No beating around the bush today, here is the latest free agent and trade news:

The Yankees are sending disappointing second baseman (we won't even talk about his outfield abilities) Tony Womack to Cincinnati for a couple of minor leaguers.

Edgar Renteria is on the move again. Only one year after signing the shortstop as a free agent, Boston traded Renteria and $11 million to Atlanta for minor league prospect Andy Marte. The Red Sox have rebuilt three-fourths of their infield in the last few days, having sent Renteria to Atlanta and acquired third baseman Mike Lowell from Florida and second baseman Mark Loretta from San Diego. Having also sent Hanley Ramirez to Florida in the trade that brought in Lowell and Josh Beckett, it looks like the Red Sox will be turning to Alex Cora at short, who they acquired at the trade deadline in July from Cleveland. The Red Sox are also rumored to have interest in former Marlins shortstop Alex Gonzalez.

I mentioned yesterday that the Reds and Pirates were close to a deal to swap Sean Casey and Dave Williams. That move has apparently now been confirmed.

41-year-old Kenny Rogers is on his way to Detroit, where he'll be the veteran presence among a good young starting rotation after agreeing to a two-year, $16 million deal with the Tigers. I'm sure Bonderman, Maroth, and Robertson can use tips on how to properly attack a camera man and get off easy.

In one of the more surprising announcements, Baltimore and free agent catcher Ramon Hernandez have come to terms on a four-year, $27.5 million contract, which immediately inspires questions about Javy Lopez's future with the club. Judging by the fact that the Orioles did not offer arbitration to Rafael Palmeiro, Sammy Sosa, B.J. Surhoff, and Eli Marrero, it looks like the O's may be looking to get younger, and if Lopez isn't moved to first base, he could be on his way out as well.

The Yankees picked up another Boston cast-off, agreeing to a two-year, $2.4 million deal with pitcher Mike Myers. I'm still confused by the Yanks blowing so much money on offense, but only going out and picking up over-the-hill has-been's and never-were's to take the mound.

The White Sox beefed up their infield and offloaded surplus from the bullpen by sending Damaso Marte to Pittsburgh for utility infielder Rob Mackowiak. Chicago has proved to have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to late-inning pitchers, making Marte expendable.

The Mets have continued their offseason spending spree, signing 36-year-old infielder Jose Valentin. Along with all the new acquisitions, the Mets have cut ties with several veterans, having not offered arbitration to Mike Piazza, Braden Looper, Miguel Cairo, Danny Graves, Felix Heredia, Doug Mientkiewicz, Jose Offerman, or Shingo Takatsu (among others).

Veteran pitcher Jose Mesa is on the move once again, having agreed to a one-year deal with Colorado, with a club option for a second year.

And finally, two bits of Twins news:

Jacque Jones' career in Minnesota might not be over just yet. The Twins offered arbitration to the free agent outfielder, meaning there's still a possibility that Double-J could be back patroling right field at the Metrodome in 2006. Who knows?

And finally, the Rule 5 Draft. Minnesota took outfielder Jason Pridie from the Devil Rays. Because Pridie will have to stay on the team's 25-man roster for the full season (or be sold back to the Devil Rays), the Twins have quite the surplus in the outfield, meaning it would be quite surprising should the team actually retain Jacque Jones. The team also added three players in the Triple-A part of the draft, getting pitcher Jose Lugo from Oakland, pitcher Alexander Farfan from Cincinnati, and outfielder Erold Andrus from the Yankees. No Twins players were drafted in the Rule 5 Draft.

Whew, that's enough for today, isn't it?

» Reds acquire Womack from Yankees [mlb.com]
» Braves get Renteria, trade Marte [mlb.com]
» Notes: Gonzalez could fill shortstop gap [redsox.com]
» Bucs get Reds' Casey for Williams [mlb.com]
» Rogers agrees to deal with Tigers [mlb.com]
» Catcher adds pop to O's lineup [mlb.com]
» Lefty Myers, Yankees agree to deal [mlb.com]
» White Sox acquire Mackowiak [mlb.com]
» Mets sign infielder Jose Valentin [mlb.com]
» Rockies sign free agent RHP Jose Mesa to one-year contract... [mlb.com]
» Twins offer Jones arbitration [twinsbaseball.com]
» Twins take outfielder in Rule 5 Draft [twinsbaseball.com]

Tom Gordon, who spent the last two seasons as the setup man for Mariano Rivera and the Yankees, has agreed to a three-year, $18 million deal to replace Billy Wagner as the closer for the Phillies. I failed to mention it earlier, but Wagner agreed earlier this week to become the latest addition to the resurgent New York Mets. Gordon, who was a closer earlier in his career (and one-time member of the Appleton Foxes while a minor-leaguer in the Kansas City Royals farm system), has been in the role in the last four years, but it was rumored that he was itching to leave New York so he could return to the closer's role. The Yankees, on the other hand, are reported to still be chasing Kyle Farnsworth, although they've recently had to step-up their efforts after Texas joined the race for Farnsworth's services.

» Gordon on board with Phillies [mlb.com]
» Busy Mets land closer Wagner [mlb.com]
» Farnsworth expected to join Yankees [mlb.com]

The Yankees-White Sox series in the Bronx ended with Chicago winning the third game 2-1 in 10 innings to take 2 of 3 in the series. The Yankees won on Monday 3-2, while the White Sox won on Tuesday 2-1. The two teams combined for eleven runs in three games - something you don't see often out of a series involving the Yankees. The fact that Yankees pitchers combined to keep Chicago to only 6 runs was impressive for their beleagured staff, but I think New York being held to only 5 runs over 3 games at home says more. I think it says that, just like Minnesota, New York's going to be spending October watching the postseason instead of participating. When Aaron Small is far-and-away your best starter - and you have Randy Johnson in your rotation - you're in trouble. The only Yankees batter to have a good series was Alex Rodriguez, who was 4-11 (.364) with 2 homeruns. If the Yankees had 9 A-Rods they'd be fine, but without him....

UPDATE: This is amazing. Listening the guys do the post-game show on YES, this has to be the most humble I've ever heard them. I'm used to these guys being so cocky as they invoke time and again that the Yanks have won 26 World Championships and they're the greatest team in the world and nobody else compares and Why do other teams even bother? and blah blah blah. A bit of humble pie sounds quite tasty.