TOWER GROVE — Tonight baseball returns you to your regularly scheduled programming live from Philadelphia with a 2-2 tie, 3 1/2 innings to play, a Phillies pinch hitter coming to the plate and beer sales about to close.

It will be the first abbreviated World Series game, a vacuum-packed sprint of late-game strategy with a championship on the line. Perfect for sitcom-sized snacking.

It’s already been good for a few laughs.

But as the World Series sputters and wades to a finish, the Hot Stove is simmering. The San Diego Padres were kind enough to fill the first few rounds of the playoffs by shopping ace Jake Peavy around a select few teams in the National League. LA Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti called hogwash on reports his team was preparing to offer Manny Ramirez a two-year, $60-million deal to remain in Hollywood. This really could be the year that Colorado trades slugger Matt Holliday, the Phillies will kick those tires, and Rocky Mountain News columnist and friend Dave Krieger has a suggestion for what they should command in return. (Hint: It’s Garza-esque.)

The New York Yankees have an option on Bobby Abreu to consider, and don’t you think the lefty-hungry Chicago Cubs will be watching that decision? Toronto is working to keep righthander A.J. Burnett from exercising his right to hopscotch off to free agency. Even Milwaukee first baseman Prince Fielder will find his way into trade conversations. (Talked before about how a connection with Kansas City makes a bunch of sense.)

Every winter reminds us: It’s not the biggest deals that usually have the biggest impact.

Turns out last year’s swap of Delmon Young for Matt Garza and Jason Bartlett helped thrust the Rays into the World Series by landing not only the ALCS MVP but also their everyday shortstop. Ditto with free agents. Jayson Werth sure looks like a free-agent find for Philadelphia from two winters ago. Two of last winter’s big financial winners — Andruw Jones (2 years, $36.2 million) and Kosuke Fukudome (4 years, $48 million) — didn’t elevate their teams much at all compared to former St. Louis Cardinals reliever Troy Percival (2 years, $8 million), Octavio Dotel (2 years, $11 million) and Texas outfielder Milton Bradley (1 year, $5 million). Bradley will be a free agent again, but is he the one who will have the most impact?

Or will it be the team that gambles on pitcher Ben Sheets‘ health?

Again, flexing the power of the poll, below is a list of players — free agents and trade baits — who may be on the move this winter. The list is by no way comprehensive. That’s what the comment section is for …

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Don’t recognize the name with the asterisk? Jack Zduriencik was recently hired as the general manager of the Seattle Mariners. But that’s only part of the reason he’s on the list. Zduriencik has spent the past 10 years as the director of amateur scouting for the Milwaukee Brewers, and that means he’s directed drafts that scored players like Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder, J.J. Hardy and the bat that scored Sabathia, Matt LaPorta. Still wonder why his name is on the list? He’s bringing some scouts with him.

There are still several hours before baseball resumes tonight, and there is already plenty percolating on the Hot Stove. The New York Daily News has started a position-by-position look at the available players. And SI.com Jon Heyman stirs the stove daily, dropping Tuesday that the Yankees are, of course, intrigued by Holliday. Plenty to chew over while we wait for the answer of today’s burning question:

Will there be a seventh-inning stretch six outs into tonight’s game?

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