Hot Stove Lunch: Newest names in Cooperstown a surprise; Winter Meetings underway

LAS VEGAS -- Most of the additions made by various veteran committees to baseball's Hall of Fame have been good ones. Over the last 10 or so years, Bill Mazeroski, Jack Morris and Alan Trammell were added by the various committees, and strong cases can be made for all three. There are times, certainly, when the Baseball Writers Association of America misses out on a deserving player and the veterans committees can help right a wrong.

But Sunday night's news that both Lee Smith and Harold Baines were being added was something of a shock.

Smith's election may be somewhat understandable. He was baseball's all-time save leader when he retired, and even though save has been devalued in recent years, Smith could be considered both dominant and durable over the course of an 18-year career, even if, statistically, he falls short of fellow Cooperstown closers Bruce Sutter, Goose Gossage, Rollie Fingers, Dennis Eckersley, Trevor Hoffman and Hoyt Wilhelm.

Baines, however, is another story. A very solid player who played for five different franchises, Baines didn't hit any of the customary career milestones. He fell short of 3,000 hits and 400 homers and in a 22-year career, was an All-Star just six times. He never hit 30 homers in a season in his career.

He never finished higher than ninth in MVP voting and from 1987 on through the end of his career in 2001  was essentially a full-time DH. He never finished among the Top 5 in hitting in any season.

In short, Baines was a good-to-very good player for a very long time, but he would seem to fall under the heading of "compiler,'' rather than an immortal.

His case was carried by White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf, who has long regarded Baines as a son. Reinsdorf's advocacy may be understandable, but what of the other 11 voters who also supported him? Reinsdorf's support may re-start questions about cronyism in the voting process by these "era'' committees.

Elsewhere...

AL EAST

The Yankees may be in the driver's seat with Manny Machado.

Lou Piniella came up one vote short for the Hall of Fame.

New Orioles' GM Mike Elias has a lot on his plate here.

The Blue Jays aren't here to do a lot of spending

AL CENTRAL

The Indians have some holes to fill in their outfield.

The Twins are looking for bullpen upgrades.

The White Sox, who have been linked to Bryce Harper, are now said to be in on Manny Machado.

Could Ian Kinsler be ready to go back to the Tigers?

AL WEST 

The Rangers and Astros find that they have a unique scheduling quirk in common.

The Angels are in search of help on the mound and behind the plate.

A look at what the A's are trying to do this week

The Mariners have been the busiest team in the game and they're not done yet.

NATIONAL LEAGUE 

Chili Davis has a new job -- his third in three seasons.