Jon Garland News

“Dontrelle is a rarity in the game”

They call it "accelerated free agency," and the Marlins aren't the first baseball franchise to stare it down. via South Florida Sun-Sentinel

“I always believe, whenever the dollars are available, always try to invest in pitching”

The Mets officially took the next step in their pursuit of Alex Rodriguez, however impassioned that turns out to be. via Middletown Times Herald Record

“Some [free agents] are of the mind-set that they want to get with their team and give their new team a chance to improve and get one thing off the board, letting the team move in other areas and directions”

Somewhere around Thanksgiving, White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper will begin to contact his charges in preparation for a very important 2008 season. via Chicago White Sox

“We're very happy with Jose Reyes. We're very happy with David Wright”

The Mets refuse to officially declare themselves out of the Alex Rodriguez sweepstakes, because Omar Minaya likes to think big and a team coming off a historic collapse probably shouldn't rule out anything. via Hartford Courant

The general managers' meetings start Monday, and I'll have updates from there. Don't expect too much because, honestly, I'll sadly likely spend most of my time in the lobby just waiting for nuggets of ... via Houston Chronicle

I just want to pass along some of the rumors I've heard involving Brewers' players: Bill Hall to the Giants for Noah Lowry and Dave Roberts . via MVN - Recent Articles

The most important thing that may have resulted from the World Series is how well we are set up to repeat next year. via MVN - Recent Articles

“But I haven't even been to big league camp. I haven't been above Double-A. I was happy with the year I just had, but I still have a lot to prove.”

The impressive performance turned in by Jack Egbert for Double-A Birmingham during the 2007 season marked an important step forward in the 24-year-old hurler's career. via Major League Baseball

“I think if that money is available, Bill will try to use it to get more pitching”

It is appearing more likely Jose Guillen will opt out of his contract with the Mariners for the 2008 season and become a free agent. via Seattle Post-Intelligencer

JUST SAY NO: Jose Contreras will be available this winter, but is not the answer. via Pennlive.com

“In Garland, [the White Sox] have a proven performer who can bring quality talent. A talent like, say, Milwaukee's Bill Hall ”

Over the last year, the Mets and White Sox have linked up in a variety of trade rumors, including names such as Lastings Milledge , Javier Vazquez, Aaron Heilman and Mark Buehrle. via Metsblog.com

It was about this time last year that Mariners CEO Howard Lincoln uttered words he later had reason to regret - that general manager Bill Bavasi and manager Mike Hargrove were ''on the hot seat'' for the 2007 ... via Seattle Post-Intelligencer

“This season has been the reward for it because he's been able to go out there and maintain that delivery, not getting overamped or trying to overthrow.”

Baseball's always been a game of thirds: The third strike, third out, and in the case of Cleveland closer-turned-starter Fausto Carmona , Newton's Third Law. via SI.com

“It's fair to say for this organization especially, if attendance goes down it's a negative. If it goes up it's a positive”

Edgar Renteria and Jon Garland The Cardinals learned this season that $101 million mixed with rampant injuries is worth only third place. via STLtoday

“If we get on a roll, we can stay on fire for a long time. I believe in them”

If the Los Angeles Angels are to get back into the American League Division Series -- and divert this city of Boston's attention from whom the Red Sox will get to beat in the ALCS -- they could start by getting ... via Major League Baseball

“I hate to cut the season short right now, but I'll just carry into next year and hopefully, get a lot of wins.”

John Danks made 26 starts and worked 139 innings as the White Sox primary fifth starter during the 2007 season. via Major League Baseball

“We've got some decisions to make because the one thing we have to re-focus our attention on is, we won with pitching and defense”

Back at SoxFest, the annual winter gathering of White Sox fans, club general manager Ken Williams hardly could contain his excitement. via Northwest Herald

White Sox general manager Kenny Williams has a lengthy list of decisions to make this off-season. Does he trade a proven starting pitcher such as Jon Garland for two or three players capable of helping the Sox ... via Daily Herald

WHITE SOX SEASON WRAP 5.33. .279. 25 losses. Those numbers -- the bullpen ERA, opponents' batting average against the relievers and the bullpen's defeat total -- will haunt White Sox general manager Kenny ... via NWI Times

“I say two things about baseball”

After the White Sox's frustrating season ended Sunday with a 13-3 loss to the Tigers, a rugged off-season finally began to unfold for several players.

From durable starting pitcher Jon Garland to mercurial shortstop Juan Uribe to third-base coach Razor Shines, the Sox (72-90) face an array of tough decisions as they try to distance themselves from their worst season since going 69-92 and placing last in the American League West in 1989.

'I know it is going to be a long winter for the White Sox organization to put this thing back together, put it back to the top,' said manager Ozzie Guillen, who plans to vacation in Spain. 'Hopefully, when the winter is over we have something out there that can put us back up at the top.' Read more