It’s actually kind of sad that Ramirez, one of the greatest sluggers of his time, is now being passed around like a champagne bottle on New Year’s Eve. He has been on the DL three times this season and it’s clear that he has lost most of his power game. He has hit only eight home runs this season in 66 games. In comparison, two seasons ago, he hit 17 HRs in 53 games after his move to L.A.

You could blame his rash of injuries this season and the disappointing numbers on the fact he was busted for PEDs last year, but there’s no way we can say that for sure.

If anything, it will be interesting to see how Manny Ramirez and Ozzie Guillen get along. Now, that would be worth the $4 million he’s being paid for the remainder of the year.

Yes, it is “probable” that Stephen Strasburg is going to need Tommy John ligament replacement surgery. He reportedly has a significant tear in his ulnar collateral ligament, not just a strained forearm tendon like originally thought.

Could this have happened at a worse time for the Nationals? They’re finally beginning to turn their team around based on their youth. They drafted another phenom, the amazing Bryce Harper, and have a solid core coming together. They were even sitting around .500 for the longest I can remember since their move from Montreal.

So now, it looks like it’ll be another year before Strasburg is back on the hill. I hope for the sanity of Nationals fans, this team doesn’t fall apart in the off-season and undo all the good they’ve built.

After landing the first baseman from the Cubs for three minor league pitchers, that was the question I was asking.

Lee’s best days are behind him and he’s hitting only .251 so far this season. Even though he has improved since the all-star break, that’s not exactly and encouraging number from a guy who is supposed to help out the NL East leaders in the pennant race. Consider this, Lyle Overbay of the Blue Jays – who has also cleared waivers and can be dealt – is hitting only five points less and is considerably cheaper. That would be cheaper on the wallet and cheaper on the cost to acquire him too.

Sure, the Braves are hurting right now with Chipper Jones sidelined for the rest of the season, all-star Martin Prado still out with a broken pinkie and phenom Jason Heyward nursing a sore knee, but this move won’t be their salvation. With the Phillies getting Chase Utley back and sitting 2.5 games back, more has to be done in the Deep South.

Needless to say, the addition of this Lee to an NL East team won’t have nearly the same impact as last year’s, when Cliff Lee came to Philadelphia and led the Phillies back to the World Series. As it stands now, this is still Philly’s division to lose.

A-Rod is now one of only seven players to reach the mark and he is the youngest to join. He now sits nine HRs behind Sammy Sosa and 30 behind the recently retired Ken Griffey Jr. But the real number that we all care about is still a ways away. Can A-Rod top the ever-lovable Barry Bonds and get past 762 to become the all-time leader?

All he really needs is longevity and the ability to keep his pace from slowing too much.

Then the debate can begin again about how much this once-cherished list of great mashers really means. After the steroid era, which A-Rod is of course a poster boy for, it’s hard to get worked up over these big numbers. After all, Jim Thome now sits at 577 and has a decent chance to crack 600. Has anyone ever really considered Thome a legend in any right? I thought not.

It’s really sad that the pride of this once great club is being further diminished with every tainted name that enters. The only thing we can do is remember that, while they may have bent the rules, these sluggers didn’t break them – which is truly the saddest reality.

Prince Fielder didn’t move. Jose Bautista didn’t move. Jayson Werth didn’t move. So who did then?

— Lance Berkman and Kerry Wood to the Yankees: New York didn’t even have to give up that much to land a declining Berkman, who is destined to be back in Houston when his contract’s up. The former Killer B can be a huge switch-hitting bat for New York and he adds another dimension to an already amazing lineup. Wood has been terrible for a while now, but at least he has late-inning experience.

— Roy Oswalt to the Phillies: Even if his debut didn’t go very well and ended with a minor injury, the deal for Oswalt gives Philly the two best Roys in baseball. With Halladay, Hamels and Oswalt in the rotation, that’s three aces teams will have to deal with.

— Ryan Ludwick and Miguel Tejada to the Padres: San Diego upgraded their lineup and look to stay on top of the NL West. Ludwick is a great, underrated bat and is a big upgrade over some of their current outfielders. Tejada is past his prime, but at worst is still an upgrade. He could play at his former position, SS, or spell Chase Headley at 3B. Headley could also play in the OF if need be.

— Jake Westbrook to the Cardinals: This one is real head-scratcher. Why would they work a deal where they give up a good hitter in Ludwick for a fourth starter? Westbrook is nothing special and the Cards strength was already pitching. What they needed to add was another big bat and instead, they let one go. Befuddling.

— Ted Lilly to the Dodgers: The Cubs aren’t going to do anything this year, so why not trade away an inning-eating lefty? The Dodgers upgrade their rotation with a solid arm.