1. Every once in a while, I will throw out a trade idea. Keep in mind this is simply something I am suggesting (not something officials from teams are saying could happen). Here it is: the Mets trade Scott Schoeneweis to Cincinnati for Ryan Freel. It works financially; Schoeneweis is owed $7.2 million the next two years and Freel is owed $7 million for the next two years. Cincinnati is currently working to make Jeremy Affeldt a starter, so that leaves Mike Stanton as the lone lefty reliever. Scouts who have seen Schoeneweis this spring say he is throwing better than last year. The Reds – and especially their fans – love the hustling Freel. But Cincinnati recently signed Corey Patterson, who could join Norris Hopper in holding center field until Jay Bruce is ready. Bruce might be the game’s top position prospect.

Freel had an injury-disrupted season last year, but before last year he had shown an ability to hit lefty pitching, play just about anywhere on the field and energize a club with his enthusiasm. The Mets have a lot of low-pulse players and Freel, who turned 32 last week, could help in that area.

What do you think?

2. The Red Sox were planning to pitch Josh Beckett and Daisuke Matsuzaka in the first four games of the season, capitalizing on an opening series in Japan on March 25-26 followed by a week off until their American opener April 1-2. But now they are looking unlikely to have either Beckett or Matsuzaka in Tokyo vs. Oakland. Beckett has back spasms and the Red Sox have pledged not to rush him just so he could start the opener. Matsuzaka’s wife is due in late March and is in Boston, and he is intending to be present for the birth. The big issue here, obviously, is Beckett, arguably the majors’ top starter. If this is a recurring issue, the Red Sox suddenly have an important injury to manage throughout the season.

3. So Joe Girardi is going to be doing a weekly show on YES. The Yankee manager on the Yankee network. What were the odds?