(1) Chien-Ming Wang signs with Nationals: 1-year, $2 million ($3M in incentives).
(2) Chase Utley getting faster on the bases?
(3) Russell Branyan to Indians?
(4) Johnny Damon still talking with Tigers.
(5) Geovany Soto loses 40 lbs., stops junk food.
(6) Jose Reyes back at practice, looks good.
(7) Cody Ross wins arbitration case with Marlins, will make $4.45 million in 2010.
By Ray Flowers
(1) Is Johnny Damon nearing a deal with the Tigers? White Sox and Braves still in the mix.
(2) Elijah Dukes signs 1-year deal with Nationals.
(3) Looks like Giants and Tim Lincecum will go to arbitration on Friday.
(4) Stephen Strasburg says his knee is healthy, ready to go for Nationals.
(5) Chad Qualls healthy, a sleeper closing option in 2010.
(6) Who will close for Astros – Brandon Lyon or Matt Lindstrom? You can read more about this battle at Breaking Down: Lyon/Lindstrom.
By Ray Flowers
(1) Mike Jacobs signs with Mets. Will battle Daniel Murphy and Fernando Tatis for playing time.
(2) Todd Wellemeyer joins the Giants. Likely to be used as long-man.
(3) Johnny Damon considering offers from Braves and Tigers.
(4) Jermaine Dye willing to play first base.
(5) Will Gary Sheffield continue career? Lost 15 lbs to get ready as he mulls over offers.
(6) Cardinals SS Brendan Ryan has wrist surgery. Will he be OK by Opening Day?
By Ray Flowers
(1) The Yankees sign Marcus Thames and Randy Winn.
(2) Carlos Beltran continues bickering with Mets.
(3) Ty Wigginton on the move with additions of Garret Atkins and Miguel Tejada?
(4) Why can’t Jermaine Dye find a team?
(5) Brian Giles joins Dodgers.
By Ray Flowers
(1) Orlando Cabrera signs with Reds.
(2) Willy Taveras to A’s, then designated.
(3) Johnny Damon wants to play for Tigers?
(4) Ryan Garko signs with Mariners.
(5) Jose Reyes running sprints.
(6) Orlando Hudson still undecided – Nationals, Indians, Rockies in the mix.
(7) Joe Mauer deal all rumors at this point.
By Ray Flowers
Which baseball players are in the news as we head toward the weekend? Glad you asked.
(1) Mike Wuertz re-signs with A’s. (2) Jermaine Dye turns down Cubs. (3) Orlando Hudson still negotiating with the Nationals – still. (4) Orlando Cabrera likely to sign with Reds or Rockies. (5) Justin Verlander talking 5-years with Tigers. (6) Eric Byrnes signs with Mariners. (7) Dustin McGowan’s shoulder doing well. (8) Johnny Damon still homeless.
By Ray Flowers
Around the Horn we go, and I’ll break down the following topics in today’s video.
(1) Ben Sheets still wants $8 million. (2) Chase Utley to get more time off? (3) Rick Ankiel signs with Royals. (4) Jim Thome still looking for team. (5) Carlos Delgado’s hip an issue. (6) Johnny Damon still searching. (7) Miguel Tejada to play third base for Orioles.
By Ray Flowers
* Bengie Molina re-signs with Giants, leaves Mets in trouble.
* Tim Lincecum asks for record $13 million, Giants submit $8 million.
* Felix Hernandez signs deal with Mariners for 5-years, $78 million (average of $15.6 annually).
* Johnny Damon to retire?
* Ben Sheets hits 91-92, throws some curves in 55 pitch outing for scouts.
* Jim Edmonds to return to active duty?
* Paul Lo Duca signs with Rockies.
* Carl Pavano gets $7 million from Twins.
* Dave Bush to get at least $4 million from Brewers.
* Brad Lidge says he is healthy after two surgeries.
* White Sox: Andrew Jones ($500K) says he is in great shape.
* Octavio Dotel close to signing with Pirates, could close.
* Dexter Fowler hires Scott Boras as agent.
* Robinson Tejada signs with Royals for $950K.
By Ray Flowers
I know, I know, it’s Martin Luther King day which is a holiday, and I’ve already been castigated at the Baseball Guys’ Twitter Page for being so stupid as to work on the holiday. Still, I couldn’t help myself, I just had to get a few thoughts on the page before taking the afternoon off prior to attending the San Jose Sharks game with the Calgary Flames tonight.
* Eric Byrnes wants to return to the Bay Area in 2010. Injuries have ruined his play the past two years, and he is owed $11 million in 2010. However, whoever picks him up at this point is only on the hook for the veteran minimum as the D’backs will have to foot the bill for the rest. Byrnes grew up in the Bay Area and was a Giants fan as a kid, so this would be a great story. The Giants could certainly use a solid depth outfielder with energy, and if healthy, Byrnes is just that type of guy. Will the cheap ass Giants pay the major league minimum for the guy? Hard to cry poor when the cost is that low.
* Johnny Damon continues to float in the sea of free agency with no land in sight. Apparently no one wants a guy who can hit .280 with 20 homers and 90 runs scored. Oh yeah, his agent is Scott Boras so the fact that he is asking for $197 million might have something to do with the fact that he has been cast adrift.
* Kevin Kouzmanoff will play third base most of the time this season for his new club – the Athletics. The club is looking at Eric Chavez, if healthy, to fill a utility role playing third, first, possibly some outfield, and even some shortstop. I’m not kidding, shortstop. It was his position growing up, but an aging player with a bad back – does it make sense to move him over there at this point? To read more about the Chavez situation click on Susan Slusser’s piece.
* The Nationals are a mess. Make a decision will you! They still aren’t certain what they are going to do with Cristian Guzman and Ian Desmond. Most assumed that Guzman would move to second with the younger and more athletic Desmond taking over at short. However, the Nats continue to be tied to Orlando Hudson which would almost certainly leave Guzman at short and Desmond at Triple-A to start the year.
Even more of a concern to me is that the club seems uncertain with what they are going to do in the ninth inning. Despite signing Matt Capps, there are still words coming out of Washington that even though he will get the first shot at the closers role that he is far from a lock to hold down the role. “I’d probably start with Capps and go from there,” manager Jim Riggleman said. “There are times you’re facing a ball club such as the Phillies, where they’ve got a strong left-handed lineup, that it might be Sean Burnett or Eddie Guardado, and then maybe you give it to Capps or Brian Bruney or whoever’s freshest.” Seriously Mr. Riggleman? If you go with Burnett or Guardado for any length of time your tenure as the manager in Washington will be short. Stick Capps in the ninth, use Bruney in the 8th, and save Burnett/Guardado for matchup work in the seventh and eighth. That’s a recipe for success.
* Jim Thome still can’t find a home. Odd how no AL team wants a DH who will hit 25 homers with a .365 OBP.
By Ray Flowers
In my look around baseball today I’ll discuss a myriad of topics that are in the news. (1) Who will Johnny Damon signs with? (2) Matt Kemp/Chad Billingsley agree to deals with Dodgers. (3) Adam LaRoche officially signs with D’backs at the expense of Eric Byrnes. (4) Orlando Hudson still teamless. (5) Ben Sheets and Derrick Turnbow try to convince teams they are worth signing. (6) Does Carlos Delgado have anything left? (7) Indians catching situation.
By Ray Flowers
The FSWA winner of the Best Baseball Series of 2011, BaseballGuys.com is the only source you will need for your fantasy baseball knowledge. OK, you might need other sources, but BaseballGuys.com should be on your daily list of must reads for the insights an analysis it provides on the world of baseball.
The co-host of The Drive on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio (Sirius 210, XM 87: M-F at 5-8 PM EDT), Ray has spent years squirreled away studying the inner workings of the fantasy game to the detriment of his personal life. Specializing in baseball, football and hockey, some consider him an expert in all three. Ray's work can also be found as feature writer for: Fantasy Alarm, Rotoinfo, Rotowire and Sports Illustrated.
You can contact Ray through e-mail at fantasyfandom@yahoo(dot)com or on Twitter.
