2016 MLB thread. THE CUBS HAVE BROKEN THE CURSE! Chicago Cubs are your 2016 World Series champions

abovelegit1 · Jan 24, 2012

Well damn. And they wonder why Detroit is bankrupt..

But seriously, If I was the owner of the Tigers I'd probably sign off on the deal as well. As the articles say, short term value for long term encumbrance. Can't blame the 80 something year old owner for wanting to make sure they were in contention this year. With Vic going down, it's the only move they could have made at this point in the off season to do
that. The offense will be among the best, and it will have to be to make up for what they'll lose in defense and on the basepaths. Probably should add some pitching, though. DC suggests they should've spent the money on Wilson and Reyes, but whose to say they didn't seek out their services? Just because the money adds up, doesn't mean it would just fall into place.

And as always, Scott Boras is that dude. Doubt there were any teams out there even offering 8 year deals, but this dude somehow creates leverage, and proceeds to eat another GM alive at the negotiating table to the tune of 9/214. Like a damn boss.

abovelegit1 · Jan 24, 2012

Well damn. And they wonder why Detroit is bankrupt..

But seriously, If I was the owner of the Tigers I'd probably sign off on the deal as well. As the articles say, short term value for long term encumbrance. Can't blame the 80 something year old owner for wanting to make sure they were in contention this year. With Vic going down, it's the only move they could have made at this point in the off season to do
that. The offense will be among the best, and it will have to be to make up for what they'll lose in defense and on the basepaths. Probably should add some pitching, though. DC suggests they should've spent the money on Wilson and Reyes, but whose to say they didn't seek out their services? Just because the money adds up, doesn't mean it would just fall into place.

And as always, Scott Boras is that dude. Doubt there were any teams out there even offering 8 year deals, but this dude somehow creates leverage, and proceeds to eat another GM alive at the negotiating table to the tune of 9/214. Like a damn boss.

proshares · Jan 24, 2012

Originally Posted by MFr3shM

way too much money for Prince imo who knows how much weight he is going to gain.

Tigers should have just forked up more money and signed Pujols if they can spend over 200 million

The thing is, he's not even unhealthy. He's been a vegan for a while now. Just a really big dude. I don't think it's the fact that he's going to gain a lot more weight but just the way his body is now doesn't bode well as it is.

proshares · Jan 24, 2012

Originally Posted by MFr3shM

way too much money for Prince imo who knows how much weight he is going to gain.

Tigers should have just forked up more money and signed Pujols if they can spend over 200 million

The thing is, he's not even unhealthy. He's been a vegan for a while now. Just a really big dude. I don't think it's the fact that he's going to gain a lot more weight but just the way his body is now doesn't bode well as it is.

midwestrzn458 · Jan 24, 2012

Let that boy eat. Would love to see Tigers win World Series with him. Still mad at 2006.HA

midwestrzn458 · Jan 24, 2012

Let that boy eat. Would love to see Tigers win World Series with him. Still mad at 2006.HA

wildkycat · Jan 24, 2012

Originally Posted by 23ska909red02

Pujols to my Angels

Fielder to the Tigers

winner: the NL Central

Braun out 50 games.
Good riddance.

wildkycat · Jan 24, 2012

Originally Posted by 23ska909red02

Pujols to my Angels

Fielder to the Tigers

winner: the NL Central

Braun out 50 games.
Good riddance.

jpzx · Jan 24, 2012

Originally Posted by 23ska909red02

Fielder to the Tigers

jpzx · Jan 24, 2012

Originally Posted by 23ska909red02

Fielder to the Tigers

dacomeup · Jan 25, 2012

Originally Posted by 23ska909red02

Pujols to my Angels

Fielder to the Tigers

winner: the NL Central Cincinnati Reds

Votto is going to get $250mill.. easily.

dacomeup · Jan 25, 2012

Originally Posted by 23ska909red02

Pujols to my Angels

Fielder to the Tigers

winner: the NL Central Cincinnati Reds

Votto is going to get $250mill.. easily.

proshares · Jan 25, 2012

The ripple effects of Fielder's deal.

Spoiler [+]

Executives host exhaustive meetings of scouts and evaluators to discuss big-picture visions and make long-term plans. But the two biggest deals of this winter have all the appearance of half-billion dollar impulse buys -- which is an owner's prerogative.

Within a span of 36 hours, the Los Angeles Angels put together a $246 million offer for Albert Pujols. Similarly, the Detroit Tigers reacted to a season-ending knee injury to Victor Martinez by handing out the fourth-biggest contract ever to Prince Fielder. What the Tigers did is like fixing a blown tire by buying a Hummer with monster-truck wheels.

When deals of this size are made, there are many ripple effects:

1. Detroit's long-term payroll obligations

Tigers owner Mike Ilitch is 82 years old, and he is the worthy heir to George Steinbrenner as The Owner Most Likely To Pay For A Championship. He's writing the Fielder checks, and the dollars and cents don't have to make sense to anybody but him. But if there is a time in the next three or four years when Ilitch isn't making the decisions, the Tigers could get crushed under the weight of their enormous payroll bubble. Most of the rust belt teams have payrolls in the range of $60 million to $90 million, and because of Ilitch's desire to win, the Tigers have typically committed anywhere from $110 million to $140 million.

They owe Miguel Cabrera $86 million for the next four seasons, and Justin Verlander is under contract for three more seasons at $20 million annually. We haven't seen the details of Fielder's deal yet, but it stands to reason that the Tigers will be committed to paying these three players about $65 million a year for the foreseeable future.

This deal makes sense for the Tigers in 2012 but not beyond, writes Drew Sharp. It could be boom then bust, writes Lynn Henning.

2. The man under the most pressure in Detroit: The official scorer

It's a statement of fact that Fielder is among the best power hitters in the game, and maybe is the best left-handed power hitter. But it's also taken as fact among scouts that Fielder is a subpar first baseman who works at defense but is simply not deft at handling anything in the dirt -- short-hops on throws or ground balls.

And if Cabrera is correct in his assertion that he is moving to third base -- and telling him he isn't playing that position could become a massive political problem for Detroit -- then the Tigers would field some of the sport's worst defenders in at least three of four infield positions -- first base, shortstop and third base. Yes, Cabrera came up through the minors as a shortstop and third baseman, but that was 60-70 pounds ago.

Generally, baseball executives have been veering toward increased emphasis on run prevention, and the Tigers' decision to sign Fielder takes this in the opposite direction. This may not be as big of a deal when Verlander pitches because of his ability to get through jams with strikeouts, but for someone like Rick Porcello -- who relies on defense, with the 14th-highest groundball ratio in the majors -- it could be a recurring problem.

Detroit's lineup options could be difficult, but they are unlimited, writes John Lowe.

3. The market was just re-set, again

Executives with other teams were shocked by the enormity of the Fielder contract because it appeared that agent Scott Boras was boxed in by a lukewarm market. The Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees weren't involved in the bidding, the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets weren't in position to bid, and the Texas Rangers, Washington Nationals and Chicago Cubs all seemed to have the same attitude about Fielder: They liked him but weren't excited about committing to an eight- or nine-year deal.

But in the end, Fielder got the fourth-biggest contract in history and within minutes after the deal was announced, some officials began speculating about how this will impact the asking price of the next great slugger who may hit the market, Joey Votto. "He's a much better defender than Fielder, he'll age better, so what's he going to get -- $250 million? $300 million?" asked one general manager.

4. Scott Boras wins, again

It hasn't been an easy winter for the sport's most prominent agent, who has seen the market for Edwin Jackson disappear and who wound up getting a one-year deal for Ryan Madson rather than the four years that he had asked for. But some rival agents and general managers spoke with amazement about Boras' ability to get Fielder such an enormous contract. "He pulled it out," said one GM. "This was like Matt Holliday's negotiations all over again."

5. The Nationals stand pat

All along, there seemed to be a gap between what rivals thought the Nationals' interest in Fielder would be and what it actually was. After trading for Gio Gonzalez, Washington was content with going to spring training with Adam LaRoche as its first baseman. "I think Scott's keeping us in this for leverage," said one club official.

Privately, some decision-makers in the organization expressed doubts about making a long-term investment in Fielder, especially in light of how bad the Jayson Werth deal may turn out to be.

6. The Rangers stand pat

Texas still has an Alex Rodriguez hangover -- there are some in the organization who clearly remember the impact that one onerous contract can have on the rest of the payroll and decision-making. So while the Rangers were willing to discuss something creative with Fielder, they weren't inspired to invest $200 million in a player who they believe is best-suited to be a DH.

Right now, the highest-paid DH is David Ortiz, who could make $16 million at most in the upcoming season. "We don't think [Fielder] is going to be a first baseman for the duration of his next contract," one club evaluator said during the process. "Why pay that much money for a one-dimensional player?"

7. The American League Central pitchers and managers have a problem

It sounds as if the Tigers are leaning toward batting Cabrera in the No. 3 spot and Fielder No. 4, but Jim Leyland could always reverse that. The bottom line is that Detroit now has back-to-back hitters who will force opponents to try to match up against a lineup that could look like this in 2012:

[h4]Detroit's new 1-2 punch[/h4]
Where Prince Fielder and Miguel Cabrera rank in MLB since 2007.
[table][tr][th=""]
Stat
[/th][th=""]
Fielder
[/th][th=""]
Cabrera
[/th][/tr][tr][td]
HR
[/td][td]
2nd
[/td][td]
5th
[/td][/tr][tr][td]
RBI
[/td][td]
5th
[/td][td]
2nd
[/td][/tr][tr][td]
OPS
[/td][td]
4th
[/td][td]
2nd
[/td][/tr][tr][td]
wOBA <<
[/td][td]
7th
[/td][td]
2nd
[/td][/tr][tr][td]>> Weighted On Base Average (a stat scaled to on-base percentage, that combines a player's ability to reach base and hit for power)[/td][/tr][/table]

CF Austin Jackson (R)
RF Brennan Boesch (L)
DH/3B Cabrera (R)
1B Fielder (L)
LF Delmon Young (R)
C Alex Avila (L)
SS Jhonny Peralta (R)
2B Ryan Raburn/Ramon Santiago
3B/DH Brandon Inge/Don Kelly

If the left-handed hitting Boesch hits second, then managers will often call on a right-handed reliever to face Cabrera and then may need a lefty for Fielder. There will probably be more matchup relievers used against the Tigers than against any other team next season.

Detroit had one of the best offenses in the majors last season, and with Fielder essentially replacing Martinez, the Tigers' lineup figures to be even better.

8. Victor Martinez: Does he have a future with the Tigers?

For the moment, let's give Cabrera the benefit of the doubt. He's an exceptional athlete, and maybe he'll be motivated by the challenge (as Pablo Sandoval was) and will lose 30 or 40 pounds and become a serviceable third baseman.

But if it doesn't happen, it's hard to imagine how Martinez would fit in after he comes back from his knee injury. His days as a catcher are pretty much over, and if Cabrera can't play third base, he certainly can't play left field and would have to be the DH. This might force the Tigers to unload Martinez, who is owed $26 million in the next couple of seasons.

Fielder used to follow the team as a kid.

The Tigers are stocking up for a title run, writes Tyler Kepner. They're paying a king's ransom for Fielder, writes Mitch Albom. This is a Prince of a deal, writes Bob Wojnowski.

LaRoche says he was not bothered by the Fielder rumors. The Nationals are still set at first base, writes Amanda Comak.

A healthy Josh Hamilton is worth more than Fielder, writes Gil LeBreton.

The Seattle Mariners are now gambling on youth, writes Larry Stone.

Milwaukee Brewers GM Doug Melvin was classy in the aftermath of the news and doesn't hold any kind of a grudge.

From Elias: Cecil Fielder, Prince's father, led Detroit in home runs in five of his seven years with the franchise. The only father and son tandem in major league history who each led a team in home runs in a season is Bobby and Barry Bonds, who turned that trick for the Giants. Bobby Bonds ranked first for San Francisco in homers three times in the 1970s, while Barry Bonds did so 13 times from 1993 to 2007.

[h4]Detroit's 2011 offense[/h4]
How the Tigers' offense ranked in the AL last season.
[table][tr][th=""]
Stat
[/th][th=""]
No.
[/th][th=""]
Rank
[/th][/tr][tr][td]
Runs
[/td][td]
787
[/td][td]
4th
[/td][/tr][tr][td]
Team BA
[/td][td]
.277
[/td][td]
3rd
[/td][/tr][tr][td]
OPS
[/td][td]
.773
[/td][td]
4th
[/td][/tr][tr][td]
HR
[/td][td]
169
[/td][td]
7th
[/td][/tr][/table]

The Tigers' offense was already pretty good without Fielder (see chart), though there was a hole in the lineup with the season-ending injury to Martinez.
[h3]Notables[/h3]
• The San Francisco Giants worked out a two-year deal with Tim Lincecum. This seems to suit both sides. The Giants have always had a little reluctance to invest in the diminutive Lincecum, and Lincecum doesn't seem to know exactly how long he wants to play. This doesn't preclude the possibility that Lincecum will remain with the Giants for the long haul, his agent says.

One spin-off of this deal: It's another reason for Cole Hamels to fully expect he can get a five- or six-year deal for something in the range of $20 million to $24 million a year when he becomes a free agent next fall.

• The Toronto Blue Jays signed Francisco Cordero, as Richard Griffin writes.

[h4]Francisco Cordero[/h4]
Cordero in the last three seasons on two-strike fastballs.
[table][tr][th=""]
Season
[/th][th=""]
Pitches
[/th][th=""]
K's
[/th][th=""]
Putaway Rate
[/th][th=""]
Avg Velo
[/th][/tr][tr][td]
2009
[/td][td]
216
[/td][td]
37
[/td][td]
17.1%
[/td][td]
95 MPH
[/td][/tr][tr][td]
2010
[/td][td]
259
[/td][td]
36
[/td][td]
13.9%
[/td][td]
95 MPH
[/td][/tr][tr][td]
2011
[/td][td]
122
[/td][td]
13
[/td][td]
10.7%
[/td][td]
93 MPH
[/td][/tr][/table]

From Mark Simon of ESPN Research: Wondering why Cordero got only a one-year, $4.5 million deal? Here's a look at the last three seasons to show the declining trend in his ability to finish hitters with his two-strike fastball (see chart).

• The Dodgers need to sign Clayton Kershaw to a long-term deal, writes Bill Plaschke.
[h3]Moves, deals and decisions[/h3]
1. The Blue Jays have locked up Brandon Morrow for three more years, as Bob Elliott writes.

2. The Miami Marlins are generally regarded as the favorites for Yoenis Cespedes, whenever the bidding begins. And a week ago, the Nationals were regarded as the favorites to sign Fielder.

3. Carlos Pena says he has another chapter to write with the Tampa Bay Rays.

4. Koji Uehara turned down a deal to the Blue Jays, writes Gerry Fraley.

5. Selling the Dodgers to Frank McCourt was a really bad idea, says a former Dodgers owner.

6. The Philadelphia Phillies will give Domonic Brown a look. Bottom line: There is no room for him unless someone gets hurt or badly underperforms.

7. Wilson Betemit got a two-year deal. It's a little surprising, given Betemit's handful of at-bats in the postseason when he looked like he couldn't see the ball.

Rising prospects from winter ball.

Spoiler [+]

Winter leagues can serve a variety of purposes. Sometimes players are sent there to get extra playing time due to injuries, sometimes players are sent there to be showcased, and sometimes players go on their own to places like Venezuela and the Dominican Republic to earn a little extra cash.

While the small samples and inconsistent competition levels can produce dangerous assumptions, there are still plenty of players who have seen their stock rise during this offseason due to a combination of performance and scouting reports.

Here's a look at 10 of them:

[h3]Jesus Aguilar, 1B, Cleveland Indians[/h3]

In a system desperate for prospects, Aguilar made some noise by slugging 23 home runs across Cleveland's two A-level clubs. But as a 240-plus pound bat-only player, scouts needed to see him do it at the upper levels before they believe.

That will have to wait until the regular season, but the 21-year-old gave evaluators a two-headed preview of things to come by hitting .339 with three home runs in 16 Arizona Fall League games. Aguilar followed that up with an equally impressive showing in his native country, Venezuela. If he can carry the momentum into the regular season, he'll be on more radars.

[h3]Nolan Arenado, 3B, Colorado Rockies[/h3]

Coming off a year where he led the minor leagues with 122 RBIs while batting .298/.349/.497 at High-A Modesto, it would be hard for Arenado to up his stock much. But the 2009 second-round pick did just that by earning Arizona Fall League MVP honors, hitting .388/.423/.636 in 29 games.

However, it's not his bat that surprises scouts as much as his glove, as he's improved his conditioning and worked hard on his defense, transforming from a player most thought would move to first to one who can stick at the hot corner. The Ian Stewart trade cleared his path to Colorado, which could be complete by the end of the season.

[h3]Christian Bethancourt, C, Atlanta Braves[/h3]

Bethancourt is one of the best defensive catchers in the game, if not the best. His arm is a pure 80 with one scout reporting a pop time of 1.68, the best he's ever recorded in his decade-plus of work. Offensively, the 20-year-old Panamanian has been a mixed bag, hitting for a decent average but showing little in the way of power or patience.

The approach still needs work, but after hitting five home runs in 72 Arizona Fall League at-bats, there's hope that the raw power might come around, and the Braves hope he can show enough this spring to earn a Double-A assignment.

[h3]Robbie Grossman, OF, Pittsburgh Pirates[/h3]

Grossman had a breakout year in 2011, batting .294/.418/.451 for High-A Bradenton while leading the minor leagues in both runs (127) and walks (104). Those numbers also came in his second year in the Florida State League, and repeating a level is one of the biggest red flags there can be among scouts.

While the Arizona Fall League produces inflated numbers, Grossman's .375/.472/.625 line there left evaluators much more comfortable with his future and continued success at Double-A in 2012 could land him in Pittsburgh the following year.

[h3]Danny Hultzen, LHP, Seattle Mariners[/h3]

The second-overall pick in the 2011 draft did not help his stock as much as he accelerated his timetable. Always seen as a quick mover, Hultzen signed too late to make an official debut, but he put up a 1.40 ERA in six starts while getting thrown to the wolves in the Arizona Fall League.

Seattle just traded a potential star-level starter in Michael Pineda, and the Mariners feel Hultzen could be ready to audition for the role by September, if not earlier.

[h3]Bryan LaHair, 1B, Chicago Cubs[/h3]

LaHair has gone from a 4A hitter to one scouts believe in. After being one of the best hitters in the minors -- batting .331/.405/.664 for Triple-A Iowa -- he was impressive enough in an end-of-season stint with the Cubs that he's been handed the first base job even after the acquisition of Anthony Rizzo.

With things finally lining up for LaHair, he played this winter in Venezuela and dominated the league, hitting 15 home runs in 169 at-bats while drawing nine intentional walks. Just as importantly, he spent some time in left field, hoping to prove that when Rizzo is ready, he'll be able to move, as opposed to just fade away.

[h3]Wil Myers, OF, Kansas City Royals[/h3]

Myers entered the 2011 season as one of the brightest young hitters in the minors, but nothing went right for him. He suffered a knee laceration early in the season, which later developed an infection, and was just never himself while finishing his season at Double-A Northwest Arkansas with an uninspiring .254/.353/.393.

Scouts were willing to give him somewhat of a mulligan, but they became convinced when they saw the player they were looking for all year in the Arizona Fall League. With a big league ready approach and electric bat speed, Myers hit .360/.481/.674 in 23 games. And while it was just six weeks, it left scouts believing he could reach the big leagues by September at the latest.

[h3]Mike Olt, 3B, Texas Rangers[/h3]

Olt was in the midst of a breakout season, batting .286/.395/.508 in a tough park at High-A Myrtle Beach when he broke his collarbone in a home plate collision. Now 54 games does not a breakout make, so after a rusty return to finish the regular season, he picked up where he left off by leading the Arizona Fall League with 13 home runs in just 106 at-bats while batting .349/.433/.764.

He's a plus defender at third base as well. His overall future is bright, but with Adrian Beltre entrenched at the position in the big leagues, Olt's future with Texas is a bit muddled.

[h3]Hector Sanchez, C, San Francisco Giants[/h3]

Sanchez was having a good year at High-A San Jose to begin the 2011 season, but everything changed when Buster Posey suffered a season-ending knee injury. Sanchez was rushed through the system and even spent a brief time in the big leagues, as the Giants scrambled for anyone who could play the position and hit.

As good as he was in the California League, his Triple-A line was a lackluster .261/.315/.340. While he's scheduled to return there in 2012, Sanchez showed that he's more than just a California League mirage with a .339/.402/.548 line in 51 games for La Guaira in his native Venezuela, as the power he showed in San Jose played in a much more difficult environment.

[h3]Tanner Scheppers, RHP, Rangers[/h3]

Scheppers hasn't been the same pitcher since the Rangers briefly dabbled with making him a starter, but he showed signs of returning to his old self in Venezuela this winter.With a classic two-pitch mix of a well above-average fastball and power breaker, Scheppers has late innings potential.

While he walked 13 in 13 innings for Magallanes, he also limited batters to a 5-for-41 (.122) mark with 16 strikeouts. That's half of a major step forward for Scheppers, and the other half could land him in Texas in short order.

Rumors.

Spoiler [+]

http://[h3]What is Votto worth?[/h3]
10:49AM ET

[h5]Joey Votto | Reds [/h5]

A few years ago, Cy Young Award winners Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux came to the conclusion that chicks did the longball. So do owners in desperate search of a World Series title, as the Tigers' Mike Ilitch demonstrated with his willingness to spend $214 million to Prince Fielder.

Who will be the next slugger to cash in after Albert Pujols ($240 million) and Fielder?

Some officials began speculating about how this will impact the asking price of Cincinnati's Joey Votto, writes ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney in Wednesday's column. "He's a much better defender than Fielder, he'll age better, so what's he going to get -- $250 million? $300 million?" asked one general manager.

Votto will make $9.5 million this season and $17 million in 2013 before reaching free agency.

- Doug Mittler

http://[h3]Oswalt the best of the rest[/h3]
10:47AM ET

[h5]Roy Oswalt | Phillies [/h5]

The last of the big-ticket free agents came off the board Tuesday when Prince Fielder landed in Detroit. The signing will likely have little impact on the status of Roy Oswalt, given that the Tigers were believed to be only on the fringe of the Oswalt market as of last weekend.

The Red Sox would appear to the favorite for Oswalt, who joins Edwin Jackson as the top free agents still available. Gordon Edes of ESPNBoston.com wrote a few days ago that money saved on the trade of Marco Scutaro to Colorado will now be used by Boston on a "full-court press" to sign Oswalt.

A trip to Boston may not be a slam dunk. Peter Gammons reports two general managers think Oswalt wants to land with the Texas Rangers while another says he could land in St. Louis.

Oswalt's asking price has dropped substantially since the start of the free agent season, and he is willing to settle for a one-year deal, which could increase the number of suitors.

- Doug Mittler

http://[h3]Uehara nixes deal to Jays[/h3]
10:01AM ET

[h5]Koji Uehara | Rangers | Interested: Orioles?, Blue Jays? [/h5]

The Toronto Blue Jays were interested in working out a deal with the Texas Rangers for Koji Uehara, but the reliever used his limited no-trade clause to nix the deal, says Richard Durrett of ESPNDallas.com.

The Rangers were interested in shedding at least part of Uehara's $4 million salary. Uehara's decision prompted the Jays to quickly finalize a deal for Francisco Cordero.

Gerry Fraley of the Dallas Morning News says Baltimore remains interested in Uehara, who kept his home in the Maryland area after the Orioles sent him to the Rangers last summer.

- Doug Mittler

http://[h3]Cabrera to the hot corner[/h3]
9:44AM ET

[h5]Miguel Cabrera | Tigers [/h5]

The Detroit Tigers' blockbuster deal for Prince Fielder came as a surprise to many, but not to Miguel Cabrera.

MLB.com's Jason Beck reports Tigers officials approached Cabrera when he was in town last week to get his thoughts on Fielder as an option, and Cabrera told them he was on board with it.

The plan for now is to move Cabrera across the diamond to third base, his primary position with the Marlins before heading to Motown a few years ago. There are legitimate concerns as to how Cabrera will handle third base, but the Tigers are paying him big bucks for his bat, and not his glove.

Is Cabrera a major step down defensively at the hot corner? Tigers third basemen made 22 errors last season, the third most in the AL.

ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney has more on potenial fielding issues in Detroit now that Fielder is on board:

- Doug Mittler

[h5]Buster Olney[/h5]
Defensive woes in Detroit

"It's a statement of fact that Fielder is among the best power hitters in the game, and maybe is the best left-handed power hitter. But it's also taken as fact among scouts that Fielder is a subpar first baseman who works at defense but is simply not deft at handling anything in the dirt -- short-hops on throws or ground balls. And if Miguel Cabrera is correct in his assertion that he is moving to third base -- and telling him he isn't playing that position could become a massive political problem for Detroit -- then the Tigers would field some of the sport's worst defenders in at least three of four infield positions -- first base, shortstop and third base. Yes, Cabrera came up through the minors as a shortstop and third baseman, but that was 60-70 pounds ago. Generally, baseball executives have been veering toward increased emphasis on run prevention, and the Tigers' decision to sign Fielder takes this in the opposite direction."

http://[h3]Giants could bid on Theriot[/h3]
9:35AM ET

[h5]Ryan Theriot | Cardinals [/h5]

UPDATE: The Giants, who could use some additional depth at shortstop behind Brandon Crawford, would consider adding a major-league contract at a bargain price, says Henry Schulman. That could put San Francisco in the running for Theriot, particularly if his price drops.

- Doug Mittler

--

The Cincinnati Reds have had an eventful offseason, and the heavy lifting appears to have been completed with last week's signing of Ryan Ludwick.

John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer says the Reds still have a little payroll flexibility and could sign veteran infielder Ryan Theriot. The Reds could use Theriot as insurance at shortstop behind Zack Cozart.

Earlier in the offseason, Theriot was linked to the Braves, who are looking for a one-year rental to support prospect Tyler Pastornicky.

- Doug Mittler

http://[h3]Long-term deal for Kershaw?[/h3]
9:20AM ET

[h5]Clayton Kershaw | Dodgers [/h5]

The San Francisco Giants were so reluctant to endure two potential years of arbitration with Tim Lincecum that they agreed to give him a two-year deal worth $40.5 million.

Let that be a lesson to the Los Angeles Dodgers as they approach an arbitration hearing with Clayton Kershaw, writes Bill Plaschke of the Los Angeles Times.

Last week, Kershaw submitted an arbitration request of $10 million, while the Dodgers countered at $6.5 million. Plaschke says Kershaw is probably going to lose, given his asking for a salary higher than any that has ever been awarded to a starting pitcher in his first or second year of arbitration.

Given Kershaw's value to the organization, Plaschke says it makes perfect sense for the Dodgers to work out a long-term deal with the Cy Young Award winner, since nothing good can come out of an arbitration hearing.

- Doug Mittler

http://[h3]Coghlan's status[/h3]
9:04AM ET

[h5]Chris Coghlan | Marlins [/h5]

The Miami Marlins may have to look a little bit deeper for centerfield help if Chris Coghlan's knee isn't ready to go for the season. Joe Frisaro writes Tuesday that the converted infielder had his knee scoped in November.

That's the same knee that was surgically repaired in August of 2010, and the 26-year-old has fought through some shoulder issues, as well.

Emilio Bonifacio is second on the depth chart behind Coghlan in center, suggesting the Marlins could be in the market for help at the position. They have been among the more oft-mentioned clubs in the Yoenis Cespedes sweepstakes, and the Cuban is a natural centerfielder.

Free agents include Rick Ankiel and Corey Patterson, and potential trade targets could include B.J. Upton of the Rays and Adam Jones of the Baltimore Orioles. It appears the Marlins are very serious about Cespedes, however, so until that situation plays out we probably shouldn't expect a major trade for an outfielder.

Frisaro does note that the Marlins expect Coghlan to be ready for spring training.

- Jason A. Churchill

http://[h3]Angels serious about Ayala?[/h3]
8:25AM ET

[h5]Luis Ayala | Yankees | Interested: Angels? [/h5]

The Los Angeles Angels were one of the teams believed to be in serious pursuit of reliever Francisco Cordero, who is now headed to Toronto, reports ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick.

While the Angels publicly state that they are content with Jordan Walden as their closer, the pursuit of Cordero indicates the Halos, at the very least, want some extra bullpen insurance.

The Angels could step up their efforts to land free agent Luis Ayala, who was already on the club's radar, MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez reported earlier this week.

The 34-year-old Ayala had a big bounceback season with the Yankees in 2011, posting a 2.09 ERA and 1.268 WHIP in 56 innings (52 appearances). Other options for the Halos could include Brad Lidge, Scott Linebrink and Mike Gonzalez.

- Doug Mittler

http://[h3]Cespedes closer to deal?[/h3]
8:01AM ET

[img]http://a.espncdn.com/i/teamlogos/leagues/lrg/trans/mlb.gif[/img]
[h5]Clubs linked to Cespedes[/h5]

Yoenis Cespedes moved a step closer to finding a major league home Tuesday, even if the number of interested suitors may have dropped by one.

The agent for Cespedes said Tuesday the Cuban outfielder has Detroit Tigers were believed to have strong interest in Cespedes, but the commitment of $214 million to free agent Prince Fielder could alter that equation, says James Schmel of MLive.com.

About a dozen teams have been linked to Cespedes as one time or another, and Keen Rosenthal tweeted Monday that the Tigers, Marlins and Cubs had been the most aggressive in their pursuit. The bidding for Cespedes could start at $30 million and some baseball people say it could easily top $60 million.

Mike Berardino wrote in Tuesday's Sun-Sentinel that Cespedes would be an excellent fit in Miami, but the Marlins may be forced to bow out if the bidding gets too high, given they already have made $200 million in commitments to free agent acquisitions this winter.

- Doug Mittler

http://[h3]Nats turn attention to Zimmerman?[/h3]
7:37AM ET

[h5]Ryan Zimmerman | Nationals [/h5]

As late as Tuesday morning, the Washington Nationals were believed to be the favorite, if not the frontrunner, in the race to sign Prince Fielder. Now that Scott Boras has found $214 million for this client in Detroit, the Nats have more wiggle room financially.

The Nats can turn their attention to working out a long-term deal with star third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, a free agent after the 2013 season. "I don't think this really affects me one way or another," Zimmerman tells Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post. "We've kind of talked the whole time and agreed both sides would be creative."

Zimmerman will make $12 million this season and $14 million in 2013. According to Ken Rosenthal, Zimmerman has informed the Nationals of the exact terms he would accept long-term.

A six-year extension would put Zimmerman under contract through 2019. Rosenthal notes that only four players are under contract through 2019 or beyond -- Fielder, Troy Tulowitzki, Ryan Braun and Albert Pujols.

- Doug Mittler

http://[h3]What's next for Rangers?[/h3]
7:09AM ET

[h5]Texas Rangers [/h5]

The Texas Rangers ultimately passed on making a winning offer to Prince Fielder, which suggests they will again go with a combination of players at first base, likely including Mike Napoli, when he isn't catching, Mitch Moreland and Michael Young.

Furthermore, the Rangers could continue to focus on pitching and locking up their arbitration-eligible players, and perhaps Josh Hamilton, too. Hamilton will hit free agency next offseason without a new deal.

With Yu Darvish in the fold and youngsters Derek Holland and Neftali Feliz in the rotation, too, the club appears set, at least as far as quality arms are concerned. Alexi Ogando could be headed back to the the bullpen, but with payroll still available the Rangers could continue to look for help in some areas.

The club could use a long-term answer in center field, though the free agent market has dried up there sans the thought that perhaps Cuban Yoenis Cespedes could man the position. The Rangers have scouted Cuban lefty Gerardo Concepcion this month, but he's a prospect that isn't likely to see the majors for at least a few years.

The Rangers may feel a little more free and clear in terms of extensions involving the likes of Hamilton, Ian Kinsler, Napoli, outfielder Nelson Cruz and shortstop Elvis Andrus with Fielder no longer a possibility.

Our Keith Law has more on the Rangers' decision to ultimately pass on Fielder:

- Jason A. Churchill

[h5]Keith Law[/h5]
Who's on First?

"I do wonder what this indicates about the Rangers' long-term plans at first base, since they don't appear to have been in that hard on Fielder or Pujols. Mitch Moreland can't be the long-term answer at first -- he's probably a platoon bat at best -- and they don't have a good first-base prospect in their upper levels, although they do have a top third-base prospect, Mike Olt, coming up behind Adrian Beltre. It's not necessary for them to upgrade at first to contend in the AL West, but it seemed like an obvious area for them to target heading into the offseason. Unless Moreland has an unexpected breakout and starts to hit left-handed pitching, it's probably their biggest untapped opportunity to add a few wins."

proshares · Jan 25, 2012