West.Bridich takes over a team for which two of its biggest stars — Tro

Monday afternoon is the deadline for Major League clubs to tender contacts to players who are arbitration eligible. Its usually a routine matter, but every year a few players are non-tendered and become free agents. The Blue Jays have four players who fall into this category, including catcher J.P. Arencibia, centrefielder Colby Rasmus, lefty reliever Brett Cecil and righthander Esmil Rogers, who started in the bullpen and moved into the rotation as injuries took their toll. All four figure to be offered contracts, even Arencibia, who is coming off a horrible year at the plate and not much better behind it. The most interesting case is Rasmus, who can become a free agent after this season. The Jays will tender him, but have to decide relatively soon if he is the long-term answer in centre and thus deserves a long-term contract. All this deadline talk takes me back 32 years to one of the most tumultuous off-seasons in Boston Red Sox history. In those days, players had to have their contracts mailed out to them by December 20. By some oversight or office error, the contracts of two of the BoSox biggest stars didnt get to them on time. The two were centrefielder Fred Lynn, the first American Leaguer to win the Rookie of the Year and MVP Awards (1975) and Hall of Fame catcher Carlton Fisk, who hit the iconic extra-inning homer run to send the World Series against the Reds to a seventh game. Arbitration threatened to make both players free agents. In another time, it would have been like the Yankees losing Mickey Mantle and Yogi Berra. As it turned out, the Red Sox traded Lynn to the Angels for outfielder Joe Rudi and lefty Frank Tanana. Oddly enough, this trade didnt help either team as Tanana only won four games for the BoSox in 1981, while Rudi, nearing the end of a solid career, only hit .180 in his lone season in Boston. Lynn didnt fare much better, hitting only .218 for the Angels. Fisk ultimately did leave Boston as a free agent, signing a five-year $2.9 million contract with the Chicago White Sox and went on to further cement his Hall of Fame credentials. A mailing error like that could never be repeated in this day and age, but it sure made for a stormy winter in Boston in 1981. Shocking Signing Phil Hughes was once a prime prospect and later an All-Star with the Yankees. But first shoulder troubles then back issues made him a shadow of his former self the last three years in New York. In 2013, he was 4-14 with a 5.19 earned run average and an even worse 1-10 record at Yankee Stadium with a 6.32 ERA. Thats why it was so shocking on the weekend to see him get a three-year, $24 million deal from Minnesota. Josh Johnson must be scratching his head becausee only got a one-year, $8 million deal from San Diego. Past Winter Dealings With the Winter Meetings just a week away at Orlando, it was interesting to look back at the biggest trade of the 1989 meetings. San Diego dealt catcher Sandy Alomar Jr. (Robby older brother), outfielder Chris James and minor league third base prospect Carlos Baerga to Cleveland for one Joe Carter. Just after the trade was announced, Carter signed a three-year, $9.2 million contract with the Padres, making him the highest paid position player in the Majors at that time. The Indians did just fine in the deal thanks to the contributions of Alomar and Baerga. Carter, meanwhile, only lasted one season in San Diego hitting only .232 albeit driving in 115 runs. At the following Winter Meetings almost one year to the day later, Carter and Roberto Alomar were dealt to the Blue Jays for Fred McGriff and Tony Fernandez. The Blue Jays went on to make the playoffs in 1991, and then won back-to-back World Series titles in 1992 and 93. I still believe if Sandy Alomar hadnt been part of that first trade, Roberto may not have been dealt to the Blue Jays. Nmd_r1 Sko Hvit .ca Fantasy Editor Scott Cullen, NFL Editor Ben Fisher, and Isaac Owusu discuss three hot fantasy football topics. Nmd Sko Udsalg . He was with the New York Jets in 2011 when the NFL locked out their players after they failed to agree on a new contract. Willy went undrafted but was given a look by four NFL teams before heading north. http://www.nmdnorgesalg.com/ . Hall joined Bengals teammates for a voluntary workout on Monday. Hes got his mobility back and is on schedule to be ready for the season. CINCINNATI - Bengals cornerback Leon Hall is happy with his recovery from a torn Achilles tendon and expects to be ready for the start of training camp in July. Adidas Tubular Shadow Norge . The eighth-year point guard played in his 500th career game on Sunday, a 98-93 win over the Orlando Magic. Does he feel like hes played in that many games? "No," he said initially, before reconsidering. Tubular Shadow Sko .com) - The NFL is investigating whether the New England Patriots intentionally deflated balls during Sundays AFC Championship Game against Indianapolis.DENVER - New Colorado Rockies general manager Jeff Bridich is a Harvard graduate who looks at baseball from more of an analytical angle.He was promoted from within the organization after a fourth consecutive losing season and counts as his protege longtime GM Dan ODowd, who resigned Wednesday after a mostly unsuccessful tenure.A fresh start or more of the same? That was debate around the Mile High City soon after the Rockies announced their decision.ODowds wasnt exactly a rousing success, with his time at Coors Field reading like this: 15 years, four winning seasons, two post-season appearances, including a four-game World Series loss to Boston in 2007.He wasnt the only team executive to resign Wednesday. Senior vice-president Bill Geivett followed him out the front office door.Bridich understands the skepticism from fans, given his ties to ODowd. He insisted this wont be more of the same.Four straight years of losing baseball? If you ask anybody in this organization, its unacceptable and its tiring, said Bridich, who was promoted from senior director of player development. Its certainly not what people want and expect inside and outside the organization.While introducing Bridich, owner Dick Monfort said he was excited about a fresh start. Also at the gathering was manager Walt Weiss, who said a clean slate is the way we have to look at it. ... Its time to turn this thing around and bring playoff baseball back here.The last time Colorado made the post-season was five years ago.The highlight of ODowds stint came in 2007, when the Rockies rode the wave of winning 21 of 22 games all the way to the World Series.But ODowds power began to dwindle in recent years with the rise of Geivett, who was promoted to senior vice-president of baseball operations in August 2012.Geivett was given an office in the clubhouse, which at times made things a little uncomfortable for players and coaches. Geivett began focusing on roster management, particularly as it related to the pitchers, and evaluating the coaching staff and the rest of the players.That played a role in manager Jim Tracys resignation after the 2012 season, with a roughly $1.4 million deal still on the table. It opened the door for Weiss to manage the team he once helped on the field.And while having Geivett in such close quarters was an unconventional way by baseball standards, Weiss said he didnt have a problem with it.ddddddddddddContrary to popular belief, we got along just fine, Weiss said. Weve got to perform. Its time to do that.Through all the losses, Monfort remained fiercely loyal to ODowd and his staff. He thanked them on their way out.They have been friends and colleagues, and their families have been a part of the Rockies family, for a very long time, Monfort said.The call for some sort of change grew louder and louder from fans this season. Monfort even received emails from angry patrons; he responded by saying that if the fans werent happy with the bad baseball they were witnessing, maybe they shouldnt come to Coors Field. And that perhaps the city wasnt deserving of a major league team anymore. He later softened his stance.It was Monfort himself who raised expectations by predicting a 90-win season in the spring.Instead, the Rockies finished 66-96 and 28 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West.Bridich takes over a team for which two of its biggest stars — Troy Tulowitzki (hip) and Carlos Gonzalez (knee) — missed chunks of the season with injuries. Tulowitzki has longed maintained he wants to play for a winner.I wouldnt limit that to Troy and CarGo. Id be surprised if any player said, I dont want to play for a winner, Bridich said. Im not going to sit here and tell you I have all the answers scripted in my supposedly analytical head right now and its going to work out perfectly. Thats going to be a process.The few bright spots in 2014 included Justin Morneau capturing the NL batting title and left-hander Jorge De La Rosas steady performance on the mound, especially at hitter-friendly Coors Field.We didnt perform to the expectations we had on ourselves, outfielder Michael Cuddyer said.An impending free agent, Cuddyer said before the Rockies last road trip that he would be open to a return.I believe in the guys that we broke out of spring training with, Cuddyer said. I believe in that team. Unfortunately, we werent able to put that team on the field very often.Whether Im here or not — the off-season is going to dictate that — but if I am, its because I believe in this team. ' ' '