[Joey Slugs]

Friday, January 6
WHO	INTERESTED	THE SKINNY
Miguel Tejada Orioles	Astros? White Sox? Phillies? Cubs Mets? Angels? Red Sox?	Miggy at third base? Jan 6 - Major questions still stand in the way of a potential blockbuster deal that could send Miguel Tejada from Baltimore to Philadelphia in exchange for Bobby Abreu, ESPN.com's Jayson Stark reports. But the two teams continue to talk. Obstacles which could torpedo this trade include: 1) Abreu has a complete no-trade clause, and neither club has asked him whether he would be willing to waive it to play in Baltimore; 2) Tejada, who has never played any position but shortstop, would have to move to third base in Philadelphia. And he hasn?t told either team he wants to change positions. Both teams have been trying to upgrade their starting pitching in any deal they made for Tejada and Abreu, so they can't help each other on that front without involving other teams. The Orioles have a number of other offers for Tejada from a group that includes the Cubs, Red Sox, Angels, Astros and Tigers.
WHO	INTERESTED	THE SKINNY
Corey Patterson Cubs	Orioles	Patterson to Baltimore? Jan 6 - The Orioles and Cubs are talking about a deal that would send outfielder Corey Patterson to Baltimore for a minor leaguer, The Baltimore Sun reports. Patterson likely would compete with Luis Matos and prospect Nick Markakis for the Orioles' starting center-field job.
WHO	INTERESTED	THE SKINNY
Manny Ramirez Red Sox	Orioles Phillies? Mariners? Mets? Angels?	Manny being Manny redux Jan 6 - Manny Ramirez doesn't think he'll be traded to the Orioles, or any other team for that matter. "There will be no trade, I'm staying in Boston, where I'm familiar with the system and where I have a lot of friends, especially David Ortiz," Ramirez told ESPNdeportes.com while in Miami on personal business. However, his agent, Greg Genske, reportedly called Ramirez after learning of the slugger's remarks, and Ramirez denied making the comments, according to the Boston Globe. "If Boston is able to work out a trade with Baltimore or another team, Manny is still open to making a move," Genske said. Over the last two weeks, the Red Sox held multiple conversations with Baltimore about a trade for Miguel Tejada, who also asked to be dealt from the Orioles, but the talks stalled when Ramirez reportedly said that he would approve the trade only if the team he was dealt to would exercise two $20 millon options on his contract.
WHO	INTERESTED	THE SKINNY
David Ortiz Red Sox		New Sox deal coming soon Jan 6 - There is a good chance David Ortiz will sign a long-term contract extension with the Red Sox before the start of spring training, the Boston Globe reports. Ortiz is due to be paid $6.5 million this season in the last year of the two-year, $12.5 million extension he signed in May 2004. In addition, the club holds an option on the 2007 season, which was bumped up automatically from $7.75 million to $8.4 million when Ortiz finished second in the AL MVP voting in 2005. Ortiz's agent, Fernando Cuza, has spoken this winter with owner John W. Henry and CEO Larry Lucchino, and Boston's brass expressed great interest in striking a deal soon. "They haven't said for how long [the extension would run]," Ortiz told the newspaper. "I have two more years. I'd like another four or five years more. I think that would be perfect. By that time I'd be 36, so we'll see. ... The owners really want to make this happen. I guess they want, with all that's been going on, to give Boston some good news."
WHO	INTERESTED	THE SKINNY
Frank Thomas White Sox	Athletics? Twins? Angels?	A's for the effort? Jan 6 - Some teams are keeping tabs on Frank Thomas, but the A's are the top suitor -- and the interest is mutual, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. "They have real interest, but at the same time, they are still evaluating things," agent Arn Tellem told the newspaper. "We're all keeping our fingers crossed." Thomas, who has missed most of the past two seasons with injuries, has not yet gained clearance to play baseball, but the former White Sox star is making progress as he recovers from two different breaks in his left navicular bone (ankle). "It's all favorable," Tellem said about the results of recent X-rays and a bone scan. "The doctors are all optimistic, and I think the A's are waiting for Frank to be cleared later in the month."