Quick Hits...

• Orioles Arbitration: The agents for Brian Roberts, Corey Patterson and Erik Bedard traded salary figures with the teams on Tuesday in hopes of brokering a contract agreement before the startup of league-wide arbitration hearings on Friday. Under Peter Angelos’ ownership, arbitration hearings have usually been avoided, except for nine instances and the team has lost once, in the case of Ben McDonald. More Info: http://blogs.baltimoresun.com/sports_custom_roch/2007/01/exchanging_figu.html & http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baseball/bal-sp.orioles17jan17,0,2958581.story?coll=bal-sports-headlines
  
  
• Fan Fest: According to Sun Reporter, Roch Kubatko, Fanfest will still be on tap for the winter. He notes in his blog that Fanfest will happen sometime before spring training, just not in the usual format. I think it might be smaller, or held somewhere else, but due the NFL playoffs, a usual tradition for Orioles’ fans was postponed. In light of the lack of success from the Orioles in the past decade, fans still look forward to the annual event to see the new faces, get a perspective on the team for the upcoming season and to have a wonderful time. Hopefully the Orioles can make this year’s Fanfest as good as the others in the past.
  
  
• Yet Another Rodrigo Goodbye: Rob from Random Reality Thoughts has another tribute to Mr. Lopez, albeit very short. I didn’t he think was that horrible for the Orioles, except in ’06, but most everyone is saying good riddance to him and the goodbyes have been nothing short of brutal.

* Around Baseballl. Twin Billing: The Minnesota Twins have offered arbitration to their two young uber-stars who were the core for the team in ‘06, AL MVP Justin Morneau, Joe Mauer & Michael Cuddyer. The Twins offered Morneau $4 million, Mauer $3.3 million and Cuddyer $3 million.

In addition to being young superstars and All-Stars in the making, I think it is vital that they lock these guys now, because as the market is right now, it will perhaps be even be more expensive to shore them and their young players up for the long term.

I have a very soft spot for the Twins, as all their players are class acts, I have gotten to see them play at the Metrodome and have gotten to speak to a few guys on the team. With the economic state of the Twins and their resources right now, it may be unrealistic for them to keep the same team throughout the years, but the organization seems to know how to find and cultivate talent.

* Around Baseball: Getting Paid. The area of big contracts is now rearing its head with arbitration now around the league. Cubs ace, Carlos Zambrano, want $15.5 million for salary in 2007for his arbitration hearing coming up & the Cubs offered $11,025,000 to Zambrano. However, keep in mind that Zambrano is eligible for free agency in 2008, and where he could easily get a $150 million contract for his skills. With his numbers in 2006, he may perhaps get the highest arbitration award ever in the history of the sport.

As well, Marlins third baseman, Miguel Cabrera asked for well over $7 million in arbitration, and the team offered $6.7 million. In my eyes, Cabrera is another guy who could easily cross $100 million plateau in 2007. Due to the teams finances, he’s most likely to leave Florida and get paid, but it is amazing how much players are asking today due to the market.

Wow.

• For the Red Sox fans out there, can you all please tell me what is going on with J.D. Drew? Why is he not signed yet (scratching my head on this one...)?