Consensus #1 pick in the up coming 2010 draft is catcher Bryce Harper who forwent his junior and senior years of high school to enroll at College of Southern Nevada, a junior college, and be eligible for the 2010 draft. Harper stayed busy this summer, hitting 294/375/588 with four doubles, two home runs and two stolen bases on the gold medal winning 18-and-under USA Baseball team.  His production continued into fall ball with Southern Nevada and he saved some of his best for last, hitting a double, triple and home run in the final fall game in front of 350 spectators.

While Harper will certainly dominate the headlines both at school and nationally, the Coyotes boast a bevy of additional talent which will keep the scouts busy in between Harper at-bats.

Pitchers

Tyler Hanks: A sophomore right handed pitcher, Hanks throws his fastball 97-94 to go with a 84-81 slider.  At 6'2" and 195 pounds, Hanks projects well.

Donnie Roach: A transfer from Arizona, Roach will play for South Carolina next year, but until then was threw a 94-90 fastball with an above-average splitter and curveball for Southern Nevada this fall.

Joe Robinson: Another sophomore who's committed to Georgia, his fastball has been clocked at 95-90.

Aaron Kurcz: Kurcz transferred from Air Force and threw his fastball 94-91.

Kenny McDowall: Similar to Robinson, McDowall is a sophomore who's committed to Hawaii and threw 92-90 on his fastball this fall.

Hitters

Trevor Kirk: Despite being selected in the 47th round by the Brewers last year after hitting 366/425/466 with 30 stolen bases, Kirk returned to Southern Nevada.  Kirk is also a tremendous catcher and is expected to split time with Harper, sending Harper to either the outfield or shortstop.

Beyond Kirk and Harper, Marvin Campbell (first base), Ryan Scott (catcher) and Jordan Keegan (outfielder) were all draft picks in 2008.

Bryce Harper will headline the College of Southern Nevada, but he'll have plenty of help

The Tigers payroll was over $115M in 2009 and despite a competitive playoff run to the very end of the season, the team is looking to pare down its payroll for 2010 and moving Miguel Cabrera could save the team a lot of money.  Detroit has already openly shopped outfielder Curtis Granderson ($23.75M left on his contract from 2010-2012) and pitcher Edwin Jackson (arbitration eligible and due for a big raise) and not recieved too many bites.  Cabrera's contract blows away that of Granderson and Jackson, as he's set to make the following in each year of his deal: 10:$20M, 11:$20M, 12:$21M, 13:$21M, 14:$22M, 15:$22M. 

Despite being owed $126M over the next six years, there will still be interest in Cabrera because of his immense productivity.  Some potentially interested teams include:

Red Sox: David Ortiz and Mike Lowell come off the books after 2010 and if the Red Sox can convince the Tigers to give them some financial relief in 2010, the money might work out.

Angels: When Cabrera was traded from Florida to Detroit, the Angels were heavily involved in the bidding and would be happy to take Cabrera now, two years later.

Mets: With Carlos Delgado's likely departure, the Mets have a hole at first base that Cabrera could fill.

White Sox: Similar to the Red Sox, the White Sox remove Paul Konerko from the books after 2010 and Cabrera would fill in nicely.

Giants: They are in desperate need of offense, but already have two big contracts in Barry Zito and Aaron Rowand and would need to put Pablo Sandoval somewhere.

Mariners: Resigning Felix Hernandez is their priority, but Cabrera would be a big addition to their anemic offense.

Braves: Much like the Giants, they could really use the offensive help, but may lack the financial flexilibity to bring on Cabrera.  Moving Derek Lowe or Javier Vazquez would allieviabe some financial constraints.

Financial reasons will force the Tigers to try and move Miguel Cabrera this off season

As the Roy Halladay hot stove begins to fire up, the Red Sox hope to take much of the drama out of the situation by acquiring the right handed pitcher before the start of the winter meetings on December 7th, Peter Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.  In return for Halladay, the Jays are reportedly asking for top Sox prospect Casey Kelly and emerging starter Clay Buchholz. 

For the Blue Jays, the move to trade Halladay is not a desire, but more a need based on Halladay's unwillingness to sign an extension with Toronto and hopes to play for a contending team.  With one year left on a three-year, $40M deal that Halladay signed before the 2008 season, the Jays hope to get as much as they can for the perennial Cy Young contender this off season, rather than waiting until July.  They'd also save the $15.75M that Halladay is owed in 2010. 

The Red Sox are not the only team interested in Halladay, not even within their own division.  Despite winning the world series, the Yankees still have holes in their pitching rotation, something they'd be happy to will with Halladay.  The Sox urgency is certainly an effort to get out in front of the Yankees where general manager Brian Cashman is waiting to receive his budget for the 2010 season before making any major moves.  The Blue Jays would likely ask for some of the Yankees top propsects like Austin Jackson or Jesus Montero along with either Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain. 

The Red Sox and Yankees will be in hot pursuit of Roy Halladay this off season

The Angels figure to be another team interested in Halladay if they are unable to retain free agent pitcher John Lackey.

Despite all the drama, espn.com's Buster Olney puts the odds of Halladay being traded at only 50/50.

Ken Rosenthal of foxsports.com believes that free agent outfielder Johnny Damon and agent Scott Boras will seek to sign a contract similar to what fellow 35+ outfielder Bobby Abreu signed a few weeks ago with the Angels.  Abreu and the Angels agreed to a two-year, $19M deal on November 6th after signing a one-year $5M deal in late February in 2009. 

Most speculation has the Yankees interested in bringing Damon back, but on a short term basis.  Rosenthal, however, feels that if Damon is looking for Abreu-money, that is not good news for Yankees fans.  Seems as if the Yankees would be happy to have Damon back at less than $10M per season. 

The Yankees hope to retain Johnny Damon - can they afford him?

A number of Rays rumors to look at in Joe Smith's article from the St. Petersburg Times.

• The Rays would like to sign star outfielder Carl Crawford to a long term extension.  Crawford will likely make about $11.5M in 2010 with escalators and could command quite a bit on the open market.  There's word in the article that the Mets and Braves have expressed interest in acquiring Crawford if the Rays look to move him, however it is likely that almost every team in baseball would be interested.
• BJ Upton is rumored to be available and the Rangers and White Sox have already inquired.
• Smith feels like the Rays will be interested in signing Kevin Gregg or JJ Putz this off season.
• Gregg Zaun is currently a free agent, but the team might look to bring him back and try the Zaun/Dioner Navarro platoon that worked in 2009.

Carl Crawford will command a lot in a trade if the Rays are unable to extend him

Plenty of rumors to pass along this morning from Nick Cafardo's article in The Boston Globe. 

• If the Red Sox are able to land John Lackey that could allow them the freedom to trade Clay Buchholz to San Diego for Adrian Gonzalez.
• Speaking of the Red Sox, here's an interesting quote from one AL general manager: "The Red Sox could be the major player this off season if certain things fall together for them.  They still have enough chips in their farm system to make something happen."  Perhaps referring to A-Gone or maybe Roy Halladay.
• The Yankees will be involved in trade discussions for Halladay and seem likely to part with Phil Hughes or Joba Chamberlain.  You have to wonder who the bigger prospect is right now.  Our money is that teams would rather have Hughers over Chamberlain.
• The Twins and Brewers are "very interested" in Carl Pavano.
• John Smoltz is also on Milwaukee's radar, but they'll have competition from the Cardinals, who'd like to see Smoltz return.
• Gary Sheffield would like to return in 2010 and is more flexible about accepting a DH role than in the past.  

John Lackey could be the first domino in a busy off season for the Red Sox

Peter Gammons and Gordon Edes of espn.com give plenty of speculation about how the Red Sox off season will play out.

• Jason Bay is likely to return to the Red Sox for many reasons, but most of all, it's unclear who else will compete with the Red Sox to sign him.  Gammons feels the contract will be in the four years, $64M deal.  Bay recently rejected a four year, $60M-ish deal.  
• Alex Gonzalez seems likely to return to the Red sox, even though they declined his 2010 option.  Marco Scutaro is another option.
• Unless Adrian Gonzalez or Felix Hernandez are available to the Red Sox, a blockbuster trade is unlikely.  Nevertheless, the Red Sox are sure to explore the option of acquiring Roy Halladay again.
• The Red Sox were interested in Cody Ross back in July and may continue to try to acquire the outfielder from the Marlins.  Manny Delcarmen was the rumored compensation for Cody back in July.
• Rich Harden and Ben Sheets are likely free agent targets for the Red Sox.
• While Boston may be a good fit for Aroldis Chapman, neither writer thinks that the Red Sox will make a serious push for him. 

Aroldis Chapman may work well in Boston, but are they interested?

A few notes about Jason Bay to pass along.

• On the eve of full free agency, Bay rejected Boston's latest offer: "close to $60M" over 4 years.
• The Yankees do not appear interested in Bay.
• The Angels, on the other hand, have not ruled out looking into acquiring Bay. Matt Holliday, however, does not appear to be on their radar.
• The Giants join the Yankees as being publicly uninterested in Bay.

The market for Jason Bay appears to be narrowing

Citing a likely moderate economy at best, the Dodgers team president, Dennis Mannion, felt that his team would not be able to pursue free agent pitcher John Lackey this off season. 

"You can't ignore the fact that the economy will be level at best for next year," Mannion said. "We're not going to make any outlandish-type decisions in a rough economy."

Beyond Lackey, the team likely lacks the resources to make a run at a significant free agent this off season as well.  The Dodgers are already paying $20M to Manny Ramirez next season. 

John Lackey may stay in Los Angeles, but not with the Dodgers

Let's take a look at a few Matt Holliday rumors before free agency kicks into full gear later tonight.

• Angels owner Arte Moreno told the LA Times that "[Holliday] is not going to be an angel."
• The Giants do not want to be a team that an agent uses as leverage against a serious bidder, so they will be interested in Holliday or Jason Bay.

Where will Matt Holliday land this off season?