Free Agent Profile: Grady Sizemore

OVERVIEW: Sizemore became the Indians best and most popular player after coming up in 2004.  He could do it all and was one of the top young players in the AL Central and AL.  He can still help a team out a ton but after getting injured in August 2009 he was unable to stay healthy.  One injury after another ha derailed the past 3 years of his career.  He’s only 30 and he can still play center field well but after being injured all of 2012, he will have to settle for a smaller contract.  For the production he can put up I’m kind of surprised that a team hasn’t taken a flyer on Sizemore yet.  He can still hit and could regain his old form for a couple of years.  Sizemore can help a team out if he can stay healthy and he’s worth a look even if you have a packed outfield.
STATS: In a full season he could hit 25-30 HR and get at least 70 RBI, it all depends on where you put him in the line-up.  Near the top he could be a big run scorer too.  If he stays healthy for a whole year, his numbers could closely resemble his old numbers.  The only thing is his average has dipped and he won’t likely bring it up a ton, but he could still not have an atrocious average and he can get on base well.
FITS
Rangers- This is his perfect fit, he could hit well here and help Texas stay competitive since they lost Hamilton and need an OF BEST FIT
Indians- He is one of their better players in the past 10 years
Yankees- Seems like a place he could do some damage but he would be more of a role player
Cardinals- He would be a decent fourth outfielder in St. Louis
Orioles- They missed out on Nick Swisher, but he may be a bargain if they get him
Rays- They just lost J Upton, a sleeper fit for Sizemore
IDEAL CONTRACT: 1 year, 4-6 Million 3-5 Million in incentives
CAN HE STAY HEALTHY?: That’s a matter of luck and how your body is built.  Sizemore can stay healthy for a whole year as he’s played 162 games more than once and if he does, he could put a little bit of fear back into pitchers
BOTTOM LINE: A former All-Star CF, who might just still be one.  Pick him up

Rays Sign Loney to Play 1B

The Tampa Bay Rays have signed their new first baseman and as I predicted it will be James Loney, on a one-year, two million dollar deal.  Loney will replace Carlos Pena, who returned to Tampa last year and was a huge disappointment after having really good years in Tampa from 2007-09 and having  bad year in 2010 in which he left for the Cubs.  In 2011, when Pena was with Chicago, the Rays use first baseman Casey Kotchman who had a breakout season and helped the Rays make it into the playoffs.  Loney is similar to Kotchman, a former top prospect who had a bit of power and was expected to be a top hitter and defender and Kotchman showed he could do that in his year with the Rays and I think Loney could too.  Loney had a disappointing campaign in 2012 but had one or two good moments for the Red Sox and now has just a little AL East experience.  I think this deal could be a potential steal and Loney could put up a .300-12-65 type year and be a decent hitter at the bottom of the line-up.  If he does bust out again, he will not be a huge bust as he can help the Rays on defense and the contract is pretty much a no lose situation for the Rays.  Loney can hit .280-ish too like he did in 2011.  Loney has gotten a lot of grief in his career but truthfully he has had some pretty good years and he’s young enough to recover from all o that and be a classic Tampa Bay Rays signing.  I really like this deal all-around too because I feel the Rays will give Loney a very good shot to have a career year and maybe even go on a tear for some of the season this year.  The Rays should be optimistically excited about this deal.

Do The Rays Have A Shot?

The Rays are hot and are now a notorious team to make a comeback led by Evan Longoria and the pitching staff.  I think they will win 3 of 4 in Chicago after today’s great performance and I’d put their playoffs chances for what O think personally at over 50%.  The Rays offense needs to perk up even more though and Zobrist and Longoria have to lead it while Fuld, Jennings and Upton make a difference because the Rays will have good pitching for the last 6 games like they always do and by the time it gets to the seventh inning their bullpen can save it out for them but the offense needs to score 4 or 5 runs at least each game and the Rays have to win out.  2 games are hard at this point but it’s a little easier with this team because a lot of them were part of the comeback last year.  If they do make the playoffs this year I can see the Rays riding their winning streak even more.  They have to sweep Baltimore and keep them within two games or it is likely over for the Rays.  In a playoff I can see the Rays winning that and making it to the ALDS.  These Rays are another team that could possibly go down in history.  Price should have a huge start his last outing of the year.

Revised MLB Standings Predictions

Not being a homer, sticking with my Tigers pick, they hvae finally came together and they might not stop, anything is possible but I think these right here are going to be right!

AL EAST	W-L
Yankees	97-65
Rays	90-72
Orioles	88-74
Blue Jays	84-78
Red Sox	80-82
AL CENTRAL	W-L
Tigers	94-68
White Sox	85-77
Indinas	76-86
Royals	73-89
Twins	69-93
AL WEST	W-L
Rangers	94-68
Angels	92-70
Athletics	86-76
Mariners	71-91
NL EAST	W-L
Nationals	95-67
Braves	93-69
Marlins	85-77
Mets	81-81
Philies	70-92
NL CENTRAL	W-L
Pirates	94-68
Reds	90-72
Cardinals	88-74
Brewers	75-87
Cubs	67-95
Astros	64-98
NL WEST	W-L
Giants	96-66
Dodgers	91-71
D’Backs	82-80
Padres	70-92
Rockies	68-94
Wild Card-AL	Rays	over	Angels	9 to 6
Wild Card-NL	Dodgers	over	Braves	4 to 3
ALDS	Rays	over	Rangers	in 5
	Tigers	over	Yankees	in 5
NLDS	Nationals	over	Dodgers	in 4
	Giants	over	Pirates	in 4
ALCS	Tigers	over	Rays	in 6
NLCS	Nationals	over	Giants	in 7
WS	Tigers	over	Nationals	in 6

MLB Power Rankings: 5-24-12

1. Dodgers
2. Orioles
3. Rangers
4. Nationals
5. Rays
6. Reds
7. Braves
8. Cardinals
9. Blue Jays
10. Marlins
11. Yankees
12. Indinas
13. Tigers
14. Phillies
15. Red Sox
16. Mets
17. Giants
18. Angels
19. Diamondbacks
20. White Sox
21. Athletics
22. Astros
23. Pirates
24. Brewers
25. Mariners
26. Rockies
27. Royals
28. Padres
29. Twins
30. Cubs

Rays All-Time Roster

C: Toby Hall
1B: Carlos Pena
2B: Ben Zobrist
SS: Julio Lugo
3B: Evan Longoria
LF: Carl Crawford
CF: Rocco Balldeli
RF: Aubrey Huff
DH: Johnny Gomes

1B Fred McGriff
SS Jason Bartlett
C Dioner Navarro
3B Wade Boggs

SP: Scott Kazmir
SP: James Shields
SP: David Price
SP: Matt Garza
SP: Victor Zambrano

CL: Danys Beaz
SU: Roberto Hernandez
RP: Grant Balfour
RP: Joaquin Benoit
RP: Rafael Soriano
RP: Jim Mecir
RP: Lance Cormier

1. LF Carl Crawford
2. 2B Ben Zobrist
3. RF Aubrey Huff
4. 3B Evan Longoria
5. 1B Carlos Pena
6. DH Johnny Gomes
7. CF Rocco Balldeli
8. SS Julio Lugo
9. C Toby Hall

Will Guerrero and Matsui Work Out?

• The Blue Jays signed nine time all-star Vladimir Guerrero today to DH starting in June.  I think this will work really good The Jays need a veteran who’s a good hitter and he still has it and is better than he showed last season.  Guerrero could help propel the Jays to a surprise playoff run, if he can get his bat going and even though he won;t do what he did in 2012, he still has his signature swing that work for him and could help a lot from the six spot in the line-up and split time with Adam Lind, who would be a real good platoon player with power.  Guerrero shouldn’t play too much outfield but he could handle that.  He could provide that extra spark needed and do enough offensively
• The Rays signed Hideki Matsui, who should come up to the MLB around the same time and I like his fit in Tampa and he may not do quite as good as I think Guerrero will, but he could still do close to as good and be just as impactful.  He has had a decent career at Tropicana and should produce similar numbers and he can hit in the playoffs and in the AL East, so he should do well, maybe not great, but help out at DH a few times a week.  This is a great move and Matsui should flash some power.  This will work.

MLB Power Rankings: May 6th, 2012

1. Rangers
2. Nationals
3. Cardinals
4. Rays
5. Dodgers
6. Braves
7. Orioles
8. Tigers
9. Yankees
10. Blue Jays
11. Giants
12. Phillies
13. Marlins
14. Reds
15. Red Sox
16. Angels
17. Indians
18. Mets
19. Diamondbacks
20. Rockies
21. Brewers
22. Athletics
23. White Sox
24. Astros
25. Mariners
26. Pirtates
27. Cubs
28. Royals
29. Padres
30. Twins

What Teams Are Better In May?

It’s early but still winning now can mean a lot, teams with as of now labeled means it could change very quickly.

Yankees or Rays?: Rays

Red Sox or Blue Jays?: Blue Jays, as of now

Indians or White Sox?: Indians, Tigers are still the best
Nationals or Dodgers?: Dodgers
Giants or Diamondbacks?:  Giants

Braves or Phillies?: Braves, as of now

Reds or Brewers?: Reds
Tigers or Yankees?: Tigers
Marlins or Angels?: Marlins
Royals or Twins?: Royals
Orioles or Jays?: Jays
Rangers or Cardinals?: Rangers
Mets or Rockies?: Rockies

MLB Power Rankings 4/27/12

1. Rangers
2. Nationals
3. Dodgers
4. Cardinals
5. Rays
6. Yankees
7. Tigers
8. Braves
9. Blue Jays
10. Giants
11. Phillies
12. Red Sox
13. Diamondbacks
14. Orioles
15. Mets
16. Indians
17. Reds
18. White Sox
19. Marlins
20. Brewers
21. Rockies
22. Athletics
23. Mariners
24. Pirates
25. Angels
26. Cubs
27. Astros
28. Royals
29. Padres
30. Twins

NOTE: Tigers should rebound quickly and Nationals are for real