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)

I found this post the other day as I was browsing through the 2009 World Series stories at MLB.com.  It instantly got me thinking, do MLB general managers really buy teams or is this some ticked off Pirates fan?  Could this possibly be a disgruntled New York Mets fan that isn’t happy because his team didn’t buy the “right” players?  Can teams and championships simply be bought by just shelling out enough money, with a nice trophy as a reward?

I decided I’d get to the bottom of the payroll vs. playoff matter. I pieced together some data from the USA Today regarding the correlation between payroll and playoff teams.  I compiled a list of playoff teams from the past decade and then proceeded to find each playoff team’s total payroll and payroll rank in that given year.

Clearly the top spenders will be the teams in the playoffs, right? It only makes sense because they have a larger talent pool to pull from. There isn’t anyone or anything that is off limits. If you need a big starting pitcher or a guy that can mash in the middle of your lineup, you can just go pick up an over-priced free agent. Isn’t that why we have a class system in high school sports, so the playing field can be level? Everyone knows that if they didn’t have a class system, a small under-populated team and school without a talent pool would never have a chance against the mega-schools. Sure there are once-in-a-century stories like Hoosiers and the Bad News Bears, but that only happens in the movies. This is not Hollywood. Gene Hackman isn’t going to barge through the door and give a motivational speech to elevate the team and pull off the impossible. It just doesn’t happen. We live in a Jerry Maguire world, “Show me the money!”

Major League Baseball is different than every other professional sport.  The way the game is played and the model of consistency that must be established for success is different than any other sport.  Baseball has a grueling schedule and the game takes a toll on one’s body, but in a different way than football or basketball.  The roster has different lengths and different requirements in different months.  The playoff format has eight teams, not 12 or 16.  In baseball numerous players have been traded after the no-trade deadline, which is something you don’t see in football.  Baseball has an intricate network of minor league teams.  The player draft has over 40 rounds and once a year they even draft players that are currently on other teams (Rule 5 Draft). However, arguably the biggest difference is that there is no salary cap.  Even though they impose a luxury tax, teams such as the Yankees are not afraid to pay it because they have all the resources they need to succeed and no salary cap to stop them.

In 2000, the New York Yankees played the New York Mets in the first “Subway Series” since 1956.  The New York Yankees won the series in five games, handedly beating their cross-town rivals. That year the Yankees had the largest payroll in the game at $92.9 million, with the Mets owning the 6th largest payroll at $79.8 million. The average payroll for a playoff team that year was a mere $61.8 million.  Ten years later, the Yankees once again took home the crown with the highest payroll at $201.4 million.  The average payroll for a playoff team that year (2009) was $109.9 million.  In simply ten years the average payroll of a playoff team nearly doubled.

Over the course of the past ten years, the average payroll rank for playoff teams has been 11, with an annual total bill of $91.6 million.  If you want to hoist the trophy, however, your average rank is 9.1 and a payroll of $102.2 million. I heard Bud Selig rave that parity was as great as it has ever been! Twenty-three different teams made the playoffs in the past decade, that’s 76.7% of teams in the league.  Does it really matter that four of those teams only made it once? At least they were there, right?  The truth is that teams have to spend money to win championships anymore, the numbers prove it.  Maybe small market teams should form a different view of success.  Maybe just getting there should be enough. Should the Tampa Bay Rays and Minnesota Twins adopt that philosophy?

Well at least we have the Florida Marlins who beat the “Evil Empire” in 2003 with the 25^th ranked payroll, more than $100 million less than the Yankees. I wonder if Gene Hackman gave them a speech before Game Six?

• 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

MLB.com’s 2010 Top 10 Prospects

1. Jason Heyward (OF) Atlanta Braves - The 20-year old outfielder is a rare 5-tool talent who possesses power, average, speed, and a plus arm all from the left-hand side of the plate. Heyward was the 14th overall pick in the 2007 draft and was ranked as the No. 3 overall prospect in 2009. Heyward is expected to reach the majors in 2010 and is a possibility to break camp with the team. The future is bright for this prospect.

2. Stephen Strasburg (RHP) Washington Nationals – The No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 draft is arguably the most heralded pitching prospect since Mark Prior. In three years at San Diego St., Strasburg only allowed 144 hits in 243.1 IP along with 375 K and 50 BB (.797 WHIP). His fastball tops out in the triple digits and has a slider/curve breaking ball that is devastating on hitters. The Nationals are expected to take a cautious approach with Strasburg as he is deemed the future face of the franchise. Despite this cautious approach, it will be hard for the Nationals not to bring Strasburg to the majors at some point in 2010.

3. Mike Stanton (OF) Florida Marlins – Stanton was the 2nd round pick (76th overall) of the Marlins in 2007. The 20-year outfielder is considered to have the best power of any hitter in the minor leagues as his 67 HR in two minor league seasons will attest to that. Stanton is expected to patrol right field for the Marlins, possibly as soon as 2011. He is expected to play in Triple-A for 2010 with a September call-up to the big leagues a possibility.

4. Buster Posey (C) San Francisco Giants – The 5th overall pick of the 2008 draft made huge strides in 2009 as he made the jump from Class A all the way to a September call-up with the big league team. Posey threw out 46 % of potential basestealers in 2009 and has 20 HR potential at the plate. Posey is expected to get one more year of seasoning behind the plate with the return of Bengie Molina to San Francisco. His eye is on 2011 when he should be a cornerstone behind the plate for many years to come.

5. Brian Matusz (LHP) Baltimore Orioles – The No. 4 overall pick of the 2008 draft made his major league debut in 2009 as he made 8 starts with the Orioles last season. In those starts, Matusz went 5-2 with a 4.63 ERA in 44.2 IP. Matusz has drawn comparisons to fellow lefty Cliff Lee of the Seattle Mariners. He is expected to break camp with the Orioles as a member of their starting rotation and is considered a top-of-the-rotation starter in the future.

6. Desmond Jennings (OF) Tampa Bay Rays – The 10th round pick (289th overall) of the Rays in 2006 made arguably the biggest strides of any minor leaguer in 2009. Jennings didn’t find his name among the top prospects last season, but had an impressive ’09 season where he swiped 52 bases and had his first injury-free season of his minor league career. Jennings is projected to be a leadoff hitter in the majors and is expected to patrol center field in 2011 for the Rays.

7. Neftali Feliz (RHP) Texas Rangers – Acquired from the Braves in the Mark Teixeira trade in 2007, Feliz made some noise in 2009. In 31 IP out of the pen for the Rangers, Feliz had an impressive 1.74 ERA with 39 K and only 13 hits allowed. Feliz sports a fastball that reaches the triple digits and is simply overpowering at times. He is expected to be a setup man to closer Frank Francisco in 2010. Feliz projects as either a top-of-the-rotation starter or shutdown closer in his career. The difficulty for the Rangers is deciding which role suits him best.

8. Pedro Alvarez (3B) Pittsburgh Pirates – The 2nd overall pick in the 2008 draft had an impressive 27 HR last season in the minors. Alvarez is expected to be a middle-of-the order power threat in Pittsburgh who is known for his great plate discipline. The challenge for the Pirates is whether Alvarez has enough range to play third base in the majors or if he is better suited at first base. Either way, Alvarez is the top prospect in the Pirates organization and should arrive to the majors in 2011.

9. Justin Smoak (1B) Texas Rangers – The 11th overall pick of 2008 draft is the second Rangers prospect in the top 10. Smoak has scouts drooling with his power and average from both sides of the plates. The switch-hitter has drawn comparisons to former Rangers farmhand Mark Teixeira (1B) of the New York Yankees. He projects to be a middle-of-the-order threat from either first base or as a DH. The Rangers will be tempted to find Smoak a spot in 2010, but 2011 seems more likely for Smoak to find an everyday spot in the Rangers lineup.

10. Madison Bumgarner (LHP) San Francisco Giants – The 10th overall pick of the 2007 draft is the second Giant to find his name in the top 10. Bumgarner made his Major League debut in 2009 as he appeared in 4 games (1 start) and produced a 1.80 ERA in 10 IP along with 10 K. Bumgarner will compete for a spot in the starting rotation in camp and is expected to be a rotation staple with Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain for years to come in San Francisco.

Tomorrow I will take a look at Keith Law’s Top 10 prospects and see how it stacks up to Mayo’s list. For a complete list of the top 50 prospects according to Mayo, please check out the link above.

Jason Bay to the Mets – The former Pittsburgh Pirate and Boston Red Sox takes his game back to the NL with his recent signing with the New York Mets. Bay will anchor left field at Citi Field for at least the next four seasons and is expected to provide some much needed pop in the middle of the Mets lineup. The Mets lineup should be pretty good next season barring injury with Jose Reyes, David Wright, Carlos Beltran, and Bay as the main contributors. Last season, Bay hit .267 and hit a career-high 36 HR and 119 RBI with the Red Sox. The Mets are hoping that Bay continues his success in spacious Citi Field, where the new park proved to be pitcher friendly. It is a good signing by the Mets as they needed some power in their lineup. Bay has been a consistent performer in his career and has proved he can play in a big market as his success in Boston will attest to that.

Adrian Beltre to Boston – To combat the loss of Bay, the Red Sox signed free agent 3B Adrian Beltre to a one-year deal with a player option for 2011. The deal is worth $9 million for next season with a $5 million player option for 2011. This is a good deal for Beltre as he looks to have a bounce back year at the plate which would give him the option to get a long-term deal in next season’s free agent market. Beltre is already a premier defensive 3B as he won Gold Gloves in 2007 and 2008. However, he hit only 8 HR and 44 RBI with the Seattle Mariners last season. The hitter friendly Fenway Park should be good for Beltre as the Green Monster can be very forgiving at times. The question for the Red Sox is what to do with Mike Lowell after his trade to Texas was called off earlier in the off season. While I feel $9 million is a lot to pay Beltre for next season, he is a great candidate to have a bounce back season and will provide excellent defense from the hot corner.

Marlon Byrd to the Cubs – The Cubs have filled their hole in center field with the recent signing of Marlon Byrd to a 3-year deal worth $15 million. The deal is light on the Cubs’ tight budget for next season as the deal is back loaded. Byrd is set to make $3 million next season, $5.5 million in 2011, and $6.5 million in 2012. The Cubs are hoping that Byrd builds off his career year last season with the Texas Rangers, where he was an everyday player for the first time in his career. New Cubs hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo was the biggest factor in Byrd coming to Chicago as he attributes his new found success as a hitter because of Jaramillo’s tutelage in Texas. This is the second consecutive off season the Cubs have signed a former Texas Rangers outfielder to a 3 year deal and the Cubs are hoping Byrd has a better time in Chicago then the recently traded Milton Bradley did. As a Cubs fan, I am not a fan of the signing, but Byrd if nothing else will provide a much better clubhouse atmosphere for the team. If he can provide anything close to his numbers from last season, he will definately live up to the terms of his contract.

Mark DeRosa to the Giants – The San Francisco Giants added a great piece to their team with the signing of super-utilityman Mark DeRosa to a two-year deal worth $12 million. DeRosa can play anywhere in the infield and both corner outfield spots, but is expected to become the primary 3B in San Francisco, which allows the team to move Pablo Sandoval to 1B. DeRosa has become a solid contributor at the plate since his last season in Texas in 2006. His versatility is a plus as he can play numerous positions well and help the team in case of injury at other positions. DeRosa has been both a fan and player favorite over his career as he is a true professional who understands how to play the game the right way. His career took off as a member of the Chicago Cubs as he became a team leader and provided plenty of clutch hits. I know if I was building a team I would do all I could to have a player like DeRosa on my team as his versatility and leadership are vital to a teams success.

Kelly Johnson to the D-Backs - One of best under the radar signings of the off season goes to the Arizona Diamondbacks. The D-Backs signed 2B Kelly Johnson to a one-year deal worth $2.35 million. Johnson was not offered arbitration earlier in the off season by the Atlanta Braves, which made him a free agent. Last season, Johnson struggled at the plate after a wrist injury in July and lost his everyday spot in the lineup towards the end of the year. However, Johnson was a solid contributor for the Braves the previous two years and is a good candidate for a bounce back season. I like this signing for the D-Backs as Johnson should provide solid numbers for the team and is an upgrade to their other options at 2B. Sometimes it’s the under the radar signings that benefit a team rather than a big name signing and this could be one of those cases.

It will be interesting to see where the market goes in the next month. There are still plenty of quality names on the market as we are starting to see a new trend with teams waiting it out until later in the off season to fill some holes.

9. Ryan Zimmerman – The current face of the Washington Nationals starts off our list at No. 9. In 4 full seasons in the majors, Zimmerman has averaged 23 HR and 90 RBI a season. Last season was his best season in his early career as he was selected to his 1st All Star Game and won his 1st Gold Glove Award. In his career, Zimmerman has a .284 AVG, 91 HR,  and 364 RBI. While a good young player with a bright future, I question whether he has done enough in his career to warrant a spot on this list.

8. Mike Lowell – This decade Lowell established himself as one of the better third basemen in the game despite not being particularly flashy. For the decade, he had a .282 AVG, 206 HR, and 879 RBI with the Florida Marlins and Boston Red Sox. Lowell also added his lone Gold Glove Award to his credit back in 2005. In 2007, he was named the World Series MVP as he hit nearly .400 in the series and was a vital piece for the Red Sox 2nd Championship of the decade. Lowell was also a 4-time All Star in the decade. While it is easy to overlook Lowell in today’s game, he was a solid performer over the decade despite battling some nagging injuries.

7. Eric Chavez – For the first part of the decade, Chavez was one of the premier third basemen in the game. From 2000-2006, Chavez won 6 AL Gold Glove Awards with the Oakland A’s and averaged 28 HR and 94 RBI a season. During that period, he produced two 30 HR seasons and four 100 RBI seasons. However, over the past 3 seasons, Chavez has failed to play more than 90  games in a season and faces the possibility of early retirement due to chronic back problems. For the decade, he had a .269 AVG, 216 HR, and 721 RBI. It’s a shame that injuries have taken over his career, as he was truly both a great hitter and defender when healthy.

6. Aramis Ramirez – The former Pittsburgh Pirate has become one of the best hitting third basemen in the game since his trade to the Chicago Cubs in 2003. As a member of the Cubs, Ramirez has been a constant run producer with three 30 HR seasons and four 100 RBI seasons. At his best, Ramirez is a very clutch hitter who has a knack for driving in the big runs. For the decade, Ramirez had a .289 AVG, 258 HR, and 915 RBI. The Cubs are definately not the same team without his bat in the lineup as last season’s injury-plagued season for Ramirez will attest.

5. Scott Rolen – Rolen was arguably the best defensive third basemen of the decade as he was a 6-time NL Gold Glove Award winner. He wasn’t too shabby with the bat as well as he had a .285 AVG, 201 HR, and 832 RBI for the decade. Like Chavez, Rolen has been plagued by injuries since 2007 and is looking to revert back to old form with the Cincinnati Reds next season. Barring injury, Rolen would have found his name higher on this list due to being a consistent 20+ HR and 90+ RBI threat every season along with his excellent defense.

4. David Wright – In just 5 full seasons in the big leagues, Wright has established himself as an elite third basemen. From 2005-2009, Wright averaged 29 HR and 112 RBI a season and was selected to 4 All-Star games. In 2007, Wright became a member of the 30-30 club when he hit 30 HR and stole 34 bases. He also provided excellent defense as he won back to back NL Gold Glove Awards in 2007 and 2008. For his career, Wright has a .309 AVG, 140 HR, 561 RBI, and 119 SB. While last season was a down year for Wright, the future is bright for him and the New York Mets at third base.

3. Troy Glaus – A questionable choice for the No. 3 spot on this list goes to Glaus. From 2000-2002, Glaus averaged 39 HR and 107 RBI a season. In 2002, Glaus was named the World Series MVP for the formerly named Anaheim Angels. Glaus saw his Angels career end after two injury plagued seasons in 2003 and 2004. He would go on to have another impressive run from 2005-2008, where he averaged 31 HR and 91 RBI a season with 3 teams. Glaus was nonexistent last season as he only appeared in 14 games with the St. Louis Cardinals due to injury. For the decade, he had a .259 AVG, 274 HR, and 777 RBI. When healthy, Glaus was an excellent home run hitter, however, I feel he is ranked a little too high on this list as he had 3 seasons where he was virtually non-existent in the league. Glaus recently signed a one year deal with the Atlanta Braves to play first base.

2. Chipper Jones – Chipper was the premier third basemen in the NL this decade with the Atlanta Braves. He hit .311 for the decade and won a batting title in 2008 with a .364 AVG. Chipper is one of the best switch hitters of all-time as he trails only Mickey Mantle and Eddie Murray for most home runs for a switch hitter with 426 HR in his career. Like many of the players on this list, Chipper has had his fair share of nagging injuries of late, but is still a dangerous hitter when healthy. For the decade, he had a .311 AVG (as noted above), 273 HR, and 921 RBI. Chipper is considering retirement after next season as he feels his days as a premier third basemen are behind him.

1. Alex Rodriguez – The only player to find his name on the list at two different positions is none other than “ARod”.  Since becoming a full-time third basemen in 2004, ARod has done nothing to hurt his legacy as one of the best in the game. He would add 2 more AL MVP Awards to his credit in 2005 and 2007 with the New York  Yankees. In 2007, he became the 22nd player in MLB history to join the 500 HR club for his career. For the decade, ARod had a .304 AVG, 435 HR, 1,243 RBI, and 179 SB. Next season, ARod is expected to become the newest member of the 600 HR club as he needs only 17 HR to reach that number. Despite the much talked about steroids issue from last season, ARod should still find his name in Cooperstown someday as he has put up numbers very few players have ever accomplished.

The first word that comes to mind after looking at this list is injuries. The majority of the players on this list have battled injuries over multiple seasons which has hurt their overall production for the decade. I felt a few guys on this list were ranked a little high and I feel if Ryan Zimmerman is on the list, you might as well put Evan Longoria’s name on there even though he has only played 2 seasons. It will be interesting to see where the position goes from here. I expect David Wright to carry the torch for the next decade.

Up Next: Top 9 Outfielders of the Decade

Jose Valverde is by far the best candidate out there for the closer position. He had some injury issues last season but nothing too serious as to question his health for 2010. Valverde most likely did himself a disservice by declining arbitration from the Astros. He could have potentially earned up to $10 million. Valverde has been consistent with his numbers over the last three seasons with an average of 38 saves, 72 K’s, 63 IP and a 2.79 ERA.

Matt Capps was nontendered in a surprising move by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Capps is just 26 years old and with the exception of last season’s numbers, which were most likely effected by an injury, Capps has been a quality stopper for the Bucs. He as received quite a bit of interest with a rumored 12 teams contacting him so far. He has averaged 22 saves, 50 K’s, 62 IP, and a 3.70 ERA over the last three seasons for the last place Pirates.

Mike Gonzalez also rejected arbitration this offseason. He has had numerous injuries over the years, but when healthy is a tremendous asset to have in the bullpen. Gonzalez is a type-A free agent as well, so whoever signs him will have to surrender a draft pick in this year’s draft. Gonzalez averaged 9 saves, 49 K’s, 42 IP and a 2.76 ERA over the last three years. To be fair, his save numbers are low because he was a setup man or split time with another pitcher at the closer position.

Fernando Rodney is also available this offseason. Rodney has a canon for an arm which is attractive to a lot of teams, but he has pitched in a pitcher friendly park and has a consistently high BB/K9 ratio. Rodney is rumored to be seeking a 3-years $30 million deal, but there is little chance he will receive that. Rodney only officially took over the closer position at the end of 2008 so take his averages with a grain of salt. He averaged 17 saves, 55 K’s, 55 IP, and a whopping 4.52 ERA over the last three seasons.

Kevin Gregg rounds out the list of top contenders for a closer position this off season. The Orioles seem to be interested in him and he is close with Rick Kranitz from his days when they were both with the Marlins. Gregg has average 28 saves, 72 K’s, 73 IP and an ERA of 3.89 over the last three seasons.

There are many options available this offseason to teams and some honorable mentions that we didn’t include who have closing experience are Octavio Dotel, Eddie Guardardo, and Mike MacDougal. It is definitely a rough year for those who are looking to cash in on there success. So who do you think will be closing and who will be setting the table next year?

Tim Dierkes of mlbtraderumors.com

From 2007-2009, Capps saved 66 games for the Pittsburg Pirates with an ERA of 3.70 during that time.  In 2009, Capps dealt with elbow bruising which contributed to his rising hits and home-runs allowed.  At 26-years-old, the hard throwing Capps should rebound and be an excellent value for somebody’s bullpen.

Johnson lost his starting second base job with the Atlanta Braves to Martin Prado after dealing with wrist issues and struggling at the plate in 2009 (.224/.303/.389 with 8 HR and 29 RBI).  Prior to 2009, Johnson was a strong offensive second basemen posting a .287/.349/.446 with 12 HR, 69 RBI, and 11 SB in 2008, and .276/.375/.457 with 16 HR, 68 RBI, and 9 SB in 2007.  At 27, Johnson looks to have plenty of life in him and his body of work, though small, should not  be overshadowed by his 2009 numbers.

Chien-Ming Wang won 55 games for the New York Yankees from 2005 to 2009, with only one of these coming in 2009. Couple his one win with a 9.64 ERA and you get a picture of just how disastrous 2009 was for Wang.  Outside of last year, the 29-year-old Wang has been an excellent pitcher who has averaged 13.5 wins and an ERA of 3.86 from 2005 to 2008 in the tough AL East.  Wang battled a foot injury in 2009, and more importantly, had shoulder surgery in July, but is slated for a May 1st return.

Which of the non-tendered players do you seeing having the biggest impact in 2009?  Where do you see Matt Capps, Kelly Johnson, and Chien-Ming Wang playing in 2010?

Astros sign Brandon Lyon – Ken Rosenthal tweeted that Brandon Lyon (RHP) has agreed to a 3-year deal worth $15 million with the Houston Astros. Lyon is a possible option for the closer’s role  for the Astros should Jose Valverde leave via free agency.

Roy Halladay Update – According to Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun, the Los Angeles Angels sent the Toronto Blue Jays a trade proposal on Wednesday for ace Roy Halladay (RHP). The Angels offer is rumored to include starter Joe Saunders (LHP), shortstop Erick Aybar, and outfield prospect Peter Bourjos (CF). ESPN.com’s Jayson Stark also reported that Halladay would approve a deal to the Phillies, Yankees, Red Sox, and Angels. The Halladay trade discussions should heat up as the offseason goes along, especially if the Yankees and Red Sox get involved as expected.

Rafael Soriano On His Way to Tampa – FOXSports.com’s Jon Paul Morosi says a deal between the Atlanta Braves and Tampa Bay Rays for relief pitcher Rafael Soriano is nearly complete. In exchange for Soriano, the Rays are expected to send recently acquired relief pitcher Jesse Chavez (RHP), formerly of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Soriano became available after accepting the Braves arbitration offer earlier this week.

Rich Harden a Ranger – Rich Harden will become the newest member of the Texas Rangers’ staff pending a physical as he has signed a 1-year deal with a mutual option for 2011 with the team. Ed Price of AOL FanHouse has the breakdown of Harden’s deal with the Rangers which guarantees him $7.5 million for next year. The deal was made possible with the earlier trade of Kevin Millwood to the Orioles. Harden is basically a 6 inning pitcher at this point due to numerous arm and shoulder issues, however, when healthy Harden has some of the best stuff in the game.

Mike Lowell a Ranger? – The Rangers capped off their busy Wednesday by having a deal in place for the Red Sox’s Mike Lowell (3B). The Boston Herald reports that a deal sending Lowell to the Rangers is “not done yet”, but is expected to be completed on Thursday. If the deal is completed as expected, Lowell would be used primarily as a first basemen/DH with the Rangers as they are set with Michael Young at third. The Red Sox would receive Max Ramirez (C) who is limited defensively and stuck behind Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Taylor Teagarden in the Rangers catching ranks. The Red Sox are expected to eat most of Lowell’s $12 million contract for next season in the deal.

White Sox Close with J.J. Putz? – Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun Times wrote in his blog that the Chicago White Sox are closing in on a deal with free agent J.J. Putz (RHP).  White Sox GM Kenny Williams tried to downplay the rumor as he was upset with the media hyping the rumor to the Hot Stove. Putz pitched only 29.3 innings last year due to elbow issues and underwent surgery in July. Putz is scheduled to throw for teams on Friday with the hopes of proving his health is not an issue.

Kevin Millwood Traded to the Orioles – The Rangers kicked off their busy Wednesday by trading starting pitcher Kevin Millwood (RHP) to the Baltimore Orioles for reliever Chris Ray (RHP). The motive behind this deal for the Rangers was to create financial flexibility which would come into play with the above mentioned deal for Rich Harden. The Rangers are not getting much in return in Chris Ray as he has been plagued by injuries in his short career and is nothing more than a decent back end member of the bullpen at best.

Astros Acquire Matt Lindstrom – The Houston Astros added another piece to the back end of their bullpen with the acquisition of Matt Lindstrom (RHP) from the Florida Marlins. Lindstrom is a power pitcher who has been known to reach triple digits on the radar gun. However, control has been a problem for him along with injuries. The Marlins received two low-level prospects in the deal.

Red Sox After Adrian Beltre – The Boston Herald reports that the Red Sox have “significant” interest in free agent third basemen Adrian Beltre. The Red Sox’s interest would especially be increased with Mike Lowell possibly headed to Texas. Beltre has for the most part not lived up to the expectations of his last free agent deal with the Seattle Mariners. However, Beltre has finally started to show more consistency with his bat to go along with good defense, which makes him an intriguing option at third base for the Red Sox.

Mets Soon to Offer Deal to Bengie Molina – Anthony DiComo of MLB.com expects the New York Mets to offer a two-year deal to free agent catcher Bengie Molina before they leave Indianapolis on Thursday. Molina is expected to command close to $6 million a year with his new contract. The Mets have a gaping hole behind the plate and could use Molina’s bat in their lineup.

Milton Bradley Update – The news was not so optimistic for the Cubs on Wednesday. Despite optimism of a deal being completed on Wednesday, Paul Sullivan writes in his latest column that the Cubs are having a difficult time dealing Bradley as expected. Earlier in the day, the “mystery team” from the AL was revealed by Bruce Levine to be the Boston Red Sox with Mike Lowell’s name being mentioned as a possibility for the Cubs. Unfortunately for the Cubs, the Milton Bradley saga doesn’t look like its headed for a quick resolution.

LaTroy Hawkins Signs with the Brewers – The Milwaukee Brewers added another pitcher to the team on Wednesday with the signing of free agent reliever LaTroy Hawkins (RHP). The deal is for two years and $7.5 million. Hawkins is now with his third NL Central team after previous stints with the Cubs and Astros. Hawkins is expected to set-up closer Trevor Hoffman in the Brewers pen.

Derek Lowe On The Move? – According to Mark Bowman of MLB.com, the Atlanta Braves are discussing Derek Lowe (RHP) with multiple teams. The Braves feel Lowe is viewed as a cheaper alternative to free agent pitcher John Lackey (RHP) for some teams. Lowe is owed $45 million over the next three years and the Braves are willing to eat some of his contract in a trade. Lowe has a reputation for being a very consistent and durable pitcher and should attract some interest around the league if the Braves are willing to eat some of his contract.

Andy Pettitte Re-signs with the Yankees – Andy Pettitte will return for his 13th season with the New York Yankees next season as he signed a new 1-year deal worth $11.75 million with the ballclub. Pettitte became the first pitcher in MLB history to start and win the clinching game in all three postseason rounds this past season. Pettitte has won 5 World Championships with the Yankees and has been a big-time pitcher for the team over the years.

Randy Wolf Signs with the Brewers – Free agent starter Randy Wolf (LHP) completed his rumored deal with the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday. Wolf is expected to supply the Brewers with much needed help in the rotation as they led the NL in starters ERA last season. Wolf was one of the more attractive free agent starting pitchers on the market and received a pretty favorable deal with the Brewers.

Day three of the meetings was by far the busiest day this week. On Thursday, the meetings will conclude with the Rule 5 draft. Such names as Johan Santana, Shane Victorino, Dan Uggla, and the great Roberto Clemente were once Rule 5 picks. I will be back later with a recap of Thursday’s events. Stay tuned!

3 Team Blockbuster Completed – The rumored 3 team deal between the New York Yankees, Detroit Tigers, and Arizona Diamondbacks is all but completed pending physicals. The Tigers have dangled the names of Curtis Granderson (CF) and Edwin Jackson (SP) this offseason and have now traded away their services in the same deal. This is a good deal for all three teams, however, I really like the return the Tigers received back in the form of Max Scherzer (SP) and Austin Jackson (CF). This was the biggest news to come from today’s meetings.

Milton Bradley Update - According to the Chicago Tribune’s Paul Sullivan, the Cubs are close to completing a deal for Milton Bradley (OF) possibly as soon as Wednesday. The Chicago Sun Times’ Gordon Wittenmeyer agrees with Sullivan and even brings up the possibility of Bradley going to a “mystery team” in the AL. It’s anybody’s guess as to who the “mystery team” could be. The Cubs seemed to be making progress on Tuesday in their attempts to rid themselves of Bradley. My guess is Bradley ends up with the Tampa Bay Rays for Pat Burrell (OF).

Rangers Interested in Josh Johnson - T.R. Sullivan reported that the Texas Rangers offered top prospects Justin Smoak (1B) and Neftali Feliz (RP) for Florida Marlins ace Josh Johnson (SP) on Tuesday. Surprisingly, the Marlins were not interested in the Rangers’ package and are intent on keeping Johnson next season. That would have been quite an impressive return for the Marlins. FOXSports.com also reported the Rangers interest in Florida Marlins infielder Jorge Cantu.

Teahen Signs a New Deal with the White Sox – Utilityman Mark Teahen signed a new 3 year deal worth $14 million with the Chicago White Sox. Teahen was acquired by the Sox in exchange for Chris Getz (2B) and Josh Fields (3B) earlier this off season. The Sox are hoping they found a diamond in the rough in Teahen as he struggled to fulfill his potential in the majors after coming up through the Kansas City Royals system.  Teahen is projected to play third base.

Bobby Crosby to the Pirates – Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that the Pittsburgh Pirates are on the verge of signing former 2004 AL Rookie of the Year Bobby Crosby (SS). Crosby is expected to sign a 1-year deal worth $1.5 million. The Pirates hope Crosby is a viable alternative to current shortstop, Ronny Cedeno, next season.

Ross Gload to the Phillies – The defending NL Champions have signed the versatile Ross Gload to a two-year deal to shore up their bench, according to MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki. Gload led the league in pinch hits last season and is able to play first base and both corner outfield positions. The deal is expected to be for two years.

Gammons Leaving ESPN – On Tuesday, the news hit off the field as well with the announcement that ESPN’s own Peter Gammons has decided to join MLB.com and the MLB Network at the completion of the Winter Meetings. This is a huge loss for the ESPN baseball community as Gammons has moved to their biggest rival with his knowledge and expertise. It will definately be odd to see Gammons on MLB Network next season instead of ESPN.

Day two of the Winter Meetings was a step up from Monday as teams started to make some progress and increased discussions with other teams. I am sure activity will pick up as we enter into the final stages of the meetings. Stay tuned!