KO’d by TJ

By Jake Ritter ‘Tis the season for season-ending surgeries, tra lala la la lala la la. My apologies for my lack of sensitivity; as a Mets fan, cynicism is the only way that I don’t completely lose my mind. Each season has its hype man, calling attention by publicizing a specific trend, player, or event so then that season will linked with what/who happened. The 1974 season is synonymous with Hank Aaron breaking the Babe’s home run record, 2013 is a reminder of the cellar-to-cindrella transformation of the Boston Red Sox. And what does the 2014 season bring you may ask? The year of the Tommy John. Due to the Red Sox’s remarkable season and the emergence of the thrill seeker (on and off the base-path) Yasiel Piug, the 46 ball players who went under the knife courtesy of Mr. John took a backseat. So what makes this season any different? From this year’s Spring Training to the month of April, 24 players had to close the book on their season. The significance? in 2013, there were five. I’ll give you a moment to comprehend what I just told you On the bright side, the Mets can finally pass on the award of most unlucky National League East team (the holiday fruitcake of fictitious awards) to the Atlanta Braves. The new Mets (sorry I can’t help myself) lost both Kris Medlen and Brandon Beachy, starting pitchers whose performances had a direct correlation of the Atlanta Braves prosperity pitching staff. Then again, the Mets aren’t that better off. We lost phenom and potential savior (I know, we’re desperate) Matt Harvey and supposed-to-be franchise closer Bobby Parnell is consecutive years to Tommy John Surgery. But don’t fret my fellow baseball enthusiasts, for there is still much promise that this season can provide. We have the new additions to the New York Yankees retirement home in Carlos Beltran and Brian McCann, Robinson Cano actually taking the money and running to Seattle, and Jose Fernandez hoping to repeat a stellar rookie year. So cheer up baseball fans, for the 24 lemons of Tommy John surgeries ending your treasured player’s career, the lemonade of the opportunity for that player’s replacement could be sweet enough to replace that sour taste.

The Yankees are Back!

By Anthony Leo (Contributor)

 

The 2013 season for the New York Yankees was a disappointment to Yankee fans. The team had numerous amounts of injuries that had major affects on the outcome of the season. Players like Kevin Youkilis, Curtis Granderson, Mark Texiera, Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter all missed significant amounts of time. Despite all of these injuries, the Yanks were able to stay competitive by patching up the roster with a wide variety of different players. The Yankees finished with 85-77 record, which put them 6.5 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays for that final playoff spot.

After coming off of such a disappointing season, the Yankees needed to open their wallets a little bit this offseason. Ever since George Steinbrenner acquired the team, spending big has been part of the Yankee way, and that has not changed at all this offseason.

They have already signed 7 time All Star catcher Brian McCann to a 5 year $85 million dollar deal. They didn’t stop there. They also signed Jacoby Ellsbury away from their bitter rivals, the Boston Red Sox. The Yankees essentially gave Ellsbury an offer he could not refuse of 7 years $153 million dollars. Next, the Yankees signed veteran outfielder Carlos Beltran for 3 years and $45 million dollars to come to the Bronx.

Ironically, in 2004, Beltran wanted to come to the Yankees but ended up signing with the cross-town rival New York Mets. The Yankees also made a very under-the-radar move in signing Kelly Johnson. The former Rays utility man will look to be this year’s version of Jayson Nix. Johnson will be able to help the team in a wide variety of ways and should be much more productive than Nix was at the plate.

Of course on the flip side, there is the loss of star second basemen Robinson Cano, as he signed the third largest deal in MLB history with the Seattle Mariners. Seattle signed Cano for a crazy 10 years $240 million dollar deal to be the face of their franchise. The Yankees wanted Cano to come back to the Bronx but Cano’s asking price was too much for the Yankees. The Yankees know first hand how these long-term deals can backfire, so Brian Cashman let Cano walk, and in turn has extra money to spend on the rest of the lineup.

While the New York Yankees have made plenty of noise this offseason, they are far from done. They still have numerous holes to fill. They have already filled the gaping hole at catcher with the signing of Brian McCann. The question is who will be throwing to pitches to the new Yankee catcher.

Right now the Yankees have some of their starting rotation from last year returning. CC Sabathia, who is supposed to be the leader of the rotation, is coming back and hopes to have a bounce back year. Ivan Nova will also be coming back to be the Yankees’ third starter. Hiroki Kuroda, who last year showed he was the Yankees number one pitcher, was a free agent until the Yankees signed him back to a one-year deal for $16 million dollars. The 39 year-old Kuroda is towards the end of his career but can still offer the Yankees some valuable innings pitched.

Then there is Michael Pineda. Pineda was acquired in a trade with the Mariners when the Yankees sent catcher Jesus Montero to Seattle in return for Pineda. Pineda is yet to pitch a game for the Yankees. He has been in rehab fighting back from an injury. The Yankees are hoping he can comeback to offer than some much needed innings in the starting rotation.

After the signing of Jacoby Ellsbury, the Yankees have now started to field offers for Brett Gardner. If the Yankees decide to trade Brett Gardner it will probably be for a middle of the rotation starter. Then there is the new hole that the Yankees have not had to address in 17 years because there was 17 years of greatness there with Mariano Rivera. They now need a new closer to shut down games. They have many options available such as moving David Robertson to the closer role or going out into the field to sign a closer like Grant Balfour or Fernando Rodney.

While the Winter Meetings may be over, there is still plenty of time left in this offseason. Surely some big moves have yet to come for many teams. The Yankees definitely need to keep spending to fill in some holes on this roster. That being said, the Yankees are on the right track. They already made numerous additions that should help them get back to becoming legitimate World Series contenders. While it remains to be seen what types of move the front office will make going forward, one thing is for certain. The New York Yankees are back baby!

 

Mets Need To Stay Agressive

By Daniel Budick (Contributor)

The Mets have gone into this offseason with the determination to open up their pockets (just a little bit) and put a presentable team on the field in 2014.

Thus far, the Mets have been able to add help to an outfield that was flat out pathetic in 2013. Both Chris Young and Curtis Granderson not only add offensive help, but each of them is a solid defender as well. They also helped solidify the rotation by signing veteran Bartolo Colon to a 2 year $20 million deal. Despite being 40 years old, Colon is coming off of a season in which he was an All-Star and had a 2.65 ERA.

The big chip, Curtis Granderson was a must sign for the Mets. Over the last four seasons, the Mets have taken the easy road during free agency. Spending low money on low risk high reward type guy. Granderson shows some promise to a possible direction for the organization.

It’s very encouraging to see the Mets moving forward by spending some money to improve the roster. It cannot stop here! Mets GM Sandy Alderson needs to continue to improve this team. Shortstop is a huge need; the Mets can’t go into the season with Ruben Tejada as the regular.

Over the last two seasons not only has Tejada regressed at the plate but his defense has declined. He makes too many mental mistakes to be the anchor of the infield. I have a serious problem with the comments Sandy Alderson made prior to day one of the MLB Winter Meetings.

Said Alderson, “Depending on how things materialize, we may live with certain weaknesses. For example, we could come out of meetings with Tejada as our regular shortstop.”

That statement has me shaking my head and wondering if the Mets even have an offseason plan at all! The Mets have given Ruben numerous opportunities to prove he can be an everyday shortstop, and up until this point he hasn’t proved a thing.

This is where Sandy Alderson has to get creative. I understand the Mets don’t want to spend the money that free agent shortstop Stephen Drew is asking for. With that said, that doesn’t mean Alderson and the Mets sit back and do nothing! For shortstop help the trade market is a must for New York.

Two guys come to mind immediately that the Mets could possibly go after. One being Asdrubal Cabrera of the Cleveland Indians, the other being Zach Cozart from the Cincinnati Reds. Both guys would be significant upgrades at the position.

Shortstop is huge need for this team; it’s a glaring hole that must be filled. With questions about the first base situation, the issue of shortstop is a priority. I am hoping Alderson has a trick or two up his sleeve with still a lot of time to go in the offseason.

Contracts? You Kidding Me?

By Vinnie Longo (Contributor)

 

There may be record lows being set in some parts of the United States, but thankfully, we have the MLB hot stove to keep us warm. We have seen a ton of action thus far and the winter meetings are just heating up (no pun intended), and I’ve got a bone to pick with major league GMs.

We all know that contracts and payrolls are getting out of hand in professional sports. I don’t care who you are, you have to admit that recently some of the contracts being handed out in baseball are absolutely absurd. Phil Hughes didn’t deserve that 3 year $24 million deal with the Twins, and Jacoby Ellsbury may have just pulled off thegreatest heist since the original Ocean’s Eleven. That being said, nothing can be more ridiculous than what the Seattle Mariners did. They should go sit in the corner and wear a dunce hat for the massive contract they dished out last week.

Everybody knows that last week the Seattle Mariners signed all-star second baseman Robinson Cano to a 10 year, $240 million deal. Everybody has been harping on this deal for the past week, so I won’t belabor the point here. Quickly though: is Cano one of the best players in the game right now? Absolutely. Is he the strongest offensive player at his position? You could make a fantastic case, although Brandon Phillips is there as well.

For the sake of argument, let’s say that undoubtedly Robinson Cano is the best offensive second baseman in baseball. But the crucial aspect of a deal like this is as follows. Does Cano add a spark to a lineup unlike any other player in the major leagues? That answer is not clear-cut, so that’s why the contract isn’t worth it.

I get that the top guys in the business want job security. In reality we all do, regardless of our profession. So from the player’s perspective, of course they’re going to want a type of contract that runs for 8 years plus. But what if you’re a GM or an owner? Really? By the time this monstrosity of a deal is over Seattle will be paying insane amounts of money for an over the hill second baseman.

Now considering that Robbie Cano is Robbie Cano, he’ll probably still hit .270 around that time. Even so, to pay over twenty million a year for .270? Get real. It’s the Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder problem all over again. Teams are willing to overpay players that won’t be worth their contract when it comes to the end of it simply for the potential of a playoff run during the first couple of years of the contract.

Don’t get me wrong, I like that teams are willing to sign prospects and home grown talent to long term deals. But to the general managers of major league baseball and really professional sports in general? Wake up! You’re causing massive inflation that will allow mediocre free agents to set off bidding wars and will cause the top talent to stay exclusively with teams that have the ability to spend. Maybe that’s the way you want it. To me that’s boring though. I’m a sports fan; give me something fun.

Joe Torre: Next Stop Cooperstown

By Jake Asman (Contributor)

Today the 16-member Expansion Era Committee unanimously voted in former managers Joe Torre, Bobby Cox, and Tony La Russa to the Baseball Hall of Fame. I for one could not be happier for Joe Torre.

Torre, who ranks 5th all time in wins among managers, always managed the game in a classy matter. As a lifelong Yankees fan, I grew up watching Joe Torre manage the team I love. When times got tough with the Yankees, you always knew that Torre was the right guy to handle the job.

His cool, calm, and collective presence was the perfect match to counter owner George Steinbrenner’s fiery and intensive mindset. In Torre’s 12 seasons at the helm of the Yankees he made the playoffs in every single one of them. Torre was a true winner, as he won 4 championships with the Yankees and appeared in 6 World Series.

Joe Torre was there in 1996, winning the AL manager of the year when the Yankees won their first championship in 18 years. He was there in 2007 to lead the Yankees back to the playoffs after being 14.5 games out of the division earlier in that season.

Outsiders can say that his teams always had one of the highest pay rolls in the league, but the bottom line was that when he was in the dugout, the Yankees delivered the results out on the field. In comparison, despite doing a fine job as Torre’s replacement, Joe Girardi has managed the Yankees to two non-playoff seasons in his 6 years as the skipper. Granted, Girardi has faced many challenges as manager (The A-Rod saga, constant injuries, etc.), but the fact that Torre never missed the playoffs while managing in the Bronx speaks for itself.

Torre’s greatest strength was to get the most out of the players he managed. Derek Jeter said Joe was a “father figure” to him and Mariano Rivera said Joe was one of the “most influential people” he has ever met. He handled the pressure of the NY media better than any coach or manager in NY who came before or after him. Torre was the master of keeping his clubhouse under control and that wasn’t easy to do while managing the most successful franchise in sports history.

Joe Torre was truly beloved by Yankee fans. One day he will have a statue of his own out in Monument Park, as this gesture has been long overdue on the part of the Yankees. It’s not a coincidence that no Yankee player or coach has worn Torre’s number 6 since he left New York after the 2007 season.

While there are many players and managers that have questionably been let into the Hall, no one should be questioning whether Joe Torre is deserving of this honor. He has truly earned it. I can’t wait to hear his acceptance speech come summertime.

 

Ellsbury in Pinstripes…..WHAT?!

By Jake Chernock (Contributor)

The New York Yankees shocked the baseball world when news broke that the team had signed former Boston Red Sox outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury to a 7 year, $153 million contract. As a Yankees fan I was definitely shocked by this. Quite frankly, the deal makes little to no sense.

Let’s start with the deal in itself. 7 years are far too many to give to a player whose durability is in question. Since 2010, Ellsbury has played in over 140 games only once. Also, Ellsbury is not a power hitter, which is something the Yankees desperately need to add to their lineup. While he did hit 32 home runs during the 2011 season he has not hit more than 9 home runs in any other season during his career. Finally, let’s put $153 million in perspective. Miguel Cabrera doesn’t make that much. And he’s the two time defending AL MVP!

Another huge problem is that the Yankees have so many other positions of need that they don’t fill with this deal. The team is in need of a second baseman, (if Cano doesn’t resign) shortstop, (in case Jeter isn’t healthy), and third base. (in case A-Rod is suspended for 2014 and beyond).

Plus the starting rotation is in shambles with a declining CC Sabathia and an inconsistent Ivan Nova as the only two certainties. And this doesn’t even address the fact that the Yanks lost the best closer in baseball history to retirement this offseason, and probably will need to upgrade the back end of their bullpen.

The deal also doesn’t make sense because the team already has Brett Gardner, who is basically a lesser version of Ellsbury. It does open up the possibility that the team can move Gardner and a prospect in order to add a starting pitcher; something that the team certainly should pursue to strengthen an area that clearly is in need of help. Or, the team could opt to use Gardner and Ellsbury as a dynamic duo on the base paths and patrolling the outfield. Then again, it all comes back to the fact that the Yankees spent way too much money to create these scenarios.

The deal will also have a heavy impact on the way the team conducts business the rest of the offseason, especially with their pursuit of star second baseman Robinson Cano. The deal sends a firm message to Jay-Z and Roc Nation that the Yanks will hold firm on their current contract offer of 7 years, 175 million. It also affects the team’s pursuit of Japanese right-hander Masahiro Tanaka, as it is up for debate whether the team can re-sign Cano and sign Tanaka while also keeping the payroll under the luxury tax mark of $189 million (this will depend on what happens with A-Rod).

Look, there is little question that Jacoby Ellsbury is one of the top base stealers the game has to offer, and features a terrific glove in center field. I do believe he will have a positive impact on the Bombers in 2014. Any time you can add a guy that will bat near .300 there will be some improvement. But at the same time, the Yankees have signed an aging outfielder with an injury filled past to a mega-contract that comes with significant risks and hurts the team’s pursuit of other free agents.

What Brian McCann Will Mean to the Yankees

By Brandon Lebensfeld

As I predicted in my MLB Offseason Preview, the Yankees signed all-star catcher Brian McCann on Sunday. The former Atlanta Brave signed a 5-year $85 million deal with the Yanks. Now that the 29 year old will be in the Bronx for the foreseeable future, he both fills a gaping hole at catcher as well as provides the Yankees with another solid power hitter.

It remains to be seen where McCann will hit in the lineup. While you’d expect manager Joe Girardi to slide his new catcher somewhere in the heart of the order, the Yankees 2014 roster is nowhere near set in stone. GM Brian Cashman has plenty of holes to fill in this lineup during the offseason.

For starters, a lot of the decisions the Yankees make will revolve around the ending of the A- Rod saga. While you’d like to think that the unprecedented 211 game suspension will be upheld, the Yankees will need to have conformation of this before moving forward. Cashman has stated that the team would ideally like to have Alex Rodriguez out there playing third on opening day, so it remains to be seen what will happen. Odds are they will look for a temporary replacement at the hot corner, as they wait for prospect Tyler Austin to make his way up to the big leagues.

One important decision management will have to make is whether or not to resign Curtis Granderson. The all-star outfielder provides a ton of power, in addition to decent speed when healthy. They key words here are “when healthy,” though. Granderson only played in 61 games last season after having several stints on the disabled list. When healthy Granderson can put up big time numbers like he did in 2011, when he hit 41 homers and had 106 RBIS. There are reports that the Yankees intend on resigning Granderson, but that of course will have to come at the right price. If they don’t resign Granderson, New York still has Ichiro Suzuki to man right field.

Then of course, there is the pitching. With the retirements of legends Mariano Rivera and Andy Pettitte, the Yanks will need to fill some holes in their rotation and solidify the bullpen. One very viable option in terms of relievers could be Drew Storen of the Nationals. With a dominant closer in Rafael Soriano and a solid setup man in Tyler Clippard, Storen is now expendable. If the Yanks can place a solid offer on the table, they can acquire Storen and have a nice tandem in the bullpen with him and David Robertson.

Finally, there is the question of whether or not the Yanks can agree with Robinson Cano on a contract to bring him back to the Bronx. As of recent, both sides are way off in terms of a number figure, but only time will tell if the two sides can work things out. I predicted that the Yanks would not resign their superstar 2nd basemen, but things could very well change. If Cano is not back in pinstripes, there will be plenty of extra money for New York to spend elsewhere.

While this offseason could shape up in a variety of ways for the Yankees, they took a big first step in signing McCann. Despite his recent injury troubles, he is a very talented player. He has been one of the most consistent catchers in the bigs over the past eight years. A reliable option behind the plate is something the Yankees desperately needed last season, as the combination of Austin Romine and Chris Stewart was not nearly good enough for a team that expected to contend.

McCann will give the Yankees a solid 20-25 home runs, as well as a steady presence behind the plate this season. If some key players can get healthy and if management can put the right pieces around McCann, he and the Yankees could be primed for a very big season in the Bronx.

MLB Offseason Preview Part Two: Trades

By Brian Borders

Now that the World Series is over, the baseball world can prepare itself for roughly 14 weeks of craziness before spring training starts up. With the ongoing biogenesis scandal, this could be the most fascinating offseason that baseball has seen in a long time. With the annual winter meetings just around the corner, we could be in for an offseason of many major trades. Here are a few big named players that could be dealt before the start of the 2014 season.

1. David Price: Let’s face it, there is simply no way that the Rays will be able to afford Price when he is up for free agency in two seasons. The Rays are smart, and they know that his value will never be higher than it is now, because the team that trades for him will have control of him for two more years. Price’s situation is eerily similar to that of James Shields’ last offseason, but the price for Price will be much higher than it was for Shields. Luckily for the Rays, there are a few teams that have the assets to pull the trigger.

Possible Suitors: Washington Nationals, Chicago Cubs, Seattle Mariners

2. Troy Tulowitzki: To be honest, Troy Tulowitzki is the franchise center piece in Colorado, and he likely won’t be dealt. However, that doesn’t mean that he is untradeable. If someone can wow the Rockies with enough quality prospects, they’d be crazy not to listen.

Possible Suitors: St. Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees

3. Giancarlo Stanton: According to new General Manager Dan Jennings, the Marlins will not be trading Stanton. But, all reports out of Miami last season had Stanton being unhappy on a team which gave him no offensive support. Well, the Marlins still have no offensive support to provide him. If a team offers the Marlins a group of high quality prospects, the Marlins shouldn’t hesitate to trade the 24 year old right fielder. Especially if some of those prospects are Major League ready.

Possible Suitors: Boston Red Sox, Pittsburgh Pirates

4. Andre Ethier: It seems unlikely that someone with Ethier’s talent would actually be traded off a good team, but there simply isn’t enough room for him in the Dodgers outfield. The emergence of Yasiel Puig last season probably would have resulted in Ethier being dealt at the July 31 trade deadline, had Matt Kemp not been injured.

Possible Suitors: Pittsburgh Pirates, Baltimore Orioles

5. Brandon Phillips: For teams that lose out on Robinson Cano (probably all of them, I don’t see him leaving New York), Phillips is the second best second baseman available this offseason. And he is surprisingly available, given the huge contract extension he signed in April. But Phillips had a down season this year, and with super prospect Billy Hamilton ready for the show, Phillips becomes expendable.

Possible Suitors: New York Yankees, Detroit Tigers, Atlanta Braves

6. Ian Kinsler: Kinsler is the third best second baseman on the market, behind Cano and Phillips. Kinsler is another player that doesn’t really belong on the trade market, but the Rangers have to choose what they want their infield to look like in the future. That being said, a double play combination of Elvis Andrus and Jurickson Profar sounds much more promising than any scenario involving Kinsler.

Possible Suitors: New York Yankees, Detroit Tigers

7. John Lackey: Coming off a Game 6 win in the World Series, and a very strong season, the value for John Lackey has seemingly never been higher. The Red Sox have a surplus of starting pitching, and given that Lackey has just one year left on his contract, he seems the most likely of the Sox pitchers to be dealt. Plus, how perfect with a reunion with the Angels be?

Possible Suitors: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Chicago Cubs

8. Drew Storen: Storen is an incredibly talented relief pitcher. However, with the log jam at the back of the Nationals bullpen, it seems unlikely that he will get the chance to be a closer anytime soon. Rafael Soriano has that job under control, and Tyler Clippard seems to be the preferred setup option, which makes Storen expendable.

Possible Suitors: Detroit Tigers, New York Yankees, Colorado Rockies

9. David Freese: Freese has struggled to find consistency since his incredible 2011 postseason. With the emergence of both Matt Carpenter and Kolten Wong, Freese’s run in St. Louis looks to be over. The St. Louis native has had a nice run, but for a team loaded with young talent, he doesn’t quite fit into the plan anymore. Plus, due to the Alex Rodriguez situation, the Yankees will certainly be looking for a third baseman.

Possible Suitors: New York Yankees, Miami Marlins

10. Nick Markakis: For several years now, the Orioles have been hitting Markakis in the 3^rd spot in the batting order. However, the Orioles are now a solid team, and there is no way that Markakis deserves to hit in that spot anymore. Baltimore is looking for an upgrade in right field, and they seem like a good fit for Shin-Soo Choo. If the Orioles can land Choo in free agency, I expect to see Markakis dealt.

Possible Suitors: Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Mets

MLB Offseason Preview Part One: Free Agency

By Brandon Lebensfeld 

With the conclusion of the World Series, baseball officially moves into what is possibly the craziest, busiest, and unpredictable portion of the sport. That is of course the offseason. GMs from the 30 major league baseball clubs will be working around the clock, trying to make moves to help their teams improve. While there is no telling exactly what decisions these executives will make over the offseason, I’ve done my best to try and predict them.

Here’s where a think a few of the big name free agents in baseball will sign over the offseason.

Free Agent Signing:              Old Team:                New Team:                 Contract:

RF-Carlos Beltran:                    STL                          TEX                           3yrs-$33mil

2B-Robinson Cano:                  NYY                         DET                          7yrs-$227mil

CF- Jacoby Ellsbury                 BOS                         SF                             6yrs-$110mil

CF-Shin Soo-Choo                   CIN                           SEA                         5yrs-$72mil

1B-Mike Napoli                       BOS                           BOS                          2yrs-28mil

C-Brian McCann                    ATL                             NYY                           4yrs-56mil

Carlos Beltran– Despite coming off of a season in which he hit almost .300, there should be some concern with signing the Cardinals right fielder to a multi-year deal. The 36 year old has a history of injuries and has shown some signs of slowing down. While he can still play 85-100 games in the outfield, he will need some days off. That is why the Rangers would be the best fit for Beltran. He can rotate between playing right field and DH, and will have the luxury of playing 81 games a year in a very hitter-friendly ballpark in Arlington.

While the Cardinals would love to have Beltran back, I doubt they will offer as much money as American League teams will, as he is not worth the money if he can only play in 60 percent of the teams games. The Mariners could also make a play for Beltran, but I see him signing with the Rangers. They give him the best chance at winning that elusive World Series ring.

Robinson Cano– While as a Yankees fan I would love to see Cano spend the rest of his career in pinstripes, I don’t see a long term deal with him and the Yankees working out. Offering Cano a contract in the neighborhood $300 million dollars would be outright ridiculous. At age 31, he isn’t going to get any better than he is now, nor will he out-do his stats from his past 5 seasons. If Cano continues to demand “A-Rod money,” the Yankees will be forced to let him go elsewhere.

Once Cano realizes that it just won’t work out in New York, I see him taking his talents to Detroit. The Tigers have a great shot at capturing a championship, and are built for both the present and the future. While Johnny Peralta played very well for Detroit at 2^nd base until being suspended because of the Biogenesis scandal, I doubt that the team will resign him. The Tigers should be hesitant to pull the trigger on this deal. That being said, having the chance to pair Cano with Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder could be just what Detroit needs to get over the hump and win their first championship since 1984.

Jacoby Ellsbury– Despite having a very lackluster postseason, Jacoby Ellsbury is still an elite centerfielder and leadoff man. He was the table-setter for the Red Sox, and played a major role in the team having the best regular season record in baseball. The Red Sox will definitely try to re-sign Ellsbury, but I don’t think that they will offer him the type of contract that he is looking for. The Yankees might also try to lure in Ellsbury, but I don’t see him as the type of guy that would switch from his former team’s arch nemesis.

That is why San Francisco will be a great fit for Jacoby Ellsbury. The Giants have a very talented team that could very well be back in the swing of things next season. While Ellsbury is looking for a hefty contract, the Giants should be willing to give it to him, as he would fit well in a lineup with Hunter Pence, Buster Posey, and Pablo Sandoval. This combionation of great hitting and solid pitching could make the Giants contenders once again in 2014.

Shin-Soo Choo– Expect Choo to wait until Jacoby Ellsbury signs his deal until he makes a decision on where to go. The Red’s outfielder could elevate his value based on how much Ellsbury signs for. Plenty of teams will be interested in Choo though. He is coming off of a season in which he hit .285, hit 21 homers, and stole 20 bases. Many teams could use an outfielder that can put up those types of numbers. While the Reds could potentially resign Choo, I don’t see them as a team that is willing to commit to the type of long term contract that Choo desires.

I feel that the Seattle Mariners will be the team that ends up landing Choo. While Seattle has had its struggles, they are a team on the rise. They have one of the best pitchers in the game in Felix Hernandez, as well as a ton of young prospects all around the board. Choo would be a nice fit on this team, and could enjoy a return to the Pacific Northwest, as he started his career with the Mariners back in 2005. Seattle has the money to spend, so I expect them to sign Shin-Soo Choo.

Mike Napoli– While there are a few teams out their that could use the services of Mike Napoli, I expect the Red Sox slugger to stay put in Beantown. The Sox originally signed him to a 3 year $39 million deal last season, but had to restructure the deal after a hip issue popped up during his physical.

Now that Napoli has proved himself in Boston, the Sox will definitely want to resign him. They already offered him a qualifying offer for 1 year $14.1 million, but Napoli probably wants a longer term deal than that. While I think Napoli will test the waters of free agency, I’d be shocked to see him leave the Red Sox. After his success this season, Napoli has essentially become a cult hero in Boston. Napoli will get this all sorted out very early in the free agency process, as he will remain in Boston.

Brian McCann– McCann is by far the best catcher available this offseason, and he could see a very hefty contract thrown his way because of it. When healthy, he can consistently hit for at least 20 homer runs every year. The problem is that many teams could be put off by the injury problems he has had in recent years. He has played his entire 9-year career in Atlanta but that could change after this offseason. Especially now since is coming off of shoulder surgery, I see him going to an AL team, where he will be able to settle into the DH slot in a few years.

That is where the Yankees come in. One of the major reasons for the Yankees’ struggles last season was the fact that they had no reliable catchers to choose from. Quite frankly, they cannot rely on the duo of Austin Romine and Chris Stewart to get the job done behind the plate. I don’t think the Yankees will end up waiting for Gary Sanchez to develop, as they could very well deal him for a second basemen if Cano leaves (Dustin Ackley and Jason Kipnis come to mind). McCann would be a great fit in New York, with the short right-field porch in Yankee stadium. The Yanks have no problem dishing out money, so expect them to out-bid the Red Sox for Brian McCann.

Check back soon as Brian will let you know who he expects to see traded in part two of our MLB Offseason Preview.

The Scott Boras Theory

By Alex Barth

With the Red Sox winning the world series, baseball’s regular season has officially come to an end. But the fun is just beginning. This offseason looks to be full of hearings and trials as we dig deeper into the MLB’s PED scandal. Now, we know steroids have been a problem in baseball for quite some time, but when/why did it start? I have a theory. Now, this is just an idea, but hear me out and tell me if you can find a flaw in my logic.

Let’s start with Scott Boras. We all know Boras as the shrewd, back room dealer who makes all the money fly in the MLB. But where did he come from? Boras does not have a business background, he graduated with a degree in Pharmaceuticals from the University of the Pacific in 1977, where he played baseball.

He entered the agent game in the late 80’s, and by 1992, he had already negotiated a record deal between former Cy Young winner Greg Maddux and the Atlanta Braves. Boras’s big moment came a year later, when he represented the first two picks in the draft, Darren Dreifort and a young kid from Miami named Alex Rodriguez. Since then, Boras has gone on to deal with some of the biggest names in baseball, including Barry Bonds,  Manny Ramirez, Adrian Beltre, Kevin Brown, JD Drew, Mark Teixeira and Eric Gagne. Boras is especially known for dealing with the two biggest markets in sports, Boston and New York.

How did a Pharmaceutical Major suddenly become the biggest dealer in america’s pastime? How did a 35 year old with no experience break into the business and find himself in the middle of some of the largest contract negotiations in sport history? Well, maybe he actually was a dealer, of another kind.

Is it possible Boras convinced these starts to sign with him because he could give them an ‘extra edge’. Is it possible the man who majored in Pharmaceuticals was the middle man between drug companies such as BALCO and Biogenesis and MLB players? Boras lives just under two hours from the BALCO facilities in Burlingame, CA. Steroids were not banned by baseball until 1991, before then the league was more worried about players being on Coke or LSD. It took until 2003, follwoing the BALCO scandal, for the MLB to implement mandatory PED testing.

Bonds, Ramirez, Rodriguez, and more who are all represented by Boras saw massive statistical jumps following signing with Boras. Clearly, this guy will do whatever it takes to make a few more bucks? I’m not saying Boras is solely responsible for the steroid issue in baseball, but that he introduced MLB players to PEDs. Again, just a theory, but it seems to me that there is a case to be made here. Well maybe now with Jay-Z taking his clients, the steroid error is on its way out. Until then, we can only keep digging.