"MLB had a formula that worked last year and now they have the economy as a perfect and fair reason to drag numerous players down. I believe there will be more than 100 unsigned players in the first week of January."

AROUND THE HORN

One rival executive predicts that the Rangers will make a strong run at free-agent closer Kerry Wood, who was born in Irving, Tx., a suburb of Dallas; Wood has allowed only three home runs in 90 2/3 innings the past two seasons, making him a reasonable choice for hitter-friendly Rangers Ballpark. The Rangers are also among the teams interested in the Rockies' newly acquired Huston Street, who attended the University of Texas ...

A's general manager Billy Beane scoffs at the notion that his pitching staff will be too young for the team to contend. "There's no such thing as pitching being too young," Beane says. "People said that in 2000. We weren't supposed to be in it because we had Hudson, Mulder and Zito in the rotation. No one knew how good they were. Give me young talent over experience any day of the week." ...

Outfielder Jeremy Hermida could be the next arbitration-eligible Marlin to be traded, but having already moved four others, the Fish are now flexible enough to be choosy. The Cubs like Hermida as an affordable left-handed hitting option in right field, and the Rays are among the other teams interested ...

Many in the industry were surprised by the Cubs' willingness to part with Class AA right-hander Jose Ceda for one year of righty Kevin Gregg. Ceda, 6-foot-4 and 275 pounds, is a big, strong reliever with dominating power stuff. "He looks like Armando Benitez," one exec says. From a scouting perspective, that's a compliment.