The Major League Baseball Offseason Post

[gobucksbc]

Originally Posted by jdcurt2

[h1]Reds Sign Chapman To $30MM Deal?http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2010/01/aroldis-chapman-agrees-to-30mm-deal.html[/h1]
By Luke Adams [January 10 at 1:34pm CST]

1:34pm: Jeff Blair from the Toronto Globe and Mail tweets that he's hearing that Chapman signing with the Reds at five years and $30MM is a done deal.

WHAT!?!?! Didn't expect that from the Reds...

 

[osh kosh bosh]

Well hope that he can find an off speed pitch (two actually), and figure out how too throw a strike.

Yes I'm mad.

 

[frankie valentino]

Damn, from Cuba to Cincinnati, poor guy just can't win.

 

[jdcurt2]

Originally Posted by Frankie Valentino

Damn, from Cuba to Cincinnati, poor guy just can't win.

 

[wildkycat]

Hell yeah.

 

[dacomeup]

Castinelli opening up the checkbook. Someone else has to be on their way out.

 

[jdcurt2]

From John Fay:

The Reds have agreed to terms with Cuban left-hander Aroldis Chapman on a six-year, guaranteed deal. The payout is over a long period of time, probably 10 years.

The deal will be announced tomorrow, pending a physical.

 

[proshares]

Didn't know there were that many Reds fans on the board

After breakout year, Lind back in barn

Sunday, January 10, 2010 | Feedback | Print Entry

Many players started coming out of winter hibernation last week, like bears sleepily stepping out of caves for the first time in spring. The first week after New Year's Day is traditionally when pitchers start to climb mounds, when infielders start to take grounders in earnest, when hitters begin to heft bats.

Getty Images

Adam Lind is working on a swing that generated a lot of power, such as this home run cut, in 2009.

At 9:30 p.m. Monday, Adam Lind drove to a place near his offseason home in central Indiana that they call "The Barn," an oversized shed where ballplayers of many ages congregate this time of year to hit and throw and field, to begin the process of restoring swings and fastballs.

"The first days, you're just looking to make contact," Lind said. "You're trying to get the body back into the twisting, into the swing of things. You're not really working on anything. … You're just letting your swing dictate where the ball goes."

Lind likes structure and hones his habits, and this winter routine has worked for him. As the Blue Jays slumped in the second half of the 2009 season, the success of the designated hitter's first full season in the majors was obscured. He racked up 81 extra-base hits, batted .305, accumulated a .370 on-base percentage, drove in 114 runs and finished 15th in the majors in OPS, just behind Alex Rodriguez and just ahead of Ryan Howard.

Mike Shirley, a White Sox scout who helped build this baseball school in 2005 and had thrown batting practice to Lind for years before that, is always there. "The kid's starting to get better," Shirley said. "His aptitude and his ability to learn are really good. He seems to watch things, and he really picks things up. You can see that in how he repeats stuff."

Shirley throws batting practice for three sessions a day, and Lind usually comes for the last session, when players from nearby Anderson University and high schoolers work in the cages. "He's just one of the guys," Shirley said. "He's a worker, great Indiana roots. He doesn't think too much of himself."

If he did, somebody else probably would clear the snow out of his cul-de-sac. But Lind has relished the snow this offseason because the storms provide a break in his cardiovascular routine. Armed with an orange plastic shovel and an iPod, he heads outside after it snows and shovels the walkways and driveway for three hours. As Lind chatted recently, he was at a local store buying salt, prepping for the next storm.

Lind will hit in The Barn for the next 5½ weeks or so, and then he will join the mass migration of ballplayers flying to Arizona and Florida. Spring is in sight.
[h3]Rangers rising?[/h3]
The gap between the Angels and their division rivals is seemingly closing, but for much of this offseason, the Rangers haven't done much other than swapping Kevin Millwood and signing Rich Harden and Darren Oliver. But Texas moved to close out a couple of deals in the past 24 hours, reaching agreements with Vladimir Guerrero and Khalil Greene. The Rangers know all too well about the damage Guerrero can do: Vlad has absolutely wrecked pitching while swinging in Arlington, hitting .394 in 50 games. Through the years, some of that could be attributed to the Rangers' poor pitching, but Guerrero has looked so comfortable swinging in Texas, as if he is playing Wiffle ball in his backyard.

And although it's apparent Guerrero has lost bat speed and probably won't be an elite offensive player again, he showed during the postseason that if pitchers failed to get the ball inside on him, he still could drive the ball and drive in runs.

Greene likely will fill the main utility infielder role that Omar Vizquel had last season, although he has a much stronger arm and is probably better suited to play third base. The Rangers are locked in at shortstop and third, with Elvis Andrus and Michael Young, respectively, and it's a little surprising that Greene didn't gamble on a role with a team such as Oakland, where he may well have emerged as the everyday third baseman. But the promise of hitting in Texas presumably was a lure for a player who is trying to get his career back on track. You do wonder whether Greene will get a chance for at-bats in left field, if he hits.

The Rangers' lineup could look like this (depending on how manager Ron Washington aligns his outfield):

CF Julio Borbon
3B Michael Young
RF Josh Hamilton
DH Vladimir Guerrero
2B Ian Kinsler
LF Nelson Cruz
1B Chris Davis
C Taylor Teagarden
SS Elvis Andrus

Rotation:

P Scott Feldman
P Rich Harden
P Tommy Hunter
P Brandon McCarthy
P Derek Holland

On paper, Harden and Holland look like linchpins. If they do what they seemingly are capable of doing, the Rangers can be a dangerous team. If they don't ... well, Texas will have a rotation struggle on its hands.

Guerrero's signing carries some risk for the Rangers, writes Evan Grant.

With all the major free agents locked into long-term deals, here is how the dollars are falling:

2008-09: $1,162,507,500
2009-10 (to date): $639,100,000
[h3]Moves, deals and decisions[/h3]
1. Mentioned in Saturday's column how there is such a wide range of opinions about the merits of Aroldis Chapman, and a longtime agent e-mailed some thoughts about players who were viewed similarly in the past: "I remember there being quite a split on Kaz Ishii when the Dodgers signed him out of Japan. There was also a huge split on whether Kei Igawa would even be serviceable, let alone a No. 3 or No. 4 starter. There were also a number of guys that didn't think Kaz Matsui could play shortstop at this level, given his technique of surrounding ground balls (as opposed to cutting balls off and using backhand play in the hole)."

The Jays can afford Chapman, writes Richard Griffin.

2. The Cubs are still kicking the tires on a possible Heath Bell deal. As a general rule, closers sell for better prices in July than in January.

3. A big question for the Red Sox is how Jacoby Ellsbury will handle his move to left field, writes Nick Cafardo.

4. Within Cafardo's notebook, Johnny Damon never says never to a return to the Yankees. Some executives with other teams are absolutely convinced that Damon will wind up back with the Yankees, but for that to happen, he'll have to take a major financial hit. Meanwhile, the Yankees assume Damon won't come back. So if Damon wants to go back to New York, he'll probably have to pick up the phone to make it happen, and soon.

5. Re-signing Matt Holliday makes the Cardinals the favorites in the NL Central, writes Joe Strauss. Totally agree. Within this piece, Cardinals GM John Mozeliak indicates that David Freese will have the first shot to be the team's third baseman.

6. The Pirates have signed a mental conditioning coordinator, writes Chuck Finder.

7. As the world turns: Zach Jackson is back with the Blue Jays. He has been traded four times in his first 5½ years as a pro.

8. Derek Lowe is putting the trade rumors in the past, writes David O'Brien.

9. Russ Ortiz signed with the Dodgers.

10. The Rockies added Joey Eischen to their minor league coaching staff.

11. Bryan LaHair signed with the Cubs.
[h3]The art of catching[/h3]
From Brent Mayne, another tip in the Art of Catching:

"The other day somebody asked me a question I'd never heard before. The question was, does defense slump?

"Maybe discussing this might help someone. Heck yes, defense slumps. Geez, just ask Steve Sax, Mackey Sasser, Chuck Knoblauch, or anyone who's ever had that throwing thing. That's the most obvious kind of defensive slump. But even if it's not that dramatic, we all go through defensive ups and downs.

"For us catchers, let's take throwing out base stealers for example. Since success in this arena is so timing dependent (just like hitting) we're all prone to hot and cold streaks. In addition, there's so many variables that are out of our control (the baserunner's jump, the pitcher's delivery time, etc.) This might be similar to a hitter enduring a period where he's centering the ball but constantly lining out.

"I considered myself as good a receiver, game-caller and blocker as anyone in my day, but I definitely had times when my thumb hurt because I was mis-catching the ball. There were also extended times when I had no idea what to call ... every sign I put down got crushed. And most of the time I knew the ball wasn't going to get by me, but there were streaks where I felt a step behind and doubted my ability to block the ball.

"So I say all of this to (hopefully) ease your mind. Yes, just like your offensive game, you will go through defensive highs and lows. Because the fact is, failure is built into every facet of baseball ... ups and downs, ins and outs, hot streaks and cold. It's just a matter of accepting this truth and figuring out a way to persevere and have fun. My advice is don't get too giddy when you're good or too low when you're bad. Just remember, this too will change. What shouldn't change is you're zeal for the game.

"Maybe this quote from Dave 'Hindu' Henderson will help you understand: 'We're ballplayers. We fail most of the time.'"
[h3]Other stuff[/h3]
FYI, no blog on Monday.

• Payroll remains a central issue in the NL Central, writes Dejan Kovacevic.

• It's slow going for top Red Sox prospect Ryan Westmoreland because of injuries, Peter Abraham writes.

• Within this notebook, there is word that Trot Nixon might pursue coaching.

• Rick Peterson has a healthy outlook on his pitching staff, writes Tom Haudricourt.

• Rays youngsters will get a look at how the team operates.

• Endy Chavez is rehabbing, writes Larry Stone.

• The Indians' championship drought is truly epic.

• With Curtis Granderson gone to the Yankees, Tom Gage wonders who the Tigers' next ambassador will be.

• The Hall of Fame will be worth millions to Andre Dawson, writes Bill Madden.

• The Vikings now know who they'll play next week: Dallas. It'll be interesting to see how Minnesota defends Miles Austin; I suspect the Vikings will blitz less aggressively than the Eagles and depend on Jared Allen and the rest of their front line to generate pressure on Tony Romo.
And today will be better than yesterday.

[h3]Chapman to majors this year?[/h3]
3:56PM ET

[h5]Aroldis Chapman[/h5]
Top Email


With the news out today that Aroldis Chapman will end up with the Reds -- for the somewhat startling and many would say highly risky figure of $30 million -- Reds fans will obviously want to know when they'll get to see their prized possession at Great American Ballpark.

That's a topic for debate. Because while everybody seems capitvated by Chapman's talent, there's no indication just how refined his current game is, and where it could be this year.

Our guess now from talking to a number of people is that it'll be surprising if Chapman is doing anything for the team this year. But that doesn't mean he won't be around. Keith Law checks in.

[h5]Keith Law[/h5]
Chapman could be rushed

"Well, there's a difference between him being ready and when he arrives. It's more likely he gets there sooner than most because the Reds will want to justify the investment. But with so little data on how well and how much he pitched in Cuba it's tough to say anything with certainty just yet."

http:// [h3]Johnson contract talks revived?[/h3]
12:02PM ET

[h5]Josh Johnson | Marlins[/h5]
Top Email


There are rumors flying around baseball last week that Marlins star pitcher Josh Johnson was about to change agents, in an offseason in which negotiations with Florida broke down.

"Definitely not true," Johnson told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney on Thursday evening.

Now comes word from Joe Frisaro of MLB.com that the Marlins plan to have discussions with the agent, Matt Sosnick, on a new contract sometime this week.

Earlier in this offseason, the Marlins and Sosnick negotiated over a multi-year deal, but the talks broke down when the Marlins reportedly did not want to guarantee a fourth year in the new contract.

According to Frisaro, those demands have not changes and Sosnick still wants a guaranteed fourth year.

http:// [h3]Cubs again looking at Bell?[/h3]
11:53AM ET

[h5]Heath Bell | Padres[/h5]
Top Email


Cubs manager Lou Piniella may again be juggling a pair of closers.

According to Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune, the Cubs are "kicking the tires again" on Padres closer Heath Bell. Bell was on the Cubs' radar at the winter meetings, but no deal was completed.

Piniella used Kevin Gregg and Carlos Marmol as his closer last season before settling on Marmol.

The Padres could be be open to dealing Bell since he is eligible for arbitration and might end up with more than $3 million.

http:// [h3]Orioles in Delgado chase?[/h3]
11:32AM ET

[h5]Carlos Delgado | Mets[/h5]
Top Email


We mentioned last week that Carlos Delgado was playing winter ball in Puerto Rico in an effort to show teams he is fully recovered from hip surgery.

Mets general manager Omar Minaya is known to be interested in keeping Delgado in Queens, but today's Boston Globe says competition may come from the Baltimore Orioles. The Globe says the Orioles are considering Delgado as a first baseman and could use him as a DH.

[h5]Keith Law[/h5]
Los can still hit

"When healthy, Delgado was a pretty complete hitter, with power and patience and a good approach against anyone other than tough left-handed pitchers. Questions about lost bat speed were answered in the middle of last year. He's never been more than an adequate first baseman, and the hip injury may mean he's better suited to DH; at 37, he's not likely to play first base much longer in any case."

http:// [h3]Damon back to the Bronx?[/h3]
11:22AM ET

[h5]Johnny Damon | Yankees[/h5]
Top Email


Johnny Damon is still looking for a new home after seemingly pricing himself out of a return to the New York Yankees.

Not so fast. ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney writes today that "some executives with other teams are absolutely convinced that Damon will wind up back with the Yankees."

Buster cautions that the Yankees are under the assumption that Damon is going elsewhere, so "he's probably going to have to pick up the phone and make it happen, and soon."

Atlanta has been mentioned as a possible destination and that would be fine with Damon, according to today's Boston Globe. Other reports say the Giants also have interest.

[h5]Keith Law[/h5]
Giants a better fit

"The question for Atlanta is would they sign Damon to some insane contract, only to platoon him with Matt Diaz? I don't see it. Granted, it would be absurdly productive -- Diaz hit .412/.464/.640 against lefties last year -- but pretty expensive. In San Fran, defense in that spacious OF is a question, but they need bats."

http:// [h3]Lone Star Vlad[/h3]
10:54AM ET

[h5]Vladimir Guerrero | Angels[/h5]
Top Email


We noted Friday that the Rangers were targeting Vladimir Guerrero over Jermaine Dye to be their designated hitter. By Saturday, Vlad had an agreement in place with the Rangers that will guarantee him $6 million pending a physical.

Guerrero fills the Rangers' need for a right-handed bat in the middle of the lineup. As T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com notes, the Rangers like Guerrero's production at their ballpark. Vlad has played 50 games at the Ballpark in Arlington and is hitting .394 there with 14 home runs, 33 RBIs and a .705 slugging percentage. That's the highest batting average of any player with at least 120 at-bats.

ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney writes in today's blog that the Rangers have made a serious of moves that will make them highly competitive in the AL West.

ESPN.com's Keith Law, however, is not as impressed with the signing.

[h5]Keith Law[/h5]
I'd skip it, Texas

"You hate to say it, but I don't think Vlad has much left to offer at the plate. His legs and back are broken down to the point where he struggles to drive the ball, and he can't play the field at all."

http:// [h3]Twins' options at third base[/h3]
10:48AM ET

[h5]Minnesota Twins[/h5]
Top Email


Last season, the Minnesota Twins waited to find a third baseman and ended up signing Joe Crede to a one-year deal.

Kelly Thesier of MLB.com says the Twins are following a similar approach this offseason. Thesier said the Twins were interested in Mark DeRosa and Adrian Beltre, who landed elsewhere, but so far have passed on Miguel Tejada. The goal will be to find a "short-term stopgap" until prospect Danny Valencia is major-league ready.

http:// [h3]Walker the odd man out?[/h3]
10:33AM ET

[h5]Pittsburgh Pirates[/h5]
Top Email


The Pirates are planning to have top prospect Pedro Alvarez play third base at Triple-A Indianapolis next season, which could leave 2004 first-round pick Neil Walker as the off man out.

According to today's Post-Gazette, Walker, who hit .194 as a September call-up, is now without a position and could be traded. The Pirates, however, might wait for Walker to have an "offensive breakout" before making a deal.

http:// [h3]The market for Tejada[/h3]
10:28AM ET

[h5]Miguel Tejada | Astros[/h5]
Top Email


Miguel Tejada is willing to play any infield position, reports ESPN The Magazine's Jorge Arangure Jr., and that willingness to move off shortstop could open the market for the former all-star.

Tejada could fill openings at third base for Toronto, Oakland or St. Louis, and if clubs think he can play some second base, another handful of clubs could show interest.

Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune writes today that that the Cardinals would love to sign Tejada if his price drops.

Jon Heyman of MLB Network said Friday night that the A's are looking for an infielder and could try to bring Tejada back to Oakland and losing out on Marco Scutaro and Adrian Beltre.

Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle counters that there is only a "vague possibility" the A's would consider Tejada.

http:// [h3]Slow going for top Red Sox prospect[/h3]
10:07AM ET

[h5]Boston Red Sox[/h5]
Top Email


The Boston Red Sox had high hopes for Ryan Westmoreland when they gave the 2008 fifth-round pick $2 million to turn down a scholarship from Vanderbilt.

The Boston Globe reports today that injuries have hampered the progress of the 19-year-old outfielder. Westmoreland will skip a team program for top prospects this week at Boston College to continue rehabilitation on his left shoulder in Florida. The Globe story says the 2010 goal for Westmoreland, who was injured while playing at short-season Lowell, is simply to stay healthy.

http:// [h3]Tip of the cap to Dawson[/h3]
9:48AM ET

[h5]Andre Dawson[/h5]
Top Email


A Hall of Fame inductee no longer gets to chose the cap he will wear in Cooperstown, but the word is Andre Dawson wants to wear the hat of the Chicago Cubs, reports Bill Madden of the New York Daily News.

Dawson is easily identified with both the Montreal Expos, where he began his career, and the Cubs, for whom he won the 1987 NL MVP award. Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune says Dawson definitely would go in as an Expo if there were no players representing that team, but that drought ended when Gary Carter was elected.

Rogers said Dawson had a Hall of Fame cap clause in his Marlins contract, but the Hall stepped in and stopped that practice.

 

[uclamike]

Didn't know there were that many Reds fans on the board

just like Bengals fans they only come around when good things happens

which means this should be the last time we see them all year

 

[dacomeup]

Originally Posted by UCLAMIKE

Didn't know there were that many Reds fans on the board

just like Bengals fans they only come around when good things happens

which means this should be the last time we see them all year


There are like 5 Reds fans, and 5 Bengals that are always around. All the other Bengals fans are bandwagon.

 

[wildkycat]

Originally Posted by UCLAMIKE

Didn't know there were that many Reds fans on the board

just like Bengals fans they only come around when good things happens

which means this should be the last time we see them all year

Chapman's deal will be paid out over 10 years...won't cost us much until 2014.

Cincinnati, which could shed almost $20 million from its payroll after this year by declining options for Aaron Harang and Bronson Arroyo, stepped up at the end by offering only $2 million less than Jose Contreras received when he defected.

word is Oakland finished 2nd in the bidding.

press conference at noon tomorrow to make it official.

 

[DownByLaw]

Originally Posted by Frankie Valentino

Damn, from Cuba to Cincinnati, poor guy just can't win.

 

[philballa09]

ed wade

signing all the ex phils.

 

[dynamic x]

I haven't followed MLB for a long time, but this year I've decided to become a Reds fan, including actually going to some games instead of seeing themon the newspaper. I'll be honest, I've lived in Cincinnati for 6, but I was a kid back then and I only liked the Angels (lived in the area) or theMariners (because of Ichiro who came out in 2001) when I moved here. I'd hate to show up when the Reds start doing better, but I'll play this S&Tteam loyalty thing early.

If I recall correctly from streaming through the sports pages, it's not exactly the strength of the arms that Cincinnati needs, but the clutch hitting.Arroyo would keep them down to 3 or so runs and then Cordero would hold up pretty well, but no runs would score. About 2 or 3 years ago I think I was fed upwith hearing about Homer Bailey because he was this top prospect but sucked when it came to playing and went back to the farm. That's all I really knowexcept for the Scot Rolen trade late last year.

Man my knowledge is vague as hell.

 

[proshares]

[h1]Carlos Beltran Had Knee Surgery Without Mets Permission[/h1]

• 1Comment
• Say Something »

1/13/2010 10:35 PM ET By Pat Lackey

PrintAText Size

E-mailhttp://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php...ts Permission -- MLB FanHouse&content=&lng=en http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php...ts Permission -- MLB FanHouse&content=&lng=en http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php...ts Permission -- MLB FanHouse&content=&lng=en http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php...ts Permission -- MLB FanHouse&content=&lng=en More

• • Pat Lackey
  • Pat Lackey is an MLB Blogger for FanHouse

2010 isn't even two weeks old, but the Mets can't escape the injury bug that plagued them for all of 2009. Tonight they found out that Carlos Beltran underwent arthoscopic surgery on his arthritic right knee, and that he won't be able to participate in any baseball activities for 12 weeks. To make matters worse, Joel Sherman is reporting that Mets are claiming Beltran had the surgery without their permission, and that the team is contemplating action against their star.

The same knee condition caused Beltran to miss half of the 2009 season and while he initially felt better, the team says that he experienced pain during his conditioning workouts to prepare for the upcoming season. The 12 week timetable means that he should be able to start rehabbing right around when the season begins, with his return coming at some point after that.

It's hard to imagine this situation getting any uglier, but a 12-week return timetable for a scope seems intuitively long (I'm by no means an expert, but generally scopes are done because they're not invasive and keep recovery time down) and given the way Beltran's return date kept sliding later and later last year, there are a lot of questions unanswered. And that's without getting in to why Beltran felt the need to have the procedure done without the Mets' permission. I guess after the way 2009 went, Mets' fans shouldn't have expected anything different.

 

[DownByLaw]

Hey Mez, what's going on with Beltran?

 

[jpzx]

Via mlbtraderumors.com.....

Roch Kubatko of MASN says Joe Crede "appears to top" the Orioles' free agent list.

 

[jpzx]

[h1]Catcher Mike Redmond agrees to US$850,000, one-year contract with Indians[/h1]CLEVELAND - Free-agent catcher Mike Redmond agreed Friday to an US$850,000, one-year contract with the Cleveland Indians.

A 12-year veteran, Redmond gives the Indians some experience behind the plate following the club's trade of Kelly Shoppach to Tampa. Redmond won a World Series ring with Florida in 2003.

The 38-year-old has a career .289 batting average. Last season, he hit .237 in 45 games while backing up Minnesota's Joe Mauer.

Redmond spent the past five seasons with the Twins, batting .297 in 257 games.

He can earn an additional $50,000 in performance bonuses: $10,000 each for 40, 45, 50, 60, and 70 games started.
Mike Redmond is the real life Jake Taylor. Old washed up catcher with bad knees signs on with the Indians.

 

[CP1708]

Jake Taylor

 

[kiddin like jason]

More Cleveland power moves.

 

[proshares]

http:// [h3][/h3]

[h3]Cubs looking at Nady?[/h3]
11:56AM ET

[h5]Xavier Nady | Yankees[/h5]
Top Email


The Cubs are taking a look at http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=4564Xavier Nady as a possible backup outfielder, reports Carrie Muskat of MLB.com.

The 31-year-old Nady missed most of last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his elbow in July, but agent Scott Boras has said his client will be ready for spring training. There has been speculation Nady might re-sign with the Yankees to play left field.

The Cubs also are considering http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=3449Jermaine Dye for the role and could elect to re-sign http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=5452Reed Johnson, who so far has been unsuccessful at testing the free agent waters.

[h5]Keith Law[/h5]
Nady's free-agent value

"He's a potential value play this winter due to the injury. Realistically, though, his upside is that of an average defensive corner outfielder who'll hit for average power and some batting average but won't have a great OBP, and he may not have much of a throwing arm until later in the year or 2011."

http:// [h3]Dye'd in blue?[/h3]
11:52AM ET

[h5]Jermaine Dye | White Sox[/h5]
Top Email


http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=3449Jermaine Dye is a pretty well-liked player in Chicago, as he's been a solid fixture in right field for years. Well, at least he's been well-liked on one side of town.

Now, ESPNChicago's Bruce Levine posits that the Cubs and Dye could be a "perfect match" via a free agent deal.

He writes that, "Although Dye's days as a 150-game performer might be over, the Cubs like the intangibles the soon-to-be-36-year-old brings to the table. The Cubs look at him as a possible backup in left and right field, but also a guy who could easily make the transition to first base as a backup to http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=3614Derrek Lee, who is entering the last year of his contract."

Keith Law wasn't as bullish on the deal, emailing us, "Just what [the Cubs] need -- another past-prime hitter who destroys value with his glove!"

But at least he wouldn't have to move.

[h5]Eric Karabell[/h5]
Dye a good fantasy fit?

"Players like Dye are often underrated in fantasy baseball circles, because fantasy owners tend to overrate young players -- see Chris Davis, for example -- or players with the potential to hit for power and steal a base. I'm with you on seeking youth and multi-faceted options, but often it means safe, consistent power hitters such as Dye are ignored. As recently as 2006, he smacked 44 home runs with 120 RBIs and a .315 batting average. Even last season, Dye finished with more than 25 home runs for the fifth consecutive season. Dye joined 20 other right-handed hitters in the group of those who hit 20 or more home runs against right-handed pitching in 2009. I don't think he's done yet at age 36, and the Cubs seem like a really good fit, both for their team and for yours, depending on what round you can steal him in."

http:// [h3]Best fit for Molina?[/h3]
11:48AM ET

[h5]Bengie Molina | Giants[/h5]
Top Email


Since Bengie Molina turned down the New York Mets offer, one has to wonder who might be the best fit for the catcher if it's really not the Mets.

ESPn The Magazine's Buster Olney tweets today that "the team that makes the most sense, on paper, to sign him: The Mariners. We'll see if that's a fit."

The M's have three catchers on their roster in rookie Adam Moore, second-year man Rob Johnson and veteran Josh Bard, so on the surface Molina makes sense for Seattle.

But on the other hand, GM Jack Zduriencik isn't keen on multi-year deals for aging veterans (see: Branyan, Russell and Washburn, Jarrod) and Molina certainly qualifies in that regard at 35 years of age.

Such an addition, however, may send Moore back to Triple-A Tacoma or make Johnson available in trade. But the Mariners front office is known to like Moore quite a bit, and he's already spent nearly a year in Triple-A, suggesting he's as ready to catch in the big leagues as the M's are to have him do so.

Saving the money and spend it on a second baseman such as Orlando Hudson, or a starting pitcher appears more likely.

http:// [h3]Could Papelbon ends Theo's streak?[/h3]
11:05AM ET

[h5]Jonathan Papelbon | Red Sox[/h5]
Top Email


Theo Epstein has never gone to an arbitration hearing as general manager of the Red Sox, but closer Jonathan Papelbon could change that.

Papelbon earned $6.25 million last year and has expressed a desire to maximize his revenue by going year-to-year with contract negotiations. The Boston Herald reports that Papelbon could ask for $10 million when figures are exchanged today.

Epstein is likely reluctant to give Papelbon a long-term deal since Daniel Bard could emerge as a viable closer down the road.

We asked KLaw whether, given the somewhat cold dealings between Paps and the BoSox, they might be willing to move him.

[h5]Keith Law[/h5]
For a trade, timing is off

"The guy has value, but it's a bad time to trade for a closer, and thus a bad time to offer one. Even if they say they'll listen to offers I doubt they'd get many calls. Bottom line: who has the payroll for Papelbon and a need for a closer?"

http:// [h3]Audition Day for Sheets[/h3]
10:56AM ET

[h5]Ben Sheets | Brewers | Interested: Mets?, Cardinals?, Blue Jays?, Rangers?, Nationals?, Dodgers?, Diamondbacks?, Cubs?[/h5]
Top Email


Free agent right-hander Ben Sheets will be on display today when he holds a workout before interested teams at the University of Louisiana at Monroe.

The New York Daily News reports that the Mets, who are desperate to add a starter to a rotation that has plenty of question marks, will be among the teams in attendance to watch the four-time All-Star. Other teams reportedly attending Sheets' workout include the Dodgers, Nationals, Diamondbacks, Cubs, Rangers, Brewers, Blue Jays and Cardinals.

Sheets reportedly is seeking between $8 million and $12 million per year, but teams have been reluctant to go that high for a pitcher that missed all of last season following elbow surgery. Sheets will have a far better chance of getting his price if he proves he is healthy.

[h5]Baseball Prospectus[/h5]
Brewers may be the best fit

"It's difficult to gauge how effective Sheets will be after losing a whole season, but flexor tendon surgery isn't as extreme as Tommy John or rotator cuff surgery. What's important for any team to remember is that while Sheets has been very good when he's pitched, he averaged just 24 starts a year in the four years prior to 2009. If one thinks of him as a third starter instead of an ace or No. 2, it's actually his old club, the Brewers, who need him most to validate any hopes of contention, as they count three guys with ERAs above 5.00 last year (Jeff Suppan, Manny Parra and David Bush) as their third-starter candidate." - Jay Jaffe

http:// [h3]King Felix still reigns in Seattle[/h3]
10:41AM ET

[h5]Felix Hernandez | Mariners[/h5]
Top Email


A successful offseason got even better for the Seattle Mariners.

On the eve of exchanging salary figures for arbitration, Felix Hernandez has agreed to a multi-year contract with the Mariners, reports ESPN.com's Keith Law. The amount or length of the deal were not immediately available, but the 23-year-old would have been in line for a big raise after making $3.8 million in his first year of arbitration last year.

ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney says via Twitter the deal in the neighborhood of five years and $80 million, which would allow Hernandez to become a free agent at age 28.

Hernandez, the runner-up to Zack Greinke for the American League Cy Young Award, is not a free agent for two more seasons, but general manager Jack Zduriencik has given high priority to signing King Felix to a long-term deal.

The Mariners' busy offseason already has included the acquisitions of Chone Figgins, Cliff Lee and Milton Bradley.

The deal with Hernandez can only help the Mariners in their attempt to retain Lee, a free agent after this season. The Mariners have made a commitment to build a championship-caliber team, and that has to be an attractive selling point to Lee.

http:// [h3]Maryland reunion for Tejada?[/h3]
10:40AM ET

[h5]Miguel Tejada | Astros[/h5]
Top Email


A return to Baltimore seemed unlikely for Miguel Tejada at the start of the offseason, but the Baltimore Sun reports there are several key members of the Orioles organization who would support his return.

ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney supports the possibility, noting that Tejada "could play third for them, provide leadership and fit their lineup nicely." Buster adds that the Orioles are looking for a corner infielder, it doesn't matter whether that player is a left-handed hitter or right-handed hitter.

There have been few reported suitors for Tejada, who is now more willing to move from shortstop to third base than he was a few years ago.

[h5]Keith Law[/h5]
He fits for short-term

"As a likely one-year fill-in at third he's a pretty acceptable option. That's because the Orioles don't want to give the job to prospect Josh Bell just yet, so he can continue to work on his fielding and hitting from the right side in Triple-A."

http:// [h3]Do the Mets have a budget?[/h3]
10:36AM ET

[h5]New York Mets[/h5]
Top Email


The Mets' front office has occasionally been displayed as a dysfunctional family, and the team did little to dispel those beliefs with its handling of Carlos Beltran's knee surgery last week.

We cited a report in Monday's New York Daily News that "bruised feelings linger" over whether the outfielder did tell the team about his surgery plans.

ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney discusses other problems with the Mets in today's blog, namely that GM Omar Minaya has never been given a budget.

"On almost all teams, the talent evaluators are given a budget and then paint within those lines, dispersing the dollars according to the needs," Buster writes. "The Mets' front office, on the other hand, is making its recommendations to Jeff Wilpon on a case-by-case basis, without knowing whether it is yet bumping up against a financial ceiling, or knowing how to prioritize the current needs for pitching or catching."

http:// [h3]Any suitors for Damon?[/h3]
10:18AM ET

[h5]Johnny Damon | Yankees[/h5]
Top Email


There were rumors that the Detroit Tigers might be interested in signing Johnny Damon, but Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski told MLB.com that he isn't interested.

Damon may have priced himself out of any possible deal with the Yankees last month and ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney writes today that the Yankees have had no recent contact with the outfielder.

Rob Neyer of ESPN.com wrote about all the places that will not be a home for Damon.

http:// [h3]Danks feeling fine[/h3]
9:35AM ET

[h5]John Danks | White Sox[/h5]
Top Email


Southpaw John Danks is optimistic that the circulatory problems in his left index finger is now in the past.

Danks, among the White Sox players eligible for arbitration, is scheduled to be examined in Chicago on Wednesday. "I don't anticipate any problems," Danks told the Chicago Tribune.

The White Sox are counting in a healthy Danks, who will be at the back end of the rotation behind Jake Peavy, Mark Buehrle and Gavin Floyd.

http:// [h3]Uggla still being shopped[/h3]
9:14AM ET

[h5]Dan Uggla | Marlins[/h5]
Top Email


Dan Uggla agreed to a one-year $7.8 million deal on Monday, but that does not necessarily mean the second baseman will begin the season in a Marlins uniform.

The Marlins, under pressure from the player's association, have agreed to increase their payroll, and the signing of Uggla appears to be a move in that direction. Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald, however, writes that the Marlins have been shopping Uggla for months and will continue to do so.

Uggla may be a two-time All-Star, but will teams still be interested at the now hefty price? San Francisco was mentioned as a possible destination, but those talks fell apart and the Giants signed Mark DeRosa instead.

http:// [h3]Edmonds' comeback is no joke[/h3]
8:58AM ET

[h5]Jim Edmonds | Cubs[/h5]
Top Email


Jim Edmonds appears to be serious about a comeback, but are the Cardinals interested?

Edmonds spoke at Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation on Sunday night and said he was "challenging" the Cards' manager to let him again suit up for his old team.

Matthew Leach of MLB.com MLB.com reports that Edmonds was not joking, but La Russa still appears hesitant. "Out of respect, we'll have a serious discussion about it. But he hasn't played in a year. There's a lot of obstacles there. But we'll talk about it," La Russa said.

http:// [h3]Hill done in Baltimore; LA next?[/h3]
8:39AM ET

[h5]Rich Hill | Orioles[/h5]
Top Email


We talked last week of howRich Hill's days with the Baltimore Orioles appear to be over.

Peter Schmuck of the Baltimore Sun reported there has been little talk between the Orioles and Hill in recent days and the left-hander now is poised to sign elsewhere.

A story in today's Sun says the Dodgers are aggressively pursuing Hill.

Hill did win 11 games for the Cubs in 2007 and could be a worthwhile low-risk investment.

http:// [h3]Crede to Baltimore?[/h3]
8:35AM ET

[h5]Joe Crede | Twins[/h5]
Top Email


The Orioles' interest in free agent third baseman Joe Crede appears to be heating up.

The Baltimore Sun reports today that the Orioles are looking to add another third baseman and could either sign Crede or bring back Miguel Tejada. The Orioles appear to have a glut of third basemen after signing Garrett Atkins, but team president Andy MacPhail said the plan is to have Atkins play first base.

Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune reported Sunday the Orioles are talking to Crede and the goal was to trade one of their excess third basemen for relief help.

http:// [h3]Pujols willing to wait[/h3]
8:20AM ET

[h5]Albert Pujols | Cardinals[/h5]
Top Email


Once the Cardinals were able to re-sign Matt Holliday, the immediate question was how much it will take to sign Albert Pujols to an extension. It might take the Cardinals a while to find out.

Pujols told Joe Strauss of the Post-Dispatch he has no plans to negotiate an extension during the season and is open to the possibility of exploring free agency after the 2011 campaign. "My timetable is when I'm a free agent," Pujols said.

It is hard to imagine Pujols wearing a different uniform, but anything is possible. The Cardinals signed him to a seven-year, $100 million extension in February 2004, but the seven-year, $120 million deal with Holliday makes Pujols the team's second-highest paid player. What inflated figure will it take to keep Pujols in St. Louis?

 

[DownByLaw]

Originally Posted by Proshares


http:// [h3][/h3]

[h3]Edmonds' comeback is no joke[/h3]

8:58AM ET

[h5]Jim Edmonds | Cubs[/h5]
Top Email


Jim Edmonds appears to be serious about a comeback, but are the Cardinals interested?

Edmonds spoke at Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation on Sunday night and said he was "challenging" the Cards' manager to let him again suit up for his old team.

Matthew Leach of MLB.com MLB.com reports that Edmonds was not joking, but La Russa still appears hesitant. "Out of respect, we'll have a serious discussion about it. But he hasn't played in a year. There's a lot of obstacles there. But we'll talk about it," La Russa said.

http:// [h3] [/h3]

http:// [h3] [/h3]

http:// [h3]Pujols willing to wait[/h3]
8:20AM ET

[h5]Albert Pujols | Cardinals[/h5]
Top Email


Once the Cardinals were able to re-sign Matt Holliday, the immediate question was how much it will take to sign Albert Pujols to an extension. It might take the Cardinals a while to find out.

Pujols told Joe Strauss of the Post-Dispatch he has no plans to negotiate an extension during the season and is open to the possibility of exploring free agency after the 2011 campaign. "My timetable is when I'm a free agent," Pujols said.

It is hard to imagine Pujols wearing a different uniform, but anything is possible. The Cardinals signed him to a seven-year, $100 million extension in February 2004, but the seven-year, $120 million deal with Holliday makes Pujols the team's second-highest paid player. What inflated figure will it take to keep Pujols in St. Louis?

Edmonds serioulsy needs to hang it up, talk about not knowing when to leave the game

Albert is smart to do what he is doing, while I think he will remain in St. Louis, he has to see what is out there.

 

[mez 0ne]

Mets pretty much told Molina to go $$$* himself after he rejected their one year offer, and good. He just signed with San Fran again for 1 yr/4.5M

Rmor is that Delgado is back with Toronto (one yr deal as a DH)...he is clearly not able to field yet and won't anytime soon.

 

[laced up jordans]

^ so who the hell will be our catcher? Don't tell me Omir Santos

 

[mez 0ne]

Last year was basically Santos rookie year and he handled the pitching staff well, hit almost identicle to Molina (isn't as old or slow), and hit half thehomers he did (played in half the games Molina played). He was pretty solid for us last year, but:

Olney via twitter- mets goin after torrealba now

I'd rather have pitching anyways, I can see them signing Sheets if his "auditions" go well and a guy like Pineiro (who I could care less about).We still need a bat though since Beltran will miss a month.