GM Meetings begin Monday

DANA POINT, Calif. - Theo Epstein wasn't due here at the St. Regis Resort (yes the place where AIG execs had their $400,000-plus shindig) until late tomorrow afternoon after stopping in Arizona to watch some of the Sox prospects in the Arizona Fall League.

Epstein was hoping to catch a glimpse of catching prospect Mark Wagner, outfielder Josh Reddick and first baseman Aaron Bates, all of whom play for Scottsdale.

A few other GM's began to trickle in today including Milwaukee's Doug Melvin, who just hired Ken Macha to be the Brewers' new manager and Cincinnati Reds GM Walt Jocketty. Both men were speaking to one another in the patio overlooking the Pacific, but given they're in the same division the talk was likely personal and not business.

While this isn't usually an event where there are a lot of trades made, the foundation is certainly laid for future deals as the GM's have each others' undivided attention for three days. There don't appear to be any major issues to discuss. Last season the GM's voted overwhelmingly to recommend limited instant replay which was eventually implemented by late August.

Not many agents show up, but the California-based ones - Scott Boras, Greg Genske and Jeff Borris - are likely to make an appearance or two here to peddle some of their high-priced free-agents. Boras, of course, has just about everyone except C.C. Sabathia, who is with the Genske group. Manny Ramirez, Derek Lowe, Jason Varitek, Mark Teixeira, and Pudge Rodriguez are in the Boras camp.

Other GM's seen here - Ed Wade (Astros), Josh Byrnes (Arizona), Bill Smith (Twins), but all are kind of relaxing before things get going for good tomorrow.