Every ... okay, most ... well, all right, some ... New Year's Eves here on Da Box, we talk resolutions. (Near as I can tell, we've done it twice -- in 2004-05 and last year, 2007-08). But let's make this not-exactly-annual trek into New Year's fortitude and see if we can show some "resolve" ...
 
Now's your chance to share either your own baseball-related resolution, posted in public where you'll have no choice but to own up to it a year from now, or -- if you want to go for the cheap laugh, to post a resolution "on behalf of" someone in MLB.

That said, a few pointers ...

On another slow, nearly-baseball-free December's day. I found myself wandering the greatness of BaseballReference.com and landed on this page, which outlines the 43 men who have been the first overall picks in the June Amateur Draft.

Of course, this led me to the standard Hall of Names question ... what kind of roster would this group of names comprise?

Every year here on Batter's Box, we gather on Christmas Day to recount our blessings of the past year and to share ....

Oh hell, no we don't. We come to brag about what baseball-related gifts we found under the tree left by that irascible never-aging prospect, Kris Kringle (DH, North Pole U.) ... so, Bauxites, what did YOU get (or give) that relates the Winter Holidays to the Summer Pastime? Don't hold back! Best gift story gets, you guessed it, a Yuletide No-Prize!

 

This sharing is usually led by our own Mick Doherty, I am pinch hitting this year.  Oh .. . and before I completely forget ... Merry Christmas and all that sort of thing, to you and yours from us and ours!

 

Each year around this time, we take a musical tour through Baseball's Hall of Names to ring in the new year -- and in fact, these tours have more commonly been New Year-themed (see Auld Lang Syne and Just Another New Year's Eve from years past). But before we completely run out of New Year's songs -- or have we already? -- let's back up a week and try our lyrical hand at Christmas. (We sort of did this a few years ago, but this is the first real attempt at a carol).

So with a nod to Gus, Buddy, David, Cool Papa and George (among others) -- or had you figured that out for the headline already? -- let's join together in a chorus of ...

Eight years, $180 million to become the third-highest-paid player on his own team. ESPN.com has the details.

And be sure to read the incredibly amusing announcement on this news from the greatness that is Jamey Newberg, pasted within ...

You may not remember him, but today is Geoff Zahn's birthday. Zahn, a fine LHSP in the '70s and '80s, won 18 games once and was one of the first big two-time winners in early free agency, signing with both the Twins in '77 and the Angels in '81.

But this isn't about Zahn, the pitcher. It's about his name -- Geoff. There have been only five Geoffs in big league history, so though we were able to build a fine All-Jeff team back in '06, an All-Geoff team simply ain't happening.

Similar "sorry, ain't happening" notes to guys names Jon (rather than John), Kris (rather than Chris) and Marc (instead of Mark) among many others. Which leads us to this question ...

At the end of the 2008 season, agrand total of 171 players entered the free agent market. As of this writing, just a hair less than 90 percent of those are still available, as just 18 have signed with a new team (Renteria, Rhodes, etc.), re-signed with their old team (Blake, Moyer, etc.), accepted arbitration (Weathers) or retired (Maddux, Mussina).

That means there are still more than 150 free agents out there on the market. So here's a thought experiment ...

So the hot stove league chatter of the winter meetings has dwindled to mere embers in the December fireplace, and what are you hearing now? (Or hey, what would you like to be hearing, anyway?)

The big news today, if you can call it that, is that the inimitable Chan Ho Park, who has 117 career wins, and last season got his ERA down below 4.81 for the first time since 2001 -- has signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract with the defending champion Phillies. Apparently the Jays were also in contention to sign The Ho ... speaking as a North Texas resident, let me tell you -- be glad that didn't happen.

What else?

Peavy to Cubs is dead.

Huge deal - huge in terms of volume, not necessarily star talent - between the Mariners, Indians and Mets. J.J. Putz is the centerpiece of the deal. Franklin Gutierrez and Aaron Heilman are other big names changing teams. Summary of player movement:

Mariners -> Mets: Putz, RHP Sean Green, OF Jeremy Reed
Indians -> Mariners: Gutierrez
Mets -> Mariners: OF Endy Chavez, RHP Aaron Heilman, 1B Mike Carp, RHP Maikel Cleto, LHP Jason Vargas, OF Ezekiel Carrera
Mets -> Indians: RHP Joe Smith
Mariners -> Indians: IF Luis Valbuena

In the AAA phase of the Rule V Draft, the Jays lost Anthony Hatch and Ryan Klosterman, and selected Cody Haerther from St. Louis. There was no Jay-related activity in the Major League phase. The AA phase hasn't been updated yet.

And finally, a Blue Jay transaction! The Jays signed Matt Clement to a minor league deal. Quick analysis after the break.

Update (Friday): Raul Ibanez signs with the Phillies for 30/3. Still on the slugger market: Mark Teixeira, Adam Dunn, Pat Burrell, Manny. And Teixeira is the only one who seems to be drawing much interest.

Tony Kubek won the Ford Frick Award.

Joe Gordon was elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veteran's Committee.

The big news from today is that C.C. Sabathia is close to a deal with the Yankees worth about 160 million over 7 years.

Yesterday, Francisco Rodriguez set the bar low in the closer market, signing with the Mets for 3 years and 37 million, with a vesting option for a 4th year. Jose Valverde is feeling great about himself.

Also, Casey Blake signed a 3 year deal with the Dodgers, and Kerry Wood is reportedly close to signing with the Indians. Jake Peavy talks don't seem to be progressing.

Update: Keith Law, Rob Neyer, Will Carroll and Christina Kahrl have been admitted to the BBWAA. This became a big issue last off-season when Neyer and Law were denied entry, and resulted in Neyer and Tracy Ringolsby butting heads on Baseball Think Factory. It's great to see those two get in after the disappointment of last off-season, and it's also a good sign to see the BBWAA extend membership to Baseball Prospectus writers Kahrl and Carroll.

The winter meetings start tomorrow in Las Vegas.  Most attendees are already in Vegas or are arriving today.  The meetings end with the rule 5 draft on Thursday.  Often the meetings are anti-climactic as teams discuss trades but don't pull the trigger until weeks later.  the Jays are expected to be quiet.

Proving that he's willing to trump news even from his own clients, Scott Boras today leaked the fact that Monday, Greg Maddux will announce his retirement from major league baseball.

A decent argument can be put forth that Maddux has been the greatest starting pitcher in major league baseball history. Where would you rank him?

John Sickels has a Blue Jays Prospect Discussion Thread up, and will post the Jays Top 20 in the next week.

milb.com has been doing their Top 50 this week, and the top 10 is set to come out tomorrow. By process of elimination, it should look something like (this is my guess of what it will look like, not what my top 10 would look like, not that I know enough about prospect evaluation to come up with a legitimate list)...

Jays owner Ted Rogers died at his home last night.  He was 75.

From The Globe: "He was this country's version of Steve Jobs, a technology entrepreneur who was down but never out, who unabashedly loved gadgetry, who had a huge, resilient ego, who made life hell for his executives but could evoke great loyalty–and who triumphed over naysayers to become the second wealthiest Canadian with a personal net worth estimated at more than $7-billion."

The Star also has a photo tribute.

R.I.P.

Figured this hasn't received a thread, so why not? What better thing to get debates going than the good ol' HOF.