We’re launching an 800+ page web site tomorrow that I’ve been working on since August and I’m fried, so we’ll keep this short and sweet.

According to ESPN’s Transactions page the Padres have offered arbitration to David Wells. Yahoo! backs it up, noting that they now have until January 8 to work out a deal. Sounds like the two sides are trying to get something done. The club declined arbitration to everyone else, most notably Andy Ashby and Antonio Osuna.

Some interesting names not offered arbitration: Scott Williamson, Troy Glaus, Esteban Yan, Chris Hammond, Jeff Kent, Tony Batista, Al Leiter, Richard Hidalgo, Jeromy Burnitz, Mark Sweeney. Hard to believe Glaus can be signed without forfeiting a draft pick, while Vinny Castilla cost the Washington Whatevers a first-rounder. Glaus hasn’t been healthy since 2002, but he has 182 homers and he’s still only 28 years old. He could be a real nice pickup for someone.

Free Agents

We ran one of these last month. A few more guys have signed; here are your average free agents so far:

Hitters (18)
  contract/age
 Yrs $M/yr  Age
1.67  2.38 34.6

           2004 stats
 AB  H 2B 3B HR BB SO   BA  OBP  SLG
299 80 17  1  8 25 47 .268 .328 .409

Pitchers (11)
  contract/age
 Yrs $M/yr  Age
1.82  4.23 33.5

              2004 stats
 IP  ERA  WHIP  H/9 HR/9 BB/9 SO/9
106 4.03 1.306 8.79 0.92 2.97 6.31

Ages are as of July 1, 2005. Qualitative stats may not match quantitative due to rounding.

Three observations:

• Of the 29 players who have signed, only 2 will be under 30 years old next year (Cristian Guzman and Dennys Reyes).
• This is a real good time to be a mediocre pitcher entering your decline phase.
• Reyes and Rudy Seanez look better and better with each passing day, as does the Cubs’ Glendon Rusch.