MVN: Most Valuable Network

Not to indiscriminately jump on board the Rob Neyer bandwagon, but the bestowment of a National League Gold Glove Award upon Pittsburgh's Nate McLouth only further exemplifies why this once-prestigious honor has long since forfeited any remaining modicum of reputability:

According to John Dewan's Fielding Bible data, McLouth was 40 plays worse than average, dead last among major league outfielders. According to Baseball Prospectus, McLouth was 17 runs -- runs, not plays -- worse than an average center fielder. According to Bill James' win shares, McLouth's outfield defense was 46th-most-valuable in the majors. This is exactly the sort of award that only damages the reputation of the honor.

For what it's worth, both Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News dropped veiled hints on Wednesday afternoon that Texas Rangers shortstop Michael Young could conceivably beat out Chicago's Orlando Cabrera and procure his first-ever Gold Glove, an occurrence that would surely appeal to my biased sensibilities as a Rangers fan, but would nevertheless represent something of a confirmation of the award's meaningless nature.

And I say that as a huge Michael Young fan.

With an early-morning Marketing 3311 exam looming on the horizon and my creative juices suffering from a leaky fuel tank, please settle for this quick collection of "stuff" as the general managers' meetings enter their final day in Dana Point, California:

● The Rangers were scheduled to meet with Florida officials on Wednesday to discuss a catcher-for-pitcher swap; while the Marlins remain persistent in their efforts to deal Scott Olsen, Texas is far more interested in talking about Ricky Nolasco or Anibal Sanchez (Evan Grant, Dallas Morning News)

● Texas will touch base with the agent of free agent third baseman Casey Blake, but he'll likely remain out of the organization's price range (Grant)

● The Rangers are "wary" of Scott Olsen's history of volatile behavior and homer-friendly tendencies (Ken Rosenthal, FOXSports.com)

● Superagent Scott Boras expects that client Gerald Laird will play everyday somewhere in 2009 (Jeff Wilson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram)

● The Red Sox will discuss the possibility of trading Clay Buchholz or Michael Bowden to Texas for Jarrod Saltalamacchia, whose makeup is regarded as an asset by Boston, or Taylor Teagarden, who "seems less available" (Nick Cafardo, Boston Globe)

● Boston could deal Justin Masterson to the Rangers in exchange for Jarrod Saltalamacchia (John Perrotto, Baseball Prospectus)

● Should the Royals fall short in their attempts to sign Zach Greinke to a long-term contract extension, he will be made available via trade (Keith Law, ESPN.com)

● The Yankees have "engaged" the Rangers with regard to their surplus of catchers as a contingency plan in the event that Jorge Posada's surgically repaired right shoulder does not completely bounce back (Joel Sherman, New York Post)

● Atlanta has reportedly made a formal offer to 22-year-old Japanese right-hander Junichi Tazawa, one of several Asian pitchers director of Pacific Rim operations Jim Colborn is/was expected to scout (Law)

● The Cubs have emerged as the front-runner in the Jake Peavy sweepstakes, and have designs on re-signing free agent right-hander Ryan Dempster as well (Rosenthal)

Chew on that.