MLB.com’s Red Sox reporter Ian Browne talks about who will play short after Marco Scutaro’s departure and why Boston traded him
One option for the Red Sox is Jose Iglesias, although Boston GM Ben Cherington seemed to think that Inglesias is not quite ready yet for the big leagues:
“We really like Iggy as a long-term option for us. He’s a really good defensive player. Right now, you never say never, but right now we feel like he may benefit from more time in Triple-A. But certainly he’s part of the long-term picture of the Red Sox.”
Who do you think will be the Red Sox shortstop on opening day?
The Detroit Tigers introduced their new first baseball Prince Fielder today after finalizing a $214 million, nine-year contract.
Fielder stood with a smile and recalled his earliest memories of old Tiger Stadium, when he would hang out at the ballpark where his father hit so many massive home runs.
“For me, it was always Sparky saying I was going to pinch hit — and I really believed him,” Fielder said, referring to former manager Sparky Anderson. “I’m just glad I get to come back. It’s kind of a dream come true. I’m excited.”
It was only a little over a week ago that the city of Detroit held its collective breath when word got out that Tigers slugger Victor Martinez would miss the majority of the 2012 season because of a torn ACL in his left knee.
So much for repeating as AL Central Division champions.
Frantically, many around town began to inquire about Johnny Damon, Vlad Guerreo and Hideki Matsui. But alas, it all seemed to be in vain. Martinez was one of the Tigers’ best hitters in 2011, batting .330 with 12 home runs and 103 RBI. He contributed to the third-best offense in the majors and there just wasn’t anyone available who would be able to fill the void. Read more...(320 words, 2 images, estimated 1:17 mins reading time)
Prince Fielder just agreed to a nine year, $214 million deal with the Detroit Tigers. Wow, nice work if you can get it. You can bet Scott Boras (who may not be Dr. Evil but is JD Evil is smiling today.) The contract works out to over 23 million dollars a year. The good news is Prince will be 36ish when the contract ends, still young enough to be productive. (See Julio Franco…) The bad news is, Fielder weighs 275 pounds on a light day and 275 pound first basemen don’t age all that well. (See Cecil Fielder, Prince’s dad.) Read more...(353 words, estimated 1:25 mins reading time)
According to multiple sources the Detroit Tigers have signed free agent slugger Prince Fielder to a nine-year, $214 million contract.
I have to admit that I am surprised that a) the Tigers signed Fielder and b) that they invested so much money in him.
The first question is where does Fielder play? Will they move Miguel Cabrera back to third base or to have Fielder and Cabera share first base and DH roles?
And what happens when Victor Martinez returns next year from his season ending knee injury? Will the Tigers be able to play Fielder, Martinez and Cabrera? If they can, then that is probably the best middle order of any team in baseball. Read more...(368 words, 1 image, estimated 1:28 mins reading time)
It’s never easy to walk away from the game of baseball. It’s that much harder to do so when you have to leave behind a team and a city where you won five World Series titles.
On Tuesday, with tears in his eyes, New York Yankees catcher Jorge Posada announced that he was retiring from the game he loved.
After a somewhat tumultuous 2011 season where Posada struggled with the decrease in playing time, it became apparent that the Yankees were not going to re-sign the 40-year-old. And although there were rumors that Posada would join another team, he already new that he was a Yankee for life. Read more...(314 words, 2 images, estimated 1:15 mins reading time)
Apparently, Tim Lincecum thinks he’s worth more than $100 million.
According to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, the San Francisco Giants‘ ace has rejected an offer from the Giants believed to be five years and $100 million-plus. They’re now reportedly focusing on a deal of one or two years for Lincecum.
When the two sides submitted their arbitration figures last week, Lincecum requested $21.5 million for 2012; the Giants countered with $17 million (the highest arbitration offer in history).
There is no doubt that Lincecum, a two-time Cy Young award winner, is one of the dominant pitchers in Major League Baseball. You don’t accumulate 1,127 strikeouts over five seasons on accident. However, is he really worth more than $20 million a season? Read more...(134 words, 2 images, estimated 32 secs reading time)
Just when you thought Manny Ramirez was out of baseball for good, everyone’s favorite HGH juicing slugger is back on the MLB radar.
Apparently, the 39-year-old has been working out in Miami since December and has plans to have open workout sessions for clubs interested in his “services” at the end of January.
They’ll be coming out in droves, I’m sure.
Interestingly enough, though, it is being reported that there are in fact teams who are considering giving Man-Ram a contract. A source told ESPNDeportesLosAngeles.com that the Oakland Athletics are “very interested” in possibly making Ramirez their designated hitter next season.
“The Orioles and Blue Jays saw Manny work and Baltimore liked what it saw, but Oakland has been the team that has expressed the most interest, even before having him work out,” the source said. Read more...(217 words, 1 image, estimated 52 secs reading time)
The Texas Rangers have signed pitcher Yu Darvish to a six-year, $60 million contract. Add in the $51.7 million the Rangers paid for exclusive negotiating rights just to talk to him, and the cost for someone who has never thrown a pitch in Major League Baseball is a mind blowing $111.7 million
I just understand why the Rangers would pay so much for an unproven commodity when the let C.J. Wilson go to their biggest divisional rivals, the Los Angeles Angels‘ as a free agent.
Wilson, who was 16-7 with a 2.94 ERA for the Rangers last season, signed for a five-year, $77.5 million deal with the Angels. So the Angels get an All-Star, who led the league with 34 starts last season for $35m and one less year than the Rangers paid for Darvish. Can someone explain that to me? Read more...(328 words, 1 image, estimated 1:19 mins reading time)
Hey, things have been crazy lately and the Mets have been super duper quiet but I wanted to touch on a few bases.
First off, on a Mets note (and of course it’s a sad one) their Hall of Fame catcher (even if he is wearing an Expos hat) Gary Carter has taken a turn for the worse in his battle against cancer. Carter was a great team leader and a strong man, if anybody can win a battle against brain tumors it is him. I send my best wishes to him and his family. With my mother’s recent passing from myeloma I know how nasty cancer can be. Hang in there Mr. Carter! Read more...(327 words, estimated 1:18 mins reading time)
The 
