The Minnesota Twins look to be a contender for Lee’s services. According to Jeff Fletcher of AOL Fanhouse the Twins have offered Aaron Hicks and Wilson Ramos two of their top prospects for Lee. Also in the running for Lee’s services are Mets, Reds, Dodgers and Phillies. The Reds are rumored to be offering power hitting first base prospect Yonder Alonso but consensus seems to be that it will take more then just Alonso to land Lee.

B.J. Upton has also been rumored to be a possible piece in a package for Lee as well. Upton has issues in the hustle department this year and his batting average is less then stellar. Frankly I don’t see this as a good option for the Mariners since they already have Gutierrez and Suzuki both of which are very similar players to Upton if not better.

There are other pitchers who could help and would cost less in a trade, such as Chicago Cubs left-hander Ted Lilly and Houston’s Roy Oswalt, but more in cash.

Lilly is making $13 million this season but likely will be a Type A free agent when his contract is up at the end of the season. Oswalt is making $15 million this season and is owed $16 million next year, with a $12 million club option in 2012.

Oswalt is expensive, but considering the cost of signing Lee as a free agent after the season, he could be a bargain for the next few years. He is only one year older the Lee and he is definitely wanting to get away from the struggling Astros to play for a contender.

Mr Shpunt, who has three physics degrees and lived the majority of his life in Russia, has freely admitted that he knows very little about the game of baseball.  Over the five years Shpunt was employed by the Dodgers he only attended one game, instead electing to watch games and channel his energy from his suburban Boston home. Mr Shpunt never guaranteed that he could make the Dodgers win but did say his energy could increase the chance of winning by 10% to 15%.

While the exact figures are unclear as to how much money was paid to Shpunt because no contract has been found, Bert Fields, an attorney for Jamie, said the Dodgers paid Shpunt a stipend, plus a bonus of “certainly six figures and even higher” depending on whether the Dodgers won the National League West title and how far the team advanced in the playoffs.

This is definitely one of the most bizarre stories I have heard when it comes to baseball and its quirky rituals.  Now I just have to figure how to convince an owner that I can channel positive energy to help them win. Any suggestions? Oh and I won’t work for less then six figures.

Last June, the Nationals selected Strasburg with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 draft where he was viewed by many as the best amateur pitcher of all-time with a fastball clocked in the triple digits and a nasty repertoire of breaking ball stuff. After signing a four-year deal worth $15.1 million with the Nationals before even throwing a big league pitch, Strasburg has failed to quiet the hype that surrounds him as he has simply overmatched minor league hitters and has proven he is ready to take his stuff to the big leagues. In 11 starts between Double-A and Triple-A this season, Strasburg has posted an impressive 7-2 record along with a 1.30 ERA, 65 K, and a 0.79 WHIP in 55.1 IP. Strasburg’s debut will be like no other in history as he is set to make the Nationals around $1.5 million in his first start alone, Darren Rovell of CNBC reports. Not to be outdone, the MLB Network has joined the media frenzy by televising Strasburg’s debut live with the great Bob Costas announcing from the booth. ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick recently revealed his Top 9 most-hyped baseball draft picks of all-time and the list provided some interesting names with Strasburg’s taking the top spot. The Nationals are hoping Strasburg isn’t the next Mark Prior and can have a long, illustrious career. It all starts tonight.

While not met with as much anticipation as Strasburg, baseball fans are set to see a future star in Mike Stanton make his debut for the Marlins tonight. Not to be confused with the former 19-year veteran MLB pitcher of the same name, Stanton entered the season as the No. 3 prospect in baseball according to Baseball America behind only Jason Heyward (OF) and Strasburg. With Heyward already making a impact in the big leagues, Stanton finds himself with the dubious honor of the top hitter in the minors. In 52 games at Double-A, Stanton has hit for a .311 AVG, 21 HR, and 52 RBI. With numbers like those, the Marlins are eager to bring up their top prospect where he is expected to patrol right field for the club. Stanton is a 6-foot-5, 235-pound former football player who has unprecedented power that some scouts have naturally compared him to former Marlins farmhand Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers. In 714 minor league at-bats, Stanton has hit an impressive 61 HR, which translates to a HR every 11.7 at-bats, all at the age of 20. While Strasburg will garner the most attention tonight, don’t forget to keep an eye on Stanton. It’s not often baseball sees players with this kind of talent debut in the same season let alone in the same night.

Earlier today, Armando Galarraga (RHP) of the Detroit Tigers almost became the 3rd pitcher this season to throw a perfect game as he was a mere one out away from accomplishing the feat. However, Galarraga saw a very controversial finish to his pitching performance as first base umpire Jim Joyce ruled Cleveland Indians shortstop Jason Donald beat Tigers’ first basemen Miguel Cabrera’s throw to Galarraga at first base for the final out. After the play, replays clearly showed that Galarraga did in fact have his foot on the bag before Donald reached the bag and effectively was snubbed of a perfect game. After the game, Joyce was adamant that he missed the call after seeing the replay for the first time and sought out Galarraga to apologize for blowing his chance at history. After seeing an instance such as this occur, the baseball community has to wonder if they should expand the use of instant replay in the game.

In August of 2008, MLB instituted limited instant replay for the very first time to determine disputed home run balls. So far the use of instant replay has been limited to just home run balls, however, every bad call late in a close game or an instance such as Galarraga’s has sparked discussion on whether baseball should expand the use of replay beyond home run balls. Craig Calcattera of NBC Sports is a big believer in expanding instant replay and proposes a simple solution to the process:

“It is absolutely imperative that baseball implement some form of replay now. This season, before the playoffs. The best way, in my view, is to simply station a fifth umpire in the official scorer’s box. Give him the same feed the broadcast guys have. Give him a buzzer and, when an obviously bad call like this one happens, have him call down to the crew chief and overturn the call.”

This off-season baseball general managers passed on expanding instant replay for the 2010 season and were generally satisfied with the current process. Believers in the current use of instant replay feel that the game of baseball should remain pure and allow for human error from umpires as it’s a part of the game. Another obstacle in the expansion of replay is that many feel it will slow the game down even more. Over the past few years, MLB has tried to speed the game up and keep the flow of the game at a reasonable pace and having umpires converge and slow down the game to look at a replay isn’t appealing to many GM’s and MLB officials. However, the more times umpires miss calls that affect big games or even the record books, the talk of expanding instant replay in baseball will grow louder.

What will it take to expand instant replay in baseball? Should we just limit it to home run balls and trust umpires to make the right call and allow for human error? In my opinion, I am a big believer in keeping the game pure and feel that while I may not agree with every call an umpire makes, it’s a part of the game and has been for decades. Certainly calls such as today magnify the issue at hand, but honestly how much would we be talking about this blown call if this were to occur with 2 outs in the 5th inning instead of with 2 outs in the 9th? It will be interesting to see where the use of replay goes in the future as I am sure this will not be the last we hear about the issue.

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Roy Oswalt has made it know publicly that he would prefer to go to a winning team. He is making a lot of money with 2 years left on a $73 million deal. He also has a club option for $16 million in 2012, so he could be worth the investment for a team looking to solidify their rotation for the next few seasons. He is 32 years old this season, so his age could be a factor in any deal. The Texas Rangers seem to be the most logical place for Oswalt. They are currently in first place in a fairly weak AL West. They also are in dire need of a top-of-the-rotation starter to anchor them. Nolan Ryan has approached the Astros as to Oswalt’s availability. I could see the Rangers offering Chris Davis with a minor league pitcher or two thrown in.

Lance Berkman has also mentioned that he would be open to moving on if the right opportunity presented itself. Berkman, a switch-hitting power bat, could provide any lineup a major boost in run production. The most glaring fit, at least talent-wise, is the San Francisco Giants. The Giants anemic offense has been floundering all season yet they are still very much in the race in the NL West. Berkman could easily slide into the 1st base role and they could move Aubrey Huff to the outfield. The Giants have a lot of pitching talent so I would only assume that they could offer top pitching prospect Madison Bumgarner.

Carlos Lee is also another potential trading piece. Lee’s numbers this year are horrible and he tends to be a hack in the field. He is also owed $18.5 million a year through 2012 so if the Astros want to move him they would have to eat a ton of his contract.

1. Felix Hernandez (24) – Coming off a 19 win season in 2009 where he finished second in the AL Cy Young voting. Already an elite pitcher with his best years to come. The clear cut No. 1 pitcher on this list.

2. Tommy Hanson (23) -The top pitching prospect in all of baseball failed to disappoint last season after receiving the call to the big leagues in June. He finished with 11 wins and a 2.89 ERA in 21 games and is off to a good start this year. An ace-in-the-making who should contend for the NL Cy Young in the near future.

3. Yovani Gallardo (24) – The ace of the Brewers staff posted the second best K/9 in the NL last year at 9.89 to go along with 13 wins and a sub-4.00 ERA. Off to a 3-2, 3.00 ERA, 10.00 K/9 start in 36 IP this season. Needs to cut down on his career 3.92 BB/9 ratio to become an elite pitcher.

4. Clayton Kershaw (22) – Despite winning only 8 games last season on a first-place team, Kershaw has all the makings of a future ace. He finished in the Top 5 in ERA (2.79) , K/9 (9.74), and H/9 (6.3) last season, while leading the league in opponents AVG (.200). While his control needs to improve as his career 4.82 BB/9 suggests, he has the ability to overpower hitters and dominant on any given night.

5. Jair Jurrjens (24) – Had the 5th-lowest ERA in baseball last year (2.60) and held hitters to a .274 AVG on balls hit in play. Knows how to change speeds and mix his pitches effectively to get batters out. In line to be a top of the rotation starter for many years despite his early ineffectiveness this season, mostly due to injury.

6. David Price (24) – The No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 draft took the league by storm with a great showing in the Rays’ 2008 postseason run to the World Series. Price possesses overpowering stuff with a mid-90s fastball and a hard breaking slider that can lead to plenty of strikeouts. Like many young pitchers, he has had command issues but also isn’t afraid to challenge hitters. Off to a great start this season and looks to be coming into his own as a pitcher.

7. Phil Hughes (23) – After struggling with injuries his first 2 seasons, Hughes pitched mostly out of the bullpen in 2009 and finished with a 1.40 ERA along with showing good command (5:1 K/BB ratio). After winning the 5th spot in the Yankees rotation this spring, he has proven to be one of the teams best starters as he has gone 3-0 with a 1.44 ERA in 4 starts, including a near no-hitter. Hughes looks to be realizing his immense potential under the bright lights of New York.

8. Rick Porcello (21) – The youngest player in the big leagues last season had a successful rookie campaign for the Tigers. The former 1st round pick went 14-9 with a 3.96 ERA and finished 3rd in the AL Rookie of the Year voting last season. He has good control and a sinker that is conducive for plenty of groundball outs. While he may not be a big strikeout pitcher, his control and quality stuff will make him a tough pitcher to face every time he takes the mound.

9. Brian Matusz (23) – The 4th overall pick in 2008 impressed many in his brief stint in the majors last season with the Orioles by displaying a good command and presence on the mound. His strikeout and walk totals in his 13 career big league starts show his top-of-the-rotation potential. The future is bright for this southpaw and his outlook for 2010 and beyond is sure to catch the eye of plenty of baseball fans.

10. Brett Anderson (22) – Acquired in the trade that sent Dan Haren from Oakland to Arizona, the A’s are ecstatic from what they see in Anderson so far in his brief career. Baseball America’s No. 7 prospect entering the 2009 season posted solid numbers in his rookie season. He finished with a team-leading 11 wins and 150 strikeouts to go along with a respectable 4.06 ERA (3.48 ERA after the All-Star break). Anderson started 2010 on a good note by posting a 2.35 ERA in 4 starts before going on the DL with a forearm strain. Despite this injury, Anderson should be a good starter for many years with his command and ability to strike batters out.

11. Neftali Feliz (21) – Perhaps no one on this list possesses more overpowering stuff than Feliz. Currently serving as the Rangers closer, Feliz has shown the ability to dominant opposing hitters with his upper 90s fastball that has reached triple digits at times. He pitched out of the bullpen after his call-up to the big league club in August and finished with a 1.74 ERA in 31 IP along with 39 K and impressive 0.68 WHIP. The Rangers have bounced around the idea of moving Feliz to the rotation, but feel he is best serve as their closer right now. Whatever role he is in, Feliz is sure to make opposing hitters cringe at the sight of facing him.

12. Wade Davis (24) – Davis joined an impressive young Rays rotation at the end of 2009 and posted good numbers in 6 starts. In those starts, Davis went 2-2 with a 3.72 ERA to go along with 36 strikeouts and a 1.27 WHIP in 36.1 IP. He has picked up where he left off in ’09 to start 3-1 with a 2.79 ERA in 5 starts this season. Despite pitching in a tough AL East, Davis looks to be a good option to post a sub-4.00 ERA with good strikeout numbers this season.

13. Mat Latos (22) -Latos started his rookie campaign in 2009 by allowing no more than 2 earned runs in his first 5 starts. Despite struggling in his last 5 starts, Latos has shown good upside especially pitching in a pitcher friendly PETCO Park. The Padres thought enough of Latos to promote him straight from Double-A and bypass Triple-A altogether. Overall in his minor league career, Latos went 12-8, 2.49 ERA, with a 216:47 K/BB ratio in 185 IP, allowing only 149 hits. If he can translate those impressive numbers to the big leagues, the Padres have a future ace on their hands.

14. Johnny Cueto (24) – Cueto has been plagued my inconsistency since entering the big leagues in 2008. He has shown to be a very good pitcher in the first half of the season, as his 7-4 record with a 2.86 ERA through June in ’09 would suggest. However, Cueto has worn down in the second half and posted an 8.00 ERA in July and August of last season before a DL stint for shoulder inflammation. He possesses a live arm despite his small frame and still has too much upside to be deemed a failure at this point in his career. If Cueto can find some consistency he is arguably one of the best pitchers on this list.

15. Jaime Garcia (23) – After originally making his debut in relief during the 2008 season for the Cardinals, Garcia had to undergo Tommy John surgery in the offseason and miss most of the 2009 season. After winning the 5th spot in rotation this spring, Garcia has been a pleasant surprise for the Cardinals so far this season. In 4 starts, he has been dominating opposing hitters with a 1.04 ERA and a 0.96 WHIP in 26 IP. With a career 9.8 K/9 in the minors and the tutelage of pitching coach Dave Duncan, look for Garcia to maintain his success in the big leagues.

16. Joba Chamberlain (24) – After a great year in 2008 where he appeared in 42 games (12 starts) where he posted an impressive 2.60 ERA and 10.58 K/9, the future looked extremely promising for Joba. However, last year wasn’t as friendly as his first 2 years in the big leagues as his ERA and WHIP numbers increased as a full-time starter. This year, Joba was beat out by Phil Hughes for the 5th spot in the Yankees rotation and is back to the bullpen where his career as a starter is now in question again. Despite this role uncertainty, he is still a quality pitcher and should still provide good value in the bullpen.

17. Mike Leake (22) – The 8th pick in the 2009 draft is the first player since Xavier Nady in 2000 to go straight from the draft to the major leagues. Despite some control issues, Leake has been solid in his first 4 big league starts as he has gone 2-0 with a 3.25 ERA in 27.2 IP. While Leake is sure to run into some rookie struggles this year due to not pitching in the minor leagues, he has shown so far that his more than capable of being an effective big league pitcher.

18. Daniel Bard (24) – The man nicknamed “The Heat” consistently throws a fastball in the 98-99 range and even reached 101 MPH on the radar gun last July against the A’s. The 2006 1st round pick has all the makings of a dominant big league closer as his 11.5 K/9 and 3:1 K/BB ratio with the Red Sox last season would attest. Look for Bard to become a closer somewhere in the near future.

19. Chris Perez – Perez is another hard-throwing right hander who possesses an upper 90s fastball. Perez was acquired by the Indians last season in the trade of Mark DeRosa to the Cardinals and is currently serving as the teams’ closer for the injured Kerry Wood. He was originally selected in the 1st round by the Cardinals in 2006 and served as a closer throughout his minor league career. Look for Perez to stay the Indians closer in the coming years and produce high strikeout totals.

20. Jhoulys Chacin (22) – MLB.com’s No. 44 prospect for 2010 is a current hot topic in baseball discussion after his impressive first start of the 2010 season yesterday. In that start, Chacin only gave up one hit in 7 scoreless IP along with 7 K. While Chacin has moved from starting to the bullpen, his best value is seen in the rotation where he has the potential to be a very good starter. The Rockies are hoping for more outings like yesterday’s from Chacin.

21. Jenrry Mejia (20) – The youngest player on this list has been solid in his first 11 IP out of the Mets bullpen this season by posting a 1.64 ERA. The Mets top pitching prospect sports a fastball with good velocity and movement along with a slider that tends to sweep across the plate. The key for Mejia is find command of his pitches due to his great movement. The jury is out on how good he can be since he is so young, however, he has managed to adjust to the big leagues fairly well so far.

22. Chris Volstad (23) – After an impressive rookie campaign in 2008, Volstad followed it up with the dreaded sophomore slump last season. He finished his sophomore campaign with a 9-13 record and a 5.21 ERA in 159 IP. He also struggled with the long ball as he had an alarming 1.64 HR/9 ratio. The Marlins are hoping the former 1st rounder, who has drawn comparisons to Roy Halladay, recaptures the promise he showed in his rookie season to provide a solid 1-2 punch with Josh Johnson in the future.

23. Homer Bailey (23) – The former highly-touted pitching prospect has had his share of struggles in his big league career. Bailey hasn’t fooled too many hitters as they have hit .287 against him in his career. He has also been plagued by walks (4.43 BB/9) and home runs (1.09 HR/9) in his brief career which has been the main reason for his career 5.52 ERA. However, Bailey showed glimpses of his potential as he allowed 3 runs or less in his last 9 starts last season. The Reds are hoping Bailey can figure things out and live up to his success in the minors.

24. Ryan Perry (23) – Similar to Daniel Bard, Perry projects as a future closer, but currently serves as a middle reliever for the Tigers. While Perry struggled with his command last season, he did strike out 60 batters in 61.2 IP in his rookie season. The 2008 1st round pick should be a good closer in the future, but needs to harness his wildness before becoming a true option to close out games.

25. Franklin Morales (24) – The hard-throwing lefty made his debut with the Rockies back in 2007, where he made 8 starts. After a disappointing 2008 season between the majors and minors, Morales pitched 38 games in relief for the Rockies last season and showed some promise. He currently is filling in for injured closer Huston Street and is 3 for 5 in save chances. While Morales has had his share of struggles in the big leagues, he still possesses decent upside as a back-of-the-rotation starter or lefty specialist out of the bullpen.

Nobody in the league office has expressed concern yet over the dip in numbers. With the economy limping to restart itself, big corporations are cutting costs and it looks as though they are not spending lavishly on the big season ticket packages as they used to. Has baseball priced itself out of the average fan’s budget? According to the Team Marketing Report, the average ticket price in MLB is $26.79. I have to admit that prices have gotten to the point where I think twice before I plunk out my hard earned money to see a ball game. How will this affect these small market teams in the future? Will there be money to pay the demands of high priced free agents? There is a trend already in baseball where teams are going younger and cheaper (see Jermaine Dye). What would your plan of action be if you were the GM of one of these cash strapped teams?

On a side note, Biz of Baseball’s Maury Brown points out that two of the five record-breaking teams play in the AL East. If these numbers are a sign of apathy toward Yankees-Red Sox stranglehold, MLB could be facing this problem for awhile.

1. Evan Longoria (24) – 60 HR and 198 RBI in first 2 seasons. Off to a great start in 2010 and should add an MVP to his collection soon.

2. Justin Upton (22) – 20 HR-20 SB guy last year. Arguably the best athlete in baseball who should reach 30 HR-30 SB in the near future.

3. Pablo Sandoval (23) – .300 hitter with 25-30 HR and 90-100 RBI ability. “Kung Fu Panda” is already a fan favorite and feared hitter.

4. Jason Heyward (20) – 2010 No. 1 prospect has gotten off to a .302, 3 HR, 15 RBI start in 43 big league at-bats at the age of 20. Looks to be the leader of the newest crop of talent from the minor leagues.

5. Matt Wieters (23) – The most-hyped prospect of 2009 has uncanny power and hitting ability from both sides of the plate. Look for Wieters to make huge strides this season and become one of the premier catchers in the near future.

6. Billy Butler (24) – .301 AVG, 21 HR, and 93 RBI in first full season. Set to become a premier slugger with 30 HR-100 RBI not out of the question.

7. Carlos Gonzalez (24) – 5-tool talent that started to showcase those tools last season. Should be a mainstay in the Rockies outfield and top of the order for years to come.

8. Adam Jones (24) – One of the best athletes on this list. Great arm and 20 HR-20 SB talent.

9. Andrew McCutchen (23) – Another 5-tool talent from the leadoff spot. Outstanding speed and developing power. Set to become premier leadoff hitter in the majors.

10. Gordon Beckham (23) – Future All-Star 2B. Made the leap from Double-A to the majors last season and displayed a good hitting prowess. The future of the White Sox.

11. Jay Bruce (23) – Has struggled to hit consistently at the big league level. The former No. 1 overall prospect has arguably the most upside of any hitter on this list and has the potential to become a big run-producer.

12. Delmon Young (24) – Like Bruce, has failed to hit consistently enough to live up to his enormous potential. Still a great talent with good upside who has hit a solid .289 for his career. Entering a make or break year in the big leagues.

13. Chris Coghlan (24) – 2009 NL Rookie of the Year is a scrappy top of the order hitter. Shows good plate discipline and should hit for a high average in his career.

14. Colby Rasmus (23) – Has above-average power and speed from the left side who hit 16 HR for the Cardinals in his rookie campaign last season. Solid defender who should be a premier center fielder within the next few years.

15. Elvis Andrus (21) – Biggest assets are his speed and defense. A future Gold Glover who projects as a leadoff hitter and threat on the basepaths.

16. Cameron Maybin (23) – One of the most talented players on this list. Currently hitting near the top of the Marlins lineup with his great speed, but has the ability to become a middle of the order hitter as he continues to grow into his frame. Looking to put it together in his first full season this year.

17. Dexter Fowler (24) – Had an up and down season at the plate last season with the Rockies as he needs to hit for a higher average. An elite defender and base-stealer (27 SB in ’09) who should be a top of the order threat with Gonzalez in the Rockies outfield.

18. Kyle Blanks (23) – After hitting 10 HR in only 148 AB last season for the Padres, the 6-6/285 lb big man projects as a huge power threat in the near future. Despite his large frame, reminiscent of the “Big Hurt” Frank Thomas, he is athletic enough to play in the outfield, though his natural position is at first base.

19. Austin Jackson (23) – The newest Tiger has gotten off to a solid start (.333 AVG, 5 RBI, 2 SB from the leadoff spot) in his first big league season. Jackson ironically projects similarly to the man he was traded for in Curtis Granderson. Look for him to rise up this list next season.

20. Alcides Escobar (23) – In his first season as the Brewers everyday shortstop. A potential game-changer with both his glove and speed.  Hit .304 in 125 AB with the Brewers last year.

21. Ike Davis (23) – The Mets top prospect made his major league debut last night against the Cubs and didn’t disappoint by going 2 for 4 with an RBI. The 18th overall selection in the 2008 draft hit 20 HR in the minors last year along with a .298 AVG. He projects as a middle of the order threat from the left side of the plate.

22. Ian Desmond (24) – The former 3rd round pick of the Nationals in 2004 is finally starting to put it together. Desmond is a late-bloomer who is starting to hit for contact consistently. He earned the starting nod at short over Cristian Guzman and looks to be the Nationals shortstop of the future.

23. Tyler Colvin (24) – After hitting .468 with 2 HR and 18 RBI in 25 Spring Training games this year, Colvin earned a spot on the Cubs 25 man roster. Currently a part of a 5 man outfield rotation in Chicago, Colvin doesn’t project to provide off the chart numbers this year. However, the former first round pick can swing the bat and also provides above average speed. Look for his name in the coming years.

24. Everth Cabrera (23) – A Rule 5 pick of the Padres last season, Cabrera took the shortstop position as his own by displaying great work with the glove and providing 25 SB in 103 games. Cabrera must hit for a higher average to become an even bigger threat on the basepaths.

25. Asdrubal Cabrera (24) – Has proven to be a solid major league infielder as his bat as caught up to his great defense. In 2009, he hit .308 and provided 68 RBI and 17 SB for the Indians. While he might not reach star status, he should have a long and productive big league career.

Honorable Mention: Julio Borbon (24), Sean Rodriguez (24), Chris Davis (24), Reid Brignac (24)

On November 19, 2006, I received a text message from my friend Dan that read “What do you think about the Cubs getting Soriano?” I thought to myself, Alfonso Soriano…the guy that just went 40/40 for the Washington Nationals…my favorite player? As a Chicago Cubs’ fan this was hard to comprehend as the organization does not have a history of going after high profile free agents–let alone getting the best free agent on the market.  I quickly checked ESPN for confirmation of this exciting, yet ambiguous text and was overjoyed to find out that the Cubs were indeed set to sign Soriano. The deal was $136 million over 8 years. No big deal.  Sure, we have “The Fonz” under contract until 2014 and the Cubs will be paying him $18 million when he is 38, but they finally made a big move.

Since that day, I have been on an emotional roller coaster ride with Fonzie, and it has not been the “Roller Coaster of Love” that the Red Hot Chilli Peppers sang to me about during high school. We are now past the days of wondering if Soriano should bat lead off or what leg ailment he will come down with next. Now, the question is whether or not Soriano should even be playing. What a fall from grace.

Despite the the injuries, gross defensive play, and lead off debate (that is now over), it hasn’t been all bad.  In fact, I would argue that offensively, the streaky Soriano was pretty good in 2007 and 2008 despite injuries that severely limited his play. His averages for the 2007 and 2008 seasons were 31 HR, 73 RBI, 87 R, .290 BA, 19 SB, and .887 OPS. When you factor the 2009 career worst season in, his three-year Cubs’ averages are 27 HR, 67 RBI, 79 R, .273 BA, 16 SB, and .833 OPS. These numbers in no way justify an $18 million contract, but are not bad considering the time he missed with injury. Without injuries, would it have been possible for Soriano to go 30/30 his first two years in Chicago? I think so. Of course, you can’t cast aside the 120 games or so that Soriano has missed, which is part of the problem the fans have with Soriano. Nevertheless, I still think he can be an extremely productive offensive player despite the rough start to 2010, but this is debatable according to ESPNs Stephania Bell.

As the ultimate Alfonso Soriano apologist, it hurt me to read ESPNs Rob Neyer suggest that the Cubs may ultimately end up releasing Soriano down the road as there is not another bad contract to trade him for since Barry Zito has been pitching well.  Aren’t there other alternatives? Derrek Lee is a free agent at the end of the year and I would say it is 50/50 on whether or not he ends up being a Cub next year.  Would you try Soriano at first base? Or better yet, being that we are only 9 games into the season, why don’t we be a little more patient, agree that Soriano is a hack in the outfield, and hope the offense comes around. I think it may, but as I said, I am a Soriano apologist. In fact, I am thinking of ways to trade for him in my fantasy leagues as I type. I bet I can trade Barry Zito for Soriano in a second Rob Neyer.

Is Soriano playing like the real Fonz?

The sample size of 44.2 major league innings is small, but Matusz posted a respectable 4.63 ERA, 4.08 FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching), and 2.71 K/BB in 2009. He fine-tuned his performance during the 2010 spring training with a 2.59 ERA and 7 K/BB through 24.1 innings. I don’t put a lot of stock in spring training stats, but do believe they support previous scouting reports of Matusz, which suggest that he has great command to go along with 4 good pitches (a fastball that reaches 94 mph, curveball, slider, and change-up). The key for Matusz will be that great command that the scouts have talked about, along with my favorite scouting statement regarding any pitcher: “He knows how to pitch.” It wouldn’t hurt him to increase his ground ball to fly ball ratio either (.66 in 2009).

Outside of Matusz’s performance in 2010, I think he is the next Orioles’ ace and will fill the void that the Orioles have had since Mike Mussina left in 2000. His name is also good to know as he will be the anchor of a Orioles’ rotation for a team that will be extremely competitive over the next 3 to 4 years (at least I think they will be).  Put away that Strasburg and Chapman infatuation and vote Matusz with me.