Oh well, all we can do is wait.

From Rotoworld

The Red Sox probably won't attempt to sign Josh Beckett to a long-term deal before the start of next season.

"We kind of want to date for a while," said assistant GM Jed Hoyer. "We just acquired him. Let's get to know each other over the next couple months. If we decide we want to do a long-term deal, we'll do that." ESPN's Peter Gammons is going around saying that Beckett's MRI was so bad that the Red Sox aren't sure they'll get 20 starts from him next season. While we find that hard to believe -- he's an injury risk, but the Red Sox had access to the MRI before completing the deal -- waiting is clearly the smart play for Boston here. With two years remaining before free agency, it's not like he'd come cheap if he signed now.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2002670956_webmoyer07.html

I honestly don't know which one I would rather have in Green and Gold. I would like to see a side by side comparison of their stats and also a handful of opinions about their personalities and how they might mesh with the current roster. Then I can make a more informed decision.

Listen to me! I am talking like I am the one calling the shots. I guess what I really want to know is whether or not to be excited if and when one of these deals goes through. I just don't feel educated enough on either guy.

<slaps own wrist for being a bad baseball fan>

Well, actually, he was almost as good.  He was definitely close.  To wit--
Career numbers:
Thomas:  307/427/568
Piazza:  311/382/555

So the only difference that even comes close to being "big" is in on-base percentage.  Both were awesome at the heights of their career.

2. Thomas has shown more recent signs of resurgence.

Sort of, I guess.  I think what made me vote for Thomas more than anything was his play in 2005 during that one month he was healthy, or whatever it was.  Every hit he had was a homer.  

Still, a look at Thomas' stats shows that his run of consistent excellence, which started in 1991, ended in 2000.  Since then:  
2001 4HRs, 221/316/441
2002 28HRs, 252/361/472
2003 42HRs, 267/390/562
2004 18HRs, 271/434/563
2005 12HRs, 219/315/590

Meanwhile, Piazza's decade of excellence ended in 2002.  Since then:
2003 11HRs, 286/377/483
2004 20HRs, 266/362/444
2005 19HRs, 251/326/452

So I don't know, seeing that Thomas hasn't hit for average since 2000, nor has he stayed injury-free since then ... I don't think he's THAT much better of a choice than Piazza.  I'd still pick him over Piazza, though, if anything, just for his physical stature.  

1. If Thomas goes down in the first 1/3 of the season, who takes over at DH?
2. If he goes down in the middle of the season, who takes over as DH?
3. If he goes down at the end of the year, who's the DH?

....and on day 2 the A's would have a very legitimate power threat on the DL.

Same question for Piazza or Bradley or Nomar, for that matter...if the A's have only one shot at an established mid-order hitter, what's the minimum to make it worth it?

That makes a lot more sense.  I don't understand why Houston and Clemens couldn't do something similar like this.  Just watch...Clemens will wind up back with the Yankees.

And the Loretta for Mirabelli deal is a great trade for the Red Sox.  Loretta slumped last season from his career season in 2004.  But I'm betting that a move to Fenway Park will help the righty.  Plus, he's also absolutely stellar defensively.  That's an ouch under-the-radar deal for the rest of the AL.  

The trade of Renteria got me thinking about this because I remember thinking how crazy it was to give the guy $40MM for league-average play.  

Note to self:  Back-loaded contracts on the wrong side of 30 aren't good things (see Loaiza, Esteban).  

Bob (Philly): Stark has reported that the Phillies and A's are close to a deal that would send Abreu and Cole Hamels to Oakland for Zito. Any thoughts on the possibility of this happening and the potential impact?

 Rob Neyer: (1:15 PM ET ) I'd be surprised if the A's can afford to pay Abreu's huge salary, but then they do have more money to spend than in the past, thanks to the new owner. Who plays right field for the Phillies, though?

 Rob Neyer: (1:25 PM ET ) Here's something I didn't know until just now . . . in the last four seasons, Thomas hit 76 home runs in Sox Park, and 24 on the road. In 2000, 30 at home, 13 on the road. Between Thomas's injury history and his struggles away from that hitter's ballpark, I think the A's would be lucky to get 15 homers from him.

Or, if Martha Stewart were coming off her last contract year, they might offer artifartibritation.

"I've been with the Orioles for two years and things haven't gone in the direction that we were expecting, so I think the best thing will be a change of scenery," Tejada told The Associated Press during a telephone interview in his native Dominican Republic.

Tejada signed a $72 million, six-year contract with the Orioles before the 2004 season.

He hit .304 with 26 home runs and 98 RBI this year, but Baltimore finished 21 games behind the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox in the AL East.

"I've done many things with this team and I haven't seen results, and the other teams are getting stronger while the Orioles have not made any signings to strengthen the club," Tejada said.

Tejada came to Baltimore after playing seven years with the Oakland Athletics.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=yankeesmyers&prov=st&type=lgns