Every year after the World Series, I look at the calendar with dread: all those months between now and Spring Training! It always goes by faster than I anticipate though, and here I am today listening to the 2006 Grapefruit League opener for the Nationals and Pirates! Let me tell ya, it feels great to be listening to baseball again!

Last month, faint whispers about a possible trade of Alfonso Soriano were heard, some coming from pretty respectable sources such as the Washington Post's Barry Svrluga. The issue of Soriano and Vidro has not gone away, but I'm a little surprised that we haven't heard any more recent scoops about a trade of either of the second basemen.