IT WAS A 'WILD & WACKY' TUESDAY !

HOT STOVE GETS HOTTER !

After a quiet couple of weeks the 'Hot Stove' action really heated up yesterday, in advance of next weeks 'winter meetings'.

No fewer than 21 players changed teams yesterday. There were also five big name 'free agent' signings totaling around $ 214 million. And just to top it off, there where five trades totaling sixteen players made.

Here is a rundown of the major deals and some comments.

Crazy Tuesday actually started Monday night with the Detroit Tigers trading Doug Fister to Washington in a four player deal. It appears this trade was made for the Tigers to free up  additional dollars as Fister is a good major league starter but a surplus for the Tigers.  And what to do with those saved dollars, why sign 'free agent' closer Joe Nathan. Nathan will fill out a problem the Tigers had with closing out games last year, which was their downfall in the ALCS.

Next up, the Baltimore Orioles traded their closer Jim Johnson to the Oakland A's. This move shows just how the coming 'cash shortage' is affecting the Orioles, as Johnson was going to receive a raise thru arbitration this year. They have Chris Davis and Manny Machado who are up for long-term contract extensions shortly. They also have to pay already signed deals with Adam Jones and Nick Markakis. As for the A's, they have replaced closer Grant Balfour who the A's do not expect to re-sign.

The Texas Rangers traded Craig Gentry and Josh Lindblom to the A's for prospects Michael Choice and Chris Bostick. Getting Gentry sets him up as the new A's center fielder. Coco Crisp becomes a 'free agent' following next season. Would that put Coco on the 'trading block' ? If so, would the Red Sox be interested ? It sure would give Jackie Bradley Jr. time to mature.

And then there's the Yankees. By acquiring Jacoby Ellsbury they now have the best defensive outfield in all of baseball, with Gardner, Ellsbury and Ichiro. They also have acquired a all-star catcher in Brian McCann. They may even re-sign Robinson Cano, though not at his asking price. The Yankees will get better. They will worry about the back-ends of these contracts when the time comes. It's nice to have cash.

In the meantime, there are still 'free agents' out there. Who knows what tomorrow may bring for Carlos Beltran, Robinson Cano and Shin-Soo Choo.

The road to Orlando is getting shorter.