Jon Heyman: Primer to the free-agent market, from Bay to Wagner MLB

Source: Jon Heyman. 1 days 12 hrs 9 mins

Free agency is finally here, less than a week before Thanksgiving. And the signings may not come so quick, either.

Jon Heyman: Roy Halladay sweepstakes could be just another Yankees-Red Sox bout MLB

Source: Jon Heyman. 3 days 11 hrs 9 mins

The Yankees recently called the Blue Jays to express interest in superstar pitcher Roy Halladay. And while the Yankees made the very same call last summer with no hope of acquiring Halladay, this time they have a real reason to believe they may actually have a legitimate chance to make a blockbuster trade.

Jon Heyman: With only new contract, cries of poverty ring through GM meetings MLB

Source: Jon Heyman. 9 days 10 hrs 9 mins

Inside the no-frills Hilton Chicago O'Hare Airport for Major League Baseball's General Manager meeting, there were signs of tough times ahead for ballplayers. While agent Scott Boras -- who represents Matt Holliday, Johnny Damon and about a dozen other free agents -- went on the other night about how revenues spiked by nearly 600 percent from 1990 to 2009, he was standing in a lobby that was decorated sometime in the '80s, a sharp contrast to the opulence of past GM events.

Jon Heyman: Versatile Figgins drawing plenty of interest, especially from Phillies MLB

Source: Jon Heyman. 10 days 10 hrs 9 mins

CHICAGO -- Beyond the "Big Three" free agents (Matt Holliday, John Lackey and Jason Bay), there's still some decent action going on here at the GM meetings. And if there's a fourth coveted free agent, it just might be versatile leadoff man Chone Figgins, who is drawing interest from some unexpected sources.

Jon Heyman: Cubs trying hard to trade Bradley; latest word on Halladay, Gonzalez MLB

Source: Jon Heyman. 11 days 10 hrs 9 mins

CHICAGO -- The Cubs are trying hard to dump the perennially malcontented Milton Bradley, as it isn't just manager Lou Piniella who didn't connect with him in his season here. Apparently, several key members of the team -- including Aramis Ramirez and Carlos Zambrano -- barely speak to Bradley.

Jon Heyman: Beyond the big three free agents, trades may be where the action is MLB

Source: Jon Heyman. 12 days 12 hrs 9 mins

CHICAGO -- No team is going to spend or presumably improve via free agency like the Yankees did last winter, when they doled out $423.5 million to three star players alone. Post-parade, and as the GM meetings get underway here on Monday, the only conclusion that can be drawn is that the Yankees spent wisely. But with the Yankees far less needy this winter and this year's free-agent list less star-studded -- Matt Holliday, Jason Bay and John Lackey are the only in-their-prime players who can reasonably aim for $100 million deals and the only ones even sure to crack $50 million -- no team is expected to try to duplicate such a spending spree. Nor would one even be possible this time around.

Jon Heyman: Yankees' foursome among those who enhanced their reputations MLB

Source: Jon Heyman. 16 days 9 hrs 9 mins

NEW YORK -- The unique Yankees foursome of Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte and Jorge Posada probably didn't need to win one more World Series together to prove anything. But they did, anyway. And they did it 13 years after their first one together. No other foursome can say that.

Jon Heyman: Five reasons why the Phillies could pull off a shocking comeback MLB

Source: Jon Heyman. 18 days 11 hrs 9 mins

PHILADELPHIA -- While the Yankees have to be considered a fairly heavy favorite with only one win needed as they head back to the Bronx, the Phillies still have some characteristically serious fight in them. Until last rites are read to the Phillies, they should be assumed to have plenty of life.

Jon Heyman: With Reggie as his mentor, A-Rod is writing his own October legacy MLB

Source: Jon Heyman. 19 days 11 hrs 9 mins

PHILADELPHIA -- Yankees home run heroes Alex Rodriguez and Reggie Jackson are always chatting behind the batting cage in these Octobers. Normally we can only imagine what they are telling each other in these frequent meetings where the two baseball greats are seen but not heard. But before Game 4 of the World Series on Sunday night, A-Rod said something that struck Jackson as so profound and so perfect that Jackson felt he had to share it.

Jon Heyman: Suddenly, Girardi looking smart again MLB

Source: Jon Heyman. 20 days 11 hrs 9 mins

PHILADELPHIA -- It wasn't more than one week ago that one NL scout claimed it looked like Yankees manager Joe Girardi was "managing scared, like he's afraid to lose his job'' and accusations of overmanaging were coming from all quarters (including this one). But Girardi looks Northwestern smart today.

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Jon Heyman Columns / 11-2009