The internal trade deadline

...asking price as an elite pitcher in the market, of $20 million per year or more. The Mets had the money but not the prospects. The Rays had the prospects, for sure, but not the...

Blog Entry | Conversation | December 22, 2009

Yankees only MLB team hit with tax

The New York Yankees were hit with a luxury tax of nearly $25.69 million Monday, the penalty for once again crossing the payroll threshold in baseball's collective bargaining agreement.

Defense highlights offseason moves

Coco Crisp is nearing a deal with the Oakland Athletics, according to late word from MLB Trade Rumors' Tim Dierkes. Presumably Crisp will slot into Oa...

Blog Entry | Conversation | December 20, 2009

Is Seattle Milton Bradley's last chance?

Difficult teammates come with all forms of behavior. Albert Belle was known as Mr. Freeze to the others in the Indians' clubhouse because he liked to ...

Blog Entry | Conversation | December 19, 2009

...hits the ball against the New York Mets on August 28, 2009 at...

Searching for Bobby Abreu

...tier of free agents are coming off the board. Jason Bay is deep in negotiations with the Mets, Matt Holliday is talking with the Cardinals, the Seattle Mariners definitely have more money to spend, and...

Blog Entry | Conversation | December 18, 2009

An all-decade, all-value lineup card

Erik Manning of FanGraphs pored over every performance from an MLB player between 2000 and 2009 and created the best possible 1-9 lineup of players from that period. Odd: Carlos Delgado (2000) leads off. Cool: This team would average nine runs a game.

Story | Conversation | December 18, 2009

Trading A-Gon a matter of timing

...going to be this winter, when the Padres' new ownership is trying to hold onto its ticket...the Mariners, the Angels, the Red Sox, the Mets, etc. Others are discussing it. The notion that...

Blog Entry | Conversation | December 17, 2009

A new Chuck takes on Texas

At the conclusion of the winter meetings last week, a fellow traveler introduced himself, and as we went through the security line, we started talking...

Blog Entry | Conversation | December 16, 2009

Scouts watch Cuban lefty throw

Aroldis Chapman threw a bullpen session on Tuesday in Houston in front of representatives from about 15 major league teams, according to a baseball source who attended the workout.

Nastiest pitches in baseball

Using Pitch f/x technology, we found the nastiest pitches -- and some of the worst -- in the game at the close of the decade.

Story | Conversation | December 15, 2009

Study group to examine on-field issues

Managers Tony La Russa, Jim Leyland, Joe Torre and Mike Scioscia have been selected for a committee that could recommend expanded instant replay and playoff format changes.

Multiple avenues for Philly

Dominoes fell rapidly throughout the majors Monday, with deals and trades setting up more deals or negotiations or questions. The Phillies: The prima...

Blog Entry | Conversation | December 15, 2009

Projecting a new decade of MLB stars

Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus projects the best MLB players from 2010 through 2019 (the next decade of stars). His tops include Hanley Ramirez, Justin Upton, Joe Mauer and Tim Lincecum; the list goes to 20, though, with surprises.

Story | Conversation | December 14, 2009

Slew of signings lie ahead

...meetings in early November, after early forecasts said there would be many non-tenders and free agents, new union chief Michael Weiner fired a shot across the bow in the labor wars, sort of wondering...

Blog Entry | Conversation | December 13, 2009