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.

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.

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.

Wade is in his 34th season in professional baseball. Prior to his stint with the Astros, he served as the Philadelphia Phillies GM from 1998-2005 and then spent two seasons (2006-07) as a scout for the San Diego Padres.

Owner Drayton McLane had a glowing review of Wade’s tenure so far:

“Ed is an outstanding baseball man. He’s organized and has surrounded himself with a good, solid staff. Much of the work Ed did in Philadelphia had a lot to do with them becoming a champion. We feel he has us moving in the right direction to be a champion as well.”

Houston finished the season last year with a 74-88 record and has found little success since making the World Series in 2005 versus the Chicago White Sox.

Ben Sheets – The former Milwaukee Brewers right-hander signed a one-year deal worth $10 million plus incentives with the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday. Sheets is looking to prove to the A’s that he is fully recovered from elbow surgery that caused him to miss the entire 2009 season. The A’s were in attendance for Sheets throwing session last week and came away impressed enough to offer a large base salary for this season. Sheets is expected to be the Opening Day starter for the A’s and is a great mid-season trade candidate for a contender, if healthy, as he could net some quality prospects that A’s GM Billy Beane is notorious for looking to find.

Miguel Tejada – The former 2002 AL MVP recently signed a one-year deal worth $6 million with the Baltimore Orioles, a team in which he previously played for from 2004-2007. During his first stint with the Orioles, Tejada was one of the premier hitting shortstops in the game, but now is expected to shift over to third base in his second go-round with the team. While not the power hitter he once was, Tejada is still an above average hitter as his 2009 season of 14 HR, 83 RBI, and a .313 AVG with the Houston Astros shows. The Orioles hope Tejada can provide veteran leadership and play to a lineup filled with some exciting young hitters in Matt Wieters (C), Adam Jones (CF), Nick Markakis (RF), and Nolan Reimold (LF).

Jason Giambi – Another former AL MVP found a one-year deal to his liking, as Jason Giambi (1B) will return to the Colorado Rockies this season as a power bat off the bench. Giambi struggled last season as a member of the Oakland A’s as he hit only .193 in 83 games as he battled knee injuries before eventually being released. However, Giambi had success in limited duty with the Rockies as he was a solid contributor in the Rockies playoff run last season. In 19 games with the team, he hit .292 with 2 HR and 11 RBI. In 2010, Giambi will be regulated mostly to pinch-hitting duties and part-time work at first base as his days of being an everyday player are done.

Jim Thome – After his brief flirtation with a return to the South Side of Chicago for 2010 fell through, the future Hall-of-Famer signed a one-year deal worth $1.5 million with the Sox’ division rival, the Minnesota Twins, on Tuesday. Like many other sluggers on the market, Thome had a hard time finding a deal to his liking before finding the Twins to be his best option for 2010. Thome is expected to get roughly 250-300 at-bats this season as a part-time DH and occasional first base option for the Twins. The Twins potential lineup against right-handed pitchers is arguably the most dangerous in all of baseball with reigning AL MVP Joe Mauer (C), Justin Morneau (1B), Jason Kubel (DH/OF), Michael Cuddyer (RF), Thome, and Denard Span (CF).

Xavier Nady - The Chicago Cubs have added some much-needed power and depth to their outfield with the signing of Xavier Nady to a one-year deal on Tuesday. Nady only played in seven games with the New York Yankees last season as he had to undergo the second Tommy John surgery of his career last July. The surgery is typically done on pitchers and has an estimated recovery time of anywhere from 10-12 months. However, Nady is reportedly ahead of schedule and is looking to make a big contribution in 2010. In 2008, Nady had the best season of his career as he had a .305 AVG, 25 HR, and 97 RBI, all career highs. The Cubs are hoping Nady is healthy as they expect him to be the right-handed form of a platoon in right field with current outfielder Kosuke Fukudome. If healthy, Nady should provided solid numbers as a fourth outfielder.

Jon Garland – The San Diego Padres added another arm to their rotation with the signing of Jon Garland to a one-year deal worth $4.75 million with a mutual option worth $6.75 million for 2011. While not a top-of-the-rotation starter, Garland is a reliable work-horse who has pitched at least 191 innings a season since 2002. Last season, Garland was 11-13 with a 4.01 ERA with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers. The Padres are ecstatic to add a pitcher of Garland’s caliber to their host of young arms as he is expected to ease some of the load off of the young pitchers and give them some more seasoning. If nothing else, the Padres are getting a guy that will provide quality starts and eat up some innings.

9. Johnny Damon – Damon made a name for himself this decade as a member of the Boston Red Sox with his caveman-like appearance. For the decade, Damon had a .291 AVG, 158 HR, 732 RBI, 1,115 Runs, and 264 SB with 4 teams. While average at best on the defensive side, Damon was a solid contributor over the decade with a steady average, good speed, and power. He currently finds himself on the free agent market hoping to re-sign with the New York Yankees, but ultimately might have to look elsewhere.

8. Andruw Jones – From 2000-2007, Jones was one of the premier outfielders in the game as he won 8 consecutive NL Gold Gloves as a CF with the Atlanta Braves. During that span, Jones was a 5-time All Star and hit 288 HR and 860 RBI with his best season coming in 2005 when he hit 51 HR and 128 RBI. However, his skills have rapidly declined over the past two seasons as he has become a part-time player due to injury, weight issues, and poor production when healthy. Jones recently signed a one year deal this off season with the Chicago White Sox as a part-time DH and centerfielder where he hopes to restart his career.

7. Torii Hunter – The man they call “Spider-Man” is on this list mostly due to his defense. Hunter is arguably the best defensive CF in the game today as he has won 9 consecutive AL Gold Gloves. His career has been marked by home run robbing catches at the wall and hard-nosed play. Hunter also was a solid contributor at the plate for the decade with a .276 AVG, 226 HR, 842 RBI, and 153 SB. He is a good pick for this list due to his incredible defense, solid hitting, and intangibles.

6. Carlos Beltran – Beltran is a 5 tool player in today’s game who possesses great power, solid average, good speed, and an excellent arm and overall defense. He was a 5-time All Star this decade and won 3 consecutive NL Gold Gloves in CF from 2006-2008. For the decade, he had a .282 AVG, 251 HR, 920 RBI, 961 Runs, and 256 SB. Beltran was also a prime time performer under the bright lights of the postseason. In 22 postseason games with the Houston Astros (2004) and New York Mets (2006), Beltran has a .366 AVG, 11 HR, and 19 RBI, and 8 SB. It’s rare to find someone with Beltran’s talent and production from both sides of the game. He is a great choice for this list.

5. Bobby Abreu – In my opinion, Abreu is one of the most underrated players in the game and is a true mark of consistency. He proved to be extremely durable as he averaged 158 games played a season this decade. His plate discipline was one of the best in the game as he had 7 seasons of at least 100 BB. Abreu also had 7 seasons of at least 20 HR-20 SB with two of those being 30 HR-30 SB seasons. He hit at least 100 RBI in every season except for 2000 and 2002. For the decade, Abreu had a .297 AVG, 216 HR, 993 RBI, 1,061 Runs, and 295 SB. The numbers speak for themselves, Abreu deserves to be on this list and is often overlooked despite his consistency every year.

4. Vladimir Guerrero – Before becoming a DH due to knee problems, Vlad was an excellent outfielder with arguably the best arm of any outfielder. Vlad was the face of the former Montreal Expos and Los Angeles Angels in the decade and was an exciting player to watch swing the bat. The man with no pitch out of reach had a .323 AVG, 315 HR, 1,037 RBI, and 929 Runs. Vlad also had excellent speed before his knee problems as he had two 30 HR-30 SB seasons with the Expos in 2001 and 2002. His best season was in 2004, when he was named the AL MVP with a .337 AVG, 39 HR, 126 RBI, 124 Runs, and 19 SB. Vlad is currently a free agent seeking a two year deal who should be a solid addition to an AL team in need of a DH.

3. Ichiro Suzuki – Since coming over from Japan in 2001, Ichiro has built a resume that might make him a Hall of Fame candidate when he retires. In his first season, Ichiro won both the AL Rookie of the Year Award and AL MVP with the Seattle Mariners as he won the first of 2 AL batting titles in his career. He has been both an AL All Star and Gold Glove Award winner in every season in his career. He also has had at least a .300 AVG and 200 hits in every season, which is an MLB record. In 2004, he became the all-time single season hits leader with 262 hits that season. Last season, he became the 2nd fastest player in MLB history to reach 2,000 hits in his career. Ichiro also is known for his speed at the top of the lineup as his 341 career SB will prove. Like Vlad, Ichiro possesses a cannon of an arm from the outfield and there are few runners that take a chance on his arm. For his career, he has a .333 AVG, 84 HR, 515 RBI, 973 Runs, 341 SB, and 2,030 hits. Ichiro is a no-brainer for this list and one of the best pure hitters the game has ever seen.

2. Manny Ramirez - Manny has built an impressive resume over the decade despite his 50 game suspension last season for a failed drug test and his times with the Red Sox that were often characterized simply as “Manny being Manny”. In 2008, Manny became the 24th player in MLB history to become a member of the 500 HR club. For the decade, he was one of the most feared hitters in the game as he averaged 35 HR and 111 RBI a season. His final numbers for the decade were pretty impressive as he had a .317 AVG, 348 HR, 1,106 RBI, 933 Runs, and an outstanding 1.018 OPS. You either love him or hate him, but there is no doubt Manny is one of the best hitters in the game over his career, especially this decade.

1. Barry Bonds – The most scrutinized player in the game this past decade finds himself No. 1 on this list. The leader of the steroids controversy has been out of baseball since 2007 due to the game’s desire to rid itself of the steroids era and teams not willing to embrace the publicity of Bonds. This decade, Bonds broke both the single season (73) and all-time (762) home run records with the San Francisco Giants. He became the most feared hitter in the game as his 390 intentional walks for the decade would provide proof of that. For the decade, Bonds had a .322 AVG, 317 HR, 697 RBI, 772 Runs, and an impressive 1.241 OPS. Bonds has left an impression on the game of baseball both good and bad that will never be forgotten. It will be interesting to see how the Hall of Fame voters look at Bonds when it comes time for his induction.

Here is a rundown of the MLB Network’s Top 9 at each position for the decade:

SP- Randy Johnson

Closer- Mariano Rivera

C- Pudge Rodriguez

1B- Albert Pujols

2B- Jeff Kent

SS- Derek Jeter

3B- Alex Rodriguez

OF- Barry Bonds

How do you think the MLB Network did in their rankings? Who do you think is the best player overall from the decade?

Major League Baseball uses the average annual values of contracts plus benefits for players on the 40 man roster to determine the $162 million cut off for the luxury tax. The Yankees payroll in 2009 including signing bonuses and prorated contracts finished at $220 million. That was $77.8 million more then any other team in the league. The difference is also higher than payroll for each of the bottom 11 teams. Boston was next at $140.5 million followed by the Detroit Tigers at $139.4 million and the Phillies at $138.3 million. Florida again was last in the majors, even though the Marlins raised their payroll by $10.5 million to $37.5 million.

Many people think that the luxury tax system is not achieving the level playing field it set out to make.  Only two teams outside the top 11 by payroll made the postseason in 2009: Colorado (16th at $84.5 million) and Minnesota (23rd at $73.1 million). Some like the idea of setting a payroll floor in order to guarantee the revenue that teams receive is used for improving the competitiveness of the big league clubs as opposed to going directly into the profit column for the owners. In essence this luxury tax has the possibility of subsidizing owners that have no desire to “win” in the first place and simply pocket the money.

Just for fun take a look at this. Listed below are the names of the owners currently worth more than Steinbrenner and the teams they are currently in charge of:

• Seattle Mariners: Nintendo Corporation: $257.4 billion
• Minnesota Twins: Carl Pohlad: $3.6 billion
• Washington Nationals: Theodore N. Lerner: $3.5 billion
• Cleveland Indians: Larry Dolan: $3.3 billion
• Atlanta Braves: Liberty Media: $2.3 billion
• Houston Astros: Drayton McLane, Jr.: $1.6 billion
• Detroit Tigers: Mike Illitch: $1.6 billion
• Texas Rangers: Thomas O. Hicks: $1.4 billion
• Chicago Cubs: Thomas S. Rickets: $1.3 billion

Granted MLB is a for profit business and each team is individually owned and operated. They are entitled to their revenue and should be able to spend it as they see fit. However, should they be allowed to profit from teams like the Yankees who do invest heavily in payroll? It will be interesting to see how things are handled with the new collective bargaining agreement that needs to be negotiated in 2011.

How would you handle this situation? Do you share revenue equally across the board or do you cut off the “free” money and let the market decide?

9. Robinson Cano – Cano started his career in 2005 with the New York Yankees and has been a solid performer for the team since his debut. He has done a respectable job playing a supporting cast role in the Yankees lineup, as most of his skills go unnoticed with names such as ARod and Jeter garnering much of the attention. For his career, Cano has a .306 AVG, 87 HR, and 394 RBI. He has done a great job of getting on base as he has scored 406 runs in his career, along with an OPS (On-Base Plus Slugging %) of .818. The 27 year old second basemen is about to hit the prime of his career with the hope of moving into the upper echelon of today’s second basemen.

8. Craig Biggio – Biggio is a no-brainer choice for this list despite his rather low ranking on the list. Biggio is most recognized for his play at second base, however, he originally came into the majors as a catcher back in 1988 and also had two seasons this decade as the everyday center fielder for the Houston Astros back in 2003 and 2004. For the decade, he finished with a .266 AVG, 139 HR, 469 RBI, 724 Runs, and a .766 OPS mostly from the leadoff spot in the lineup. Before retiring after the 2007 season, Biggio punched his ticket to Cooperstown when he became the 27th player in MLB history to log 3,000 hits in his career. He was truly a throwback player with his gritty play both on the offensive and defensive sides of the game and is possibly one of the last players we will ever see that starts and finishes his career with the same team.

7. Luis Castillo – Castillo had most of his success in the first part of the decade as a member of the Florida Marlins. He was a constant headache for opposing teams as he led the NL in stolen bases in 2000 (62 SB) and 2002 (48 SB). Castillo was also one of the premier defenders in the game in the early part of the decade.From 2003-2005, Castillo was the NL Gold Glove Award winner at second base for 3 consecutive seasons.  However, after leaving the Marlins after the 2005 season, Castillo saw his production start to decline as he seemed to get on base less frequently and became less of a threat on the base paths. For the decade, Castillo finished with a .298 AVG, 276 SB, 823 Runs, and a .735 OPS.

6. Jose Vidro – This is by far one of the most questionable picks at any position by the MLB Network. Vidro is currently out of baseball due to poor production and was a mediocre hitter at best in the second part of the decade despite finishing with a good average. Vidro was one of the last good players the Montreal Expos franchise saw before they eventually became the Washington Nationals. From 2000-2005, Vidro was a 3-time All Star selection (mostly due to the Expos needing a representative) with his best season coming in 2000 when he finished with a .330 AVG, 24 HR, and 97 RBI. Vidro played at a time when the second base position was one of the weakest in quite some time. He would finish the decade with a .303 AVG, but doesn’t really deserve a mention on this list, especially ahead of a future Hall of Famer in Craig Biggio.

5. Brian Roberts – “BRob” is a doubles machine who became the all time single season leader in doubles for a switch hitter with 56. He has also led the AL twice this decade in that category and has 318 for his career. “BRob” is also a dangerous leadoff hitter as he is a consistent threat on the basepaths. For the decade, he finished with 256 SB with the most coming in 2007 (50 SB). Like many players this decade, “BRob” was not immune to the steroids controversy as he was listed on the famed Mitchell Report. After his steroid admission, Roberts has proven he is not a fluke as he is currently both one of the best leadoff and second basemen in all of baseball. For the decade, he finished with a .284 AVG, 77 HR, 443 RBI, 729 Runs, and a .776 OPS.

4. Dustin Pedroia – Pedroia finds himself on this list despite only playing 3 seasons this decade. He has built quite a resume in his short career as he started with a AL Rookie of the Year Award in 2007 with the Boston Red Sox. Not to be outdone, Pedroia would go on to win both the AL MVP and Gold Glove Award in only his second season in the league. That season he established himself as an elite second basemen with a .326 AVG, 17 HR, 83 RBI, 118 Runs, 54 doubles, and stellar defense. Pedroia scores one for the little guys as he stands at only 5’9″ tall, but puts up big time numbers with his hard-nosed play. The future is bright for this second basemen.

3. Alfonso Soriano – Before moving to the outfield in 2006 with the Nationals, Soriano was one of the premier hitting second basemen this decade. 157 of his 289 HR this decade came as a second basemen. The free-swinging Soriano possessed the rare combination of power and speed before becoming a member of the Chicago Cubs in 2007. He had 4 seasons of at least 30 HR and 30 SB and even became an exclusive member of the 40-40 club in 2006. Soriano put up these type of power numbers from the leadoff spot, which is generally meant for high OBP and singles type hitters. However, since becoming a member of the Cubs, Soriano has seen his skills decline progressively each year as he is no longer a speed threat and his defense has remained adventurous to say the least. Despite his disappointing tenure with the Cubs, Soriano is worthy of a spot on this list as he put on quite a show offensively as a second basemen.

2. Chase Utley – Utley is currently considered the best second basemen in all of baseball and is an excellent choice for the No. 2 spot on this list. Utley started his career in 2003, but didn’t truly establish himself until the 2005 season. Starting with the 2005 season, Utley has averaged 29 HR, 101 RBI, and 111 Runs a year. In addition to his consistent power numbers, he also provides a steady career AVG of .295. Over his career, Utley has provided solid defense at second for the Philadelphia Phillies and has built quite a double play combo with shortstop Jimmy Rollins. Utley added to his legacy in Philadelphia by having 2 multi-homer games in last seasons’ World Series against the New York Yankees. You can’t find much better in today’s game than Chase Utley, who will lead the current crop of second basemen into the next decade.

1. Jeff Kent – Kent would retire from the game of baseball after the 2008 season as the all-time home run leader for second basemen with 377 career HR. He was the first MVP (2000) hailing from the second base position since Ryne Sandberg won the NL MVP in 1984. For the decade, Kent hit at a .300 clip with 216 HR and 850 RBI, which are impressive numbers at any position. Kent is best remembered for his time with the San Francisco Giants where he was Barry Bonds protection in the Giants lineup. While not known as a flashy player by any means, Kent was a consistent run producer over the decade which helped him finish his career with some impressive numbers.

After going through this list, the type of players representing this position is quite diverse. You have power hitters such as Kent and Utley and you also have your leadoff hitters in Castillo and Roberts. The second base position isn’t known primarily as a big run producing spot on the diamond, which is why it is rare to find a player such as Chase Utley as the most recognized name at the position currently. It is great to see how the game of baseball continues to evolve and stay fresh over time and it will be interesting to see how we will look at the second base position in the next decade.

Up Next: Top 9 Shortstops of the Decade

9. Troy Percival – Despite missing the entire 2006 season due to injury, Percival finished the decade with 219 saves mostly with the Los Angeles Angels. He posted a record of 21-21 with a 3.37 ERA and posted an impressive 7 saves in the Angels 2002 postseason run to the World Series’ title. In the first half of the decade, it was hard to find many closers better than Percival. Unfortunately, injuries in the second half of the decade led to him falling lower on this list.

8. Eric Gagne – Gagne finds his name on this list due to setting an MLB record for consecutive saves with 83 during the 2003 and 2004 seasons. During the streak he had a 0.82 ERA with 43 hits allowed and 141 K in 87.2 IP. Gagne’s domination led him to winning the 2003 NL Cy Young Award, where he went 2-3 with a 1.20 ERA along with 55 saves and 137 K in 82.1 IP. However, after the 2004 season his career would take a nose dive due to injuries and steroid allegations. He was listed on the infamous Mitchell Report which has tainted his dominating saves record and career. He finished the decade with 187 saves and a 3.53 ERA.

7. Jason Isringhausen – “Izzy” started out his career with the New York Met’s as a highly-touted starting pitching prospect. However, he found success as a closer for both the A’s and St. Louis Cardinals where he saved 284 games this decade. Isringhausen was very consistent as he saved at least 30 games in 7 seasons this decade. He would finish the decade with 284 saves and a 3.03 ERA. The 37-year-old currently finds his career at a crossroads after undergoing Tommy John surgery last June.

6. Jonathan Papelbon – Papelbon finds his name on this list despite not becoming a full-time closer until his second season in 2006, where he saved 35 games with a 0.92 ERA. In his brief career, he has become one of the most dominating closers in the game. Over his career, he has posted 151 saves along with a stingy 1.84 ERA. Papelbon looks to continue this success in the next decade.

5. Francisco Rodriguez – The man nicknamed “K-Rod” started his career as the set-up man to Percival with the Angels, before becoming their full-time closer in the 2005 season. His biggest accomplishment this decade was bypassing Bobby Thigpen as the all-time single season saves leader with 62 saves in 2008. He finished the decade with 243 saves and a 2.53 ERA. He also posted 660 K’s in only 519.2 IP (11.43 K/9), which led to his famous nickname.

4. Billy Wagner – The left-handed Wagner finished the decade tied for the third most saves with 284. He also posted a very solid 2.40 ERA and was a 5-time All Star. He has had some arm issues the past few years, which has hurt his spot on this list. He is looking to rebound with the Atlanta Braves next season, who recently signed him to a one year deal.

3. Joe Nathan – Nathan started his career with the San Francisco Giants as a starter where he had his fair share of difficulties. After being traded to the Minnesota Twins after the 2003 season, Nathan would become the team’s closer for the rest of the decade with much success. Nathan had 4 seasons with a sub 2.00 ERA and had a K/9 no lower 9.67 with the Twins. He would finish the decade with a record of 39-18 along with a 2.53 ERA and 246 saves.

2. Trevor Hoffman – The man with arguably the best changeup in the game has built a reputation as one of the best closers of all time. Hoffman would cement his legacy this decade with 363 saves and a 2.77 ERA. He had at least 30 saves in each season except for 2003 where he battled injuries. Hoffman became the all-time saves leader in 2006 when he passed Lee Smith on the list. In 2007, he became the first closer to reach 500 saves and currently has 591 in his career.

1. Mariano Rivera – Rivera has spent his entire career with the New York Yankees and is sure to be enshrined in Cooperstown someday. Opposing teams know their chances of making a comeback are rare when “The Sandman” enters the game and uses his dominating cutter to get them out. This decade, Rivera had a 2.08 ERA along with 397 saves and is a true Yankee at heart. He was the ALCS MVP in 2003 and has been a clutch performer his entire career. You can’t find them much better than Mariano Rivera.

The saves statistic has been scrutinized ever since its existence in 1969. Many people feel that the stat is overvalued and needs to be changed. Jayson Stark of ESPN.com has a good article from a few years ago on why he feels the stat needs to be amended. What do you think of this list and the saves statistic in general? Next week, I will start to recap hitters. Stay tuned!

Up Next: Top 9 First Basemen of the Decade

9. Javier Vazquez – Vazquez is a surprising choice for the No. 9 spot on the list. Over the decade, he went 128-116 with a 4.01 ERA for 5 different teams. Vazquez led the majors in “quality starts” for the decade and finished second to only Randy Johnson for the most strikeouts with 2,001 in 2,163 IP. He was selected to the All-Star Game in 2004 and enjoyed most of his success pitching in the NL with the now defunct Montreal Expos and is currently with the Atlanta Braves.

8. C.C. Sabathia – Sabathia burst onto the scene with the Cleveland Indians in 2001 where he won 17 games his rookie season. He completed the decade with a record of 136-81 to go along with a 3.62 ERA. His best season was in 2007 where he won the AL Cy Young award and established himself as a premier pitcher in the game. The most defining moment of his career was this past season where he won his first World Series title with the New York Yankees as the ace of their staff.

7. Roy Oswalt – Like Sabathia, Oswalt also had a very successful rookie season in 2001 with the Houston Astros by going 14-3 with a 2.73 ERA in only 28 appearances (20 of them starts). Oswalt produced back to back 20 win seasons in 2004 and 2005 and was named the NLCS MVP in 2005 as well. He was a 3-time All-Star this decade and finished with a record of 137-70 with an impressive 3.23 ERA.

6. Roy Halladay – The recently acquired pitcher of the Philadelphia Phillies finds his name next on the list. Halladay finished with a record of 139-69 with a 3.40 ERA all with the Toronto Blue Jays. In the day and age of pitch counts, the man they call “Doc”  led the majors with an outstanding 47 complete games this decade. He also appeared in 6 All-Star games and won an AL Cy Young in 2003 where he posted the first of his two 20 win seasons. Halladay is a throwback pitcher and is one of the most feared pitchers in all of baseball with his bulldog mentality.

5. Andy Pettitte – Pettitte was the winningest pitcher in the majors this decade with 148 wins for the Yankees and Astros. In this decade, Pettitte has been known as a big game pitcher as his 2 World Series rings and 2001 ALCS MVP award will attest to that. He produced one 20 win season with the Yankees in 2003 and had arguably his most dominating season in 2005 with the Astros where he won 17 games to go along with a 2.39 ERA in 222.1 IP. In my opinion, his placement on this list, especially in this spot, is up for debate.

4. Roger Clemens – The illustrious career of arguably the best pitcher of the modern era came to a halt in 2007 amid well documented steroid allegations. In 8 seasons this decade, Clemens went 107-50 and added 2 more Cy Young awards to his credit, including becoming one of only 4 pitchers all time to win the award in both leagues. Like his good friend Pettitte, Clemens pitched for both the Yankees and Astros this decade and appeared in 4 All-Star games. In the future, it will be interesting to see how the Hall of Fame voters view Clemens when it is time for his name to be on the ballot amid the above mentioned steroid allegations.

3. Johan Santana – Santana started his career in 2000 with the Minnesota Twins where he didn’t truly establish himself as an elite pitcher until he won the first of 2 Cy Young awards this decade with a 20 win season in 2004. He also was a 3-time ERA leader and even won the pitching Triple Crown in 2006 by leading the AL in wins (19), ERA (2.77), and strikeouts (245).  He finished the decade with a record of 122-60 with an ERA of 3.12 and 1,733 strikeouts (9.12 K/9). Santana is also known for his defense and even won a AL Gold Glove in 2007.

2. Pedro Martinez – The charismatic pitcher is making a case for Cooperstown with his numbers this decade. Pedro had the best winning percentage of any pitcher this decade as he won 69 % of his starts (112-50). He also led all pitchers with an ERA of 3.01. Pedro produced one 20 win season in 2002 with the Boston Red Sox and won the AL Cy Young in 2000 with a record of 18-6 along with a dominating 1.74 ERA and 284 K in 217 IP. The best moment of the decade for Pedro was being a vital key in ending the curse in Boston by winning a World Series title. He was arguably the most dominating pitcher of the decade when healthy.

1. Randy Johnson – The “Big Unit” has been the most feared pitcher in the game over his career and especially in this decade. The man with the 6-10 presence and long flowing hair often used intimidation and intensity to become the No. 1 starting pitcher on this list. The Big Unit started off the decade with a bang by winning  3 consecutive NL Cy Young awards from 2000-2002 with the Arizona Diamondbacks. His biggest feat in those 3 seasons was being the Co-MVP of the 2001 World Series where he won his first ring. Like Santana, the Big Unit won the Triple Crown in 2002 with 24 W, 2.32 ERA, and 334 K. He finished the decade with an amazing 2,182 K’s and in 2004 became the oldest pitcher to pitch a perfect game. Even more impressive, the Big Unit joined the exclusive 300 win club last season with the San Francisco Giants at the age of 45. His path to Cooperstown has been paved.

In my opinion, the most glaring omission on this list is Curt Schilling. Schilling went 117-63 with a 3.54 ERA this decade. He was a runner-up for the Cy Young 3 times and who could forget his domination with the Big Unit where they almost single-handedly won the Diamondbacks their first and only World Series. Also, who can forget the bloody sock? He definitely deserves to be on this list instead of Vazquez, who was a very average pitcher in the AL.

Another name who deserves some consideration for this list is Greg Maddux. Maddux seems to get lost in the discussion at times despite being one of the top 10 best pitchers of all time, in my opinion. Despite not pitching in 2 years this decade, “Mad Dog” was 134-101 with a 3.70 ERA along with winning his 300th game, 3,000th K, and 18th Gold Glove. I find it hard to believe Maddux didn’t have as big of an impact on the league than Vazquez or even Sabathia.

Up Next: Top 9 Closers of the Decade