Your daily dose of the rumor mill:
* The Jays appear close to signing Corey Koskie.
The Toronto Blue Jays, who met with Koskie's agent late into Friday night and early Saturday morning, appeared close to a deal.
The Blue Jays, who have had a three-year offer on the table for the Canadian-born Koskie all week, were ready to strengthen the $15 million-$16 million package to as much as the $20 million range if necessary.
Pistol editorial comment: I'd be shocked if the Jays signed Koskie above the $15-16 million mark.
A Koskie signing also brings up another issue. What happens with Hinske, and eventually, what happens with Aaron Hill, who most expected to shift over to 3B when he's set to be a regular in 2006?
* Kevin Cash has been linked to the Devil Rays.
Another (option for the Rays) is trade one of their arbitration right-handed relievers (Jorge Sosa, Jesus Colome, Travis Harper) or a minor-league prospect for a young, inexpensive major leaguer. Candidates include oft-injured Washington first baseman Nick Johnson, Toronto backup catcher Kevin Cash (a Gaither High product) and Anaheim backup catcher Jose Molina.
* Jays look to speed in absence of power - Baker
"I think you've got to look at how the team shapes up," Gibbons said at the baseball winter meetings. "You go top to bottom, we've got pretty good team speed."
That speed will likely be relied on more than usual by a team looking seriously devoid of power. Gibbons admitted, as has Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi, that "you can't replace Carlos Delgado with one guy."
https://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20041212081659999