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

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

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

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

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

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

Ryan Oleniczak (Grady Sizemore)

Dear Grady,

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

Sincerely,

Ryan Oleniczak

Scott Oleniczak (Derek Jeter) – 10-time all-star shortstop Derek Jeter is this generation’s “Iron Horse.” Jeter is showing no signs of slowing down playing an average of 153 games over the last three season which ranks him first over Rollins, Tulowitzki, and Reyes. In 2009, Jeter swiped 30 bases showing he still has the ability to get you points in the all important stolen base category. Jeter is not going to win any HR titles, however, his power still needs to be respected as he averaged 14 HR over the last three seasons which ranks him 3rd verses his competition. Jeter excels in OBP and BA over the other shortstops, and falls just slightly behind Tulowitzki for the lead in OPS. The bottom line is Derek Jeter is that solid force you want in your fantasy lineup for his consistent approach to the game. One more thing, if you are looking for a shortstop who can raise the dateability of your entire roster, Jeter is second to none.  Check out this list of past girlfriends, and tell me how cool it would be to have the rest of your fantasy team hanging out with him.

Ryan Oleniczak (Jose Reyes) – Before missing most of the 2009 campaign to injury, Jose Reyes was a mark of durability (no less than 153 games played since 2005) and arguably the most exciting player in all of baseball. Reyes electrified the fans in attendance with his blazing speed and knack for getting on base. In comparison to the other shortstops on this list, Reyes numbers will be skewed due to playing in only 36 games last season. In Reyes last two full seasons, 2007 and 2008, he led all shortstops in runs scored with 232 and also took home the steals crown with an amazing 134 SB. While Reyes does not display the power of a Tulowitzki or Rollins, he helps fantasy owners in OBP (.356 average over the last 3 seasons) and a BA of .285 which is second only to Jeter’s three-year average. The recent news of Reyes diagnosis of hyperthyroidism, which has him reportedly missing anywhere from 2 to 8 weeks of baseball activity, puts his early season production in doubt. This news will scare off many fantasy owners come draft time. While the other three men on this list might be safer options at shortstop for this year, why not take a pass on them and take Reyes later in draft and shore up help at other positions. Many fantasy owners were scared of taking ARod last season with the news that he was scheduled to miss most of April after hip surgery, but he rewarded fantasy owners with his MLB record 13th 30 HR-100 RBI season and at a much lower cost. Why not take that approach with Reyes this year? Even if Reyes misses some or most of April, you can still count on him putting up elite SB and R totals, especially in a Mets’ lineup with David Wright and Jason Bay around him. Guys with Reyes talent are hard to find and a healthy Reyes will bring excitement to your fantasy team.

Jon Heintzelman (Jimmy Rollins) – When looking at the shortstops after Hanley, it can be splitting hairs to decide who’s next best. Arguments can be made for both Tulowitzki (best last year and youngest), and Reyes (best before last year)–sorry Jeter–but for my money the second best investment is none other than J-Roll. Always remember that fantasy drafts are never won in the first few rounds. The fantasy season usually comes down to whose sleepers pan out more, but make no mistake about it, drafts can definitely be lost early on (just ask Jay Oleniczak about last year and buying Jose Reyes). When it comes to early picks it’s all about elite and stable skills, good intangibles, and reliability. Jimmy Rollins brings an elite power/speed skills combo to the shortstop position, and sits atop one of the best line-ups in baseball in a hitter’s park to boot. He has a history of reliability, leading the NL in AB for the past decade. Some may point to his slow first half last year as a sign of decline, but I say blame it on the abnormally low 21% hit rate (on balls in play) and look to his second half rebound as the norm (projected: 30 HR/100 RBI/40 SB/120 R/.290 BA). While he doesn’t walk as much as some may like, he has maintained an elite 90% contact rate which always projects to a near .300 BA.  And while his SB production dipped, his SB opportunities did not change much (still around 30%), so a return to the elite 40-50 steal range is possible if not probable. When it comes to drafting in the first and seconds rounds, do you really want to leverage your season on Reyes’ overactive thyroid (not to mention the tight hamstrings). What about Tulowitzki’s drastic swings in production (look at his 1H/2H splits last season), partially due to his low contact rate (at or below 80%), not to mention his lost 2008 and never before seen or duplicated SB spike? With all due respect, there’s no need to even discuss Mr. Jeter. The smart money is on J-Roll as the #2 fantasy shortstop; you’ll give yourself the best chance to win your league with successful sleepers in the later rounds.

Bryce Carlson (Troy Tulowitzki) – On a team that continues to make me scratch my head, Troy Tulowitzki is a legitimate superstar. He may not stack up against Hanley Ramirez, who is in a class all by himself, but Tulowitzki is definitely the next best thing. The shortstop position for 2010 is pretty thin. There are a lot of big names, but with a disappointing 2009 campaign from Jimmy Rollins and a season plagued with injuries for Jose Reyes, shortstop is a position without much of a bench. Tulowitzki does not have a long major league resume, but barring injury you can expect him to put up similar numbers as last year where he hit .297 with 32 HR, 101 R, 92 RBI, and 20 SB. After Hanley is gone, Tulowitzki is your guy.  Just please don’t jump on the Rockies’ bandwagon when they make the playoffs unless you plan on following them all year… not that I have experienced anyone doing that in Denver. I’m just sayin’…

• Brandon Webb (RHP) Arizona Diamondbacks – The former 2006 NL Cy Young winner made only one appearance last season after experiencing shoulder pain during his Opening Day start. After a few months of rest and rehab, Webb finally decided to undergo arthroscopic right shoulder surgery last August, which ended his season. In his last full season in 2008, Webb almost added his second NL Cy Young Award as he finished the season with a 22-7 record to go along with a 3.30 ERA in 226.2 IP. Webb is currently working his way back into form in camp and is feeling better with every throwing session as he expects to be ready for the start of the season. Fantasy owners should monitor his progress in camp and watch out for possible setbacks. However, in his career Webb has been a workhorse as he has logged at least 208 IP in 5 of his 7 seasons and has not had an ERA higher than 3.59. If  healthy, expect Webb to bounceback in a big way and form a potent 1-2 punch with Dan Haren at the top of the DBacks rotation. Fantasy owners could find an ace in the middle rounds with Webb this upcoming season.

Bill James Projection: 13-7, 3.40 ERA, 180 IP, 143 K (7.15 K/9), 1.24 WHIP

MLB.com Projection: 15-6, 190 IP, 153 K (7.25 K/9), 1.27 WHIP

• Carlos Zambrano (RHP) Chicago Cubs – The colorful, enigmatic pitcher had his most disappointing season in the big leagues in 2009. Zambrano won only 9 games as the supposed ace of the Cubs staff and had some nagging injuries, mostly due to being in poor physical shape. Zambrano also had his yearly tantrum and outbursts that included a run-in with an umpire that led to a suspension last season. Zambrano spent his off season in Chicago where he dedicated himself to a new workout regime at the advice of the Cubs organization. Zambrano reported to Cubs camp 15 pounds lighter and has vowed to put his disappointing 2009 season behind him. He is also said to be ditching the cut fastball from his repertoire of pitches due to a lack of command of the pitch and is focused on keeping his composure on the mound, which often leads to a disappointing performance on the mound. Despite his poor win totals, Zambrano lowered his ERA in 2009 and had a rebound in his strikeout and home run totals. If this is truly a new and improved Carlos Zambrano, fantasy owners could have a real bargain on their hands in the middle of their rotation.

Bill James Projection: 12-8, 3.60 ERA, 180 IP, 151 K (7.55 K/9), 1.31 WHIP

MLB.com Projection: 13-8, 4.17 ERA, 186 IP, 155 K (7.50 K/9), 1.34 WHIP

• Ricky Nolasco (RHP) Florida Marlins – A pick by many last year to be a breakout candidate, Nolasco got off to a horrific start in April and May of last season, which eventually led to a demotion to Triple-A in late May. Tristan Cockcroft of ESPN.com believes a pitchers wins and ERA are not enough to evaluate future performance and that Nolasco might have been the “unluckiest” pitcher in baseball last season. Nolasco helped Cockcroft’s notion by going 11-4 with a 3.82 ERA after his demotion, despite finishing with a 5.06 ERA. Nolasco was a sabermetrics anomaly with great ratios, but unable to get outs. Fantasy owners could find a great buy-low candidate in Nolasco as many fantasy owners will steer clear of Nolasco’s high ERA and negative press. Look for Nolasco to rebound and build off his second half numbers by providing solid win totals along with a good K/9.

Bill James Projections: 13-10, 3.86 ERA, 205 IP, 189 K (8.30 K/9), 1.26 WHIP

MLB.com Projection: 15-8, 3.41 ERA, 209 IP, 212 K (9.13 K/9), 1.18 WHIP

• Corey Hart (OF) Milwaukee Brewers – After posting back-to-back 20 HR-20 SB seasons in 2007 and 2008, Hart was expected to post even bigger numbers last season for fantasy owners. However, Hart had a disappointing season as he finished with a .260 AVG, 12 HR, 48 RBI, and 11 SB in only 115 games due to missing the last two months of the season with appendicitis. Hart reportedly lost 22 pounds this off season and is hoping his weight loss will lead to a healthy season and more steals. Fantasy owners will be alarmed, as they should be, by Hart’s disappointing production when healthy last season. However, Hart is still only 27 years old and should regain close to his 20 HR-20 SB form this season. Hart is another buy-low candidate who should provide fantasy owners solid HR and SB numbers as a 3rd or 4th outfielder. 2010 could be the season fantasy owners were hoping to see from Hart last season and at a much lower cost.

Bill James Projection: .272 AVG, 19 HR, 76 RBI, 78 Runs, 16 SB, .799 OPS

MLB.com Projection: .271 AVG, 20 HR, 80 RBI, 78 Runs, 17 SB, .816 OPS

• David Wright (3B) New York Mets – No one had quite a more peculiar drop off production in power last season than David Wright. Wright saw his HR totals drop from 33 to 10 and his RBI totals drop from 124 to 71 last season. However, Wright still provided fantasy owners with a high AVG (.307) and 27 SB in 2009. Wright reported to camp upbeat and positive about his chances and his team chances to rebound this season after a disappointing season for both parties. One possibility for Wright’s lack of production last season was due to having Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran, and Carlos Delgado hurt for most of the season, where Wright saw fewer good pitches and run producing opportunities. With Jose Reyes return and the signing of Jason Bay, look for Wright to have more opportunities to drive in runs and return to his 4 year averages of 29 HR and 112 RBI. While some fantasy owners might be skeptical of taking Wright in the first round this year, he shouldn’t last much longer as he is still an elite power-speed option. Fantasy owners should be confident in a return to form for Wright this season.

Bill James Projection: .302 AVG, 23 HR, 99 RBI, 100 Runs, 24 SB, .892 OPS

MLB.com Projection: .302 AVG, 21 HR, 98 RBI, 102 Runs, 23 SB, .877 OPS

• Jose Reyes (SS) New York Mets – Another Mets player finds his name on this list as he was a victim of the injury bug last season. Previously on the site, we took a look at Reyes fantasy value for this upcoming season, where the chances for a bounceback season are high. Reyes is reportedly running at full speed in camp after leg and hamstring injuries caused him to miss 126 games last season. No one is more important to the Mets offense than Reyes, as he is the catalyst at the top of the lineup with his speed and ability to get on base. While Reyes might not reach 78 SB again like he did in 2007, he is still only 26 with plenty of potential to become a 40-50 SB threat again. Fantasy owners could get a 1st round talent in the 2nd or 3rd round in fantasy drafts this year as Reyes value has dropped since last season. Monitor Reyes progression in camp, but don’t be afraid to take Reyes high this season as he is still an elite talent.

Bill James Projection: .285 AVG, 14 HR, 67 RBI, 113 Runs, 57 SB, .784 OPS

MLB.com Projection: .302 AVG, 15 HR, 65 RBI, 114 Runs, 52 SB, .830 OPS

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Up Next: AL Sleeper Candidates

Over his career, Holliday has been a dangerous hitter as he has posted career numbers of a .318 AVG, 152 HR, and 592 RBI in 6 seasons. He is another client of mega-agent Scott Boras, who is notorious for getting the best deal for his clients. This is just another instance of Boras getting premium dollars as he now adds another $100 million client to his credit. While Holliday’s deal falls short of his desire for $18 million a year, he still ended up getting over $17 million a year and a full no-trade clause. For the Cardinals, they are making a huge commitment to a player they feel is one of the best in the game. Holliday is expected to protect Pujols in the lineup and anchor the left field position for many years.

It’s no secret Holliday is a special talent at the plate and is worthy of a long term deal. However, I don’t understand why any team would sign any player for 7 years. At the end of his contract, Holliday will be 37 years old and by then will he still be the same player that he is today? This deal makes the Mets signing of Jason Bay look even better, who isn’t too far off from Holliday’s yearly production. Overall, it’s a good deal for the Cardinals as this keeps them the early favorites in the NL Central next season. However, I do disagree with the length of the deal and feel the Cardinals committed to too many years, especially since they were practically bidding against themselves with no real market for Holliday’s services.

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.

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?

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?

Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports

Over his career, Figgins has been a versatile member of the Angels’ roster. He has seen time at numerous positions including second base, third base, shortstop, and the entire outfield. He is known mostly as a singles hitter as 141 of his 183 hits this past season were of the singles variety. This past season, Figgins provided excellent defense at third with a UZR (Ultimate Zone Ratings) of 16.7.

The Mariners will look to Figgins as a replacement for current free agent Adrian Beltre at third base. If the Mariners are successful in signing Figgins, they plan to plug him in the top of their order with Ichiro, which will provide them with excellent speed and OBP at the top. The Mariners are rumored to be interested in free agent Jason Bay for the middle of their lineup as well. The Mariners have money to spend and are eager in their quest to dethrone the Angels’ reign on the AL West.

Figgins would be a great signing for the Mariners. His versatility is a true asset in today’s game and his speed and ability to get on base are crucial to a lineup’s success. In my opinion, the Mariners still have to make another move or two to become legit AL West favorites, however, they are not far off.

Do you think the possible Figgins signing increases the Mariners chances of winning the West next season? Where do you think the Mariners go next?

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?

Johnny has also stated that he isn’t interested in a pay cut. While his offensive numbers are good, his age and poor defense work against him. He also has Scott Boras as his agent which limits the number of teams that will even show interest in Damon. Boras is rumored to be asking for a four year deal. Damon’s preference is to stay with the Yankees and it seems to be a mutual interest. He has also indicated that he would take a shorter deal with the Yankees then he would from another team but he would want a higher yearly salary.

Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News quotes Damon: “I want to continue to be on a team that can win and to play in front of great fans – and we know that the Yankees fill both of those,” Damon said. “I think everyone knows my desire to come back. Still, every time I’ve been a free agent, I’ve ended up switching teams. It’s the nature of the beast. If people are interested, I’m going to listen.” This non committal comment is par for the course with every free agent so you shouldn’t read too much into it. I think Damon is at a point where he needs the Yankees more then the Yankees need him. Bobby Abreu signed a 2 year deal for $9 million a year. I can’t see any team offering Damon more then that. Damon is probably going to get a rude awakening this off season if he expects $13 million per year like he received last year.

However nothing is going to be settled until the Yankees find out if they can swing a deal for Roy Halladay. According to the New York Post, “Brian Cashman and the Yankees will have a better understanding of how much money they have to spend this winter on free agents and mollifying Roy Halladay with a contract extension — think five years and $100 million — if they can swing a deal for Toronto’s stud right-hander whom the Blue Jays know won’t re-sign with them after next season.”