Peep Show

MLB Draft: <a name="&amp;lpos=story_in" href="http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/9295644/national-league-central-team-needs-targets-2013-mlb-draft?addata=2009_insdr_mod_mlb_xxx_xxx">NL Central targets
Bowden: <a name="&amp;lpos=story_in" href="http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/the-gms-office/post?id=6632&addata=2009_insdr_mod_mlb_xxx_xxx">Indians should be sellers
Szymborski: <a name="&amp;lpos=story_in" href="http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/9297550/anthony-rendon-best-house-solutions-contenders-mlb?addata=2009_insdr_xxx_sce_mlb_xxx&addata=2009_insdr_mod_mlb_xxx_xxx">Best in-house upgrades
Lindbergh: <a name="&amp;lpos=story_in" href="http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/9301085/why-baltimore-orioles-better-2013-mlb?addata=2009_insdr_mod_mlb_xxx_xxx">O's even better in 2013
Law: <a name="&amp;lpos=story_in" href="http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/keith-law/post?id=827&addata=2009_insdr_mod_mlb_xxx_xxx">Diagnosing Hosmer, Moustakas' woes

Updated: January 19, 2004, 10:00 AM ET

American League

Burkett

Boston Red Sox: What does the future hold for John Burkett? How about professional bowling? Burkett, who has yet to receive a concrete job offer for 2004, is one heckuva kegler, writes Gordon Edes of the Boston Globe. Why is there not much interest in the 39-year old righthander? In spite of winning 25 games for Boston in the last two seasons, his other numbers have not impressed. In only one of the past six seasons has he posted an ERA better than league average (adjusting for home park). He told Edes that he will not go to spring training with a mere invite. He's got to have a real deal in hand.

Detroit Tigers: Where's Pudge? With a very nice offer on the table from the Tigers, why hasn't he signed yet? So wonders Tom Gage in today's Detroit News. The Tigers have offered Ivan Rodriguez $40 million for four years according to an Associated Press report. That equals what he made last season in his one-year deal with the World Champion Marlins and represents a sizable gamble on a catcher who will be 35 in the final year of the contract. Is it too much? Perhaps it is -- in a vacuum. In the real world, the Tigers need this kind of shot in the arm. As Gage writes, "They can't win for losing if on the one hand they're criticized for not signing big-name players, then on the other they're ripped if they give sign one for supposedly too much."

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