The GM meetings are over and free agency begins.
* Geoff Baker brings the Blue Jay Notes today:
- The acquisition of McDonald, 31, who replaces Frank Menechino as the primary backup, won't affect whether the Jays move any members of a crowded infield.
- Ricciardi did hold talks with the Phils, but ruled out Abreu because his salary "is an exorbitant amount of money for us.'' As for the Royals: "We don't see a match with Kansas City in any way, shape or form."
- That leaves the Jays looking at free-agent outfielder Brian Giles of the Padres and perhaps dealing for outfielder Kevin Mench of the Rangers, but both are attracting plenty of interest.
- Ricciardi now says he could pass on Burnett in favour of a trade if he can't get a deal signed by the start of the winter meetings in Dallas three weeks from now. "Obviously, if we see a deal we like, that could take us out of the (Burnett) running,'' he said. "Most of these things are done at the start of the meetings period, so we'd want to know which way we're going before that."
* Here's a nice summary of several rumors making the rounds in newspapers.
* As always, go and vote for Tom Cheek, for the rest of the month for the Frick Award.
https://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20051111084019161