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Interesting column from Ken Rosenthal this morning. He wonders if one way for top free agents such as Ben Sheets, Orlando Hudson, and Orlando Cabrera to swing the market back in their favor is to wait until after the season begins.  We’ve seen the massive in-season demand for guys like Roger Clemens and Freddy Garcia in years past.  New team needs open up midseason due to injuries and ineffectiveness, and free agents are usually superior to trades.  Plus, waiting until mid-June eliminates the draft pick issue for Type As who were offered arbitration.

Click below to hear my recent chat with SNY’s Matthew Cerrone.

MLB Trade Rumors has always been free; the price you pay is enduring the ads we put on the site.  Sometimes, unfortunately, the ads shown are not entirely relevant to you.

That’s not the case with MLB Front Office Manager, the new game from 2K Sports. We’re working with 2K directly to advertise this game.  I can’t think of a better possible match for our readers – most of you play video games, and all of you love the hot stove side of baseball.

The game allows you to sign or trade for your favorite players in crafting a roster.  The detail is incredible – you also set scouting budgets, sign international free agents, make bids for posted Japanese players, and participate in the Rule 5 draft.  Choose the background of your GM too – is he a lawyer or an ex-player? 

MLB Front Office Manager is available now on Xbox 360, Playstation 3, and Windows for the PC.  I’d greatly appreciate it if you click this link and consider purchasing this intriguing game.

Note: The original version of this post incorrectly credited Geoff Baker with details about the Mariners’ plans for the draft. Those details were actually provided by Larry Stone, as the post now reflects.

Links for Friday night…

• John Fay passes along some thoughts from Reds CEO Bob Castellini.
• An interesting line from Reds writer Hal McCoy: "Forget Sean Casey. He is retiring."
• Jon Garland’s agent says his client could sign by next week. Garland grew up rooting for the Dodgers and his agent says he’s a "good fit" for National League baseball.
• It didn’t happen this offseason, but Nate McLouth says he’s open to a multi-year deal.
• Richard Griffin of the Toronto Star believes the Blue Jays might have discussed trading for Jack Cust.
• ESPN The Magazine hypes up Matt Wieters as the "can’t miss kid."
• Tom Haudricourt spoke with Brewers GM Doug Melvin about the Craig Counsell signing.
• Larry Stone has details on the Mariners’ plans for the June draft.

Click below to listen to my chat with SNY’s Matthew Cerrone.

In this post we will attempt to keep a record of arbitration figures submitted by teams and players.  Hearings will be held in February if the sides can’t agree beforehand.  If it reaches a hearing, an independent panel chooses either the player or the team’s figure.  This list is ordered by player request amount.

• Ryan Howard: $18MM.  Phillies: $14MM.  Diff: $4MM.
• Prince Fielder: $8MM.  Brewers: $6MM.  Diff: $2MM.
• Garrett Atkins: $7.95MM.  Rockies: $6.65MM.  Diff: $1.3MM.
• Dan Uggla: $5.35MM.  Marlins: $4.4MM.  Diff: $950K.
• Jayson Werth: $4MM.  Phillies: $3MM.  Diff: $1MM.
• Justin Duchscherer: $4.6MM.  A’s: $3MM.  Diff: $1.6MM.
• David Weathers: $4.6MM.  Reds: $3MM.  Diff: $1.6MM.
• Zack Greinke: $4.4MM.  Royals $3.4MM.  Diff: $1MM.
• Ryan Ludwick: $4.35MM.  Cardinals: $2.8MM.  Diff: 1.55MM.
• Justin Verlander: $4.15MM.  Tigers: $3.2MM.  Diff: $950K.
• Jeff Francoeur: $3.95MM.  Braves: $2.8MM.  Diff: $1.15MM.
• Ryan Zimmerman: $3.9MM.  Nationals: $2.75MM.  Diff: $1.15MM.
• Mark Teahen: $3.85MM.  Royals: $3.05MM.  Diff: $800K.
• Corey Hart: $3.8MM.  Brewers: $2.7MM.  Diff: $1.1MM.
• Mike Jacobs: $3.8MM.  Royals: $2.75MM.  Diff: $1.05MM.
• Paul Maholm: $3.8MM.  Pirates: $2.65MM.  Diff: $1.15MM.
• Nate McLouth: $3.8MM.  Pirates: $2.75MM.  Diff: $1.05MM.
• Andre Ethier: $3.75MM.  Dodgers: $2.65MM.  Diff: $1.1MM.
• Edwin Encarnacion: $3.7MM.  Reds: $2.55MM.  Diff: $1.15MM.
• Conor Jackson: $3.65MM.  D’Backs: $2.45MM.  Diff: $1.2MM.
• Josh Willingham: $3.6MM.  Nationals: $2.55MM.  Diff: $1.05MM.
• Scott Olsen: $3.5MM.  Nationals: $2.5MM.  Diff: $1MM.
• George Sherrill: $3.4MM.  Orioles: $2.2MM.  Diff: $1.2MM.
• Rick Ankiel: $3.3MM.  Cardinals: $2.35MM.  Diff: $950K.
• Kelly Johnson: $3.3MM.  Braves: $2.35MM.  Diff: $950K.
• Casey Kotchman: $3.25MM.  Braves: $2.475MM.  Diff: $775K.
• John Maine: $3MM.  Mets: $2.2MM.  Diff: $800K.
• Wandy Rodriguez: $3MM.  Astros: $2.25MM.  Diff: $750K.
• Rickie Weeks: $2.8MM.  Brewers: $2MM.  Diff: $800K.
• Geoff Geary: $2.1MM.  Astros: $1.425MM.  Diff: $675K.
• Brian Bannister: $2.025MM.  Royals: $1.45MM.  Diff: $575K.
• Chad Durbin: $1.95MM.  Phillies: $1.35MM.  Diff: $600K.
• Pedro Feliciano: $1.95MM.  Mets: $1.35MM.  Diff: $600K.
• Matt Guerrier: $1.75MM.  Twins: $1.2MM.  Diff: $550K.
• Melky Cabrera: $1.7MM.  Yankees: $1.2MM.  Diff: $500K.  UPDATE: signed.
• Brian Bruney: $1.55MM.  Yankees: $1.1MM.  Diff: $450K.
• Brian Tallet: $1.3MM.  Jays: $950K.  Diff: $350K.
• Shawn Camp: $950K.  Jays: $700K.  Diff: $250K.
• Shawn Hill: $775K.  Nationals: $500K.  Diff: $275K.

MLBTR is looking to add a Saturday evening writer to the staff.  The position is paid on an hourly basis.  Here’s what we’re looking for:

• Availability for the next six Saturday evenings, 5pm-midnight CST.  The specific dates are Jan. 24, Jan. 31, Feb. 7, Feb. 14, Feb. 21, and Feb. 28.  If that goes well you can remain in the mix for random shifts, if you’d like.
• Knowledge of all 30 baseball teams, no discernible bias toward your favorite.
• Ability to analyze articles and craft intelligent, well-written posts summing the news up in a few paragraphs.  I want the best of both worlds, as you have to be able to do this very quickly after the source article is published.  It’s preferred that you add value to the article with your own insight, numbers, or links to other relevant articles.
• Attention to detail – absolutely no spelling errors, especially for player and journalist names.  Ability to follow the MLBTR style and tone.  Also it is important to avoid duplicating content previously covered on the site.
• Ability to use an RSS feed reader such as Google Reader.  This is crucial.
• Blogging experience is preferred.  We use TypePad, which is easy to use if you have blogged before.
• You have to be able to put up with me, responding to constructive criticism and digesting the MLBTR instruction document quickly.
• If you’re interested, email mlbtrweekend@gmail.com and explain your qualifications.  Please don’t send anything to my other email address.  Usually we receive a few hundred inquiries, so unfortunately I cannot reply to all or even most.  Thanks.

According to Troy Renck of the Denver Post, the Phillies have re-signed Greg Dobbs to a two-year, $2.5MM contract.

Dobbs can also make an additional $300,000 in performance-based bonuses.  The 30-year-old utilityman hit .301/.333/.491 last season with nine home runs and 40 RBI in 226 at-bats for the World Champs.  He could play a key role for the Phillies next season if Pedro Feliz has any complications with his offseason back surgery.

Click below to listen to my recent chat with SNY’s Matthew Cerrone.

Baseball America has coverage of all the minor league transactions from December 24th through January 12th.

Josh Towers to the Nationals (get on this DJF), Danny Graves to the Astros, and Jack Cassel to the Indians are a few I don’t recall seeing before.