My day was ruined when I found out that the Marlins traded Josh Beckett to the Red Sox. Initially, I was devastated. The Red Sox are a lock for the World Series with Beckett and Schilling at the top of the rotation, right? Uhh…no. Even though the Sox will have a solid pitching staff, Manny Ramirez might be gone, which would force David Ortiz to carry the whole offense. Johhny Damon could be history as well unless Boston overpays to keep Jesus. The Beckett trade spelled the end of uber-prospect, Hanley Ramirez and you can count me in as Ramirez’s biggest fan. Can he be the next ex-Sox to flourish in another city (Jeff Bagwell, Dennis Eckersley)?

Elsewhere:

The Mets aquired Carlos Delgado for Mike Jacobs and prospect Yuseirmo Petit. Another example of Omar Minaya overpaying for an old star. Should we even be suprised anymore? However, I think it was a good deal for the New Yorkers because Delgado makes them the best offensive team in the National League. Imagine Manny Ramirez, Billy Wagner and Ramon Hernandez/Bengie Molina in Met uniforms in 06.

Finally, what the heck was Kenny Williams thinking when he traded for Jim Thome. Didn’t he learn that a team full of sluggers who run like snails doesn’t work. I guess a World Series championship didn’t convince him. Thome is on the downside of his career and he puts financial strain on the White Sox even though Philly is eating half of his contract. Meanwhile, Aaron Rowand’s defense and speed brings more to the team for a lower price than Thome’s bat. Chicago obviously believes that prospect Ryan Christianson is ready for the majors. But you still have to wonder, couldn’t that money have been used on a catchers such as Hernandez or Molina, rather than a 35-year old ex-roider DH.

Bernie Williams, Mike Piazza and Frank Thomas, former mainstays on the Yankees, Mets and White Sox, will be free-agents this offseason and each could have a new address. Williams has been New York’s starting center fielder since 1992, a key cog in the Yankee dynasty of the 1990′s. He could always be counted on for a .320, 25 HR season, which, along with his spectacular defense, put him in the same class of great Yankee center fielders, Mickey Mantle and Joe DiMaggio. However, Bernie’s production has been on the decline for about 3 years now. He batted .249 with 12 homers in 2005 and his aching knees and weak arm made him a liability for the New Yorkers. Sadly, if he does not return to the Yankees as a bench player next year, he will likely have to finish his career with a mediocre club. I, for one, would not like to see this legend playing center for the Royals or some other team that his hitting would actually be an asset to. Mike Piazza, arguably the best hitting catcher ever, most certainly will not be a member of the New York Mets in 2006. GM Omar Minaya is probably overjoyed to get Piazza’s $10.5 million salary off of the books so he can pursue some more high priced free-agents (who most likely will turn into washed up has-beens in a few years). Piazza hit just .251 last year, but showed good power in slamming 19 home runs in just 113 games. He would be a good pickup for an AL club, such as the Angels, who need some right handed power and have a DH slot to fill. Piazza should have a pretty good 06 season for the simple fact that he won’t be playing catcher. By DH-ing, Piazza will not endure as much of a physical pounding as he has taken in recent years. Furthermore, he will not have to worry about calling a game from behind the plate and will get to devote more time to hitting. Frank Thomas is probably the most tragic example of these former greats. The face of a team known for losing for many years, the Big Hurt found himself watching his White Sox finally win a World Series. The Sox bought him out for $3.5 million after the season ended and although Frank wants to return to the South Side, the feeling may not be mutual. Manager Ozzie Guillen has had some run-ins with the powerful DH and the two sides may part ways. That said, Thomas’ 12HR’s in just 105 AB’s will draw some interest from teams such as the Angels, Orioles and Indians. Whether you like them or you don’t, seeing Williams, Piazza, and Thomas in different uniforms next year, will be quite a shock to fans who watched these players dominate the game for so many years.

Ok, the White Sox are world champions for the first time in 88 years. Great story. Happy ending. To bad no one outside of Illinois really cares. There are some far more pressing matters on our hands. As of Friday, November 11, teams can sign free-agents, and while this year’s class is far less eye-popping than the class of 04, it could make or break the seasons of several of 05′s best teams.Lets look at some teams who could be in for a huge pitfall in 06 due to their offseason:

1. Boston Red Sox
Hmmm. I wonder why Theo left? Could it have been that Manny Ramirez wants to be traded, again? And howabout losing Johnny Damon and David Wells for an encore? Ramirez is irreplacable, one of the top 5 hitters in the game. Even if Boston could get Troy Glaus or Carlos Beltran for him, they would have trouble replacing the 130+ RBI that he puts up every year. Losing an aging Damon would surely hurt the Sox in the short term, but where will he be in the 3rd and 4th years of his deal. The Red Sox will experience some growing pains next year as they try to fill gaping holes with young talent.

2. San Diego Padres
Well, for a division winner, the Pads don’t have very far to drop from their 82-79 05 record. However, Ramon Hernandez won’t be back and the odds are against Brian Giles returning. The Friars are lowballing Trevor Hoffman and there is a good chance he will end up elsewhere. With that said, GM Kevin Towers is probably relishing the idea of cutting payroll and waiting until the hefty contracts of Ryan Klesko and Chan Ho Park run out. The Pads will be much younger in 06 and you can expect a 4th place finish out of them next year in the woeful NL West.

3. Florida Marlins
The Fish are already going to lose flamethrower AJ Burnett to free-agency, but there is a good possibility that Carlos Delgado and Juan Pierre will be gone next year as well. Delgado is owed roughly 48 million over the next 3 years and you had to expect Florida was planning on dealing him in Year 2 when they signed him to this backloaded contract. Look for the Marlins to finish 4th or 5th in the tough NL East in 06.

Now 3 teams who should make major upgrades for the upcoming season:

1. Toronto Blue Jays
GM JP Ricciardi has done a great job with this club, which is loaded with young talent and is looking to increase its payroll from $55 million to $85 million. They look like the front runners to win the Burnett sweepstakes and they have plenty of cash to plug some holes in the bullpen and at 3rd base. The Blue Jays should be in the Wild Card hunt next year if they have a good offseason.

2. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Although fans in LA have been annoyed at GM Bill Stoneman’s reluctance to deal prospects, they will soon find out that Stoneman has set up the club nicely for the future. Catcher Bengie Molina and pitchers Paul Byrd and Jarrod Washburn are free-agents and the Angels probably won’t have to sign any of them. Prospect Jeff Mathis will step in at catcher, while Ervin Santana and either Chris Bootcheck or Joe Saunders will fill in for Byrd and Washburn. By not re-signing their own free-agents, LA will have plenty of money to spend on 1B Paul Konerko to upgrade their offense.

3. New York Mets
With Mike Piazza’s salary coming off the books, the Mets will be able to spend their money on a closer. Fortunately, this year’s free-agent class is closer-rich and the Mets will definately be able to upgrade at that position with BJ Ryan, Trevor Hoffman, Billy Wagner, or Tom Gordon. With a reliable closer, New York should challenge Atlanta and Philadelphia for the NL East title.