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.

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.

Alex Childers (Carl Crawford) – Four years $66 million; Seven years $120 million.  No, that’s not the Saudi Prince’s inheritance; those are the respective pay days that Jason Bay and Matt Holliday earned this year. Carl Crawford has the potential to earn an equivalent payday if he can perform like he has in the past.  With the Yankees showing interest, Crawford is prepared for a career year and a huge pay day. Last season Crawford produced his typical stat line .305/.364/.452 (BA/OBP/SLG) 60 SB, 15 HR, 68 RBI and 96 R. At the age of 28, Crawford is in his prime and has exhibited great consistency as a legitimate five-tool player over his eight seasons at the Major League level. His 362 career SB rank him 4^th on the active list and he is the youngest player in the top 10.

Sure Matt Kemp and Ryan Braun are flashy picks, but neither one has a proven track record. Braun broke into the league in 2007 and Kemp in 2006, mere babies. The CHONE Projection has Ryan Braun hitting .309/.372/.568 with 99 RBI, 33 HR, and 16 SB. CHONE projects Matt Kemp as .305/.364/.501 with 82 RBI, 20 HR, and 27 SB. Not much more impressive than Crawford, and what Crawford lacks in power he more than makes up for in speed. A potentially even bigger upside to taking Crawford is his average draft position. Both Braun and Kemp, on average, went in the top 8 of yahoo fantasy drafts, Crawford on the other hand wasn’t snatched up until the 22^nd pick. If you can select power with your first overall selection, chances are Crawford’s consistency and speed will still be waiting for you well after the overvalued Kemp and Braun are gone.

Braun and Kemp are infants; Grady and Holliday are injuries waiting to happen.  Take the guy that has the most to play for, the guy that has been consistent, and the guy that is a legitimate five-tool player. If you are lucky, you may even be able to steal him in the second round. Stealing, now that’s something Crawford is familiar with.

Bryce Carlson (Matt Holliday) – Whoever said that Matt Holliday’s offensive numbers were a product of the thin mountain air at Coors Field might have been right… if they only looked at the first two thirds of last season while he played for the Oakland Athletics. I’m not sure what the elevation difference is between Oakland and St. Louis, but Holliday proved that he is still a great offensive player last year in his 63 games as a Cardinal. Ok, so the elevation difference in 532 ft, but that is nothing when compared to the Mile High City of Denver.

Even with a poor start in Oakland last year, Holliday still finished the season with a .313 BA and 109 RBI. Don’t expect to see a major jump in his power numbers from last year (24 HR, .515 SLG) as these statistics have been declining since 2007. What can you expect from Holliday in 2010? He won’t hit 35 HR, but he will still have an average around .315, 100+ runs, 100+ RBI, and an OBP approaching .400. He might even steal a few bases for you… go figure.  Don’t be afraid to draft Holliday as a major player on your 2010 fantasy team. He is a top 5 outfielder who will put up a ton of offensive numbers. However, if your league carries a sliding into home statistic, you may need to rethink that…

Jon Heintzelman (Matt Kemp) – If Braun is the first OF off the board in your draft don’t sweat it. You’ll be in position to scoop up five-category roto-stud Matt Kemp as the next best OF option. Kemp has everything going for him to be worthy of a mid-first round pick in mixed league drafts. As I said in an earlier post, you want to invest early round picks in power/speed players with stable skills and high reliability. Kemp not only fits this profile, but he is also still growing into his power profile while entering his prime years (he’s only 26). His HR/fly ball rate has grown from 10% to 12% to 15% in the last three years while he’s maintained an elite >20% line drive rate. With Kemp you can take 30-100-30-100-.300 to the bank with a chance for more power growth to boot (35-120 possible). If you line up Kemp’s profile against the next best options at OF no one stacks up. Holliday can match Kemp’s power profile with half the SB, but don’t fall in love with his .350+ BA in St. Louis last season post trade, it was inflated by an obscenely high .391 BABIP. I know Crawford swiped 60 last season, but look at the second half drop off (40/20), and you’re giving up 30-50% in HR/RBI on top of it, no thanks. As for Grady, I love him, but given his injury history the past couple of years how can you rely on him with other high quality options out there. Investing in Kemp will provide happy fantasy returns, and you can take that to the bank!

Ryan Oleniczak (Grady Sizemore)

Dear Grady,

I have to convince the readers of amateurgm.com that you are still an elite fantasy outfielder and that last seasons injuries are in the past. I want to prove to them that you are better than Matt Kemp, Matt Holliday, and Carl Crawford. My hope is that you don’t cause pain again to the fantasy owners who took you in the first round of many drafts last season. You and I both know when you’re at the top of your game, you are arguably the best fantasy outfielder as you provide the coveted power-speed combo from the leadoff spot that all fantasy owners drool over. If you could add another Gold Glove to your collection that would be great, too. I mean Grady, I am sure you are a smart guy and know your production when you’re healthy, but let me refresh your memory. From 2005-2008 your season averages were quite impressive: 159 GP, .281 AVG, 26 HR, 81 RBI, 116 R, and 28 SB. If you could return to your 2008 numbers where you posted career highs in HR (33), RBI (90), and SB (38), you will make the fantasy owners who take you instead of Kemp and Holliday very happy as your overall production is quite comparable to those guys who are likely to be taken before you. If only you could convince your new manager Manny Acta to take you out of the leadoff spot, you might finally reach 100 RBI in a season. Don’t fret those injuries Grady, I am sure your doctors took care of you and you should be able to return to your habit of wreaking havoc on the basepaths and scoring runs. Consider me one of your biggest fans and believer that you can return to form this season. I know you have a chip on your shoulder and believe you can bounceback this season. So what do you say Grady? Let’s leave the other fantasy options in your rearview mirror and repay those of us that took you in the first round last year. Just one more thing Grady, do you think you could stop putting risque pictures of yourself on the internet?

Sincerely,

Ryan Oleniczak

• Joey Votto (1B) Cincinnati Reds – The player who has arguably had the most success of any player on this list is the most likely candidate to have a breakthrough performance this season. Despite missing a month on the DL last season and battling a bout with depression, Votto finished in the top 5 in the NL in AVG, OBP, and Slugging %. He had only one month last season where he didn’t hit at least .320. Votto also hits in a very hitter friendly ballpark in Cincinnati, which should help his power numbers increase with a full season of at-bats. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Votto’s name in the top 5 rankings of all first basemen next season, as a 30 HR-100 RBI season could be in his sights.

Bill James Projection: .311 AVG, 27 HR, 90 RBI, 80 Runs, .947 OPS

MLB.com Projection: .313 AVG, 28 HR, 102 RBI, 92 Runs, .936 OPS

• Jay Bruce (OF) Cincinnati Reds – Another Reds player has a great chance of breaking out this season. The former No. 1 overall prospect in all of baseball has struggled living up to the hype since entering the league during the 2008 season. Last season was a nightmare for Bruce as he struggled to a .223 AVG and missed two months on the DL with a broken wrist. However, after returning from the DL, Bruce had a .326 AVG, 4 HR, and 17 RBI in only 46 at-bats. The 22 year-old right fielder is still very raw at the plate, but it’s no secret that Bruce possesses a great ability to knock the ball out of the ballpark. The Reds are banking on Bruce being completely healed from his wrist injury and building off his improvement at the plate after his return from the DL. Could this be the year Bruce quiets the critics and lives up to his hype?

Bill James Projection: .274 AVG, 38 HR, 95 RBI, 92 Runs, .877 OPS

MLB.com Projection: .268 AVG, 29 HR, 88 RBI, 79 Runs, .844 OPS

• Carlos Gonzalez (OF) Colorado Rockies – Gonzalez was originally a highly-touted prospect in the Diamondbacks organization before being traded to the Oakland A’s in the Dan Haren trade. Gonzalez made it to the big leagues with the A’s in 2008, but didn’t overly impress during his time with the club. The 24 year-old outfielder entered his third organization last off season when he was traded to the Rockies in the Matt Holliday trade to the A’s. Gonzalez excelled in Triple-A before receiving a promotion to the big league club in June. Gonzalez started to show flashes of his ability as he had a .320 AVG, 12 HR, and 11 SB in the second-half last season. The Rockies are expected to plug Gonzalez at the top of their lineup this season, possibly as the leadoff hitter where he hit .300 in that role. He possesses a solid power-speed combination and with regular at-bats in Coors Field could be a good option for 20 HR-20 SB this season.

Bill James Projection: .280 AVG, 19 HR, 73 RBI, 18 SB, 78 Runs, .819 OPS

MLB.com Projection: .277 AVG, 22 HR, 83 RBI, 20 SB, 80 Runs, .820 OPS

• Andrew McCutchen (OF) Pittsburgh Pirates – While not much has gone right on the field for the Pirates in over 15 years, the team has to be excited about McCutchen and the possibility that they have found a cornerstone player to build around. Between Triple-A and the majors, McCutchen hit 16 HR and stole 32 bases from the leadoff spot last season. In 108 games in the majors, he led all rookies in extra-base hits with 47 and improved his OBP and run totals every month. McCutchen displayed a great knack for getting on base and has impressive speed from the leadoff spot. While he possesses 20 HR-40 SB potential don’t expect that from McCutchen yet. However, McCutchen displays a skill set similar to Grady Sizemore and has the chance to become one of the premier leadoff hitters in the game this season.

Bill James Projection: .281 AVG, 13 HR, 61 RBI, 31 SB, 90 Runs, .783 OPS

MLB.com Projection: .288 AVG, 16 HR, 69 RBI, 29 SB, 93 Runs, .827 OPS

• Clayton Kershaw (LHP) Los Angeles Dodgers – The 21 year-old southpaw had a pretty impressive 2009 despite finishing with .500 record (8-8). In 171 IP, Kershaw finished in the Top 5 in ERA (2.79) , K/9 (9.74), and H/9 (6.3). He also posted an impressive 2.27 ERA after the All-Star break last season. While it didn’t translate to many wins last season, Kershaw’s numbers show his ability to dominate on any given night. Expect his win total to nearly double this season as he establishes himself as a legit ace in this league. A few Cy Young votes could be in the offering as well. All of this coming from a 21 year-old pitcher is quite encouraging to potential fantasy owners.

Bill James Projection: 13-7, 3.25 ERA, 180 IP, 188 K (9.40 K/9), 1.28 WHIP

MLB.com Projection: 14-8, 3.22 ERA, 192 IP, 201 K (9.42 K/9), 1.23 WHIP

• Yovani Gallardo (RHP) Milwaukee Brewers – Another young arm has the chance to establish himself as an elite ace in this league. After missing most of the 2008 season with a torn ACL, Gallardo came back last season and posted 13 wins along with a sub-4.00 ERA and the second-best K/9 in the NL at 9.89. Despite having an awful 4.6 BB/9 ratio last season, his previous track record in the minors and majors has shown this should not be a trend. The Brewers have been envisioning Gallardo as their ace of the future and 2010 might be the year he reaches that potential. If Gallardo cuts down on his walks, a 15 win season, sub 4.00 ERA, and high K/9 should make him a solid fantasy option as your No. 2 starter.

Bill James Projection: 12-8, 3.53 ERA, 186 IP, 205 K (9.92 K/9), 1.30 WHIP

MLB.com Projection: 16-8, 3.37 ERA, 197 IP, 213 K (9.73 K/9), 1.22 WHIP

• Tommy Hanson (RHP) Atlanta Braves – The third pitcher under the age of 24 to find their name on this list might have the most upside of any of the pitchers. Hanson came to the majors last June as the top pitching prospect in baseball and he failed to disappoint. In 127.2 IP, Hanson went 11-4 with a 2.89 ERA and started posting dominating strikeout numbers as he had over a 10 K/9 in August and September. Hanson is a legit future ace who comes from an organization known for developing quality arms. The future is bright for Hanson as he will be an enticing mid-round pickup for fantasy owners.

Bill James Projection: 14-7, 3.30 ERA, 191 IP, 206 K (9.71 K/9), 1.15 WHIP

MLB.com Projection: 15-7, 3.39 ERA, 190 IP, 201 K (9.52 K/9), 1.24 WHIP

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Up Next: AL Bounceback Candidates

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.

Jim Thome will be 38 this season and has been limited to exclusively playing designated hitter due to his bad back. However he has been productive at the plate and affords protection to all those around him in the lineup. Thome is a career .277 hitter with 564 home runs and 1565 RBI.

Jermaine Dye who is 36 has been rumored to be in consideration for the fourth outfielder spot on the Chicago Cubs roster. Even though Dye had a horrendous second half last season he isn’t completely washed up and I doubt his talent just shut off completely. Dye is a career .274 hitter with 325 homers and 1072 RBI.

Carlos Delgado at 37 is also having issues finding a job. Delgado was injured last season and has been showing some signs of lingering issues while he has been playing in the Puerto Rican Winter league. It looks as though Delgado will be a DH candidate only. He has hit .280 with 473 homers and 1512 RBI for his career.

Gary Sheffield is also on the market. Though not putting up near the number the previous three candidates have in recent years. The 41 year old Sheffield has and is still a feared hitter when ever he steps to the plate. For his career he has hit .292, 509 homers and 1676 RBI.

There is no question that each one of these men could contribute to any team in baseball but they also pose a great risk to which even team does sign them. Most of them are strictly DH candidates or serious liabilities in the field. Should they consider hanging up their spikes? Will they find a place to contribute regularly or will they be signed to tip the caps to the crowd and pinch for the pitcher on a regular basis? Would you want any of these guys as an intricate part of your team at this stage in their careers?

It is not known exactly how many teams where present for yesterday’s session, but according to those in attendance the list of MLB teams represented was high. The teams rumored to have the best chance of signing Sheets are the New York Mets, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Texas Rangers. Sheets held three separate throwing sessions consisting of 20 pitches each. He was listed as topping out at 92 mph with his fastball and his signature curveball was said to be moving well. Many scouts came away impressed from the session and thought Sheets looked healthy and ready to contribute this season. However, many of the scouts also noted that Sheets looked “gassed” after only 60 pitches as his stamina will need to improve after missing a whole year of pitching. Matthew Cerrone of MetsBlog.com reports that Sheets is looking for $10 million, along with incentives and possibly a second year player option in his new deal. However, Sheets is more likely to find a deal similar to the one Brad Penny signed with the St. Louis Cardinals earlier this off season.

The biggest problem for Sheets in his career has been injuries. He has only pitched more than 30 games in 4 of his 8 seasons in the league. In my opinion, his career is very similar to Kerry Wood, as they are both former first round draft picks who have shown flashes of domination, but due to injuries have never won more than 14 games in a season. I feel Sheets will be a good gamble and the potential steal of the free agent market if healthy, but he needs to lessen his rumored current demands for his new deal. A team to watch in the Sheets market is the Seattle Mariners, as GM Jack Zduriencik is the former Director of Scouting for the Milwaukee Brewers and played a key role in the team drafting Sheets out of college. For more info on Sheets and his road to recovery, ESPN.com’s Tim Kurkjian has a good story up on Sheets and what he expects to provide this season.

9. Omar Vizquel – Vizquel finds his name on this list mostly due to his stellar defense. He was arguably the best defensive shortstop over the past decade as he added 4 Gold Gloves to his collection. For his career, he is an 11-time Gold Glove Award winner and is a true joy to watch play the infield. Offensively, Vizquel had a .270 AVG, .698 OPS, 644 Runs, and 151 SB for the decade. While not an offensive force, Vizquel does a great job of doing the little things that go unnoticed in the box score and his defense makes him a good choice for this list.

8. Edgar Renteria – For most of the decade, Renteria was one of the most consistent shortstops in the game. Renteria was a 4-time All Star this decade and also won back to back NL Gold Glove Awards in 2002 and 2003. Renteria enjoyed much of his success playing in the NL for the St. Louis Cardinals. For the decade, he had a .289 AVG, 109 HR, 688 RBI, .760 OPS, and 811 Runs. Renteria currently is reaching the end of the road in his career as an above average shortstop and is on the decline as far as performance goes.

7. Michael Young – Young started his career in 2000 as a second basemen for the Texas Rangers. He became the everyday shortstop for the team in 2004 before moving to third base last season. Young has been a consistent performer this decade as he has provided solid defense (2008 AL Gold Glove) along with above average hitting. For the decade, he had a .302 AVG, 137 HR, 720 RBI, and 819 Runs. Young’s most recognized feat this decade was getting the game-winning hit for the AL squad in the 2006 All Star Game in Pittsburgh, which led to him winning the MVP of the Midsummer Classic.

6. Hanley Ramirez – Hanley currently finds himself as one of the bright young stars of the game after only 4 seasons in the league. Over his brief career, Hanley has already had one 30 HR-30 SB seasons and is the first shortstop since 1960 to win an NL batting title, which came last season. He also was the 2006 NL Rookie of the Year for the Florida Marlins. For his career, he has a .316 AVG, 103 HR, 313 RBI, 470 Runs, and an impressive 164 SB. The future is bright for this kid as he expects to add a few more 30-30 seasons before his career is over.

5. Nomar Garciaparra – Over the first part of the decade, Nomar was one of the best shortstops in all of baseball. From 2000-2004, Nomar was a 3-time All Star and led the league with a .372 AVG in 2000, which was the highest AVG for any right handed hitter since Joe DiMaggio over 70 years ago. Since 2005, Nomar has seen his career filled with injuries except for the 2006 season where he was awarded the NL Comeback Player of the Year Award with the Los Angeles Dodgers. For the decade, Nomar had a .308 AVG, 133 HR, 596 RBI, and 580 Runs. When healthy, Nomar was one of the best shortstops in the game.

4. Alex Rodriguez – Despite playing most of the decade at third base, “ARod” finds his name on this list due to his impressive 4 year run at shortstop from 2000-2003. During his time at shortstop, “ARod” won 3 consecutive HR titles, 2 Gold Gloves, and the 2003 AL MVP Award. As a shortstop, he had a .304 AVG, 197 HR, 527 RBI, and 516 Runs. There is no question, “ARod” is one of the best hitters in the game and his 4 year run at shortstop this decade was extremely impressive, steroids or not.

3. Jimmy Rollins – Rollins truly didn’t become an elite shortstop until the second part of the decade. While always a solid performer, his career has taken off over the last three seasons. 2007 was Rollins best year of the decade as he won the NL MVP Award with a .296 AVG, 30 HR, 94 RBI, 41 SB, and an astounding 139 Runs. Also that year, Rollins won his first of 3 consecutive NL Gold Glove Awards. For the decade, Rollins had a .274 AVG, 146 HR, 621 RBI, 326 SB, and 945 Runs. He is currently one of the premier leadoff hitters in the game as he combines excellent speed with a rare form of power that is not commonly seen from that spot in the lineup. While I feel Rollins is an excellent player both offensively and defensively, it’s hard for me to see him ranked higher than ARod on this list.

2. Miguel Tejada – From 2000-2006, Tejada was one of the best in the game offensively as he put up some impressive numbers with the Oakland A’s and Baltimore Orioles. During those years, he averaged 29 HR, 116 RBI, and 102 Runs a year with only one season (2000) where he didn’t play in all 162 games. His best year was in 2002 when he was awarded the AL MVP with a  .308 AVG, 34 HR, 131 RBI, and 108 Runs. In 2004, Tejada led the AL with an impressive 150 RBI with the Orioles. He was a 6-time All Star this decade and was named the All-Star MVP in 2005. However, Tejada found his name linked to the highly publicized steroids controversy, which brought into question his use of the drug(s). Since 2006, Tejada has not hit more than 18 HR or driven in 100 runs in a season, which further shows the benefits steroids had on his production. Tejada would finish the decade with a .297 AVG, 251 HR, 1,046 RBI, and 960 Runs.

1. Derek Jeter – No one represents the Yankee tradition quite like Derek Jeter. The lifelong Yankee has been a consistent performer for the team since 1995 and is one of the most respected and well-liked players in all of baseball by both fans and fellow players. The man they call “Mr. November” has been a clutch performer throughout his career and added to that belief by winning the World Series MVP Award in 2000. For the decade, Jeter had a .317 AVG (tops among all shortstops), 161 HR, 727 RBI, 219 SB, and 1,088 Runs. He was also an 8-time All Star and was named the All-Star MVP back in 2000. Jeter also gets it done on the defensive side as his trademark jump throw and dive into the seats at Yankee Stadium are a few of the things that are associated with him. He won 3 consecutive AL Gold Glove Awards from 2004-2006 and remains one of the best in the game despite heading towards the end of his career. I can’t think of a better choice for this spot as he has become a model for the position and one that youngsters strive to be like.

This past decade has seen some pretty impressive players come from the shortstop position. The talent seen on this list is incredible and the position is anchored by players who possess speed, power, and great defense. The position should be in good hands for the next decade as Hanley Ramirez looks poised to take his name to the top.

Up Next: Top 9 Third Basemen 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

Ken Rosenthal

This is a good signing for the Brewers.  Wolf has had his fair share of injuries before but these seem to be behind him. Wolf will be a great compliment to Yovani Gallardo in the rotation. The Brewers needed the pitching help to round out their good offensive attack. Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel states that the Brewers based the deal off of the contract that Tim Hudson sign earlier this year with the Atlanta Braves.

Wolf is 33-years-old and went 11-7 this past season with a 3.23 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 160 strikeouts in 34 starts for the Los Angeles Dodgers.