Oakland is doing all the right things in terms of solidifying their lineup up yet again with another addition in Josh Willingham. Hope it works out for them this time. I think the Nationals were smart doing this. Willingham is a free agent after this year, and they get an arm for their pen. http://washington.nationals.mlb.com...16&content_id=16331738&vkey=news_was&c_id=was
The Pads signed Orlando Hudson to a two year deal. He'll replace David Eckstein, who I absolutely hated. ...pretty excited about what Jason Bartlett and O-Dawg will do for the defense of this team. Now we just need a first baseman. It's looking like Derrek Lee is out of the picture. I have feeling they'll bring in Troy Glaus or Brad Hawpe. ...just need a stopgap until Anthony Rizzo gets called up.
http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2010/12/wheeler_agrees.html Sox sign Wheeler
I think the Orioles are to sign Adam LaRoche. Baltimore's general manager has done a hell of a job this off-season.
A twit rumor @BerniesCrew Jim Breen Source tells me #Brewers have traded SS Alcides Escobar, CF Lorenzo Cain, and RHP Jeremy Jeffress for RHP Zack Greinke, SS Betancourt + $2M.
This Baltimore team has always been able to hit, and the lineup has gotten scarier with the addition of Reynolds and Laroche. However, their pitching is atrocious.
I still don't think they'll compete for a playoff spot after all of these moves. JJ Hardy was also a nice acquisition. Their pitching staff is incredibly young. Brian Matusz has the ability to become a big time pitcher in this league.
Yep, there was definitely noticeable improvement from 2009 to 2010 for Matusz. For the O's to sniff the postseason he and Tillman would have to break out huge while riding the strength of that lineup.
Orioles adding another bat in Derek Lee today. They've created quite a lineup for themselves. If their young pitchers pick it up, they can become a pest. In another weird not, their relief pitcher Alfredo Simon has been arrested for involuntary manslaughter http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110102&content_id=16380486&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb
http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/mlb/news/story?id=5998431 The Tampa Bay Rays and Chicago Cubs have agreed to a multi-player deal that will bring right-handed pitcher Matt Garza to Chicago, according to a major league source. The deal, which has been agreed to pending physicals, sends right-handed pitcher Chris Archer, outfielder Brandon Guyer, catcher Robinson Chirinos, shortstop Hak-Ju Lee and outfielder Sam Fuld to Tampa for Garza, minor league outfielder Fernando Perez and another minor leaguer.
Trevor Hoffman finally retired. He waited too long, considering his refusal to do anything but close. He's going to work for the San Diego front office.
LOL at this comment. They could sign the top 27 players in the league, and the Yanks would still be the team to beat.
Well, the Sox didn't really add much in the way of value to their team. Crawford and Gonzalez might be a bit better than Beltre and V-Mart were last year, but if they are, it's not by much. The bullpen signings should help, if they get what they think they're getting. With a few exceptions, bullpen arms are notoriously erratic year to year. I don't know if Jenks is one of those exceptions. The Yanks are basically putting the same team out there that they had last year, minus Pettitte, which is probably the biggest blow considering how well he pitched last season. Are there question marks? Of course. Sox have question marks of their own. For example, if you want to list Burnett as a liability for the Yanks because of the worst season of his career, you'd have to say the same thing about Beckett for the Sox. Did the Sox have a lot of injuries last year? You bet. Enough to account for six wins? Maybe not.
