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No, it isn't a very happy time in Southern California. SoCal fans just watched as the Lakers and Clippers got bounced out of the NBA playoffs in the first round, while the Dodgers and Angels have looked like they might not even make the playoffs. ...

Blog | May 08, 2013

During spring training, it's not easy to recognize which performances and numbers are legit and which are merely mirages. Spring numbers are never a truly accurate barometer of what to expect from a player during the season. Likewise, early-season nu...

Blog | April 19, 2013

During spring training, players aren't the only ones trying to fine-tune things. General managers must use the time to evaluate not only their players but their field staff, too. It's the time to get things done, especially things such as contract ne...

Blog | February 14, 2013

It was an active offseason that witnessed the trade of a Cy Young Award winner, several large, multiteam trades and an inflated free-agent market. So to evaluate and rank the offseason of all 30 teams, I took into account the following factors: &...

Blog | February 12, 2013

In about a month, pitchers and catchers will be reporting for spring training, and yet several significant free agents remain unemployed. Some were even once thought to be among the best in this offseason's free agent class, but because of bad timing...

Blog | January 11, 2013

Not every team will make a trade at this week's winter meetings in Nashville, but every team could. With that in mind, let's take a look at one player (or more) who could be on the trade block this week from each of the 30 teams. American League ...

Blog | December 02, 2012

Despite my being a veteran of countless winter meetings, baseball's annual gathering still manages to surprise me. Whether it's a blockbuster trade or an out-of-the-blue free-agent signing, the winter meetings always provide a handful of happenings. ...

Blog | November 30, 2012

After the New York Mets picked up David Wright's $16 million club option for 2013 earlier this week, the club is officially on the clock. The Mets have exactly one year of control left to lock down the face of their franchise. In essence, Wright is t...

Blog | November 01, 2012

In 2004, outfielder Carlos Beltran came into the season making $9 million on a one-year contract with the Kansas City Royals. By the time 2005 spring training rolled around, he was with the New York Mets making $119 million on a seven-year contract w...

Blog | October 03, 2012

Joe Girardi is having perhaps his best season as manager of the New York Yankees, guiding them to the American League's second-best record. In Texas, Ron Washington leads the league's best team with three starting pitchers on the disabled list. Howev...

Blog | June 27, 2012

This year's All-Star Game could showcase some interesting first-time All-Stars. I offered my early All-Star picks in the National League and American Leagueand pulled from there 10 intriguing players who could be first-time All-Stars. Some are phenom...

Blog | June 09, 2012

After two months of the season, there are already some clear and obvious choices for the 2012 All-Star Game. But there are also some intriguing names as possible first-time All-Stars, too. The fans will vote the starters in; managers will pick t...

Blog | June 08, 2012

A contract never starts off "bad," per se. Obviously, a general manager signs a player to a contract with the intent that the player will help the team win, even if the GM knows the criticism over dollars and years is out there. The contract ofte...

Blog | May 04, 2012

It's only fitting that Washington Nationals prospect Bryce Harper will make his major league debut basking in Hollywood's shadow, because the 19-year-old's story is cut from a movie script. By now everyone knows his background as the baseball wun...

Blog | April 28, 2012

Earlier this week, Los Angeles Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti said he's already talked to the team's new ownership about a contract extension for outfielder Andre Ethier. At 30, Ethier is a two-time All-Star, has earned Gold Glove and Silver Sl...

Blog | April 26, 2012

In the end, the town and fans won out over the money. On Tuesday, the Cincinnati Reds signed second baseman Brandon Phillips to a six-year, $72.5 million contract extension, which will keep Phillips in the Queen City through the 2017 season and w...

Blog | April 11, 2012