Some rumors floating around today:
* Spencer Fordin checks in after the first day of the winter meetings.
How about first base? Just who will replace Carlos Delgado? Ricciardi said that he'd need at least two bats to do that, and he commented on the rumors that he's pursuing ex-Yankee Tony Clark by saying, "Only if some other things fall apart." He said that the same thing applies to ex-Jay John Olerud, and concluded that he's not interested in Fred McGriff.
* There's been some rumblings that part of the solution to filling the holes in the Jays lineup at 1B & DH could come from the White Sox.
Carlos Lee or first baseman Paul Konerko could be dealt as (Kenny Williams) attempts to clear the decks for a significant free-agent acquisition to remake a team that has already lost free agent Magglio Ordonez.
Lee, a 28-year-old right-handed hitter, batted .305, with 31 homers and 99 runs batted in, and had an on-base percentage of .366. He interests the Blue Jays, even though he will make $8-million next season (as will Konerko, who has his own supporters in the Blue Jays' front office) and even though adding him and Koskie means the Blue Jays would move either Eric Hinske or Miguel Batista, or both, perhaps throwing a prospect such as Gabe Gross in as a sweetener.
There's also apparently interest in Steve Klnine:
Ricciardi confirmed that the Blue Jays are considering making a formal offer to left-handed reliever Steve Kline, a key member of the St. Louis Cardinals' bullpen, who was not offered arbitration by the club.
* Rios for Nick Johnson? Not likely.
One recently published rumor had Washington sending first baseman Nick Johnson to the Blue Jays for promising young outfielder Alexis Rios, but baseball sources said Toronto GM J.P. Ricciardi nixed the trade and has no intention of dealing Rios.
* In Minnesota, the Duluth News expects Koskie to sign with the Jays soon if a deal with the Twins can't be completed.
Koskie, a free agent who made $4.5 million this year, can't get a deal done with the Twins this weekend, the Manitoba native is expected to take the three-year, $16 million offer of the Toronto Blue Jays.
* Mike Nakamura is headed to Japan to play for the Nippon Ham Fighters.
https://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20041211102454999