Today, legendary Cinicinnati Red backstop Johnny Lee Bench is 64 years old. In celebration of this day, here is a challenge I put down to all Bauxites ...

Johnny Bench is the greatest catcher in major league history. In fact, he is the only player at any position where there is no question this is true. For instance, at short you might promote a Wagner, a Ripken, a Banks -- all these and others are defensible nominees. This is true at every position -- except behind the plate. Sure, there are greats -- Berra, Campanella, Piazza, Rodriguez, Hartnett and more. But for the perfect combination of defense (one of the top five defensive catchers of all time), arm strength (perhaps the very best) and bat (a cleanup-type power threat for a team that won five division titles and two World Series in a seven-year span), not to mention intangibles like leadership and charisma ... Bench is, without question, the greatest catcher ever to play the game. (Sorry, Yogi! Especially sorry, Josh Gibson!)

The gauntlet is thrown. Magpie, others? Whatchagot?

The New York Mets signed both John Rauch and Frank Francisco away from the Blue Jays, for $3.5 million/1 year and $12 million/2 years. Rauch and Francisco were both type B free agents that were offered arbitration, so the Blue Jays will receive two compensatory picks in the second round for losing them.

The Jays complete their second trade in a week, shipping out Nestor Molina, the team's 6th best prospect according to, well, us. Molina goes to the south side of Chicago to join the White Sox. In return the Blue Jays reacquire Sergio Santos, who hit .183 for the team in AAA in 2008 before being claimed on waivers by the Twins. He then signed with the White Sox who converted him to a pitcher, a role in which he's been very, very good.

We talked recently about having bauxites register their opinion of a trade so that when the second guessing starts we have a record of opinions at the time of the trade.

Please discuss the specifics of the trade in the dedicated thread, use this one for your opinion, like, dislike, meh?

Three words ....

It's about *&^%$#@!!! time!

More photos of the Toronto Blue Jays series finale against the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday, September 11.

Baltimore's Country Gentleman, Tommy Hunter, plays long toss in right field prior to his start against Dustin McGowan.

Today is day one of the winter meetings, this year in Dallas.  The baseball scribes are expecting a lot of activity this week now that the new CBA has been agreed to.  Expect free agent signings and trades galore.  But don't be surprised if not much happens.  Our own AA is not a big fan of these meetings, he has said you can get more done via texts and phone calls in your office than you do at the meetings.  But the meetings are good for PR and baseball knows PR.

Richard Griffin caught up with AA as he arrived yesterday and he has some interesting quotes.

MLB's Winter Meetings won't even start until tomorrow morning here in Dallas/Fort Worth, but the first Big Splash has already been made down in Florida. As of now, arguably the two best shortstops in the National League now play for (former shortstop) Ozzie Guillen's re-monikered Miami Marlins

The Marlins and former Met shortstop Jose Reyes agreed to terms on a six-year, $106 million deal Sunday, sources told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney. Apparently, current Marlin shortstop Hanley Ramirez will move to the hot corner, where -- speculation persists -- the Marlins hope to have him across the diamond from one Albert Pujols in the next week or so.

The three biggest everyday offensive forces on this year's market are a Prince (Fielder), a King (Albert) and multiple kings (that's the translation for "reyes") ... can the Marlins complete a "royal" flush? And what do you Bauxites think of this move?

 

I hate to be contrary... ah, who am I kidding? I love to be contrary! But I have to say it - I'm really looking forward to watching Jeff Mathis play.  There are things I'm keen to know...

Breaking news, just before the baseball meetings next week in Dallas. The Jays have traded Brad Mills to the Angels for Jeff Mathis according to Ken Rosenthal on Twitter.

According to The Baseball Page, Jayson Stark has tweetified that the Miami Marlins have agreed to a three-year $27 million deal with "proven closer" Heath Bell, pending the requisite physical, which he is expected to take Friday.

At this time, this item has not yet appeared on any of the "major' sports news sites yet ... see it? Share a link!

BlueJays.com reports catcher J.P. Arencibia and third baseman Brett Lawrie have been named to the 2011 Topps All-Star Rookie Team.

J.P. Arencibia and Brett Lawrie have extra reason to celebrate after being named to the 2011 Topps All-Star Rookie Team.  The two celebrate Arencibia's walk-off single against Orioles closer Kevin Gregg in a 5-4 victory at the Dome September 10.

The 2012 Hall of Fame ballot has been released. There are 14 players returning from last year's ballot and 13 new faces. A player needs 75% of the votes to gain admission, and the voters are allowed to vote YES to as many as ten.

Today's POTD looks at a series finale between the Blue Jays and Orioles at the Dome September 11.

After reaching on an error at first, Mike McCoy slides into third base on an Eric Thames single to center in the first inning.  Orioles third baseman Chris Davis awaits a late throw.