Helton Update. Monday Round-Up

Clemens threw from a mound today, told reporters he wouldn't pitch a full season, and all of us couldn't care less. In all probability, Clemens will not join a team until April and May, making the continuous Rocket updates a bit absurd. That's pure hypocrisy on my part, but I find the Clemens-courting hilarious and therefore must cover such ridiculousness.

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So much for the no-doubt-about-it mentality swirling around a Todd Helton deal. Following speculation that the Rockies would basically eat the majority of his remaining contract in exchange for Mike Lowell, Julian Tavarez and a bag of balls, Colorado's CEO burst their bubble.

"This is Todd Helton we're talking about," Colorado owner and CEO Charlie Monfort told The Associated Press. "We're not just going to give him up for nothing... Tavarez and Lowell are good, and they'll help us this season, but we need to get something else pretty good in return," Monfort said. "So, we'll see."

The Red Sox are believed to be offering third baseman Mike Lowell (one year, $9 million remaining) and right-hander Julian Tavarez in exchange for Helton. The Rockies are interested in young pitching, with various reports pointing toward Craig Hansen and Manny Delcarmen as possible chips in any deal.

Monfort also told the AP that if a deal is to be struck, Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein and Rockies general manager Dan O'Dowd would likely make it happen by the end of the week.

"I don't see it dragging on. If Dan and Theo can work out the bodies in the next couple of days, it will happen," said Monfort, who would need to sign off on the trade.

As someone who believes Helton to be a powerful offensive weapon - particularly in Fenway's confines - I would welcome Colorado's nixing of a potential trade. And after hearing some of the possible offers the RedSox were making for Helton, I found it strange that baseball writers were not dismissing it as an unreasonable mismatch of talent. Monfort has raised the ante. We'll have to wait and see what Theo's next move will be.


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Brian Sabean's Barry Bonds holdout appears to be on the verge of crumbling as Bar-oid will soon finish a one-year deal. The contract was thought to have been completed weeks ago, but an amphetamine fopah and ownership-reluctance slowed the process. They fought the good fight, but the evil Bonds will live to rise another day.


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The Alaskan Loudmouth says he plans on pitching in 2008, putting a damper on any political aspirations until thereafter. Asked if he would consider pitching in the Bronx, Schilling sounded an emphatic "no."

"Where I'm going to play beyond 2007? I hope it's Boston, but I will go out and find a home to pitch," he said. "I hope it's here, but there's also that possibility [of pitching elsewhere]. It would not be to New York."

Schilling, who is signed through the upcoming season, also said on WEEI that he is hopeful that a deal with the Red Sox can be worked out before Spring Training.

For someone who named his son after Lou Gehrig, Curt sure has a lot of pent up aggression toward the Bombers.


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Earlier today, Barbaro hit the hay for good. Racehorses have a tough life: win or face ruthless trainers, become injured and face euthanasia.