@Buster_ESPN: OAK scouts saw Manny Ramirez work out recently and they are interested. Final decision whether to try to sign him will happen in next week.

While I said the other day that I didn’t like the signing for Baltimore, I feel differently about Oakland.

Baltimore is a fairly veteran team that has some young up and coming talent. They’re on the verge of being competitive so let the guys who’ve been there get their due. Why push them aside for someone who won’t be around for a good portion of the year.

With Oakland they’ve got a very young team that well sucks. Yep, there’s some talent but they’re light years away from being competitive in the American League West. In addition to that they have no power supply and I’m quite sure that’s the only reason they’re looking at Ramirez.

They need someone who can give them a long ball threat. They’re not going to care that he can’t run anymore, they’re not going to care that he can’t really hit for average anymore. They’re just going to want someone who could put the fear of a homerun into a pitchers head.

After the departure of Josh Willingham they have no hitter who hit more then 15 homers in 2011. That’s absolutely pitiful which tells you exactly why they want Manny Ramirez. They’ll be willing to wait out those 50 games just for that threat.

I’m thinking he’ll pretty much be a replacement for Hideki Matsui. Meaning he’ll mainly play designated hitter with an occasional appearance in the outfield.

The only concern I have is this.. Do you really want Manny Ramirez being the mentor for such a young team?

@JimBowdenESPNxm: There are four teams that are still playing on Johnny Damon to different degree’s: Baltimore, Seattle, Oakland & NYY…surprisingly not TB

I’m a little surprised with Seattle and Oakland showing interest. I don’t see how he would fit in with them especially with the size of their ballparks. He’s no longer the true speed guy he once was. A short porch like Yankees Stadium or a hitter’s park like Camden Yards would suit him best.

I don’t think he’ll sign anytime soon. All of those teams have interest but I doubt any of them are ready to sign they all probably consider him as a backup option. Time to start dropping that asking price Johnny boy.

@Buster_ESPN: Oakland Athletics are in negotiations with Bartolo Colon.

@jaysonst: The #Diamondbacks, who still have an opening for a 5th starter, are showing interest in Bartolo Colon.

Both of those teams wouldn’t be bad options for the veteran, especially the A’s. Oakland has an opening at the tail end of their rotation and Colon could fit nicely.

Bartolo struggled mightily down the stretch but is that a surprise it was his first full season since 2005. Most of his struggles though actually came at home at Yankees Stadium. Playing in a park like the Oakland Coliseum could be very beneficial to him. Remember that was the place he had his best start of 2011, pitching a complete game shutout.

If he doesn’t sign with anyone anytime soon though it might be hard for him to get a guaranteed major league deal.

@JonHeymanCBS: Heard ryan ludwick has at least 4 job offers. Popular fellow.

I only know of two teams interested and they’re both in the Bay area. Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle recently said that both the Oakland Athletics and San Francisco Giants have interest. Who the other two teams are I have no clue.

I can’t help but think how desperate are these teams if he’s so popular? In 2011, Ludwick batted .233 with 13 homers and 75 RBI over 490 at-bats. He drove in some runs yea, but those are some god awful numbers.

I’m thinking teams are just writing it off to Petco Park as his numbers did drop off since he left the St. Louis Cardinals. I can’t do that though as his numbers were just as atrocious once he joined the Pittsburgh Pirates. In 25 games at PNC Park he only hit 1 homer and batted .229.

So my, I’ll just say teams are still stuck in 2009 and think this game has some real potential. Too bad he’s 33 now and heading down fast.

@DKnobler: A’s are very willing to trade Andrew Bailey. Willing to trade anyone, for that matter, but Bailey prob at top of list.

I’m not surprised that Bailey is the one they’re very willing to trade. He’s been pretty freaking solid at the back end of their bullpen, of course that’s when he’s healthy. He’s only thrown for about 80 innings combined over the past two seasons.

Bailey is under team control for three more seasons and still only 27 years, so you figure any team with a need will come calling. The A’s know this and because of his cost effectiveness they’re going to want some solid bats in return. Buster Olney and Jim Bowden both weighed in today with tweets that the Cincinnati Reds are very interested.

@Buster_ESPN: Reds are talking about possible Andrew Bailey deal.

@JimBowdenESPNxm: Buster Olney my ESPN colleague reporting Reds are talking to A’s about closer Andrew Bailey. A’s source confirms their interest in Alonso.

Bailey would be a great addition to the Reds staff as they still have visions of Aroldis Chapman in the starting rotation. The only question is how much is too much?

Personally, I think Yonder Alonso would be too much for the Reds to give up, especially for a relief pitcher. The outfielder / first baseman was the number seven overall pick in the 2008 draft. He’s slated to be the teams starting left fielder in 2012 and I’m one that doesn’t consider an every day power hitter for a closer a good idea.

I’ll be interested to see where this goes. The price could stay high or get even higher if many more teams come a calling.

(A’s official statement via Comcast SportsNet) “Coco Crisp was arrested and detained early this morning under the suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. He was released from the City of Scottsdale Jail this morning and arrived at Phoenix Municipal Stadium on time for team pre-game drills. The A’s are aware of the situation and take such matters seriously. The team and Coco will have no further comment until further details are available.”

There’s no word if the team will take action. Personally, I don’t think they will and if they do it won’t be till after the legal system runs it course. Even if they do decide to take action it will probably be a slap on the wrist, especially with the Detroit Tigers not even coming close to punishing Miguel Cabrera.

Eric Chavez will work out for the Dodgers on Jan. 20, the longtime A’s third baseman told The Chronicle, and his agent said that Chavez will hold private workouts this month for two American League teams (not the A’s) as well. (per SF Chronicle)

Let’s get this straight from the beginning, after only playing 64 games over the past three seasons there is virtually no chance Chavez is offered a big league contract. Yes, Eric says he’s feeling better then he has in years but I’m not sure if that really means anything. He’s had so much injury history with his shoulder and back that I really question if he could make it through a whole season.

The best he can hope for is a minor league contract, with a spring training invite and loaded with incentives should he actually make the big league team.

With that being said, his agent says he has tryouts with three teams, one of which is the Los Angeles Dodgers. Makes sense to me, they could use a reserve corner infielder and if anyone can sympathize and figure out a way to work with Chavez’s back history it’s head coach Don Mattingly.

Now for the two American League teams, I have no idea who they could be. I’d like to assume the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are one of them, as they play in Southern California which is a preference for Chavez. But that’s just that an assumption, your guesses are just as good as mine at this point.

So how healthy is Chavez at the moment? I’d say after barely playing over three seasons he’s probably in good enough shape to go to Spring Training. He’s currently been fielding grounders at the hot corner, while working out at the Athletics Performance Center.

“The throwing has been unreal,” he said in a text. “I need to see live pitching to judge the hitting accurately, but things look good.”

We’ll find out really soon if this comeback is legit and in a few months whether he can handle the big league stress.

@jonmorosi: #Athletics looking for offense, would prefer FA to trades. Matsui and Vlad are on list. #Oakland #MLB

I could definitely see the A’s bringing in Matsui, he had a pretty good 2010. He batted .271 with 21 homers and 84 rbis with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. I’m pretty sure it won’t cost much to sign him, not at this point in his career. He puts up solid numbers but definitely goes through deep long struggles, (.184 avg in May, .228 in July). The problem in signing Matsui, will be the same as Vladdy, length.

Guerrero wants a three year deal after his resurgence in Texas. MLB.com’s TR Sullivan wrote, “”Length of contract appears to be more important to Guerrero than the financial terms.” Even so we know that Vlad will give the Texas Rangers a one-year discount for giving him a chance. Will the A’s be willing to go as high as three years?

The A’s are willing to offer multiple years to aging vets, remember they did offer Berkman two years but I’m not sure if they’d go as high as three for Guerrero. That’s never really been Billy Beane’s style to give an aging vet that long of a deal.

For that very reason, if the A’s were to sign either of these guys I think it would wind up Matsui on a one-year deal.

The Hoop Doctors – Italian Streetballer “Mucho Gusto” Dunks Over 10 People
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Moon Dog Sports – Victoria’s Secret Models, CBS NFL Today Show Don’t Mix Well
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Busted Coverage – Chicks: Cynthia Urias Is Mexico’s Anti-Oprah Who Shows Off Her Hair Bra In Hombre December 2010
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Black Sports Online – Tom Brady To Endorse Ugg Boots For Men

Returning to the franchise is Courteney Cox, David Arquette, Neve Campbell. Joining them will be Kristen Bell, Hayden Panettiere, Adam Brody, Anna Paquin and Alison Brie. They’ll also be others but as you can see they’re going for the names this time and definitely going for the eye candy.

Here we decide to take a look at some of that eye candy today with Kristen Bell sprucing up our links with her image. 12 links for 15 pics, enjoy.

Midwest Sports Fan – On Jose Bautista, Damien Cox, and Double Standards
The Hoop Doctors – Did Rajon Rondo Withdraw From Team USA in Fear of Getting Cut?
Obsessed With Sports – Oakland Athletics Ball Boy Gets Girl
Josh Q Public – When You Sell Your Soul, Make Sure To Read The Fine Print

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Reds Army – Celtics bloggers are drunk on green Kool-aid
PSAMP – Camo Steelers Jerseys Are Vomit

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Unathletic Mag – Badass Chicks of the Lingerie Football League
Busted Coverage – Luis Castillo Walk-Off RBI Single Pouding Is Impressive
Camel Clutch Blog – TNA Wrestling – The joke that keeps on giving
Trojan Wire – Pat Haden on Dan Patrick Show