Diamond Notes

Just because we're waiting for shynet doesn't mean there isn't grist for the mill. Oh no, Diamond Notes are BACK!

• Free agent outfielder Stewart Toombs has been taking meetings with potential suitors at his home in Maine. The Los Angeles expat has received some heavy notice from Seattle who are prepared to pay "Heiserman" money for the 29-year-old. To make room, the Nightmare are trying to shop leftfielder Will Montgomery. Monty is arbitration eligible this off-season.
  
• Speaking of arbitration, it looks like a few fan faves are heading to the hearing table. Texas' Rigo Cordero, Arizona's Bo Foster, Boston's Lawrence Johnson, and Phila's Kareem Duckworth head the non-NL West class.
• Speaking of the NL West, Mark and Ralph might have to dip into the kid's college funds to handle their arbitration cases. Portland's Julian Santana filed at $7.7m, Philip Thompson at $8.4, Josias Veras and Larry Dickens both filed in the $5m range. Garland Nathan filed for $8.7m in San Francisco.
• Texas will be an active player again in the pitching market. Late season acquisitions Benny Aybar and Donovan Leiter are both eligible for free agency. Aybar is seeking a deal for three years in the neighborhood of $6m per. Leiter is long gone, refusing to negotiate during the team's window. He'll ask for $6.3m on the market, but is expected to flirt with the $10m mark.
• And if Leiter is going to hit the market looking for $6.3, what will Jimmie Walters ask for on the open market and can madmuldoon afford it?