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.

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)

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

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

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

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

• Daisuke Matsuzaka (RHP) Boston Red Sox – Last season was a miserable season for the former Japanese ace. Matsuzaka revealed this off season that he hid a groin injury, that he sustained in the World Baseball Classic, from the Red Sox last season. To compensate for his groin injury, Matsuzaka’s mechanics were altered which led to a shoulder injury that limited him to only 12 starts last season. He would finish the season with a miserable 4-6 record, along with a 5.76 ERA and 30 BB in only 59.1 IP. However, Matsuzaka showed some promise in 4 September starts when he went 3-1 with a 2.22 ERA. This off season, Matsuzaka is committed to reaffirming the Red Sox’s trust in him and hopes to become the pitcher he was in 2008 when he went 18-3 with a 2.90 ERA in 29 starts. He is an ideal bounceback candidate in the AL this season and could be a middle to late round steal in fantasy drafts.

Bill James Projection: 12-10, 4.02 ERA, 195 IP, 184 K (8.49 K/9), 1.37 WHIP

MLB.com Projection: 12-8, 3.79 ERA, 191 IP, 181 K (8.53 K/9), 1.31 WHIP

• Jake Peavy (RHP) Chicago White Sox – 2009 was a whirlwind season for Peavy as he dealt with persistent trade rumors as a member of the San Diego Padres and dealt with an ankle injury that limited him to 16 starts. After initially declining a trade to the White Sox earlier in the season, Peavy eventually accepted a trade to the White Sox before the trade deadline last July. Peavy made only 3 starts with the Sox last season as he spent most of his tenure with the team rehabbing his ankle injury. In those 3 starts, Peavy showed glimpses of a return to Cy Young form as he went 3-0 with a 1.35 ERA and 18 K in 20 IP. Critics of Peavy feel he is a beneficiary of pitching in a pitcher’s ballpark in San Diego and that his numbers will decline pitching in a more hitter-friendly ballpark in U.S. Cellular Field, along with the more potent AL lineups. However, Peavy has some of the best stuff in the game and has Cy Young credentials to go along with a bulldog mentality. Look for Peavy to rebound in a big way and re-establish himself as the ace of the White Sox and one of the elite starters in baseball.

Bill James Projection: 16-8, 3.18 ERA, 215 IP, 217 K (9.08 K/9), 1.16 WHIP

MLB.com Projection: 16-10, 3.66 ERA, 203 IP, 211 K (9.35 K/9), 1.27 WHIP

• Grady Sizemore (OF) Cleveland Indians – Sizemore went into last season as one of the top fantasy outfielders in the game as he was coming off his first 30-30 season in 2008 ( 33 HR-38 SB). However, fantasy owners were disappointed last season as Sizemore was a victim of playing through some nagging injuries that cost him 56 games and hurt his production. Last September, Sizemore had surgeries on both his elbow and lower abdomen with the hope of a healthy and productive 2010 campaign. However, Sizemore’s off season got off to a rough start as some risque’ photos of himself made their way on the Internet. Sizemore is reportedly ready for Spring Training and eager to put the incident and his disappointing 2009 season to rest this season. Sizemore is still only 27 years old and has a chip on his shoulder to prove he is a star-in-the-making. Look  for him to rebound and put together at least a 20 HR-20 SB campaign. While he won’t be taken in the first round this year, he won’t last much longer after that as he excites fantasy owners with his rare combination of power and speed.

Bill James Projection: .272 AVG, 25 HR, 78 RBI, 101 Runs, 21 SB, .853 OPS

MLB.com Projection: .271 AVG, 26 HR, 78 RBI, 98 Runs, 25 SB, .851 OPS

• Ben Sheets (RHP) Oakland Athletics – Sheets has arguably the most to prove of any player on this list. After missing the entire 2009 season to a torn flexor tendon in his elbow, Sheets is looking to prove that he can put together a healthy campaign and return to his All-Star form. After holding a throwing session for multiple MLB scouts last month, Sheets impressed enough to receive a one-year deal worth $10 million plus incentives with the A’s. Sheets now finds himself pitching in one of best pitchers’ park in all of baseball in Oakland and will be counted on to be the ace of the staff. When healthy, Sheets provides great strikeout totals and a solid ERA for fantasy owners. His numbers should be solid pitching in Oakland and he could see a spike in fantasy value as a possible mid-season pickup for a contender at the trade deadline. However, many fantasy owners are wary of Sheets injury history,as they should be, and will be skeptical to use a top pick on the pitcher. However, Sheets should be rested after missing a full season and is expected to go full steam in Spring Training. Sheets has the potential to be an excellent value in the middle rounds as a No. 3 fantasy starter.

CHONE Projection: 7-6, 4.11 ERA, 114 IP, 81 K ( 6.39 K/9), 1.30 WHIP

MLB.com Projection: 10-9, 3.52 ERA, 166 IP, 121 K (6.56 K/9), 1.26 WHIP

• B.J. Upton (OF) Tampa Bay Rays – After hitting 8 postseason HR in the Rays’ 2008 run to the World Series, fantasy owners were drooling at the thought of Upton becoming the next 30-30 man in baseball. However, Upton underwent off season surgery on his shoulder which caused him to develop some bad habits at the plate and altered his mechanics. Despite helping fantasy owners with 42 SB last season, Upton disappointed fantasy owners in every other major category as he finished with a .241 AVG, 11 HR, and 55 RBI in 144 games. According to Peter Gammons of MLB.com, Upton has been working hard this off season with Rays’ hitting coach Derek Shelton on getting comfortable at the plate and staying consistent in his approach. Upton is an ideal bounceback candidate in the AL as he is still only 25 years old and should be fully healed from his shoulder issues. A return to his 20 HR form in 2007 and 40 plus SB shouldn’t be far off. Fantasy owners might finally be pleased with what they see in B.J. Upton this season.

Bill James Projection: .266 AVG, 13 HR, 59 RBI, 81 Runs, 39 SB, .768 OPS

MLB.com Projection: .268 AVG, 14 HR, 71 RBI, 88 Runs, 40 SB, .789 OPS

• Josh Hamilton (OF) Texas Rangers – After bursting on the scene in 2008 with MVP-like numbers with a .304 AVG, 32 HR, and 130 RBI, Hamilton found the injury-bug  last season as he had two stints on the DL that limited him to 336 AB. The Rangers are looking to alleviate the strain on Hamilton’s body by moving him to left field this season with the hopes he can regain his form from 2008. Hamilton also has the luxury of hitting in a hitters’ park especially friendly on left-handed hitters. He will find himself in the middle of a potent lineup with Vladimir Guerrero as his protection, which should increase the number of quality pitches he will see. Hamilton is entering the prime of his career at 28 years old and should provide good power numbers for fantasy owners. While he might not reach his totals from 2008, Hamilton should provide 20-25 HR and 90-100 RBI in the Rangers lineup. He is a perfect buy-low candidate and should have a better season for fantasy owners this season.

Bill James Projection: .293 AVG, 23 HR, 91 RBI, 75 Runs, .860 OPS

MLB.com Projection: .291 AVG, 25 HR, 92 RBI, 77 Runs, .860 OPS

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Up Next: NL Bounceback Candidates

]]> http://www.amateurgm.com/fantasy-previewal-bounceback-candidates/feed 5 http://www.amateurgm.com/free-agent-roundup-one-year-deals-are-king http://www.amateurgm.com/free-agent-roundup-one-year-deals-are-king#comments Wed, 27 Jan 2010 18:30:40 +0000 Ryan Oleniczak http://www.amateurgm.com/?p=925 It’s that time in free agency where the unsigned are left scrambling to find a new team in time for Spring Training or have to settle for a one-year deal with the hopes of establishing value for a bigger payday next off season. Over the past few days some quality free agents have found new teams for 2010.

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

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

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

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

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

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

9. 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 of FoxSports.com

The potential signing of Lackey would be a huge move for the Red Sox as he would bring another great arm to their rotation in their quest to dethrone the Yankees. The Red Sox rotation would consist of Josh Beckett (RHP), Lackey (RHP), Jon Lester (LHP), Daisuke Matsuzaka (RHP), and either veteran knuckleballer Tim Wakefield (RHP) or youngster Clay Buchholz (RHP). This move could also be a sign the Red Sox are using Clay Buchholz as a potential trade chip to acquire a big bat such as San Diego Padres’ Adrian Gonzalez (1B).

During his time with the Angels, Lackey was 102-71 with an ERA of 3.81 along with a postseason record of 3-4 with a 3.12 ERA. Last season, Lackey was 11-8 with a 3.83 ERA in 176.1 innings IP. He also had a WHIP of 1.27 along with a 139:47 K/BB ratio. Lackey has battled injuries over the past few seasons which has limited him to under 200 innings for only the 2nd time in his career besides his rookie season where he wasn’t with the team for a full season.

Previously on Amateurgm.com, Andrew Swanson posted on the free agent starters that were considered a risk due to injury. Lackey is considered to be one of those pitchers and does come with some risk for the Red Sox. However, when healthy Lackey is a top of the rotation starter who will provide quality innings with solid strikeout numbers, low walk totals, and a good WHIP. I believe Lackey is worth the risk and is a perfect addition to the Red Sox rotation. The Red Sox would have a rotation that would be able to compete with any team in the AL next season including the Yankees. I expect the Red Sox to look to their offense next by adding Adrian Beltre as a replacement at third for Mike Lowell, especially with the recent news that Jason Bay is unlikely to re-sign with the team. Do you think this is a good signing for the Red Sox or are Lackey’s recent arm issues a sign for concern?

The most exciting time in the baseball offseason is upon us with next week’s annual Winter Meetings (December 7-10, Indianapolis, IN). The Winter Meetings is where we start to see teams shape their rosters for the upcoming season. The meetings are filled with plenty of rumors as general managers and agents from all of baseball convene and discuss free agents and trade possibilities.

Last year’s meetings were rather slow compared to previous years. The biggest talk of last year’s meetings was the near trade of San Diego Padres pitcher Jake Peavy (currently of the Chicago White Sox) to the Chicago Cubs. The state of our economy played a big role in teams not being as aggressive at last year’s meetings, which led to many notable free agent signings later in the offseason, such as outfielder Bobby Abreu with the Los Angeles Angels.

This year’s meetings should provide plenty of rumors and interesting story lines. Several general managers, including Chicago Cubs’ GM Jim Hendry, feel that this offseason’s trade market will be filled with plenty of possibilities. Some players and teams that are sure to be discussed at next week’s meetings include:

Roy Halladay (Toronto Blue Jays) – Halladay is the biggest name on the trade market. Halladay is an elite pitcher who most consider to be one of the best in all of baseball. He has heard his name in trade discussions since last year and has let the Blue Jays know he is unlikely to resign with them after he becomes a free agent after the 2010 season. The Blue Jays are sure to command a large return in exchange for Halladay’s services.  The Red Sox’s pursuit of Halladay has been discussed this offseason.

Milton Bradley (Chicago Cubs) – It’s no secret that the Cubs-Bradley marriage is headed for a quick divorce. Bradley had a disappointing  season for the Cubs that was filled with plenty of antics. Bradley was suspended by the Cubs for the final two weeks of the season for conduct detrimental to the team. Bradley got off to slow start with the Cubs and never seemed to fit in with his teammates. Plenty of players were outspoken in not wanting Bradley to return to the Cubs next season. Unfortunately for the Cubs, Bradley was signed last off season to a 3 year deal worth 30 million dollars, which makes the market for him very limited. The Cubs are expected to eat most of Bradley’s contract in any possible trade. The biggest rumor going around is a swap of bad contracts in the form of a Bradley for Pat Burrell trade with the Tampa Bay Rays. Bradley’s name will come up several times next week.

Jason Bay (Boston Red Sox) & Matt Holliday (St. Louis Cardinals) – Bay and Holliday have been linked to each other in many discussions this off season. Both are viewed as the prized hitters in the free agent market and ironically both play the left field position. Bay has rejected the Red Sox’s initial offer and his time in Boston long term is questioned. The Red Sox are said to be interested in Holliday should they fail to resign Bay.  Holliday is super agent Scott Boras biggest client this offseason and the price tag for Holliday is sure to be high. Both players are sure to receive plenty of interest with the picture becoming a little more clear on their potential landing spots at next week’s meetings.

Detroit Tigers - Are the Detroit Tigers having a fire sale? That is the question being asked in Detroit. The current economy is especially hitting the city hard and that has expanded to its baseball franchise as well. The Tigers have plenty of interesting names that are sure to command the eye of several GM’s if the Tigers are truly willing to trade. Players such as Curtis Granderson (CF) and Edwin Jackson (RHP) have been the most discussed this off season. Miguel Cabrera (1B) has even been discussed as possibly being available for the right price. The Tigers will be an interesting team to watch next week.

Those are just a few of the things to watch at next week’s meetings. The Hot Stove is sure to be on fire next week, but like last year, I expect to see quite a few quality players available after the meetings as general managers try to look for bargains. Jerry Crasnick of espn.com gives us an idea of who some of those players may be.

What do you guys think? Will this year’s meetings be full of activity? Which of these players or teams are bound to make the most noise next week?

Roberto Alomar is a 12-time All-Star and 10-time Gold Glove second baseman, had a .300 batting average, 210 homers and 474 steals in 17 major league seasons.

Edgar Martinez spent all 18 seasons with the Seattle Mariners, winning two AL batting titles and finishing with a .312 average and 309 homers. A seven-time All-Star, he was a designated hitter in 1,412 of 2,055 career regular-season games.

Barry Larkin was a 12-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glove shortstop in 19 seasons, all with the Cincinnati Reds. He had a .295 career average with 198 homers and won the 1995 NL MVP award.

Fred McGriff is tied with Lou Gehrig for 26th on the career home run with 493 and had a .284 average in 19 seasons. He led the AL in homers for the Toronto Blue Jays in 1989 and the NL for the San Diego Padres in 1992.

Mark McGwire, who was hired last month as hitting coach of the St. Louis Cardinals, is on the ballot for the fourth time. Although he hit 583 homers, eighth on the career list, he has been stigmatized since his 2005 congressional committee testimony, when he dodged questions about potential steroids use. He received 118 votes (22 %) in last year’s vote, down from 128 in each of his first two tries.

Who do you feel should make it on January 6th?

Full Ballot: Roberto Alomar, Kevin Appier, Harold Baines, Bert Blyleven, Ellis Burks, Andre Dawson, Andres Galarraga, Pat Hentgen, Mike Jackson, Eric Karros, Ray Lankford, Barry Larkin, Edgar Martinez, Don Mattingly, Fred McGriff, Mark McGwire, Jack Morris, Dale Murphy, Dave Parker, Tim Raines, Shane Reynolds, David Segui, Lee Smith, Alan Trammell, Robin Ventura, Todd Zeile

Rules for Qualification and Election to the Baseball Hall of Fame

Javier Vazquez went from being a batting practice pitcher for the White Sox (12-16 with a 4.67 ERA) to an ace with the Atlanta Braves this past season (15-10 with a 2.87 ERA).  John Smoltz also was roughed up horribly with the Boston Red Sox only to put up decent numbers with the Cardinals.  Raul Ibanez’s power number spiked when he moved from Seattle to Philadelphia this past season.

Some may say that these examples are isolated incidents, represent to small of a sample size, and are attributed to variables such as larger home fields.  But, these “isolated incidents” are definitely a growing concern to GMs in the majors.  Alan Schwarz of the New York Times quotes White Sox GM Kenny Williams as saying “A guy going from the American League to the National League, no disrespect, but…”   This type of concern isn’t anything new to the game either.  In the 1980′s many believed that lefties who switched to the NL would see a big improvement in their numbers.  A prime example is Danny Jackson who went from the Kansas City Royals to the Cincinnati Reds and promptly won 23 games!  Granted Williams can’t think that every player is this way or he would never have invested in trading for Jake Peavy this off season–but does he have a point?

1. AL has won 13 straight All-Star Games
2. AL has won 8 of the last 12 World Series
3. AL has won .566 of interleague games since 2005

The DH does play a role in this equation but there is more to it then just the DH.  Is the big money thrown around by the Yankees and Red Sox pulling all the talent toward the AL side?  Yes, the domination between leagues has switched back and forth over the years.  The NL outplayed the AL during the 70′s when the Big Red Machine was rolling, but now the shoe is firmly on the other foot.

I think Mike Arbuckle, a senior adviser for the Royals puts it succinctly, “It still comes down to the individual player’s skills, but you have to take a look at it, with the overall numbers out there, you have to weigh that.”  In a recent article by Dave Cameron of fangraphs.com, he provides insight into how GMs can statistically view league differences.  In a comparison between the Wins Above Replacement (WAR) ratings, used to measure a player’s total value, of last year’s premier free agent Mark Teixeira and this year’s golden boy Matt Holliday, Cameron explains that you should really factor +.25 to +.5 wins per season if a player switches from the AL to the NL.

When it comes down to it, is it worth giving up the farm or shelling out mega bucks for that “superstar” from the NL if he is only going to put up mediocre numbers in the AL?  Granted the NL is the “senior circuit” but you don’t want to get a player who plays like one.