5 Things to Watch For This Offseason
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The World Series is over, and unless you're a Red Sox Fan, it all happened quicker and with significantly less drama than you'd hoped.
Next April can't come soon enough for the die hard fan, but this year has the ingredients for a rather interesting hiatus from our national pastime. Without further ado, here are five things to watch for this offseason:
- Where will A-Rod land and how much will he bankroll? It's hard to imagine opting out of a $27 million a year contract, but Rodriguez has done just that under the guidance of his agent, Scott Boras. Somewhere the Rangers, who have been paying something like $7 million for A-Rod not to play for them, have to be smiling. Potential suitors for Rodriguez include the Angels, Cubs, Giants, and -- despite their promises not to chase should A-Rod opt out -- the Yankees. I predict Rodriguez starts spring training in an Angels' uniform under a 7-year, $225 million contract.
- Who will win the Johan Santana sweepstakes? New Twins' GM Bill Smith has a tough decision this offseason: trade Santana now, at the deadline, or hold onto him through the season and lose him to free agency. Given what he's got to work with, I think Smith starts shopping Santana now and looks for the best deal he can come up with before spring training. I predict the Mets will land Santana in exchange for a boatload of prospects, possibly including Lastings Milledge (who would serve as a nice replacement to Torii Hunter, don't you think?).
- Will Bud Selig allow Mark Cuban to buy the Cubs? Cuban has already expressed sincere interest in purchasing the club, and he's let it be known that the bleachers better make room for one more bum should the deal go through. Given Cuban's occasionally bizarre antics in the NBA, you could understand Selig's hesitation to invite Cuban into the fold. But the game is changing, and Cuban is just the type of owner needed to usher it into the next generation.
- Will anyone take a chance on Barry Bonds? Talk about irony: the all-time home run king is unemployed. Bonds has let it be known that he'd take a pay cut to play for the Giants, but I think that relationship is over for good. I can't imagine Bonds not getting a meaty contract somewhere, but at the same time I can hardly fathom where.
- What names will be on the Mitchell Report? Sports writers everywhere are licking their chops, salivating at the knowledge that the soon-to-be-released Mitchell report will name names. To me, this is potentially the biggest story of the offseason. How will you react if you find out that David Ortiz got a little help in becoming the mammoth home run hitter he is today? Or what if you learn that Albert Pujols isn't only a nice guy, but he's also a juicer?
Yes, the World Series left a little to be desired. Let's just hope this offseason doesn't do the same.
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