.

Fortunato's still around. And Ring's still here. Some of these guys will probably be traded. At least one of them will be.

Billy Wagner. Kurt Wagner is the given name of Nightcrawler in X-Men.

Add Julian Jawann Redman to the mix... as well as Billy Wagner.

Should we keep this going as a Bullpen - 2006 thread or let it die now that the need's been addressed?

We got him.

His first name isn't Tike. That's his nickname. His full name is Julian Jawann Redman.

Now we need to actually figure out the rest of the bullpen.