AS THE SMOKE CLEARS, WE KNOW THAT...
...Arte Moreno was correct, his bid was just being used to drive up the price. His public pronouncement probably saved the Steinbrenner family $10 million...
...John Henry, of course, saved his bitter division rival close to $20 million with public statements that amounted to a big Yankee discount...
...this offseason has berthed beginnings of proactive owners using the press and public announcement to create a de facto but legal (and quite welcome) collusion during contract negotiations...
AS THE SMOKE CLEARS WE ASK...
...whether a DH/OF Bat or the 5th Starter is becoming the issue for the Angels to address...
...if the season started today, would Chone Figgins start in LF, Rivera DH, Wood play 3B all with Vladdy's new knees in RF?
...and who would win the coinflip at SS, Aybar or Izzy?
...would a depressed Detroit economy put Miguel Cabrera on the trading block?
...Is it realistic to go into the season as-is and wait for some depressed economic entity to fire-sale us a stud bat for mid-range prospects?