Finally...

About Time…

Finally the Orioles and the Mariners finished a trade that sent Érik Bédard to Seattle and brought Adam Jones, Chris Tillman, George Sherrill, Tony Butler, and Kam Mickolio to Baltimore. While Bédard has been the focal point of the trade watch for the Orioles to get more out there half than the M’s will.

• Everyone knows that Bédard will bring the M’s about five to six more wins than they had last year, but now they have a depleted farm system and the daunting task of signing a Cy Young Award caliber pitcher to a long term deal. The Mariners could empty the rest of their farm system to make a deal for another player that could put them over the top, but don’t count on it. Bedard will be a good fantasy pick up this year as he moves to a pitcher friendly park.


• In long run, the Orioles got the better of the M’s by getting a major league ready outfielder in Adam Jones and George Sherrill will make an immediate impact on the bull pen that was completely disappointing. Sherrill will save 30 games as the new closer for the O’s. If Sherrill can manage to have a great first half, he will be a hot commodity at the trade deadlines, as every team in playoff contention will be desperately searching for bullpen help.

Time for Retirement

The Boston Red Sox will be with starting pitcher Curt Schilling for the first half of the season due to shoulder discomfort. Currently the Red Sox have him on a rehabilitation schedule of rest and shoulder strengthening. Since the 2004 World Series, schilling has been on the DL multiple times for his infamous ankle and arm problems. Coming into the season Schilling was going to be the number two or three in the rotation. Shilling last season was 9-8 with a 3.87 ERA. Schilling’s personnel physician Dr. Craig Morgan claims the only way to fix the problem is to surgically repair the shoulder. The senior citizen pitcher spent seven weeks on the DL last year for shoulder tendonitis. If the Red Sox were to agree to surgery for Schilling then they would have to pay him the whole value of his contract. Do not plan to have Schilling in your fantasy line up for the season. If his shoulder is as bad as Dr. Morgan claims then the rest schedule he is on will not accomplish anything.

The Red Sox are currently shopping around the league to add some pitching depth to their rotation now that Schilling is out for a while. The Red Sox general manager, Theo Epstein, has been talking with the A’s about trading for pitcher Joe Blanton. Blanton last season was 14-10 with a 3.95 ERA and a solid 1.22 WHIP. Do not expect the Red Sox to pull this off because while Blanton has shown that he is a quality starting pitcher the AL East may eat him alive his price tag is higher than Epstein will want to pay. Watch for the Sox to make a serious move for either Ben Sheets or Gil Meche.

Comeback Tour

The Oakland A’s have brought back veteran closer Keith Foulke out of retirement. Foulke agreed to a one-year deal worth $700,000 and $2.5 million in bonuses. Fouke was an all-star with A’s in 2003 then went on to sign with the Red Sox that off-season. After he won the World Series with the Sox, he underwent a slue of surgeries on his back and knees. After retiring last spring with the Indians, he decided that he still had some game left in him. Do not expect Foulke to put up any numbers that warrants worthy of a draft pick in the fantasy drafts coming up in March. Watch for Foulke to appear as a middle reliever, pitching in 50 games. If he has an amazing spring, which he will not, but if he does, he could move into the set up role for Huston Street.

Rumor Mill

• The Padres have stopped talking to free agent Mike Sweeney, but Sweeney has received interest from the A’s and Rangers as a DH. Even though his career numbers are there, he is a risk due to his recent injury problems with his back and knees. The Padres are currently talking to first baseman/left fielder Tony Clark about a one-year deal worth somewhere in the area of $1 million. Clark will not see much playing time, but he will see time as a backup first baseman, and as the DH when the club starts interleague play. Clark does not hit for average but he did posting a .511 slugging percentage in 2007.


• The Phillies have been seriously interested in signing free agent pitcher Kris Benson and are debating what to offer for a contract. Benson’s injury to his shoulder is well known, and bringing him would be a monster risk, but the Phillies are desperate for depth in the starting pitching area. If the Phillies do not act soon, they run the risk of losing him to teams like the Astros and the Nationals.


• The Kansas City Royals have signed left-handed pitcher Mike Maroth to a minor league contract. Maroth last season was an awful 5-7 with a 6.89 ERA. Maroth was invited to spring training but do not plan on him being on the active roster come opening day.


• The Royals, Yankees, and Rangers are all interested in bringing in free agent Kevin Mench. Mench Last season hit .267 with 8 home runs and 37 RBI in 101 games with the Brewers. His numbers have tailed off over the last couple of years but he can still murder left handed pitching. Mench would be a good fit in a DH role or as a pinch hitter.