• Pete McEntegart: The 10 Spot -- Tue., Dec. 7 • Truth & Rumors: 49ers coach won't be fired • Gary Van Sickel: Take the 2004 PGA Tour Quiz • Albert Chen: Astros make move on Beltran • Bill Scheft: Backstage at The Show • More Blogs: Ballard | Whitaker | Elliott | Bradley Click here for Today's Sign of the Apocalypse, Game to Watch, Leading Off gallery and much more!

Winter meetings kick off on Friday in Anaheim. BALCO aside, it's been a quiet baseball offseason, but that's about to change. A few quick thoughts with the Hot Stove warming up:

• Monday night a TV station in Houston reported that the Astros have submitted a five-year, $70 million contract offer to Carlos Beltran. That's exactly what it took the Angels to land last year's big free agent, Vladimir Guerrero, but it's far from the 10-year, $200-million deal that Beltran's agent, Scott Boras, wants for his client. Houston's offer is significant because it shows that the team is dead serious about its pursuit to keep their center fielder, although Beltran still wouldn't even be the most well-paid player on the team. That distinction belongs to Jeff Bagwell, who inked a five-year, $85 million extension in 2001.

• How eager would the Yankees be to get rid of Jason Giambi if he slugged 45 homers in 2004?

• The Yankees are reportedly close to offering a three-year deal to Eric Milton, who won 14 games and come three outs from pitching a no-hitter in 2004. I'm not sure Milton would solve much for New York. Only Jose Lima in 2000 gave up more home runs in fewer innings than Milton in 2004 (43 in 201 innings). The Yankees like that Milton is a left-hander, but lefty hitters had an .857 OPS against Milton last year.

• The Carl Pavano Tour continues today when he meets with Mariners execs in Seattle.

• White Sox GM Ken Williams said yesterday Randy Johnson isn't interested in relocating to the South Side. No surprise there. Meanwhile, the White Sox have until midnight on Tuesday to offer arbitration to Magglio Ordonez, whose availability has failed to generate much buzz. Ordonez, 31, is a mighty power source who hits for average: he's hit at least .300, with 29 home runs and 99 RBIs in the five seasons prior to an injury-plagued 2004. Ordonez's knee is worrisome, but he could turn out to be a tremendous acquisition. Look for the Tigers, who are eager to spend mad cash this winter, to make a big run at the four-time All-Star.

Three Questions

With former MLB commissioner Fay Vincent:

SI.com: What's your advice to Bud Selig on the latest BALCO reports?

Vincent: "There's nothing legally [Selig] can do, but if I were him I'd go out and see Bonds, and I would try to get him to tell me exactly what the truth is. Depending on what he tells me, I'd try to get him to go public and tell the public what the truth is."

SI.com: Are baseball records set now and in recent years forever tainted?

Vincent: "Records set now have to have some sort of a cloud and might be tainted by what [the players] have been taking, if they've in fact been taking it. But we don't know what they're taking. We still need a lot more facts."

SI.com: Are you optimistic things will change?

Vincent: "I can't be optimistic. I can be hopeful."

Mailbag

Why don't the Yankees sign Odalis Perez?  If they get [Randy] Johnson or [Eric] Milton, they can trade Perez and if they don't he gives them the lefty they need.
-- Sam Silver , New York City

I'm also surprised that the Yankees haven't shown much interest in Perez. Perez's 19 wins the past two years make him easy to skim over, but the hard throwing lefty received the National League's puniest run support last season (3.3 runs a game). Perez's value probably dropped after two uninspiring playoff starts for the Dodgers in October -- he lasted a combined 5 innings in two starts against the Cardinals -- but Perez posted a 3.25 ERA in 31 starts. He's a great buy; I'd prefer him to Milton and Derek Lowe, and Perez probably will come cheaper than both of those guys.

What encouraging news can you offer a die-hard Twins fan?  We need help with the bat and always need another strong starter.  Is anyone other than the Twins interested in Brad Radke?  How will Johan Santana do in 05?  Has Joe Mauer recovered?
-- Tom Madsen, Minneapolis

Tom, Santana is the least of your worries. He's the real deal. There may not be a pitcher in baseball with a more promising future. I thought it was necessary for Minnesota to resign Radke, who is coming off one of his finest seasons, but the Twins have until midnight Tuesday to offer arbitration to their right-hander and this is an organization that rarely goes to arbitration.

Assuming Radke leaves -- the Yankees, Red Sox, and Indians are interested -- Minnesota's 2005 rotation is Santana, Kyle Lohse, Carlos Silva, J.D. Durbin and Joe Mays. If I'm a Twins fan I'm getting a little worried about 2005. Minnesota long has had the luxury of playing in baseball's version of the NFC West, but the competition is catching up to them. The Indians are one of baseball's up-and-coming teams, and the Tigers are serious about making big offseason signings.

The Twins' offense could be better than expected. First baseman Justin Morneau has 25-, 30-home run potential now that he'll play full time and Mauer is on track to be ready for spring training.