via www.baltimoresun.com

Per Ken Rosenthal:

The Reds have reached preliminary agreement with the Orioles on a trade that will send catcher Ramon Hernandez to Cincinnati for outfielder Ryan Freel and two prospects, according to a major-league source.

The deal is pending the approval of the commissioner's office, because it involves a cash transaction of more than $1 million.

On Monday, major-league sources said the deal would not be completed unless the Orioles picked up a significant portion of Hernandez's remaining salary.

Hernandez is owed $8 million in 2009 with a club option of $8.5 million or a $1 million buyout for 2010, meaning he is guaranteed $9 million.

No word yet on the prospects, but this is really about getting rid of Ramon. He was a constant source of frustration last year behind the plate and wasn't much better hitting.  With our savior Matt Wieters on the fast track to the bigs, it was clear there was no place for Ramon. And if you're thinking he could have been a good backup guy once Wieters is called up, I direct your attention to a few years ago when Ramon was the new kid and Javy Lopez was the back up. It wasn't pretty.

Adios, Ramon. When I remember you, I'll try to remember your first year with the O's more than the last two.

If you're not familiar with whatifsports.com, it's a fantasy website where you are given a budget (in the case of the league I'm playing in, $120M) and then draft a team from every player in the history of baseball. Once the teams are drafted, an entire season is simulated in games against the other teams. I've played the 10 game trial league before and it's pretty fun; this is my first time playing an entire season.

I'm playing in a league with some people from the OH (save it) and we're trying to fill the last few spots. If it sounds interesting to you, check out the website and see if you'd like to play. The cost to play an entire season is $12, but if you sign up for a trial team you get a $2 credit that you can use immediately.

You can email me if you want in the league and I'll send you the link for the invite.

Cheers!

The truth about me is that, outside of my friends and family, I don't really care about many things. But one thing I really do love is the holiday season. From Thanksgiving to New Years I'm happy to be around the decorations and the music and the food. I revel in it. I love finding new recipes for Thanksgiving and buying new ornaments for the tree. I love Christmas cookies and Christmas music. I love the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and finding that perfect present for someone.

I get schmaltzy this time of year; I can't help it. It's a time when I feel thankful and happy and grateful for pretty much anything that gets in my way. That includes the Orioles and Camden Chat and Andy MacPhail.

I wrote a Thanksgiving post here a few years ago and I feel that since then we have a lot more to be thankful for. Don't get me wrong, I know the work isn't even close to being done. There are plenty of questions to be asked, plenty of criticisms to be made. The Orioles need 4/5 of a rotation and at least half of an infield. They need to be more proactive in searching for international talent and they need to continue to woo the fan base beyond new uniforms. Oh, and winning would be nice too.

But.

Our farm system has gone from barren to respectable. Recent drafts have given us Matt Wieters and Jake Arrieta. Trades that just a few years ago wouldn't have been pulled off provided us with Chris Tillman and Adam Jones. Gone are the days when the GM not only tries to build a .500 team and nothing more, but actually admits it in public. No longer do we hear the infuriating assurances from Peter Angelos that next year the team will definitely be competitive even though everyone knows it isn't true. In Andy MacPhail, the team has a man at the helm with a track record and a plan. And of course there's Nick Markakis.

There are positives here in Birdland. I can only hope that the Orioles will continue to address shortcomings and needs of this broken franchise and provide us with even more reasons to be thankful.

Happy Thanksgiving!