Red Sox Sign, Introduce Crawford



Crawford tries on his new cap

 The Boston Red Sox made another big splash this offseason, signing outfielder Carl Crawford to a 7-year deal worth $142M. Crawford was the top hitter in the free-agent class, hitting .307 with 19 HR 90 RBI and 47 SB while playing one of the game's best left fields. The 29-year old got the deal he was looking for, but it was quite surprising that it was the Red Sox who stormed in and grabbed the speedster.  The Industry believed it was teams like the Angels or Yankees that would haul in Carl, but the Red Sox gave Crawford the money he wanted when it counted.  The price-tag is a little steep, no matter how deep your walletbook is, but the Sox look like the best team in the league after adding both Crawford and  Adrian Gonzalez into the fold.

Cubs Grab Pena

Pena goes to Cubbies

After trading away Derrek Lee last season, the Chicago Cubs have signed a free-agent to replace the slugger.  The Cubbies have agreed to a 1-year, $10M deal with first-baseman Carlos Pena.  Pena is a feast-or-famine hitter who hit .196 in a full season last year with 28 HR, 84 RBI and almost two-hundred strike-outs.  He is also a good defensive player and clubhouse presence, so the Cubs made a smart deal here in my opinion.  The price is a bit high, but a 1-year deal almost always merits an overpriced payment.  Pena will look to rebound in the National League, and give the Cubs a much-needed lefty bat in the middle of their lineup.

Padres Close To Dealing Gonzalez to Boston

Big news coming late tonight, as the San Diego Padres and Boston Red Sox are "close" to an agreement which would sent super-star first baseman Adrian Gonzalez to Boston for a package of prospects which is sue to include some top prospects.  Adrian hit .298 with 31 HR and 101 RBI last year for the Padres, in a very spacious park.  A move to Fenway would almost definitely mean an increase in stats, despite the league change.  Gonzalez is a rare breed of a first-baseman who hits for average and power as well as Gold-Glove quality defense.  The move would likely force Boston to move Kevin Youkilis to third-base.

Yankees Resign Mariano Rivera



Rivera returns to...NYY

 Just as everyone believed they would, the New York Yankees have resigned their beloved closer Mariano Rivera.  Rivera inked a two-year deal worth about $30M, and the 41-year old will slot into his usual role: the New York Yankees closer.  On an interesting note, there is rumors that the Boston Red Sox as well as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim tried to  pry Rivera away from the Yankees by offering him some good looking contracts.  Rivera deserves credit for turning down what is to believed an extra $15M from the Red Sox to remain with New York.  Mariano saved 33 games in 60 innings in 2010.

White Sox Sign Slugger Dunn

"The Big Donkey" to CHW

The fast moving Chicago White Sox GM Kenny Williams has did it again, this time quietly communicating with and signing first-baseman Adam Dunn to a 4-year deal worth $56M.  The 10-season Veteran will be on the first American League team of his career, and brings with him 354 career longballs. In 2010, Adam Dunn hit .260 with 38 HR and 103 RBI for the Washington Nationals.  Moving to the hitter-friendly U.S. Cellular Field will be a positive, but it will be interesting to see Dunn's numbers in his first AL season. Still, the White Sox did not overpay and have found a terrific replacement for free-agent Paul Konerko.  

Signings Update

Tejada moves in with SFG

Couple signings occured today, so let's recap some of the action:

• The San Francisco Giants reacted quickly to the news that infielder Juan Uribe was leaving to the Dodgers, as they signed short-stop Miguel Tejada to a 1-year deal worth $6.5M as well as re-signed outfield Pat Burrell.  Tejada played in 59 games for the San Diego Padres last year, after being traded by the Baltimore Orioles.  The 36-year hit .268 with 8 HR in those games, so the bat still seems to have some pop. As for Burrell, after being signed to the Giants, he hit .266 with 18 HR and 51 RBI as well as posting a .364 OBP.  He was one of the big reasons the Giants won the title, and is now inked to an incentive-laden one-year pact.
• The New York Yankees resigned reliever/spot-starter Sergio Mitre to a 1-year deal worth $900K.  Mitre posted a 3.33 ERA in 27 games dispite a miniscule 4.8 K/9.  He will serve as a long-reliever who can occasionally spot start.

Dodgers Ink World Series Champ Uribe

Uribe goes to rival LAD

The Los Angeles Dodgers continued a very surprisingly active winter, signing one of their rival's biggest bats.  Juan Uribe, the utility infielder who had very clutch home-runs throughout the 2010 postseason, has signed a 3-year deal worth $21M total. Uribe hit .248 with 24HR and can play 2B/SS/3B.  He will likely be the Dodgers' everyday second-baseman though.  It obviously pays to be a champion, as Uribe is a very good player but not worth $7M per year from a cash-strapped team like the L.A. Dodgers.  Still, the Dodgers have a terrific 2011 club based on a pitching rotation of Clayton Kershaw, Chad Billingsley, Ted Lilly, Hiroki Kuroda and recently signed Jon Garland and will likely contend in the NL West.

Marlins Sign Javier Vazquez

Vazquez is joining FLA

The Florida Marlins have agreed to a 1-year deal with veteran hurler Javier Vazquez. Vazquez spent 2010 with the New York Yankees, where he had his worst seasons in years with a 5.32 ERA in over 150 innings.  The Yankees acquired him from the Atlanta Braves after Javier had a whopping 2.87 ERA in 219.1 innings with a tremendous 238 strike-outs in that span.  This is a terrific deal by Florida, buying low on a pitcher who will return to the same division as 2009 and will be a cornerstone in their rotation for next year. By far the best deal so far of the 2011 off-season

Dodgers Sign Jon Garland



Garland returns to LA

 The Los Angeles Dodgers have brought back a familiar face: starting pitcher Jon Garland.  Los Angeles signed Jon to a 1-year deal worth $5M, and the deal includes an option for 2012 worth about $8M.  Garland had a terrific season for the rival Padres, throwing 200 innings of 3.47 ERA.  The sinker-baller loves Dodger Stadium, stating that it fits his pitching style well.

Tigers Sign Victor Martinez

Martinez gets $50M from DET

Just as I predicted earlier, the Detroit Tigers have signed catcher Victor Martinez to a 4-year $50M contract. Quite a bit of money (I only predicted 3-yr/$27M), especially when you consider he will do most of his time DH'ing, but he brings a switch-hitting bat which any team would love to have.  The 2010 All-Star hit .302 with 20HR and 79RBI in 127 games for The Red Sox, and is a career .300 hitter in 9 seasons.  Victor is a Type-A free-agent, so the Red Sox will receive Detroit's 19th pick as compensation for losing of their key hitters. 

Ramblings: Iwakuma, Putz, Collins

Arizona Interested In Putz

• The Oakland Athletics and Japanese pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma are far away in negotiations, and the 30-day window that was granted for the sides to accept a deal does not seem to be long enough to sort out the problems.  Iwakuma has reportedly wanted a deal modeled after Barry Zito's absurd 7-year $126M deal, so there is no way Oakland will get to bring in the imported pitcher at the price.
• The Arizona Diamondbacks are said to be interested in reliever J.J. Putz.  Putz pitched last year for the Chicago White Sox, having a horrific ERA of 5.74.  Still, he was a lockdown closer for Seattle and might be able to bring some of that back with Arizona.
• The Mets have finally chosen a name for their newest manager: Terry Collins.  Collins last managed last for the Angels in 1999, and brings quite a bit of experience to the job.  New York will need it, as their team is in turmoil whether it be Francisco Rodriguez' off-the-field problems or the amazing amount of money owed to players such as Oliver Perez and an injured Carlos Beltran.

Ramblings: Davis, Beltre, Marlins

Davis will lead-off for TOR

• The Toronto Blue Jays acquired speedster Rajai Davis for two minor league relievers: Danny Farquhar and Trystan Magnuson.   Both prospects were ranked in Toronto's top 25 prospects, so they paid quite a bit for a 30-year old outfielder.  Davis hit .281 with 50 SB in 2010, so he will give the Blue Jays a much needed lead-off hitter.
• The Oakland A's have offered third-baseman Adrian Beltre a 5-year deal worth $45M.  Beltre has to love the years, but other teams are definitely going to offer him bigger contracts.  It is a decent attempt by Oakland, who tried to sign Adrian before Boston did last year. 
• The Florida Marlins have said that they are going to spend the money that would have gone to Dan Uggla on a starting pitcher.  They have interested in Javier Vasquez and Carl Pavano.  Pavano wants 3-years $33M, so Vasquez is the more cost conscious choice.

Tigers Close To Benoit Signing

Benoit might be Detroit's first
free-agent fish in what should
be a large pond for them

UPDATE: The deal is 3-years $16.5M. Amazing how he goes from barely getting a minor-league contract to this much cash, but he earned it 100%.
The Detroit Tigers might have gotten their first signing of what should be a busy offseason for them, as they are close to a multi-year deal with top set-up man Joaquin Benoit.  Benoit had one of the best seasons i've ever seen by a reliever, posting a 1.34 ERA and an absurd 11.2 K/9 in over 60 innings for the Tampa Bay Rays.  Details of the deal are not yet known, but it'll be interesting to see how many years the 33-year old will get.  Benoit had rotator cuff surgery and missed the 2009 season, so durability might be an issue.

Florida Marlins Close to John Buck Deal

Buck will give Florida some
much needed power (20 HR)

The Florida Marlins are on the verge of signing their first big-name free-agent since 2005, as they are close to a 3-year $18M deal with catcher John Buck.  Buck had a nice year with the Toronto Blue Jays, hitting .281 with 20 HR and 66 RBI and will give the Marlins a decent defensive catcher with some power.  I don't like the amount of money per year, but the market seemed to be heating up on John Buck so I guess it was the price that the Marlins had to pay to get their guy.

Atlanta Acquires Dan Uggla

Uggla should fit in with ATL

The first trade of the GM Meetings is official as power-hitting second-baseman Dan Uggla goes from the Florida Marlins to the Atlanta Braves.  In return Florida gets 2010 All-Star infielder Omar Infante and young reliever Michael Dunn.  Uggla spent his entire 5-year career in Florida, and goes to division-rival Atlanta with 154 HR in that same span.  Last year Dan hit .287 with 33 HR and 105 RBI, so the Braves definitely got a middle of the order masher on their hands.  Infante is a utility player who can play all 7 infield/outfield spots, and his versatility is even more intriguing when you consider he hit .321 on the year with a couple home-runs and stolen-bases sprinkled in.  Omar is a contact hitter who the Marlins can slot anywhere on defense without losing a step, making him a manager's best friend.  As for Dunn, the 25-year old had a pleasant minor-league campaign (3.39 career ERA in his minors career) and pitched in 19 innings for the 2010 Braves.  He posted a 1.89 ERA with 27 K in those innings, so he is definitely a lockdown lefty.  Very even deal, as the Braves get a middle of the order bat who is about to get expensive (He turned down a 4-year/$48M deal with the Marlins and is entering his last year of arbitration) and the Marlins get a ultra-utility player who is coming off an All-star campaign and a reliever who should blossom in the Fish's pen.