Olney’s theory of the Phillies thinking behind these discussions is that the Cardinals may not be able to afford Albert Pujols when he becomes a free agent after the 2011 season, where he is expected to command a contract similar to the one Alex Rodriguez signed with the Yankees for 10-years and $275 million. So far contract talks with Pujols and the Cardinals have not progressed and with the re-signing of Matt Holliday (OF) in St. Louis, many question whether the Cardinals will be able to afford both contracts long-term. If the Cardinals feel they can’t re-sign Pujols long-term, why not put him on the trade market like the Blue Jays did with Roy Halladay (RHP), who ironically the Phillies acquired this off season. Olney feels if that were to occur, the Phillies could present the Cardinals with a good alternative in Howard, who has more HR and RBI the past four seasons than Pujols and is a St. Louis native.

After reading this report, one has to question the credibility of Olney’s sources, who seem to be dreaming of proposing a potential fantasy baseball swap. Albert Pujols quite simply is St. Louis Cardinals’ baseball right now. He is a home-grown talent and will go down with the likes of Stan Musial in the Cardinals’ organization after he retires. The Cardinals would be doing their fans a huge disservice by putting Pujols on the market as he is arguably the best hitter of his generation. The likelihood of the Cardinals not taking into account Pujols’ contract demands when negotiating with Matt Holliday is rather slim, as I doubt the Cardinals would prefer to keep Holliday (no offense Matt, your a fine hitter) over Pujols. Another interesting note about these internal discussions is that Howard currently makes more than Pujols in the 2010 and 2011 seasons and is due to become a free agent in his own right after the 2011 season. Howard is set to make $19 million in 2010 and $20 million in 2011 as opposed to Pujols salaries of $16 million in 2010 and ’11. While Howard will not cost as much long-term as Pujols, he will still command upwards of $20 million a season and if money is an issue with Pujols going on the market, wouldn’t it make sense to go younger at the position and save money instead of tying yourself down with another long-term deal north of the $100 million mark. Buster Olney is a fairly reputable source for rumors and baseball news, but I have to question him on this one. The numbers and thought process from the Cardinals point of view just don’t add up. The mutiny from Cardinals fans after a Pujols trade could be ugly and who really wants to be known as the organization that traded away Albert Pujols?

• Matt Wieters (C) Baltimore Orioles – Wieters came into the league last season as a hyped can’t-miss prospect. While he didn’t display the numbers many hoped for last season, he has fantasy owners encouraged by his second half line of a .301 AVG, 6 HR, and 33 RBI along with a .362 AVG last September. He will be handed the everyday job this season and has power that is still developing. Wieters has arguably the most upside of any young hitter and is an All-Star in the making.

Bill James Projection: .311 AVG, 20 HR, 92 RBI, 75 Runs, .865 OPS

MLB.com Projection: .304 AVG, 19 HR, 90 RBI, 81 Runs, .856 OPS

• Adam Jones (OF) Baltimore Orioles – Another Orioles youngster has the chance to reach his great potential this season. The former Seattle Mariners prospect played his second season in the Orioles outfield last season and put up some respectable numbers for fantasy owners. While he has battled some nagging foot injuries the past two seasons which included missing all of September last season, his power numbers took a step up as he increased his HR from 9 in 2008 to 19 last season. Jones also possesses good speed, but has yet to translate that into SB so far in his career which could be due to his foot injuries. He has the talent to be a consistent 20 HR-20 SB player in this league and the possibility exists that he could reach those numbers this season. I predict a Justin Upton-like performance from Jones this season.

Bill James Projection: .284 AVG, 22 HR, 83 RBI, 95 Runs, 13 SB, .804 OPS

MLB.com Projection:  .283 AVG, 21 HR, 86 RBI, 90 Runs, 14 SB, .807 OPS

• Gordon Beckham (2B) Chicago White Sox – The 2008 first round draft pick of the White Sox needed only 233 AB in the minors to reach the big league club last season and he did not disappoint in his time in the majors. Some would argue that Beckham was snubbed for the Rookie of the Year Award last season as he finished fifth in the voting despite finished with a solid .270 AVG, 14 HR, and 63 RBI in only 378 AB. Beckham will be a solid choice for fantasy owners this season as he should display more power with more AB and also brings the added luxury of multiple position eligibility as he will shift from third to second base this season.

Bill James Projection: .307 AVG, 17 HR, 81 RBI, 67 Runs, .837 OPS

MLB.com Projection: .307 AVG, 25 HR, 90 RBI, 86 Runs, .875 OPS

• Franklin Gutierrez (OF) Seattle Mariners – Gutierrez saw time as an everyday center fielder for the first time in his career last season with the Mariners. He rewarded the Mariners with a solid season in which he had a .283 AVG, 18 HR, 70 RBI, and 16 SB. I expect Gutierrez to take the next step in his career with a new contract in tow and an improved lineup around him in Seattle. He is entering the prime of his career as he will turn 27 this season and a 20 HR-20 SB season isn’t unrealistic for this season. Gutierrez could be quite a pickup for fantasy owners this season.

Bill James Projection: .277 AVG, 17 HR, 67 RBI, 88 Runs, 14 SB, .773 OPS

MLB.com Projection: .278 AVG, 16 HR, 74 RBI, 87 Runs, 18 SB, .758 OPS

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Up Next: NL Breakout Candidates

]]> http://www.amateurgm.com/fantasy-preview-al-breakout-candidates/feed 6 http://www.amateurgm.com/pitching-showdown-who-has-the-top-rotation-in-the-al-east http://www.amateurgm.com/pitching-showdown-who-has-the-top-rotation-in-the-al-east#comments Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:06:39 +0000 Andrew Swanson http://www.amateurgm.com/?p=979 There is an old adage in baseball that “good pitching beats good hitting”. In this series I want to look at the starting rotations from each division and see how they match up with others.

The American League East has always been a case of the haves and the have nots. At the top you have the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox who seem to have an endless amount of cash at their disposal to sign whom ever the top free agents are on the market. At the bottom you have the Baltimore Orioles, Toronto Blue Jays and Tampa Bay Rays who have a hard time “keeping up with the Jones”. Who has the best Pitching Staff of the 5 teams on the eastern sea board for the junior circuit? Which GM is getting the most bang for their buck?

New York Yankees: The Bronx Bombers are the perennial favorites to win the division year in and year out. They have a long history of success with their hurlers going back to Whitey Ford, Ron Guidry and the like. This season’s rotation is well rounded but it comes at a premium price of around $63.25 million.

• C.C. Sabathia: He is one of the most dominate lefties in baseball at the moment. He posted a 3.37 ERA, 197 K’s, 230.0 IP and 67 BB at price tag of $23 million.
• A.J. Burnett: Burnett has a wicked curveball and some of the most explosive stuff in baseball. However he has does have fits of wildness on the mound that leads to some high numbers. He posted 4.04 ERA, 195 K’s, 207.0 IP and 97 BB while collecting $16.5 million.
• Andy Pettitte: Pettitte has been a stalwart in the Yankees’ rotation for years now. He has always been a dependable big game pitcher. He posted 4.16 ERA, 148 K’s, 194.2 IP and 76 BB for $11.75 this coming season.
• Javier Vazquez: This is Vazquez’s second time around with the Yankees. He has great stuff but has a reputation for not being able to rise to the occasion in a pressure situation and that could lead to disaster in New York. Vazquez posted a 2.87 ERA, 238 K’s, 219.1 IP and 44 BB for $11.5 million.
• 5th Starter: There are several options for the Yankees in this spot this year. Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes are most likely the top two candidates for the position.

Boston Red Sox: The Red Sox have really come into their own over the past decade and have finally rid themselves of the dreaded “Curse of the Bambino”. Pitching has played a major role in this turn around with the likes of Pedro Martinez and Curt Schilling. The Red Sox rotation has a price tag of approximately $45.75 million for 2010 with the option to choose from 6 pitchers depending on how healthy they are.

• Jon Lester: After battling back from cancer treatments a couple of years ago Jon Lester and blossomed into a fine young pitcher. He posted a 3.41 ERA, 225 K’s, 203.1 IP and 64 BB for only $3.75 million in 2010.
• Josh Beckett: As the ace of the staff in 2009 Beckett led the charge with a 3.86 ERA, 199 K’s, 212.1 IP and 55 BB for $12 million.
• John Lackey: Lackey joins the BoSox this season after coming off injuries that have plagued him the past two seasons. He posted 3.83 ERA, 139 K’s, 176.1 IP and 47 BB for $18 millions. (A side note Lackey’s annual salary actually decreases to 15.25 million a season after 2010)
• Daisuke Matsuzaka: Dice-K has been a thorn in the Red Sox side as of late. They have not been happy with his conditioning and Matsuzaka has not been very cooperative in return. He posted a 5.76 ERA, 54 K’s, 59.1 IP and 30 BB for $8 million.
• Clay Buchholtz: At the age of 25 Buchholtz is another rising star in the Red Sox rotation. He threw for a 4.21 ERA, 68 K’s, 92.0 IP and 36 BB for near the major league minimum.
• Tim Wakefield: The crafty knuckleballer has been a constant in the ever changing rotation for the Red Sox and he expects to compete for a starting position. He hurled a 4.58 ERA, 72 K’s, 129.2 IP and $50 walks for $3.5 million.

Tampa Bay Rays: The Ray’s have come into their own the last few season’s by molding their raw young talent in to a success baseball team. While they don’t have the money the Red Sox and the Yankees’ possess they have still fielded a competitive team and even made a World Series appearance. The Rays have $7.5 million wrapped up in their starting rotation for 2010.

• James Shields: Shields is the defacto ace of the staff now that the Rays traded Scott Kazmir to the Angels. He has posted good number and has seen quite a bit of success. He numbers are as follows 4.14 ERA, 167 K’s, 219.2 IP and 52 BB for $2.5 million. 
• Matt Garza: Garza has the numbers to challenge Shields for the aces designation for the Rays. Tampa did a great job in acquiring him from the Twins a few years ago and have not been disappointed by his numbers. In 2009 he threw for a 3.95 ERA, 189 K’s, 203.0 IP and 79 BB for $3.35 million in 2010.
• Jeff Niemann: Niemann was a pleasant surprise this past season for the Rays. He really stepped up and met the challenge in his first full season in the majors. He posted a 3.94 ERA, 125 K’s, 180.2 IP and 59 BB for near the minimum. 
• David Price: Price has been talked about a lot since the Rays drafted him. He came up and was lights out in the playoff for the Rays but last season didn’t fair as well. He posted a 4.42 ERA, 102 K’s, 128.1 IP and 54 BB for near the minimum. 
• Wade Davis: Davis has the inside track for the 5th spot in the rotation. He is definitely raw but he showed quite a bit of potential last season with a 3.72 ERA, 36 K’s, 36.1 IP and 13 BB at the minimum.

Toronto Blue Jays: The Jays rotation his a huge question mark this upcoming season. They have traded their ace Roy Halladay in an effort to rebuild. They are also coming off a season in which a majority of their young staff was out with injuries. The positive is that there is some upcoming talent and they are all making nearly the minimum. The Jays will pay approx $3 million for their rotation in 2010.

• Ricky Romero: Romero has the daunting task of heading up the staff in only his second season in the big league. He posted a 4.30 ERA, 141 K’s, 178.0 IP and 79 BB near the minimum. 
• Shaun Marcum: Marcum was one of the injured players last season, missing the entire 2009 season. In 2008 he posted a 3.39 ERA, 123 K’s, 151.1 IP and 50 BB. He is signed for $850k in 2010.
• Brandon Morrow: Morrow came to the Jays in the Roy Halladay trade. He posted a 4.39 ERA, 63 K’s, 69.2 IP and 44 BB at near the minimum for Seattle last season.
• Marc Rzepczynski: Rzepczynski did an admirable job for the Jays with a 3.67 ERA, 60 K’s, 61.1 IP and 30 BB for the minimum.
• Dustin McGowan: McGowan had shown great strides in becoming an important pitcher for that Jays until he too went down with an injury and missed the 2009 season. In 2008 he had a 4.37 ERA, 85 K’s, 111.1 IP and 38 BB for $500K.

There are several others vying for a spot in the Jay’s rotation as well. Among them are Brett Cecil, Scott Richmond, David Purcey and recently acquired Dana Eveland. They are all making about the minimum.

Baltimore Orioles: The Orioles wound up in the cellar in 2009 and are hoping to pull themselves out with an improved pitching staff. They have seen a lot of talent leave the nest but they have also acquired a new ace and have some promising young talent to back him up. The Orioles are spending approximately $17 million on their 2010 rotation with the majority of that wrapped up in Kevin Millwood.

• Kevin Millwood: Millwood was acquired from the Texas Rangers to head the rotation in 2010. He posted a 3.67 ERA, 123 K’s, 198.2 IP and 71 BB while earning $12 million.
• Jeremy Guthrie: Guthrie was the ace last season and didn’t fair as well as he has in the past. He posted a 5.04 ERA, 110 K’s, 200.0 IP and 60 BB. Guthrie is arbitration eligible and will earn as much as $3.625 million.
• Brad Bergesen: Bergesen what a diamond in the rough in 2009. In his rookie season he threw for a 3.43 ERA, 65 K’s, 123.1 IP and 32 BB for the major league minimum.
• Brian Matusz: Matusz had cruised through the minors last year only to get roughed up in his first few starts. He settled down and did well at the end of the season. He posted a 4.63 ERA, 38 K’s, 44.2 IP and 14 BB at the minimum. 
• Chris Tillman: Tillman had a rough start and what really hurt him was the long ball. If he can keep the ball in the park he may see quite a few starts this season. He posted a 5.40 ERA, 39 K’s, 65.0 IP and 24 BB at the minimum.
• David Hernandez: Hernandez’s season went well up until August last year when gave up 23 homers over his last 12 starts. He posted a 5.42 ERA, 68 K’s, 101.1 IP and 46 BB for the minimum.
• Jason Berken: Berken was less then stellar in his debut last season. He posted a 6.54 ERA, 66 K’s, 119.2 IP and 44 BB for the minimum.

After running through the numbers of all the AL East teams you can see how large a distance there is on spending between the clubs. Do not feel sorry for everyone those. Teams like the Orioles have the money to spend on free agents but have either chosen not to or cannot convince top tier starters to join their club. As this point I am torn. I want to give the Rays my vote for best overall rotation (considering money as a factor) but the Red Sox keep must be given the award. Though they are out spending the majority of their division they have acquired top tier talent without completely over spending like the Yankees have. They are also doing a much better job at managing and growing their in house talent. The Joba Chamberlain debacle in the Bronx is really hurting the Yankees in my opinion.  So what do you think?

The Reds have the makings of a great rotation to back up a young and upcoming offensive attack. Chapman will be an excellent middle to back of the rotation starter to complement Aaron Harang, Bronson Arroyo, Edison Volquez and Johnny Cueto.

9. Jim Thome – Despite primarily being a DH since his trade to the Chicago White Sox after the 2005 season, Thome finds his name on this list due to being a consistent power hitter over the decade. As an everyday first basemen with the Cleveland Indians and Philadelphia Phillies, Thome averaged 45 home runs a year and set the stage for his entrance into the 500 home run club in 2007. He finished the decade  as one of the premier sluggers in the game with a .271 AVG, 368 HR, and 986 RBI.

8. Mark Teixeira – Teixeira started his career in 2003 as a highly touted prospect for the Texas Rangers. He did not disappoint as he is one of the best first basemen in the game both offensively and defensively. For his career, Teixeira has an .290 AVG, 242 HR, and 798 RBI along with 3 Gold Glove Awards. He has had at least 30 HR and 100 RBI in each season except for his rookie season in ’03. Last season with the New York Yankees, Teixeira led the AL in both HR’s and RBI’s and won his 3rd Gold Glove Award as he was an integral part of the Yankees 27th World Championship.

7. Justin Morneau – Like Teixeira, Morneau started his career in 2003 and lived up to his potential with the Minnesota Twins with much success. In the 2006 season, he established himself as a premier player by winning the AL MVP Award with a .321 AVG, 34 HR, and 130 RBI. Morneau continued his success with 3 consecutive All Star appearances to finish the decade and is a cornerstone player for the Twins franchise along with 2009 AL MVP, Joe Mauer. For his career, Morneau is a .280 hitter with 163 HR and 623 RBI’s.

6. Prince Fielder – The son of former slugger Cecil Fielder, the “portly” Prince has been known to launch quite a few of his own tape measure shots during his brief career. Prince started his career in 2005 as a late season call-up and became the full-time starter at first for the Milwaukee Brewers the following season. In 2007 at the age of 23, he became the youngest player to reach 50 HR in a season. Last season, Prince tied for the NL lead in RBI’s with 141 and also produced his best AVG at .299. For his career, he has a .284 AVG, 160 HR, and 453 RBI.

5. Ryan Howard – The man who succeeded Thome in Philadelphia finds himself 4 spots ahead of the man he replaced on this list. Howard has built an impressive resume so far in his career as he won the NL Rookie of the Year Award in 2005 with a .288 AVG, 22 HR, and 63 RBI in only 88 games that season (312 AB). He built off his rookie campaign by winning the NL MVP Award in his first full season with a .313 AVG, 58 HR, and 149 RBI. Last season, Howard became the fastest player in MLB history to hit 200 home runs in his career, which he beat by 48 games. For his career, he has a .279 AVG, 222 HR, and 640 RBI.

4. Carlos Delgado – Like most of the first basemen on this list, Delgado is most recognized by the power numbers he has put up over the decade. He has showed off his power in both leagues this decade as he hit 187 HR in the AL with the Toronto Blue Jays from 2000-2004 and 137 HR in the NL with the Florida Marlins and New York Mets from 2005-2009. He finished the decade as a consistent power threat with an average of 30 HR and 100 RBI a season. For the decade, he had a .286 AVG, 324 HR, and an impressive 1,045 RBI.

3. Jason Giambi – Giambi’s spot on this list is debatable as much of his success came as a user of steroids. In 2000 with the Oakland A’s, Giambi was awarded the AL MVP Award as he finished with a .333 AVG, 43 HR, and 137 RBI. Giambi was a 5-time All Star this decade and had 7 seasons of at least 30 HR. He also did a good job of getting on base as he finished the decade with the 3rd best OBP (.418) of all first basemen. He finished with a .275 AVG, 303 HR, and 912 RBI. Giambi currently finds his career at a crossroads as his chances of being an everyday player in the league are slim to none.

2. Todd Helton – Despite seeing his power numbers decline in recent years, Helton has been both a steady hitter and defender throughout the decade. From 2000-2004, Helton put up prolific power numbers with his best season coming in 2000 when he led the NL in AVG (.372), hits (216), doubles (59), and RBI (147). During that span, Helton made 5 consecutive All Star appearances and also won 2 of his 3 Gold Glove Awards this decade in 2001 and 2002. He finished the decade with a .331 AVG, 260 HR, and 981 RBI. Helton’s name is often overlooked with the current crop of power hitting first basemen, however, his consistency throughout his career has been quite remarkable.

1. Albert Pujols – This is a no-brainer choice for the No. 1 spot on this list as Pujols has established himself as the best hitter in the game today. Pujols started his career in 2001 with the St. Louis Cardinals, where he won the NL Rookie of the Year Award with a .329 AVG, 37 HR, and 130 RBI. Pujols would go on to win 3 NL MVP Awards this decade (’05, ’08, ’09) including being the NLCS MVP in 2004. He also has turned himself into a very solid defensive first basemen as he won a Gold Glove in the 2006 season. Pujols would finish the decade with the best AVG (.334) and most RBI (1,112) of any first basemen. He also has 366 HR in his career and barring injury should challenge for the all-time home run crown before his career is over. It truly is remarkable what Pujols has done so far in his career.

The biggest thing that sticks out when looking at this position is power. In my opinion, the first base position is the deepest position in all of baseball and is full of talented hitters. When teams are scouting first basemen, they look for them to be a big source of power and run production and the group of guys on this list meet that criteria. I feel all of the guys on this list deserve to be on it, however, Giambi’s and Helton’s ranking on this list can be debated.

Up Next: Top 9 Second Basemen

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Up Next: Top 9 Closers of the Decade

SI.com’s Jon Heyman

A trade of this magnitude is typically very hard to complete with three teams, especially with two former Cy Young winners involved in the deal. However, each team has seemed to make it work and I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Mariners attempt to lock up Cliff Lee long-term because he is due to become a free agent after the upcoming season as well.

It’s no secret the Phillies have been interested in Halladay for quite some time as previously mentioned. It’s not often a pitcher of Halladay’s caliber becomes available in a trade before he hits the open market. Landing Halladay gives the Phillies an elite pitcher with a bulldog mentality who is a threat to pitch a complete game every time out. The Phillies have further set themselves up as the team to beat in the NL as they combine a great rotation with a dynamic offense.

As for the Mariners, this is another important piece in their quest to dethrone the Los Angeles Angels’ reign on the AL West. This trade gives them one of the best 1-2 punches in all of baseball with Felix Hernandez and Lee. The Mariners are putting together a pretty successful off season so far with this trade and the signing of Chone Figgins to play third base. The pressure is now on the Angels to make a big splash to combat the Mariners moves as they have lost both Figgins and John Lackey this off season. The Angels are reported to be on the verge of signing free agent Hideki Matsui( DH/OF).

It should be interesting to see what the Blue Jays receive in this deal. I would expect the quality of prospects to be pretty high as two aces have changed places in the deal. Andrew Swanson highlighted the task held in front of new Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos previously on the site.

Roy Halladay Update – Jordan Bastian of MLB.com says that trade discussions are ongoing for Roy Halladay with the Los Angeles Angels and Philadelphia Phillies the current leaders for Halladay. SI.com’s Tom Verducci sources tell him that the Phillies are “very aggressive” and even willing to find multiple teams to meet the Blue Jays asking price. The Phillies pursued Halladay last July but eventually landing Cliff Lee (LHP) before the trade deadline.

Mets Make Offers to Bay and Molina – Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports that the New York Mets made offers to free agents Jason Bay (OF) and Bengie Molina (C) on Thursday. The Mets offer to Jason Bay is rumored to be for 4 years and between $60 and $65 million, which is pretty close to the Red Sox’s initial offer to Bay earlier this offseason that was rejected. Both players would fill glaring holes in the Mets’ lineup, regardless, I doubt the Mets sign Bay, especially if the rumored offer is true.

Yankees Negotiating with Damon – The New York Yankees have begun contract discussions with free agent Johnny Damon (OF) according to ESPN.com. The Yankees are at a position of strength in their negotiations with Damon after acquiring Curtis Granderson earlier in the week. Damon is rumored to be asking for a 4-year deal worth $13 million a year. There is no way Damon will get that kind of contract offer from the Yankees and will have to look elsewhere with those demands. Ultimately,  I see the Yankees bringing back Damon on a two-year deal to be their left fielder.

White Sox Covet Brett Gardner? – Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun Times wrote in his daily blog that the Chicago White Sox covet Yankees center fielder Brett Gardner. The Sox are looking for someone to lead off next season and might feel Gardner would be a good fit in that spot. The Yankees have plenty of decisions looming this off season in regards to their outfield situation. The Yankees must decide whether to bring back free agents Hideki Matsui and Johnny Damon along with deciding what to do with center fielders Melky Cabrera and Gardner now that Curtis Granderson is with the team.

Giants Make Offer to DeRosa? – San Francisco Giants beat writer Andrew Baggarly believes the Giants have sent multiple offers to current free agents with the versatile Mark DeRosa (IF/OF) believed to be one of the players involved. Yahoo Sports Steve Henson tweeted that DeRosa is the teams top target at third base and that his versatility would allow them to either keep Pablo Sandoval at third or allow him to move across the diamond to first base. As a Cubs fan, I grew to love the way DeRosa  plays the game, but most importantly how he respects the game. DeRosa is a true class act and the Giants would be smart to add a player of DeRosa’s caliber to their team.

Pedro Feliz to the Astros – The Houston Astros added their third free agent of the meetings by signing Pedro Feliz (3B) to a 1-year deal worth $4.5 million. Feliz is a great defender and has provided solid run production throughout his career. The signing of Feliz almost certainly means the end of free agent Miguel Tejada’s tenure in Houston.

Rockies Locking Up Their Backstops – MLB.com’s Thomas Harding reports that the Colorado Rockies are close to signing both of their catchers to new deals. Both Chris Iannetta and Yorvit Torrealba are close to signing three and two-year deals respectively with the Rockies. Both players shared the catching duties in Colorado last season for the NL Wild Card winners.

Barry Bonds Calls It A Career – According to Barry Bonds’ agent Jeff Borris, the all-time home run leader is calling it a career due to not receiving any offers to play within the past few offseasons. Borris describes it as “an unfortunate ending to a storied career”. Teams were obviously scared of signing Bonds to a contract due to obvious media attention surrounding steroids. It’s good to see baseball slowly getting away from the steroids issue and getting back to what has made the game so great in the first place. Now if only the Cardinals could get new hitting coach Mark McGwire to talk we would really be getting somewhere.

So there you have it. Another Winter Meetings is in the books and as expected activity was slower than past years. ESPN.com’s Jayson Stark has a great article up on the Winter Meetings and where he expects a lot of the big names in this offseason’s rumor mill to go from here. We are slowly starting to see a change in the economics of baseball as a lot of teams are leery of shelling out big money to free agents. Like last year, it won’t be strange to see a lot of players signing in late January and early February as the market dictates their value. Do you feel this is a good thing for baseball? Do you think this will start to be the norm in baseball or will teams go back to their foolish spending once the economy returns to normal?

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!

Blockbuster 3-way trade? – According to Foxsports.com, the New York Yankees, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Detroit Tigers have discussed a possible three-way trade that would be the biggest news of the meetings’ so far. While the teams are still discussing which players are part of the deal, the biggest names being discussed in the proposed deal are Tigers’ Curtis Granderson (CF) going to the Yankees, Tigers’ starter Edwin Jackson (RHP) going to the Diamondbacks, and Diamondbacks starter Max Scherzer (RHP) going to the Tigers.

Rays Enter the Halladay Talks? – The Tampa Bay Rays are reportedly interested in trading for Toronto Blue Jays Roy Halladay (RHP) with B.J. Upton (CF) and prospect Wade Davis (RHP) the possible trade bait for the Jays. However, Marc Topkin writes that the Halladay rumor is “preposterous” and that the Rays were merely checking in on the trade talks for Halladay.

Milton Bradley Rumors – ESPN Chicago’s Bruce Levine reported that the Chicago Cubs and Kansas City Royals discussed a potential swap of Bradley (OF) involving starter Gil Meche (RHP). However, both Cubs and Royals officials have denied any discussions. ESPN.com’s Jayson Stark reports that the Cubs have been approached by two more teams besides the Rays and Rangers with interest in trading for Bradley. The most likely trading partner for the Cubs remains the Rays with Pat Burrell (OF) coming to the Cubs in exchange for Bradley.

Brad Penny to the Cardinals – MLB.com’s Matthew Leach writes that Brad Penny (RHP) has signed a one year deal with the St. Louis Cardinals worth $7.5 million pending a physical. Incentives could make the deal worth $9 million for this season. The Cardinals are looking to Penny to replace the expected free agent departure of starter Joel Pineiro (RHP) in their rotation.

Randy Wolf to the Brewers - SI.com’s Jon Heyman tweeted that the Milwaukee Brewers are the leaders in the Randy Wolf (LHP) free agent sweepstakes. The Brewers are expected to wrap up a 3-year deal with Wolf by the end of the meetings.

Adam Everett resigns with the Tigers – John Lowe of the Detroit Free Press reported that Adam Everett (SS) resigned with the Tigers for a 1-year deal.  Espn’s Buster Olney tweeted that the deal is for $1.55 million.

Pudge to the Nationals – According to Yahoo’s Tim Brown, the Washington Nationals have signed Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez (C) to a 2-year deal worth $6 million. Pudge is ready to take his game back to the NL where he is expected to be a mentor to the Nationals bounty of young pitching led by 2009 No. 1 draft pick, Stephen Strasburg.

Day One of the Winter Meetings is typically the slowest of the four day annual event as most teams are just starting to arrive and begin discussions. The rest of the week should continue to produce its fair share of rumors with some sure to raise eyebrows.

Stay tuned to AmateurGm.com this week for more on the major happenings from Indianapolis as I plan to recap each day’s trades, rumors, and signings.