The Long Awaited Mitchell Report Will Be Out Before X-Mas...

Well, it looks like the Mitchell Report will be out before X-mas...

From ESPN: The San Francisco Chronicle reported that according to two officials with knowledge of former Sen. George Mitchell's probe of performance-enhancing drugs in baseball, the report will be released in the two weeks before Christmas, rather than during the winter meetings.

That means that teams could make deals during the winter meetings, only to learn two weeks later that the free agent they just signed faced possible discipline by Major League Baseball for past use of banned substances.

It is anticipated that the report will name names of current and former major league players who have used performance-enhancing substances including anabolic steroids and human growth hormone.

"The names of players will come out that people will be mad about," Los Angeles Angels owner Arte Moreno said of the report last week, according to the Los Angeles Times. "Some of my information is secondhand, but I know there's going to be names."

Personally, do not think the names that are featured in the Mitchell report will face much at all. They may be looked upon by the court of public opinion, but I don't see any suspensions or fines coming their way.

In terms of players who are free agents, I think teams will use the report to drive the down price of those who are implicated. Think of it this way - you can get under market value for a guy, and if he delivers, you can pay him accordingly.