The true MVP of the '00s

Dave Cameron of FanGraphs explains why, as the decade draws to a close, Albert Pujols is not the game's most valuable player.

Story | Conversation | December 23, 2009

The internal trade deadline

...So in another words, the Blue Jays were left to deal with a very small field: the Yankees, Red Sox, Phillies and maybe -- maybe -- the Angels or Dodgers. Not exactly a situation that teems with...

Blog Entry | Conversation | December 22, 2009

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

Offseason notebook: Outfield shuffle

Tristan H. Cockcroft looks at the other big moves of the week beyond the Roy Halladay-Cliff Lee trade and John Lackey signing, leading with the Hideki Matsui and Mike Cameron signings.

Searching for Bobby Abreu

It wasn't until Feb. 12 that Bobby Abreu signed last winter, after waiting and waiting and waiting. The music had stopped, the big dollars were gone a...

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

...2010 and 2011. But that time probably is not going to be this winter, when the Padres' new ownership is trying to hold onto its ticket base and knows that trading its biggest star for...

Blog Entry | Conversation | December 17, 2009

Phillies complete Halladay deal

The Seattle Mariners have acquired 2008 Cy Young Award winner Cliff Lee from Philadelphia, who in turn obtained Roy Halladay from Toronto.

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

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

...11, 2009; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees batter Hideki Matsui...