Diamond Notes

Let's get right to the news, shall we?

• Word from control is that free agents are now allowed to think for themselves. Numerous owners have reported that players willing to negotiate at the end of last season were shutout of the negotiating window in beginning of this year. The result? Benny Aybar to Jacksonville and active markets for Jimmie Walters and Stewart Toombs.
  
• The standout deal has been San Francisco's swap of Alberto Beltran to New Orleans for Freddy Chen. Chen was New Orleans' top pick in the season eight draft and has been progressing nicely toward his projections (overall in the 80s; 60s contact, 70s splits). Beltran has started 30+ games each of the last six seasons, and was 14-10 for the Oogles last season. Mark also manages to shed a hefty contract--Alberto was in season two of a five-year, $32.5m deal.
• Memphis picked up a new closer in Brett Dougherty. The 28-year-old lefty saved 19-of-24 for intradivisional rival San Antonio (nee Little Rock). The cost? Two low-level prospects projecting in the 70s.
• Portland management has been hot on trading 25-year-old phenom Julian Santana. The reigning three-time Cy Young award winner and four-time all-star is making $8.6m this season as part of a five-year, $45.5m deal. Santana has yet to reach his gaudy projections, which are almost all above 90. In return, the Beavers are looking for first-class power hitting.
• The rumored destination for Santana? San Francisco. Well, it could have been. Sources report that the Ralph-Mark über division nearly got incestuous when Portland offered Santana in multiple packages, which would have sent Harpo Dunn and Jorge Benitez to Portland in return. Both times, the Oogles said no.
  
• While we're talking rumors, one out of Texas had Kansas City picking up all-world shortstop Garry Hutton from the Texans in exchange for stud hurler Max Roosevelt and others. Sources say that Texas ownership blinked and pulled the deal at the last minute. What a little bitch that owner is...
• Hutton was also rumored to be on the move to Washington, D.C. but salary cap restrictions have kept the shortstop in Texas.
• Speaking of the Texans, they shipped Tony Machado and a minor leaguer to intradivisional rival San Antonio for Weldon Terrell. Machado won his arbitration case this season. And, Esteban Hernandez takes a walk. The 31-year-old was dealt to New Orleans for Rudy Fingers. Both deals have yet to be completed.
• Rumors of teamwide dissent regarding Rigo Cordero's long-term deal to avoid arbitration have surfaced. Reports have Cordero forcing Texas management negotiate the deal while Texas GM jaredpaventi was distracted by people at a dinner party.
• In other news, try explaining to people at a dinner party that you had to go negotiate a contract with an imaginary baseball player.
  
• Lookout for Santa Fe. The Booze Hounds moved Lou Magruder and AAA shortstop Jimmy Linton to Fresno for a pair of low-level minor leaguers in a yet to be approved deal.
• Philadelphia has been active, acquiring the horribly named Germany Smart from San Juan. There's a joke to be made about a guy from Illinois named Germany playing American baseball in Puerto Rico who was traded to Philadelphia...I'm just not sure what it is. Nonetheless, sour also sent first baseman Del Clifton and cash to Seattle for a AA prospect.

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?
  

More from the hot stove

New Britain is positioning itself to make a play for the division crown since relocating from Augusta. Player agent Dennis Bruske said there is all sorts of chatter around the free agent market that there will be a big push to bring a division title to Connecticut.

Agents for Willie Rodriguez, Louis Dali and Sammy Barnes have already received preliminary contacts. They are also on the prowl for a catcher, but have also said they would be willing to slot AA prospect Shane Clark in the starting spot if necessary.

The squad will also unveil its mascot at a Monday press conference in Downtown New Britain. The Onion Ball blog has a sneak peak at the Angry Bear.

More grist for the mill

Rumors are like my high school girlfriend. She's everywhere and on everybody...

Sources close to the WS Champion Portland franchise report that the Beaver Cleavers are looking to deal and wheel in the offseason. On the sorta kinda maybe list are AA MVP finalist Del Clifton and catchers Johnny Wilkerson (a former overall #2 pick) and Carlos Tavarez. On Portland's "Don't let the door hit you" list is Lewis Harang.

The same source reports that Portland almost had Washington DC's Johnny Costello, but trade talks broke down at the last minute over Costello's age. Costello wanted to take the trade, but Portland management was concerned about the reason -- apparently, he was a child when Lewis and Clark discovered the territory where the Beavers currently play.

The Rumor Mill Churns

What we're hearing from around the league:

• Memphis will say goodbye to Billy Anderson in the off-season. The Gold Glove first baseman tops almost every offensive team record list, but stands in the way of the team's decision to go young.

• The Memphis In The Meantime wants to take its payroll budget down to the $55-58m range in S.5.

• The Kansas City era ended when ronzabill moved Benny Pujols and Al Mendoza prior to the season. Don't be surprised if Ugueth Neruda is traded in the offseason. The Royals are looking to rebuild its organization and Neruda might be able to bring the prospects it will take.

• KC is also in the market for a leadoff hitter.

• Contract negotiations between the Philadelphia Flash and Louie Dali have collapsed. Dali wants No. 1 starter and No. 1 respect. Flash management did not appreciate the ultimatum as it weighs an Oprah-sized deal for Willie Rodriguez.

• Donovan Milligan's agent says that his client is demanding "one of those M&M's mixers. He saw it at the M&M's store in Times Square and he really wants one either at his house or in the locker room."

• League sources report that Philadelphia is interested in Augusta farmhand Ernest Jackson.

• D.C. is looking to move players like GM is trying to unload cars. The only difference is that the Nationals might have something worth buying. Gene Collins and Mitch Meyers are on the block in their respective walk years. Les Carroll and Lawrence Fuller are due for salary arbitration and join Manuel Valdes and Jaime Rose on the available list. Most surprisingly is Johnnie Costello who has been dangled in a couple of trade discussions, but a league source says that the conversation for Costello starts with two A-level prospects.

Holdouts

One can't help but notice that we are four days since the amateur draft and the board is dotted with unsigned picks. In the first round alone, 18 picks remain unsigned. That's particularly troublesome considering that Pittsburgh is not one of those teams. ewad didn't even have a first rounder.

The case could be made for clients with their heads up their asses. For instance, my sixth-round pick Al José is demanding $1.75M or else he'll take a pro hoops contract. I hope he's better on the court than his baseball numbers suggest. I've become so disinterested in his dawdling that my new negotiating technique is to lower my bonus offer each cycle. Some will see it as a wasted pick. I see it as this...the slot money in the sixth is $100k. No unproven finesse starter with velocity lower than mine and sub-30 numbers against righties and lefties is worth more than that. My initial offer of $1.5M was more than fair. I can spend $1.5m on a better international player. I see it like my current car situation. My Chevy Equinox (pictured above) is a piece of shit and costing me $350 a month. When I buy my next car this fall, I'm going for a Honda, with better reliability, gas mileage and performance, at $340 a month.

Then there are the agents with eyes wider than their client's talent. Sources close to agent Bing Herges and his firm of Dewey, Cheetum and Howe say that talks between No.1 overall pick Trent Milligan and the Monterrey Sand Dawgs have come to an impasse. Milligan is demanding a $10M bonus and is rebuffing an assignment to any squad lower than AA. You'd think that Scott Boras (pictured right) was involved on the negotiation.

Monterrey is taking a hardline stand against DCH clients. The firm also represents the Dawg picks catcher Aaron Harris (first round, 33rd overall) and outfielder Derrick Washington (second round, 68th overall) for the same reason.