Red Sox Sign Mike Napoli

The Red Sox and Mike Napoli have a agreed to a three year contract that will pay Napoli 39 million.  Napoli is expected to play mostly at first base in the first year of his contract.  Napoli provides much needed power for the Red Sox and should hit very well at Fenway.  It’s a great fit for both sides and I think the Red Sox will enjoy their three years of Napoli.  His power should go back up to the 30 HR territory he was in during 2011 and his batting average should go way up in Fenway.  He should also do well against teams like the Yankees.  The Red Sox line-up is starting to look a little bit scarier now.  Napoli should be a guy like Beltre who really, really benefits from Fenway an the Red Sox were smart to lock him up for more than one year.  He’s a step in the right direction for the Sox too and though he won’t probably hit as high as .300, he won’t hit lower than .260-ish.  He can still play well enough to stick behind the plate for Boston if they need it at times this year, but I would keep Ross and Salty if I were Boston and go keep Napoli at first, as it’s best for their offense.  Napoli, who will be a below average defender but I don’t think he will hurt them a ton at first on defense.  His numbers in Boston should look impressive in the end at the very least.  Very good and needed signing for the Red Sox.

1. CF Jacoby Ellsbury
2. 2B Dustin Pedroia
3. DH David Ortiz
4. 1B Mike Napoli
5. RF Jonny Gomes
6. 3B Will Middlebrooks
7. C Jarrod Saltalamachhia
8. LF Daniel Nava
9. SS Jose Iglesias

 

Mariners trying to make Felix “Mariner For Life”

In the no-duh move of the day, the Mariners are trying to lock up Felix Hernandez to a large contract extension that would keep him a “Mariner for Life” and be their ace for the rest of his career.  Felix Hernandez has pitched for the Mariners since he was 19 in 2005 ad would be only 28 at the end of his current contract.  Hernandez has been involved in many trade rumors over the years but has remained a Mariner.  he is a true ace and irreplaceable tot he Mariners.  His career has already been very impressive and he seems Hall of Fame bound.  If I was Seattle I would give him a 10 year, 250 million dollar contract, he may get less years and less money, but he’s worth it at this point.  Hernandez’s best years are still ahead of him too, and if he hits the market he will be one of the better free agents ever.  The Mariners really need go through with this and lock him up as soon as they can.

Nationals Sign Dan Haren

In the latest 2012 Winter Meetings signing, the Nationals signed Dan Haren to a one year, 13 million dollar deal.  Haren will take Edwin Jackson’s place in the rotation.   This move is similar to what the Nats did with Jackson last year.  They’re taking a great starter with  good track record who is coming off of a bad year by their standards and taking him in on a short term, low risk deal.  I think Haren could do even better than Jackson did last year, even though he isn’t as powerful.  Haren will be a great number four starter for the Nationals this year though and I expect a full rebound from him, especially in Washington.  The losers here are the Padres because this was the perfect fit and a potential ace for them, but the Nationals will benefit a ton.  This is more than a great deal for the Nats.  I would predict a year close to 3.30-1.06-180.  Haren can handle the NL East well and his value should skyrocket throughout this year.  He made a great choice by going to Washington as he fits well with the team and he can manhandle the NL at times.  Haren could finally have a very special year at any time too, he may be getting older but he can still hold offenses well and he will itch many great games for the Nats, who made a smart move here.

Giants Re-Sign Angel Pagan

The San Francisco Giants have re-signed Angel Pagan to a 4-year, 40 Million dollar contract.  Now, Pagan is a great player and tends to fly under the radar and he helped the Giants win the World Series and in the postseason by his work last year, but I think this deal is one year too much and a little bit too much money.  Pagan will be a great hitter agin next year for the Giants though.  He m not repeat his numbers and play exactly but it should be close and the Giants need him to try to repeat their success from 2012, as Pagan was a key part.  The Giants also couldn’t live without his speed, his stolen bases and triples at the top of the order helped them a lot.  They also too him off the market as a great and cheap option in center field for NL rivals.  The first two years should be good because he should repeat most of his 2012 success but the last two years may not look as good, but the Giants did what they needed to do in getting him back, and it’s a pretty good deal all-around.  Pagan is a key signing for the Giants and I like how he played last year a lot for them, they’re the best fit for each other it seems and he should do a good job overall for the Giants, especially in 2013.

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.

Cubs Get Stewart from Rockies

The Cubs got Ian Stewart, who still has a lot of power upside and will hit for power given the chance and the Cubs got to keep Dewitt and Baker who can play second and third.  The Cubs also got Casey Weathers who could be a successful reliever out of their bullpen as soon as next year.  The Rockies got Tyler Colvin, who and a decent start in the majors but has cooled since, playing at Coors Field may turn his whole career around and you could see him being a fourth outfielder, or maybe a platoon or lower end starter who hits .270, plays good defense and gets on a bit.  The Rockies also got DJ LeMahieu. he will be a great utility man with a bit of everything but in 2012 he could help the Rockies out at lot at second base and he have a breakout season, he has talent and is better than Weathers, but Stewart is better than Colvin and should have more success in his new home and both prospects should have good careers and both these teams should get some production and it should work out for both teams.  EDGE: Cubs

Tigers Sign Dotel

Octavio Dotel has signed with his record-setting 13 team, the Tigers.  he’s nearing the end of his career but was huge for the Cards down the stretch last year and could be for the Tigers this season.  He will have a few struggles, more likely at first and he will have a bit of regression but an ERA in the range of 2.83-3.38 isn’t a bad expectation.  Dotel will be a great reliever in almost any inning but in seventh he will be the best.  He’s a great fit and should do okay in the AL Central and a great fit and he will be great for one year and I would maybe pick up his option.  Dotel will have a good and successful stint with the Tigers and he was a good signing and for the Cardinals he was a huge loss, the Cards needed him for one more year.  He’s a good reliever all-around and he won’t have any wild streaks and his experience will help him.  Dotel-Benoit-Valverde is a great 7-8-9 and is a huge upgrade to this team and bullpen, which is looking a lot better for 2012.

Blue Jays Acquire Sergio Santos, Padres Acquire Huston Street

• The Blue Jays traded prospect Nestor Molina, who has a decent to good future to the White Sox for their new closer Sergio Santos.  Santos a good closer who may ne day even be an all-star and he fits well in that role and with the Jays.  He’s not your ideal closer but he gets the job done and he did well minus a few bumps last year.  He will never be the best but he will be good and will be a consistent 30 save pitcher for the Jays.  They got a good pitcher in Santos and he will be a good closer for many years for them, especially in 2012.  The White Sox received Nestor Molina, who has torn up the minor leagues but probably won’t be just that good in the majors, but he could be a pretty good number two or three starter in about three years and will be  a great young talent when he comes up.  EDGE: Blue Jays
• The Padres got Huston Street for a player to be named later, now Street isn’t the best closer but expect a huge 2012 from him moving from Coors Field to PETCO Park.  He will have a few tough times but he’s a solid closer and should do much better as a Padre.  It was a great trade for the Padres and they get the edge.  If he stays in San Diego for a while he could be a good closer for them for a while.

Marlins Sign Mark Buehrle

The Marlins have signed Mark Buehrle to a four-year deal.  He’s worth the money and will be a great number two starter in Miami and now the Marlins have a solid rotation with Johnson in front, if he stays healthy.  Buehrle while at innings and rack up outs and he should continue doing what he did in 2011 for the next two years before seeing some small regression.  The Marlins have added pretty much everything they could now and their team looks like it could be ready to fight the Phillies and probably at least win the Wild Card at this point.  Buehrle will pitch 200 innings for the Marlins and be one of the top number two starters in the MLB, he should pitch well in the Marlins new stadium and he’s a real good fit who will have many great starts throughout the year.  Him and Josh Johnson are a great one-two punch and the Marlins are big winners in getting him, he should have a good tenure as  a Marlin.

MLB Rumors: Winter Meetings Day 3

• Brent Lillibridge has been drawing interest and if the White Sox are really rebuilding he’s a good player and a decent piece for them to trade.
• The Nationals are focusing on free agent Roy Oswalt now and it seems as if the Phillies will not resign him, which could be a small loss.  Oswalt wants three years, I’d give him two maybe with an option though.  He could do very well and still has it completely but he is somewhat of a risk.
• The Marlins are out of the running for Pujols, which means they won’t be World Series favorites but just a really good team
• CJ Wilson is likely to go to the Angels, Rangers, Nationals, Mariners and Marlins, these teams should be careful to not overpay him though.  He should do a good job in any of these places.  Mariners, Rangers, Angels, Marlins, and Nats are ordr of best fits.
• The Giants won’t re-sign Carlos Beltran, which is better off for Beltran who will hit better in a place like Philly or Boston and the if he returned to the Giants e may have been somewhat of a bust in that line-up, but he’s still a very good hitter who may just be an all-star.  It just didn’t work out for the Giants and him
• Cody Ross will not be returning to the Giants either, which is somewhat of a loss for them
• Gio Gonzalez is now unlikely to be traded at the Winter Meetings and he’s a bright young arm that any team could benefit but it probably best for the A’s to keep him for now
• Jon Niese may be traded and he’s a good three or four starter and could be a huge gain for NL teams but if he’s traded to the Red Sox he may struggle for a while, then get better.  He’s a bright, young pitcher though
• The White Sox are dangling John Danks and/or Gavin Floyd, I see Boston as a for both
• The Cubs seem to be the frontrunner for Prince and a deal there would do wonders for both and the Marlins are going to make a run at him, another deal that could benefit both sides, and the Mariners, A so-so fit, are in on him.