There is no doubting that Joba Chamberlain possesses the makeup of a front line starter in the majors. He has the command of four devastating pitches and the attitude that you want from someone at the top of the rotation. But being a starter is not in his best interest nor the Yankees.

The Yankees, like their fans, are excited about what Chamberlain can bring to the team for many years to come, and who can blame them? But it is simply not the right decision for a variety of reasons.

With the signings of C.C. Sabathia and A.J. Burnett, Chien-Ming Wang being healthy, and Andy Pettitte coming back for a possible final swan song, placing Chamberlain in the bullpen makes the most sense both short term and long term.

By being in the bullpen, it allows Chamberlain to affect the outcome of 60 to 70 games a year instead of just 35 if he were a starter. The Yankees do not need him to be a starter. Instead they need him to bolster the back end of the bullpen. Phil Hughes is more than capable of filling out the fifth spot in the rotation that Chamberlain is scheduled to occupy.

Who is seriously going to be the bridge to Mariano Rivera if Chamberlain starts? Damaso Marte, Brian Bruney, Jose Veras, Edwar Ramirez? None of them are capable of shouldering the crucial role of a setup man in today’s game that Chamberlain could.

Chamberlain’s presence and lights out ability could be identical to the MVP role that Mariano Rivera filled before he took over the closers role. And with Rivera coming off of shoulder surgery at age 39, who knows if the Yankees might need someone to save a few games or even fill in for Rivera if his shoulder acts up.

What are the Yankees going to do then? Convert Chamberlain back to the bullpen mid-season and risk ruining his 23 year old arm?

The Yankees are going to learn their lesson sooner or later. And unfortunately for everyone, it looks like it will be with Chamberlain this season.

With the winter season coming to an end and pitchers and catchers reporting to Spring Training, baseball fans can now begin to smell the green grass of America’s greatest pastime.

And with that said, it is only appropriate to analyze the free agency moves of this past off-season. Moves that may push teams into the playoffs, to a World Series title, or completely back fire overall.

So without further adu, here is my top 20 free agent signings of the past off-season in no particular order:

Milton Bradley, Chicago Cubs - Coming off the best year of his career, the often injured and troubled OF signed with the Chicago Cubs in what was an interesting move to say the least. The always intense Bradley will either be a perfect marriage for the equally excitable Lou Piniella or one who finds himself in the dog house the entire season. The 30-year old OF if healthy will provide the Cubs with a great deal of flexibility as he could play all three OF positions. Additionally, Bradley will add even more depth to an already dangerous lineup where he should hit between Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez. Cubs fans can expect a .300 hitter with 20 homeruns, 85 runs and 85 RBI this season.

Deal: 3 years, $30 million dollars

A.J. Burnett, New York Yankees – Just one part of the Yankees off-season spending spree, Burnett joins a totally rebuilt Yankees rotation. The 32-year old Burnett was 18-10 a year ago with the Toronto Blue Jays where he logged 221 1/3 innings that included 231 strikeouts. Even more impressive, Burnett recorded better than a 2 ½ to 1 strikeout to walk ratio (231 to 86) being a power pitcher. Now with a better team, motivation of a new contract, and an arsenal of filthy pitches, Burnett should win somewhere between 15 and 20 games every season as a Yankee. The only thing can prevent him from achieving these numbers is injuries which have seemed to trail him his entire career.

Deal: 5 years, $82.5 million dollars

C.C. Sabathia, New York Yankees – Along with fellow free agent Manny Ramirez who has yet to sign with a team, Sabathia was one of the two crown jewels of this off-season. Sabathia is a complete difference maker who is a work horse capable of carrying an entire pitching staff (i.e. Milwaukee Brewers). Just 28, Sabathia should settle into New York very nicely and provide the Yankees with what they so desperately need. There is no reason to not expect Sabathia to win 20 to 22 games along with a CY Young award, and a possible World Series title in 2009.

Deal: 7 years, $161 million dollars

Pat Burrell, Tampa Bay Rays – Although I am not a fan of Burrell’s game, Burrell should be an excellent fit for the Rays. Burrell is best suited as a DH at this point of his career and his post-season and overall experience will be a tremendous asset to the young Rays. Burrell should hit in the 5^th or 6^th slot and be a solid RBI guy in a very good lineup that already includes Carl Crawford, B.J. Upton, Carlos Pena and Evan Longoria . Burrell’s numbers in 2009 should look like .270 avg, 25 homers, 85 rbi, and 75 runs.

Deal: 2 years, $16 million dollars

Trevor Hoffman, Milwaukee Brewers – The ageless Hoffman continues to pitch and despite being 41 can still contribute to just about any team. Hoffman saved 30 of 34 save opportunities last year for the San Diego Padres while still possessing great command (46 K, 9 BB). And while his ERA was alarming at 3.77 which was the first time in 7 years that he was above 3.00, Hoffman can still be counted on as a decent contributor as a third fantasy closer. Expect about a 3.00 ERA, excellent WHIP, but only 20 to 25 saves due to the pitchers that the Brewers have lost from last season.

Deal: 1 year, $6 million dollars

Raul Ibanez, Philadelphia Phillies – Losing Burrell to the Rays via free agency, opened the door for Ibanez. The underrated Ibanez like Burrell will fit in very nicely with his new team where he will assume the LF duties while hitting 5^th. In a very talented lineup that features Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard, Ibanez should improve on his yearly solid numbers. Plan on a .300 avg, 20 to 25 homers, 90 to 100 rbi, and 85 runs.

Deal: 3 years, $31.5 million dollars

Francisco Rodriguez, New York Mets – Coming off one of the best seasons ever for a relief pitcher, Rodriguez comes to the Mets to sure up a bullpen that single handedly kept the Mets from the post-season a year ago. The 27-year old big game and electric reliever is exactly what the Mets need at the end of games. And while it is hard to expect a repeat performance of K-Rod’s remarkable numbers from a year ago, Rodriguez will still be one of the best closers in all of baseball. A 2009 season of 40 to 45 saves, a 2.00 ERA, 70 strikeouts, and a 1.20 WHIP should be easily attainable.

Deal: 3 years, $37 million dollars

Randy Johnson , San Francisco Giants – The 45-year old lefthander joins his sixth club in his 20^th year of his Hall Of Fame career. Just five wins shy of the illustrious 300 mark, Johnson is an excellent signing for a young and talented pitching staff. Johnson will not only serve as a mentor for young hurlers like Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain and Jonathan Sanchez, but he will help to round out a very nice rotation in what is a weak NL West. Count on Johnson to record 12 to 15 wins with a respectable ERA and a good amount of strikeouts. Johnson is definitely worth a late round selection.

Deal: 1 year, $8 million dollars

Brad Penny , Boston Red Sox – After battling shoulder problems all of last season and only making 17 starts, Penny heads to bean town hoping for better results in 2009. Penny is a power arm who if healthy could be a nice sleeper, but I would not expect anything more than 10 to 12 wins.

Deal: 1 year, $5 million dollars

John Smoltz, Boston Red Sox – Just like Penny, Smoltz is battling back from a shoulder injury as well. However, Smoltz’s injury required surgery that is expected to keep him out until May or even June. The good news though for the Red Sox is that the ultra competitive Smoltz is already participating in conditioning drills with the rest of the team in Spring Training. While this is good news for fantasy owners, I would not commit a roster spot to Smoltz unless you can stash him in a DL spot or if you have deep roster requirements in your league.

Deal: 1 year, $5.5 million dollars

Oliver Perez , New York Mets – Recently re-signed, the 27- year old left hander is an essential piece to the top of the Mets rotation. Perez is a big game pitcher who possesses all of the skills to be an All-Star caliber pitcher. However, in order to do so, he must control his emotions and his control. Being a year older and with the security of a new contract, Perez should continue to evolve. 14 to 16 wins, a 3.75 ERA, almost 200 strikeouts, should not be unrealistic. Just beware of a high possible WHIP.

Deal: 3 years, $36 million dollars

Andy Pettitte, New York Yankees – Despite a disappointing 14-14 season which was the first year in 14 seasons that Pettitte did not finish with a winning record, Pettitte still had an excellent strikeout to walk ratio of nearly 3 to 1 while recording over 200 innings. At 36, Pettitte can still pitch effectively and earn you 13 to 15 wins. I just would not count on him for a good ERA or WHIP.

Deal: 1 year, $5.5 million dollars

Mark Teixeira, New York Yankees – Coming off five straight 30+ homerun and 100+ RBI seasons made Teixeira one of the most sought after free agents of this off-season. And with the Yankees needing not only another power bat in their lineup and improved defense at 1B, Teixeira was the perfect match. Now with better protection around him in 2009 there is no reason that Teixeira should not have his finest season yet. 35 to 40 homeruns, 110 to 120 RBI and a .300 avg should look very appealing to Texiera fantasy owners this season.

Deal: 8 years, $180 million dollars

Kerry Wood, Cleveland Indians – Wood really blossomed in his new role as closer for the Chicago Cubs last season. Wood saved 34 games, had a respectable 3.26 ERA that included more than a 4 ½ to 1 strikeout to walk ratio with a sparkling 1.04 WHIP. Now in 2009, Wood looks to take over the closer role for the Indians who really lacked a true stopper last season. Fantasy owners should wait on Wood and not count on him as your first or second closer due to his health risk. One solid year is not enough to sell me.

Deal: 2 years, $20.5 million dollars

Derek Lowe, Atlanta Braves – After losing Smoltz to the Red Sox and Tim Hudson to Tommy John surgery, the Braves were desperate for a veteran starter. And with Lowe on the market, the Braves really had no other options. At 35, Lowe is a risk as the Braves signed him for a four year deal at $15 million dollars per year. However, Lowe has proven durable as he has averaged over 200 innings per year for the last seven seasons. Fantasy owners should look to scoop him up in the last five rounds or so of your draft with the expectations of about 15 wins, a decent ERA and a low WHIP.

Deal: 4 years, $60 million dollars

Ryan Dempster, Chicago Cubs – Just like his former teammate Wood, Dempster had a stellar year in 2008 which resulted in a big contract. Dempster won 17 games, logged more than 200 innings and had an ERA under 3.00. While all of these signs point to Dempster possibly turning a corner as a starter, I would still be weary as it was only one year. Don’t overpay for Dempster. Instead try to steal him in the middle rounds and hope that he repeats his 2008 efforts.

Deal: 4 years, $52 million dollars

Rafael Furcal, Los Angeles Dodgers – Furcal was one of the early fantasy season surprises last year until he required surgery on his back. As a result Furcal was only able to play in 36 games and left both the Dodgers and fantasy owners extremely disappointed. Now signed to a $30 million dollar contract over the next three years, the Dodgers are really gambling that Furcal can not only be healthy but produce for the majority of the season. Wait patiently and try to steal him late. Furcal is simply too much of a risk at such a premium middle of the infield spot in fantasy.

Deal: 3 years, $30 million dollars

Brian Fuentes, Los Angeles Angels – The former Rockies closer signed with the Angels and looks to fill the huge void that was left by K-Rod who signed with the Mets. Although Fuentes is probably better suited to be a 7^th or 8^th inning pitcher, he has proven that he can close. When drafting Fuentes, look to scoop him up as your third or possibly fourth closer due to the fact that Scot Shields and Jose Arredondo will be lurking to vulture saves and or possibly take over as the closer.

Deal: 2 years, $17.5 million dollars

Adam Dunn, Washington Nationals – Despite coming off five straight 40 homerun seasons, Dunn was left without a team until the Nationals signed him last week. Dunn is one of the most intriguing fantasy players that I have come across as he will clearly help you out in the power categories but destroy you in others like avg. Dunn is a straight up masher who if available in rounds five to seven, you cannot afford to pass up on as he will do your team more good than bad.

Deal: 2 years, $20 million dollars

Bobby Abreu, Los Angeles Angels – The always consistent Abreu is coming off yet another fine all around season highlighted by his sixth consecutive 100 RBI year. And at an affordable $5 million dollars a year, how can the Angels go wrong? Abreu could not fit the Angels old school style any more perfect and after losing Garret Anderson and Mark Teixeira, Abreu also fills the Angels immediate need for a hitter. Expected to hit second and the motivation of playing for another contract, expect Abreu to once again be a nice fantasy option with a .295 avg, 20 homeruns, 110 runs, 100 rbi and 20 steals

Deal: 1 year, $5 million dollars

]]> http://www.hotstovenewyork.com/2009/02/19/top-20-mlb-free-agent-signings/feed/ 23 http://www.hotstovenewyork.com/2009/02/12/the-real-questions-for-a-rod/ http://www.hotstovenewyork.com/2009/02/12/the-real-questions-for-a-rod/#comments Thu, 12 Feb 2009 19:40:46 +0000 Chad Matejicka http://www.hotstovenewyork.com/?p=11390
After watching the Alex Rodriguez’s interview this past Monday where he plead guilty to steroid use, one can only wonder if A-Rod really thinks before he speaks. In a world where there are lawyers, agents, and publicists advising these millionaire athletes of what to say long before they are in front of the cameras, there is [...]]]>

After watching the Alex Rodriguez’s interview this past Monday where he plead guilty to steroid use, one can only wonder if A-Rod really thinks before he speaks.

In a world where there are lawyers, agents, and publicists advising these millionaire athletes of what to say long before they are in front of the cameras, there is nobody to blame but the person.

On Monday with his interview with Peter Gammons, A-Rod stated “When I arrived in Texas in 2001, I felt an enormous amount of pressure. I felt like I had all the weight of the world on top of me, and I needed to perform, and perform at a high level every day.”

A-Rod, what type of pressure did you feel when you came to the premiere baseball market of the world in New York as the highest paid and best player in the game? How did you handle the most pressure of your often criticized life in New York?

Even better, if this story never leaked and A-Rod became the all time home run king and a first ballot Hall Of Fame election; would he have felt guilty giving his speech and accepting his plaque? Would the 800 pound gorilla that he stated was on his back this past Monday been too heavy to accept baseball’s ultimate achievement?

Only A-Rod can answer these questions.

In the meantime, the only thing that we can do as baseball fans is sit and wonder what could have been for one of the most gifted players in baseball history.

Thanks A-Rod.

Despite the support by existing Giants players to management to bring back Plaxico Burress next year, the New York Giants should expect and plan to be without their star receiver for the 2009-10 season.

Playing without Burress will not be easy even for a talented Giants team that has already proven it can win without him. But in order to get back to the Super Bowl, the Giants will need to address their #1 receiver situation for QB Eli Manning to have any chance of success.

And if matters could not get any worse, fellow receiver and free agent to be Amani Toomer might not be back either. The often quiet Toomer recently criticized Giants management/coaching for his reduced role in the offense when Burress was suspeneded.

With Burress and possibly Toomer out of the starting lineup next year, this would only leave third year man Steve Smith as the go to guy. And while Smith has blossomed nicely as a complement and slot receiver to Burress and Toomer, Smith clearly is not a #1 receiver.

Consequently, the Giants would need the revert to the upcoming draft, free agency, or potentially trade for an impact receiver with another team.

In the draft, there are several exciting receiver prospects like Michael Crabtree, Jeremy Maclin, and Percy Harvin. However, all of them are expected to be gone by the time the Giants pick at #29. This would leave the Giants with the option to sign a free agent like T.J. Houshmandzadeh or Antonio Bryant or trade for a wide receiver like Anquan Boldin or Chad Johnson.

Houshmandzadeh will likely want a lucrative deal and Boldin is the obvious sexy choice, but the price tag in terms of what the Giants would have to give up and his salary is going to be hefty tab for the Giants to absorb.

Giants management should instead offer the Cincinnati Bengals a draft pick for Johnson. If Randy Moss was acquired by the Patriots for a fourth-round pick off a bad year, the same could be had for Johnson.

With an extra second-round and fifth-round pick due to their trade of Jeremy Shockey last year, the Giants have the extra picks to make it happen.

Johnson just like Moss is outspoken but will not be a distraction on a big team like Terrell Owens is everywhere he goes. Moss came to a successful Patriots organization with a star like Tom Brady and a no-nonsense headcoach in Bill Belichick and blended in nicely. Deep down Johnson just wants to win and what better place to do that in a city like New York with a star QB in Eli Manning and a disciplinarian coach in Tom Coughlin?

Sounds like a perfect place for Johnson to blend in.

After losing out in the Derek Lowe sweepstakes to division rival Atlanta, the status of free agent pitcher Oliver Perez still remains in limbo.

Perez is rumored to want $14 million per year for five years. And so far the Mets have offered him arbitration which protects the team in two ways.

The first being that if Perez signs elsewhere they would receive a first or second round draft pick plus a sandwich pick due to Perez being a type A free agent. And the second being that if Perez does accept salary arbitration, that the Mets would be able to sign him for a little more than the $6.5 million that he made last season.

Unfortunately for the Mets, the first option seems more a reality right now as they want to commit less years and less money to Perez.  

Being that Perez is only 27 years old, a lefty and a proven big game pitcher, I would not be worried to commit five years to him. The problem is $14 million per year.

Perez was only 10-7 last year and can frequently be wild. But his upside can surely not be ignored.

Both Perez and his agent Scott Boras, need to recognize that Perez belongs in New York. New York offers Perez the big game setting that he likes and most importantly his best chance to win.

So Perez do yourself a favor. Tell Boras you will take $10 to $12 million a year if the Mets commit to a five year contract.

Then you can sit back, watch the Mets gladly accept and look forward to pitching in a rotation that would include yourself, possibly Ben Sheets or another free agent, Johan Santana, John Maine, and Mike Pelfrey.

With that rotation and Francisco Rodriguez now closing games for the Mets, the Mets could almost assure themselves for many years one of the best shots in all of baseball to win the World Series.

Putting aside regular season records, what teams made the playoffs and the last quarter of the season, how can anybody justify Brett Favre going to the Pro Bowl in 2009? 

You can make the case after the first half of the season that Favre could have been considered above Matt Cassel and Chad Pennington. However, being chosen in place of Philip Rivers at any point this season would have been a complete travesty. 

Rivers’ numbers are even better the other two players who were chosen to represent the AFC in Peyton Manning and Jay Cutler. And instead Favre is chosen? 

One can not argue with the selection process that the NFL has in place where the players, the fans and the coaches all count for 1/3 of the overall vote.

But what I can do is question, how does this happen? Credit is due where credit is due, but at the time when the Pro Bowl votes are calculated (around the last quarter of the season), Rivers, Pennington and Cassel in that order should have been chosen ahead of Favre. 

Could all three aspects of the voting process possibly have been watching different games all season than all of us? You tell me … 

Favre’s numbers: 3,472 yards, 22 TD, 22 INT, 65.7 completion percentage, 81 quarterback rating 

River’s numbers: 4,009 yards, 34 TD, 11 INT, 65.3 completion percentage, 105.5 quarterback rating 

Cassel’s numbers: 3,693 yards, 21 TD, 11 INT, 63.4 completion percentage, 89.4 quarterback rating 

Pennington’s numbers: 3,653 yards, 19 TD, 7 INT, 67.4 completion percentage, 97.4 quarterback rating

Just as the New Year began, the NFL declared that the Pro Bowl would be moving from Honolulu to Miami.

And while nobody can really argue with this decision, one can definitely ask why is it being played the week before the Super Bowl?

I agree the NFL has to do something different with the Pro Bowl, but playing the game before the Super Bowl has many more weighted disadvantages than advantages:

Advantages: 

– It shortens the trip for players, media and fans.

– Allows a lot of the players who are playing in the Super Bowl and that travel to the Super Bowl to stay in one city.

– Gives fans football between the championship games and the Super Bowl.

Disadvantages: 

– Takes away from the game. Players who made the Pro Bowl but are playing in the Super Bowl will not play as they do not want to risk injury.

– Having the game the week before the Super Bowl will take away from the drama and excitement that leads up to the big game.

– With the Pro Bowl the week before the Super Bowl, it will create possible travel problems/conflicts for the player’s friends/families who are traveling in for the Super Bowl.

The NFL for sure has it right in moving the game and it keeping it in the same location as the Super Bowl, but playing the game before the Super Bowl simply does not make sense.

Play the game the week after the Super Bowl. This will at least give players who are playing in the Super Bowl an opportunity to play in the game. It will also allow players and their families a free week to figure out their travel plans and to also study and plan for the biggest game of their lives.

Leaving it the way it is will not give fans a chance to see the players that they voted into the game, players who should not be there a chance to play and most importantly take away from the Super Bowl itself.

Commissioner Roger Goodell, this is a great first step toward changing the Pro Bowl setup, but let’s hope it is not the last.

The NY Post reported that 2B Robinson Cano is working out down in the Dominican Republic and is chiseling up for the 2009 season.

Amazing what some trade rumors and the possible free agent signing of 2B Orlando Hudson can do for a little motivation huh?

After three impressive first years with the Yankees since his rookie year in 2005, Cano’s numbers dropped in just about every major category last year:   

At Bats: 617 to 597
Runs: 93 to 70
Hits: 189 to 162
Doubles: 41 to 35
Triples: 7 to 3
Home Runs: 19 to 14
RBI: 97 to 72
BB: 39 to 26
Steals: 4 to 2
AVG: .306 to .271
OBP: .353 to .305

The only statistical category in which Cano improved was his strikeout total which decreased from 85 to 65.

There is no question, that Cano possesses the hitting ability to become a batting champion as he has good power to all fields and the ability to hit with two strikes. However, if he does not learn to walk, he will never become an elite major league player.

Last year could have been an off year for Cano. Every major leaguer player has them. But the underlying question with Cano will always be does he have the drive, dedication and focus to become and remain one of the best?

The future will only tell. For Cano’s sake, let’s hope that is in New York.