It's an exciting time to be a Red Sox fan, for sure. The additions of Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford, Bobby Jenks and Dan Wheeler make us wish Spring Training started yesterday. In the meantime, the hot stove continues to throw changeups to Major League Baseball's competitive landscape. For example, the American League bid farewell to Cliff Lee and Zach Greinke and welcomed Adrian Gonzalez and Adam Dunn. The AL East was shaken up by the Red Sox' blockbuster acquisitions, the Yankees missing out on Cliff Lee, the Blue Jays getting a new manager (former Red Sox pitching coach John Farrell), and the Rays losing several of their stars to free agency (two of whom were snapped up by the Red Sox). In the Central, the Tigers got V-Mart, re-signed Inge, and signed Joaquin Benoit (is it Benoit in Detroit or Ben-wah in Detrwah?). The White Sox got Adam Dunn and Jesse Crain and the Twins imported Nishioka from Japan. The most active team in the West has been the A's, who signed Hideki Matsui, traded for Josh Willingham and David DeJesus, and re-signed Rich Harden.
In the NL, the Phillies won the Cliff Lee sweepstakes and added a fourth ace to their already obscenely loaded rotation. The Padres lost Gonzalez, but gained three prospects in Anthony Rizzo, Casey Kelly, and Reymond Fuentes, a utility guy in Eric Patterson, a shortstop in Jason Bartlett, and a second baseman in Orlando Hudson. The Brewers got Greinke and Shaun Marcum in trades. The Nationals ponied up big-time for Jayson Werth and added Rick Ankiel. The Marlins signed Javier Vazquez, who is a different pitcher in the NL than he is in the AL, and extended Ricky Nolasco. The Cubs got Kerry Wood back.
Still up for grabs in this hot stove season are Adrian Beltre, who's looking for a contract for at least 6 years with a full "Don't Touch My Head" clause, former Rays closer Rafael Soriano, Carl Pavano, Brian Fuentes, Grant Balfour, Brandon Webb, Adam LaRoche and Derrek Lee, among others. Beltre has seen the competition for his services drop considerably once the Red Sox got Gonzalez and he said "No way" to the A's. Soriano and Fuentes could require a 3-year commitment. Adam LaRoche isn't so sure about joining the O's. Webb has piqued the Rangers' and Cubs' interest. No Christmas vacation for major league GMs, that's for sure!
No comments:
Post a Comment