Major League Baseball's Major Free Agent Signings

With Major League Baseball's “Hot Stove” season well under way, we have seen a number of free agent signings. Some signings are one year deals and some are multi-year dealings and two of those multi-year signings are above the $100 million dollar mark.

I will recap some of the more significant deals and offer opinions as to why or why not these transactions are for the good of the teams acquiring these players.

Scott Downs - Relief Pitcher, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim - $15 million for the three years, not including incentives.

The Angels certainly needed a set-up man in front of closer Fernando Rodney. With long time eighth inning reliever Scot Shields in rapid decline and former closer Brian Fuentes dealt to Minnesota late last season, Downs is the perfect man for the set-up role. Also, Downs has the ability to close games should Rodney falter, as he often does.

Dick says:

This is a good marriage for both Downs and the Angels and the investment is well worth it.

Adam Dunn and Paul Konerko - First Base/Designated Hitters, Chicago White Sox --- Dunn - four years at $56 million ; Konerko - three-year at $36 million.

The Pale Hose not only kept an aging but still very productive Paul Konerko, they garnered the services of left-handed slugging mammoth Adam Dunn to essentially split the first base and DH duties. Not only do these mashers have tremendous power and run producing abilities, they will spell each other in the field to stay fresh and still garner plenty of plate appearances. Also, opposing pitchers will have to decide which hitter to pitch around to get to the other bomber. Pick your poison!

Dick's Opinion:

Tremendous signings for the White Sox. I believe between the two, 70 to 80 homers and over 200 RBI is well within reach and the team should see a significant increase in runs scored.

Carlos Pena – First Base, Chicago Cubs - one-year, $10 million contract.

With essentially nobody to play first base, the Cubs are taking a chance that the left-handed power hitting Pena can find his stroke after hitting a paltry .196 albeit with 28 dingers. He will definitely be heavily counted on for major production.

Dick's Thoughts:

Although I have no problem with the signing of Pena, I feel the Cubs could have paid significantly less for his services --- maybe $6 million as opposed to $10 million.

Mariano Rivera – Closer and Derek Jeter – Shortstop, New York Yankees --- Rivera, two-year, $30 million and Jeter, $51 million over the three years.

These signings will insure that the two future Hall Of Famers will retire as members of the Yankees. Rivera, arguably the game's greatest closer, is still considered by many to be the best in the business and Jeter, although showing signs of decline both at the plate and in the field, is still a great influence for the clubhouse and typifies the the Yankee tradition of class. As usual, both will be critical to future Yankee success.

Dick Opines:

I'm split on these to dealings. I have no problem with Rivera getting his money. I firmly believe he's still the best closer in baseball.

While Jeter deserves to be a Yankee for life, paying a player an average of $17 million for three seasons is far too much for a player who may be declining at the plate and is certainly declining in the field with his lack of range. Argue fielding percentage if you like, he simply does not get to balls as he once did.

Jayson Werth – Outfield, Washington Nationals --- Seven-year deal worth a reported $126 million.

Washington obviously feels that Werth was the prime hitter in this year's free agent class. Werth hits for power, is productive, can run, and is a good defensive outfielder. Supposedly, he replaces Adam Dunn in the Nats lineup and will have to be all that Dunn was.

What Dick Has To Say:

Has Jim Bowden been re-hired as the Nationals General Manager? This is a ridiculous signing! While Werth is a good player, in no way is he an $18 million a season player. Heck, he's not even Washington's best player! That's reserved for third baseman Ryan Zimmerman. Here's throwing away!

Carl Crawford – Left Field, Boston Red Sox --- Seven-year, $142 million deal.

Red Sox Nation feared the ownership group led by John Henry would not spend money because of the $500 million spent to buy a European soccer team.

Wrong!

The BoSox aggressively went to Crawford at his home in Houston and grilled him on what his goals were in baseball. Obviously, Boston was so impressed that they paved the way to sign their first ever $100 free agent in Crawford. Patrolling left field and batting anywhere from third to sixth in the batting order, Crawford will be more productive without having to steal oodles of bases. Along with the acquisition of left-handed strong man Adrian Gonzalez, Boston could be the big league's highest scoring team.

Red Sox Fan Dick Says:

This is a wonderful time to be a Red Sox fan! Crawford will add speed in the outfield, hit 15 to 20 homers and will drive in at least 80 runs while scoring more than 80 runs to boot. He won't have to steal as many bags which should keep him fresh throughout the regular season.

That's the more note worthy signings thus far this winter. Very active this off season of 2010-2011 and much more will transpire.

Cliff Lee signs with...?

Dick

Send email to dlafrance2@207me.com

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The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

As we all know, athletes have a way of bringing out different emotions in other athletes, management, and fans alike. Many make us cheer, some make us groan, and there are those that make us disgusted. Often times, we the fans feel these three emotions faster than we can blink our eyes.

This post will focus on three players who in their performances form the basis of what has gone down recently in the world of sports. Here, I will present The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of athletes in recent days.

The Good: Simon Gagne – Philadelphia Flyers

Gagne has been gold for the Flyers as they march towards the Eastern Conference Championship of the NHL playoffs. Since his return from a broken right big toe in Game 4 versus the Boston Bruins, Simon has potted 6 goals in 6 games. His first was the overtime game winner in that Game 4 which the Flyers could have been eliminated. Then Gagne scored the series winning goal on the power play as the Flyers pulled off the improbable beating the Bruins in Game 7. He has since scored in the first 2 games of the conference finals against Montreal, with Philly winning both. No doubt that Simon has been the catalyst in the Flyers attack.

The Bad: Mariano Rivera – New York Yankees

Mariano Rivera ... bad? In a rare show of vulnerability, Rivera's last 2 appearances have been just that. On Sunday versus the Minnesota Twins, Rivera was charged with a rare blown save as he gave up a walk an surrendered a grand slam to Jason Kubel in a stunning 6-3 loss. Then two nights later Mariano gave up 2 runs, although unearned, and 2 hits in another stunning loss, 7-6 to arch rival Boston Red Sox in which he was tagged with the loss. Although I clearly believe that these are just blips on the radar screen, it's just so unlike the future Hall of Fame closer, perhaps the greatest of all time, to have consecutive subpar performances.

The Ugly: Hanley Ramirez – Florida Marlins

Clearly the Marlins best player, Ramirez was benched by manager Fredi Gonzalez after the 2nd inning when he committed a costly error and then failed to run hard after he kicked the ball nearly 100 feet allowing 2 runs to score. Then on Tuesday, Hanley ripped his manager by saying "It's his team. He can do whatever," … "There's nothing I can do about it." (There were expletives included.)

Ramirez also said about Gonzalez, "That's OK. He doesn't understand that. He never played in the big leagues," while talking to reporters on why he thought he was treated unfairly.

Okay, this superstar is clearly a knucklehead by flapping his yap in such a manner. And it appears that Florida players are squarely behind manager Gonzalez. I suggest that Hanley either shape up or he may be dealt with harshly and I hope his teammates ride his butt hard.

Those are my thoughts...what are yours?

Dick

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Baseball's Team of the Decade --- New York Yankees

The 2009 Major League Baseball season has come to a close and a decade has been completed. Sixty division titles have been won, 10 wild card teams decided, and 10 World Series champions have been crowned. It's been a decade that has been marred by accusations and congressional hearings about rampant steroid use, ungodly free agent signings, and umpires blowing calls at an alarming rate this past season. But we have also had some monumental feats in baseball too --- The Boston Red Sox winning the 2004 World Series for the first time since 1918, the Chicago White Sox winning the World Title in 2005 after decades of frustration, and the New York Yankees winning 2 championships in the bookend years of 2000 and 2009.

We have also had amazing player accomplishments such as the emergence of players like Albert Pujols and Ichiro Suzuki, major milestones with Barry Bonds becoming the Major League home run king, Ken Griffey, Jr. reaching 600 homers, and Alex Rodriguez doing what Alex Rodriguez always does. We saw the retirements of Cal Ripken Jr. and Greg Maddux as well, two of the greatest players at their respective positions.

This post will focus on the one team that dominated the decade of 2000-2009. In my opinion, no other team can match what this team has done as far as overall accomplishments are concerned. Without further delay, the team of the decade is:

The New York Yankees

This decade Yankee teams has had an amazing group of players come through the hallowed halls of old Yankee Stadium and the new Yankee Stadium --- Bobby Abreu, Johnny Damon, Roger Clemens, Bernie Williams, Alex Rodriguez, and more recent additions Mark Teixeira, C.C. Sabathia and Robinson Cano. They have had a core group of four players this decade --- Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera, and Andy Pettitte whom has defined the Yankee way by showing class and respect for baseball.

They have had one great manager in Joe Torre and I believe a good one in Joe Girardi. Both led teams quietly and let the players play. Torre was considered a push button manger that could do little wrong with the teams he had, while Girardi may have micro-managed at times, but with the shaky bullpen of this past season, I feel he had no choice.

Now let's look at the hard numbers to validate dominance of these Yankees:

*Easily Major League Baseball's best record in the decade
*9 time playoff participant
*8 American League East Division Titles
*4 World Series appearances (2000, 2001, 2003, and 2009)
*2 World Series Titles --- in 2000 (defeated the New York Mets 4 games to 1) and 2009 (defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 4 games to 2).

While Yankee starting was good and the bullpen was spotty at times (2009), there were two constants that were always outstanding:

*The “Bronx Bombers” hit like no other team could, especially with power and patience.
*The Yanks had baseball's best closer in Mariano Rivera.

What other teams come close to such dominance? I'll examine three teams in comparison.

Boston Red Sox

While Boston equaled New York's 2 World Championships (2004 and 2007), they can only lay claim to 1 AL East title (2007), and 6 playoff appearances. Pretty good by most standards but pales the Yankees in every way except World Titles.

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

The Angels do have a World Series title under their belts (2002), 5 American League West Division titles and 6 total playoff seasons. That may be better than Boston, but is far short of what the Yankees have done.

St. Louis Cardinals

The World Champions of 2006, the Cards can boast 6 National League Central Division pennants and a wild card appearance for a total of 7 seasons in the playoffs. Better than both Boston and the Angels but again short of the Yankees.

I believe I have proven without a doubt that the New York Yankees are by far and away the best team this decade. The numbers prove it and I defy anyone who can argue otherwise. Love 'em or hate 'em, let's give the Yanks all the accolades they deserve.

Dick

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