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Major League Baseball has expanded the playoffs to 10 teams by adding wild card games for each league. This extra level in the bracket was agreed upon by the owners and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) in the new collective bargaining agreement established back in November of 2011. This means that one-third of the 30 major league teams will now make the postseason.  This is the first time MLB has expanded the playoffs since 1995 when the new division series went into place. Let’s take a look at how the new system will work this year and how it will affect your favorite team’s chances of bringing home a pennant and World Series Ring in the years to [...]

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• Category: Boston Red Sox, Houston Astros, Tampa Bay Rays, Teams
• Tagged as Michael Weiner, players union, playoffs

All-Star catcher and first baseman Joe Mauer was placed on waivers Tuesday by the Minnesota Twins, multiple sources have reported. The Twins are in an interesting place with Mauer. At age 29, he remains one of the best catchers in the majors, and although injuries the past 2-1/2 years have taken their toll on him, he is obviously someone the Twins can rebuild around. And with first baseman Justin Morneau’s impending free agency this offseason, a move of Mauer to first base full-time would make sense if Morneau leaves. In addition to filling the hole left by Morneau, it would save a lot of wear-and-tear on Mauer’s body. Mauer’s current contract locks him up through the 2018 season, giving Minnesota [...]

• 1 Comment
• Category: Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Minnesota Twins, Rumors
• Tagged as Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Joe Mauer, Minnesota Twins, Terry Ryan, waivers

The 2013 free agent outfielders’ class is more robust then many of the other positions this coming offseason. With stars like Josh Hamilton, Curtis Granderson and Michael Bourn potentially becoming available there will be a plethora of options and skill sets to choose from as general manager. Josh Hamilton is the cream of the crop. When healthy Hamilton’s offensive production is second to none. He has hit .292 with 35 home runs and 111 RBI in just 120 games so far this season. The biggest knock against Hamilton is that he cannot stay healthy. At 120 games played he is getting close to his career average of games played per season. He is currently making $13.75 million in 2012 and [...]

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• Category: Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers, Free Agents, Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, Miami Marlins, New York Mets, New York Yankees, San Francisco Giants, Tampa Bay Rays, Texas Rangers
• Tagged as Angel Pagan, B.J. Upton, Carlos Lee, Curtis Granderson, Delmon Young, Ichiro Suzuki, Josh Hamilton, Luke Scott, Marlon Byrd, Matt Diaz, Melky Cabrera, Michael Bourn, Nick Swisher, Reggie Willits, Ryan Spilborghs, Shane Victorino, Torii Hunter

The Red Sox and Dodgers connected this weekend to complete a rare post waiver deadline trade. The Red Sox shed a great deal of talent by sending Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford Josh Beckett and Nick Punto along with their $260 million in future salary to the Dodgers. In return the Red Sox received James Loney and fourth upper level prospects including Allen Webster, Rubby de la Rosa, Jerry Sands and Ivan De Jesus Jr. The Red Sox will also be sending $12 million to the Dodgers to cover the prorated part of the veterans’ 2012 salaries. Also due to the fact that there were other waiver claims on de la Rosa and Sands the Dodgers pulled them off of waivers [...]

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• Category: Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers
• Tagged as Adrian Gonzalez, Allen Webster, Carl Crawford, Ivan De Jesus Jr., James Loney, Jerry Sands, Josh Beckett, Josh Hamilton, Nick Punto, Rubby de la Rosa

Previously, I took a look at the top 25 position players under the age of 25 currently in the major leagues. Since I compiled that list, the highly-rated Justin Smoak of the Texas Rangers has received the call to the big leagues, where he joins Jason Heyward and Ike Davis as the next wave of sluggers in the game. Today, I want to take a look at the top 25 pitchers under 25 that are currently in the big leagues. Currently, their is an exciting crop of young pitchers in the game with the list to soon see the likes of Stephen Strasburg, Drew Storen, and Aroldis Chapman. With apologies to those pitchers, let’s take a look at the list [...]

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• Category: Atlanta Braves, Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians, Colorado Rockies, Detroit Tigers, Fantasy, Los Angeles Dodgers, Miami Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics, San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners, St. Louis Cardinals, Tampa Bay Rays, Teams, Texas Rangers
• Tagged as Aroldis Chapman, Brett Anderson, Brian Matusz, Chris Perez, Chris Volstad, Clayton Kershaw, Dan Haren, Daniel Bard, David Price, Drew Storen, Felix Hernandez, Franklin Morales, Homer Bailey, Ike Davis, Jaime Garcia, Jair Jurrjens, Jason Heyward, Jenrry Mejia, Jhoulys Chacin, Joba Chamberlain, Johnny Cueto, Josh Johnson, Justin Smoak, Kerry Wood, Mark DeRosa, Mat Latos, Mike Leake, Neftali Feliz, Phil Hughes, Rick Porcello, roy halladay, Ryan Perry, Stephen Strasburg, Tommy Hanson, Wade Davis, Xavier Nady, Yovani Gallardo

There are rumblings of an alarming trend that could mean a fiscal nightmare among many MLB teams this coming year. There have been several teams in the last week who have set the record for all time low attendance.

• 3 Comments
• Category: Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians, Colorado Rockies, Houston Astros, New York Yankees, Rumors, Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers, Washington Nationals
• Tagged as attendance

There was a collective sigh of relief from the Minnesota Twins and their fan base as they signed MVP and All-Star catcher Joe Mauer to an 8 year $184 million dollar contract with a full no-trade clause. The deal covers the 2011-18 seasons and is the fourth largest — both in total value and average salary — in major league history. Mauer has won three AL batting titles, two Gold Gloves, and an MVP award. Mauer was going into the final year of his current contract. He will make $12.5 million this year in the final season of a $33 million, four-year deal and will earn $23 million in each of the following eight seasons under the extension. The only [...]

• 2 Comments
• Category: Boston Red Sox, Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees, Teams
• Tagged as Alex Rodriguez, Joe Mauer, Roger Clemens, Victor Martinez

After a brief hiatus, it is time to take a look at the next part of our fantasy preview series and focus on some potential sleepers for the upcoming season. Every year fantasy owners are on the lookout for players that have the element of surprise and often times those players are found in the late rounds of your draft. This year there is no shortage of players from each league that have the potential to surprise and reward fantasy owners for drafting them. Here is a look at some sleeper candidates in the American League for 2010. Brandon Wood (3B) Los Angeles Angels – The former first round pick of the Angels in 2003, is finally ready to receive [...]

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• Category: Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers, Fantasy, Los Angeles Angels, Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners, Tampa Bay Rays, Teams, Texas Rangers
• Tagged as Austin Jackson, Brandon Wood, Brian Matusz, Chone Figgins, Clay Buchholz, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, Curtis Granderson, David Price, Francisco Liriano, Johnny Damon, Julio Borbon, Kendry Morales, Rajai Davis

Tim Marchman of Sports Illustrated recently ranks all 30 Major League General Managers. So we must ask ourselves how do you measure a GM’s success? Is it dollars spent per win? Playoff appearances? Do you take into account the minor league system and player development? The Twins may not be a power house but they have been a very successful team. Ultimately the goal of every team is to win the World Series. However, I am not convinced that this is a sign of a good GM. Guys like Theo Epstein of the Boston Red Sox and Brian Cashman of the New York Yankees, who get a bunch of blank checks every season seem to have an advantage over the [...]

• 13 Comments
• Category: Boston Red Sox, Free Agents, Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics, Tampa Bay Rays, Teams
• Tagged as Alex Anthopolous, Andrew Friedman, Andy MacPhail, Bill Smith, Billy Beane, Brian Cashman, Brian Sabean, Dan O'Dowd, Dave Dombrowski, Dayton Moore, Doug Melvin, Ed Wade, Frank Wren, General Manager, gm, Jack Zduriencik, Jed Hoyer, Jim Hendry, John Mozeliak, Jon Daniels, Josh Byrnes, kenny williams, Larry Beinfest, Mark Shapiro, Mike Rizzo, Neal Huntington, Ned Colletti, Omar Minaya, Ruben Amaro Jr, Theo Epstein, Tony Reagins, Walt Jocketty

Welcome to draft day. It has come to that all important time of selecting a second basemen. Chase Utley was gone in the first round and now you are wondering who you should invest in to stay competitive in your league. Which guy will give you that slight edge? Should you look for more power? Speed? High batting average? There are too many choices! Well don’t worry we have you covered. Our analysts have the information you need to make an informed decision. Bryce Carlson (Brian Roberts) – In the fantasy baseball second base market, Brian Roberts is a performance enhancing choice… no pun intended.  First of all, Roberts is a workhorse.  He has averaged 157 games for the last three seasons.  You don’t [...]

• 2 Comments
• Category: Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Fantasy, Philadelphia Phillies, Teams, Texas Rangers
• Tagged as Aaron Hill, Alex Rodriguez, Alfonso Soriano, brandon phillips, Brian Roberts, Chase Utley, Derek Jeter, Dustin Pedroia, Ian Kinsler, Miguel Tejada, Nomar Garciaparra, Robinson Cano, Steve Buechele