What the heck is up with the Cardinals? They know that they still have to play next year, right? The only moves they've made this off-season (besides 40-man roster shuffling stuff) are 1) re-signing Scott Spiezio (ick) and 2) signing your friend and mine, Randy Kiesler, to a split contract. The blogs are not buzzing. Even the official Cards site seems to be mired in the post-World Series euphoria.

All the better for us, I guess.

In other parts of the world, some teams are doing things. Here's a report on the money spent by teams on this year's free-agent signings. I think you'll be surprised at how relatively low the average age of the Reds' free-agents have been.

Because he's already sold out. Today the Astros signed him to a 6-year/$100 million contract. Says Astros.com:

Lee's contract will pay him $11 million in 2007, plus a $3 million signing bonus. He will receive $12 million for 2008 and $18.5 million for each of the last four years of the contract, which runs through the 2012 season. The agreement contains a full no-trade clause for the first four years and a limited no-trade clause the final two years, during which Lee and the Astros must agree on which teams he can be dealt to in the event the Astros decide to trade him.

It's not that I ever expected the Reds to pursue Lee--we've already got a power left-fielder to worry about--but I'm not at all pleased to see him land in Houston. This was a team that we've always counted on to be offensively anemic. If they start hitting, what's next? The Cubs meeting expectations? The Brewers failing to go entirely unnoticed? The Pirates winning??

It's a mad world, my friends.

Marc says (and a Royals press release confirms) that the Reds have traded Jason LaRue to Kansas City for a player to be named later:

According to a baseball source, the Reds are on the verge of trading catcher Jason LaRue to the Kansas City Royals. The Reds will receive a player to be named later. No cash involved in the deal.

Of course you know I favored the idea of trading David Ross for something over trading LaRue for nothing, but without knowing what the demand was for Ross, it's hard to complain. Anyway, I supposed that could still happen. Probably not, though, because Krivsky has already demonstrated an obvious distaste for anyone he didn't personally bring into the organization.

The good news: LaRue gets to hang with Luke Hudson again. We at RHM wish LaRue the best of luck.

Marc and others are citing a report on FOX Sports that the Reds will announce a deal with left-handed reliever Mike Stanton:

The Reds, moving to reinforce their bullpen, have reached agreement on a two-year contract with free-agent left-hander Mike Stanton, FOXSports.com has learned.

The deal, pending a physical, will include a vesting option for a third season.

Stanton, 39, pitched for both the Nationals and Giants last season, finishing with a 3.99 ERA in 672/3 innings.

A two year contract for a 39-year old pitcher? I know he's left-handed, but gosh. And does this mean the Reds will discontinue trying to sign Scott Schoeneweis? He is the devil we know, after all.

Marc also mentions another FOX report that the Cubs are close to finalizing a deal with Alfonso Soriano:

Soriano, 30, is believed to be seeking an eight-year deal for approximately $17 million per season, which could put the total value of his package in the range of $135 million.

A MLB source told the Associated Press on Sunday afternoon that the two sides had reached a preliminary agreement on a deal that is contingent on Soriano passing a physical.

Soriano AND Marquis? Those Cubs are out of control!

Reds General Manager Wayne “Kriv-dawg” Krivsky isn't talking yet, but Peter Gammons has reported that the Reds have signed a 3-year, $14 million deal with Alex Gonzalez. (Via Marc)

As should be no surprise given Krivsky's priorities, Gonzales is hot with the glove, not so much with the bat. There is an upside to having a shiny new 100-strikeout kind of guy on the team, though: he can take some of the pressure off Adam Dunn.

More on this as the story develops.