Category: MLB

Spring training officially opened Thursday when 12 clubs held workouts for pitchers and catchers. Let the 44-day countdown to opening night begin.

If six-plus weeks of camp sounds like too many, you must not be a starting pitcher who has to slowly build arm strength for the long season. You definitely aren’t a starter seeking a strong spring in your attempt to bounce back from a disappointing 2009.

The quartet below has something else in common: All loom large in their teams’ chances to contend.

Carlos Zambrano, Cubs

The Big Z isn’t quite as large after dropping about 15 pounds and reporting to Arizona with a new, close-cropped haircut. Zambrano needed a change after a season in which he made nearly as much news for his dislike of sit-ups as he did for his pitching.

The Cubs are paying their ace righthander $17.875 million this season to win more than nine games and pitch more than 169 1/3 innings. Zambrano went on the disabled list twice last season, once because of back spasms that were attributed in part to a core that he admitted should have been better-conditioned.

"He’s got a lot of pride so he took to heart what happened last year," pitching coach Larry Rothschild said. "We need him to be out there with his good stuff consistently, and I don’t think he was."

Rothschild plans to tweak Zambrano’s spring routine to "refresh him a bit" but said, "There’s only so much you can do as far as using him (in exhibitions). We have to get him ready to start."

Cole Hamels, Phillies

One positive from the Phillies’ failure to win the World Series: Hamels, the darling of the 2008 playoffs, didn’t have to worry about an offseason celebration tour. The lefthander didn’t have much to gloat about after going 10-11 with a 4.32 ERA in the regular season, and 1-2 with a 7.38 in four postseason starts.

This spring, Hamels is expected to work on his curveball and experiment with a cutter, which would be a fourth pitch in his repertoire.

Chad Billingsley, Dodgers

He is only 25 but the righthander is entering his fifth season at a crossroads. Is he the guy who went 0-3 with a 5.16 ERA in his final six outings and was left out of the postseason rotation? Or is he the All-Star who went 9-4 in the first half?

His problems could be partially attributed to a balky left knee that is stressed because of a stiff landing on his delivery. Billingsley also struggles because he loses confidence and lets that affect his performance.

After Billingsley was pummeled by the Phillies in the 2008 NLCS, Dodgers manager Joe Torre was concerned enough to have a heart-to-heart chat with him before last season. Torre’s talk seemed to help, for the first half anyway.

Oliver Perez, Mets

Perez typified the Mets’ misery in ’09. He was lousy from the start after signing a three-year, $36 million deal in the offseason. Perez went on the disabled list in May with a left knee injury, returned in July and continued to struggle. His season ended in late August when he couldn’t make it through the first inning against the Phillies. He had surgery in September.

According to early reports, Perez is throwing free and easy so far. He needs to regain his command after walking 58 in his 66 innings last season.

"The big emphasis this spring will be on throwing strikes," Mets manager Jerry Manuel said. "If he can do that, being lefthanded gives him a tremendous opportunity to be productive for us in our ballpark. It’s a matter of us getting him to be somewhat consistent."

They have 44 days to try.

Stan McNeal is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at smcneal@sportingnews.com.

CLEVELAND — Mark Shapiro got out of his chair, turned toward his protege and hugged him.

Each man was congratulating the other. Shapiro is moving up. Chris Antonetti is moving up.

The Cleveland Indians’ long-term vision is in place.

Shapiro will be promoted to team president after this season and be succeeded as GM by Antonetti, his assistant for the last nine years.

Paul Dolan, son of owner Larry Dolan, will shift from president to chief executive officer, a title held by his father.

"I strongly believe we have a very solid leadership team that will be the core of this franchise for years to come," Dolan said. "(Shapiro) has built a culture here that is the envy of the industry."

The Indians’ announcement on the eve of spring training Thursday could be considered the team’s biggest move of the winter. Cleveland lost 97 games last year, then followed it up with a quiet offseason, offering a few minor league contracts to free agents, but little else.

Cleveland has been forced to gut its team since winning the AL Central and coming within one game of the World Series in 2007, trading away former AL Cy Young winners CC Sabathia and Cliff Lee, along with All-Star catcher Victor Martinez.

"I can’t change the economic demographics of our marketplace," Dolan said. "What we can do is put the best people in place. I feel with the team we have in place, we have the best folks to do what’s necessary within the confines of our market to succeed. They’ve got what they need, given our limitations."

Antonetti is certainly familiar with the Indians’ history. He is entering his 12th season with the team after joining the baseball operations department as an unpaid intern in 1999.

Shapiro said beginning next season, Antonetti will have the final say on all personnel decisions.

"That’s Chris’ show," Shapiro said. "What I hope is I’ll be a resource. He will know that I’m here if he wants to draw upon my experiences as GM.

"Usually because of the amount of information we’ve processed, we usually arrive at the same point anyway. I’d assume that same thing will continue to happen."

The 35-year-old Antonetti has been coveted by teams with GM openings, but passed with the understanding he would eventually receive his chance in Cleveland. He has taken on a larger role in personnel decisions recently, including playing a key role in the trade that sent Lee to Philadelphia last summer for prospects.

"It’s impossible to simulate sitting in that chair," Antonetti said. "The pressures of actually being the one making those decisions is different from where I sit. But because of the opportunities Mark has provided to actually be the point person on trade discussions or free agent discussions, from that standpoint I’m prepared. I’ve had those opportunities that will make me a successful GM."

Shapiro is handing over the job in much the same way he inherited it from former GM John Hart in 2001. A son of prominent agent Ron Shapiro, he was selected major league executive of the year by The Sporting News in 2005 and 2007.

But Cleveland also traded Sabathia, Lee and Martinez during his tenure. When injuries hampered the Indians’ ability to contend in ’08, Shapiro dealt Sabathia to Milwaukee for prospects. Faced with dwindling revenue and another underachieving team last season, the Indians traded Martinez to Boston and Lee to the Phillies for more prospects.

Following last season’s disappointing finish, Shapiro fired Eric Wedge, the manager he had hired before the 2003 season. Thursday he called firing Wedge after last season one of his toughest moments. Manny Acta will replace Wedge as manager this season.

"I had visions of always working with one manager throughout my entire career," Shapiro said. "I view that as a collective failure."

Having a baseball mind as president, rather than a businessman like Dolan, is a new structure for the Indians and one that haven’t had since Hart was the GM and Hank Peters retired as president in 1991.

Shapiro and Antonetti are faced with rebuilding the franchise yet again amid an angry fan base that is upset with the way the team has been torn down so soon after an ALCS appearance.

"At different times along the way … we’ve had to face a lot of the same skepticism," Shapiro said. "We put our heads down, we worked hard and we put ourselves in position to experience special times. We feel we’re in good position going forward to experience the same kind of success and hopefully this time, when we get to that threshold, we’ll push over it."

Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

TODD’S 10 SPRING QUESTIONS

1. Is the Red Sox’s move toward pitching and defense a wise one, or did they sacrifice too much offense? This is the way to go and is an approach a lot of clubs will adopt. But Boston fans initially might have a tough time embracing 3-hour games over 3-run homers.

2. Is new Astros manager Brad Mills inheriting a veteran-laden team that could surprise people or an aging team destined to be a disappointment? Houston has a good mix of talented veterans and good young players. The veterans must get the younger guys through the cold streaks; the youngsters must help the old guys through the dog days. I like the Astros’ battle-tested guys (Lance Berkman, Roy Oswalt, Carlos Lee, Pedro Feliz).

Texas needs a healthy Josh Hamilton to be dangerous in the AL West.

3. Which team has the potential for the biggest turnaround? Last year, the Nationals won about 17 games, which is good for a college basketball team. They added good veteran arms in Matt Capps and Jason Marquis, and they still have the Big Donkey, Adam Dunn.

4. Which playoff team from 2009 has the most cause for concern? The Phillies. The bullpen will be in flux until Brad Lidge is healthy. And they dealt Cliff Lee for no reason at all. (Why not keep him and Roy Halladay?) Instead, they will hang their hat on Joe Blanton.

5. What other team could be doomed by the back end of its bullpen? The Yankees are one 40-year-old elbow away from a disaster of epic proportions. Then again, they have been that way for the past several years, and they won it all last season.

6. Which player who missed much of the 2009 season most needs to prove he is healthy? The Rangers need Josh Hamilton to produce like he did in 2008. But he can’t play at a high level with a sore back.

7. Which player who struggled last season most needs a strong spring to rebuild his confidence? Manny Ramirez. Did the 50-game suspension hurt him, or is this an example of a slugger aging right before our eyes? The Dodgers don’t want a repeat of last season, and neither does Manny.

8. Which contenders have the most work to do after major offseason roster turnover? The Mariners, Tigers and Angels. The players have to get used to playing with one another and get to know personalities. Because these teams all have strong managers, I don’t expect any problems.

9. The Angels have five solid starters, but do they have an ace after losing John Lackey? Plenty of teams would love to have Scott Kazmir, Joel Pineiro, Ervin Santana, Joe Saunders or Jered Weaver atop their rotation. They all can be big-game pitchers, but a No. 1 gives your team a chance to win every time he pitches. The Angels have a collection of No. 2 starters. With good coaching, they could have more than one No. 1.

10. How much will new hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo help the Cubs? Jaramillo is the best hitting coach in the game. He takes guys’ swings and works with them in a way that helps them feel confident. His pedigree is unprecedented, and Jaramillo will get the Cubs to hit.

TODD’S TOP WINTER ANSWERS

1. The Cardinals re-sign left fielder Matt Holliday. He hit .353 with 13 homers and 55 RBIs in 63 games after joining St. Louis in late July.

Matt Holliday signed on to wear the birds on the bat for the next seven years.

2. The Phillies finally complete a trade for ace Roy Halladay. He is hoping to make his first postseason with the two-time defending National League champion Phillies.

3. The Mariners trade for left-hander Cliff Lee. With Lee and Felix Hernandez, Seattle now has perhaps the best 1-2 punch in the majors.

4. The Yankees trade for center fielder Curtis Granderson. Prepping for a repeat, the Yankees get younger, stronger and faster.

5. The Mets sign slugging left fielder Jason Bay. Bay, who hit a career-high 36 homers for Boston in 2009, joins a team in desperate need of offense.

6. The Mariners sign third baseman Chone Figgins. Seattle gets stronger—and weakens the AL West rival Angels in the process.

7. The Red Sox sign right-hander John Lackey. With Josh Beckett, Jon Lester and Lackey, the Sox have arguably the best top three of any rotation in the majors.

8. The Angels sign World Series MVP Hideki Matsui. He hit 28 homers in 2009 and will replace Vladimir Guerrero at DH.

9. Atlanta signs closer Billy Wagner. He will anchor a bullpen that lost late-game relievers Rafael Soriano and Mike Gonzalez.

10. Detroit signs closer Jose Valverde. His 116 saves since 2007 are tied for fourth-most in the majors.

Todd Jones, a former major league closer, is a regular contributor to Sporting News.

This story first appeared in the Feb. 15, 2010, edition of Sporting News magazine. If you are not receiving the magazine, subscribe today, or pick up a copy, available at most Barnes & Noble, Borders and Hudson Retail outlets.

MLB.com reports the Diamondbacks are exploring long-term contracts for third baseman Mark Reynolds and right fielder Justin Upton.

"We always have those conversations. Whether we can get them done or not, I don’t know," general manager Josh Byrnes told the Web site during the club’s fan festival last weekend. "It’s an issue we try to stay ahead of. We’ve talked to those guys. We’ll see if it leads to a deal or not."

Reynolds, 26, and Upton, 22, are considered two of the Diamondbacks’ core players. Both are under the club’s control for the next four seasons.

Reynolds confirmed to the Web site that discussions have taken place.

"It’s kind of a sticky situation," Reynolds was quoted as saying. "I don’t really want to say much about it, but there are talks. There’s years being thrown back and forth right now. No money yet, but it could be anywhere from a two- to three-year deal with a couple of options is what I hear. I think the week of the 15th there’s going to be some formal offers made, at least that’s what my agent told me."

The Chicago Sun-Times reports the White Sox are increasingly confident they will sign free-agent outfielder Johnny Damon. The newspaper quotes an unnamed club source as saying he would be "surprised if he didn’t sign with us."

Damon’s best two options appear to be the White Sox and the Tigers. White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski has been trying to recruit Damon to Chicago, going so far as to play a round of golf with Damon. Plus, reports indicate that Damon’s wife would prefer not to move to Detroit.

"It’s his decision now," Pierzynski told the Sun-Times on Wednesday. "Everyone knows how I feel about it and how much I would like him to sign with us, but it’s his choice now. If he signs with us it would really help. If he signs with Detroit, well, then it helps them."

Damon, meanwhile, told SI.com that his wife’s preferences are secondary. "She’s going wherever I go," Damon told SI.com’s Jon Heyman in a text message.

FoxSports.com reported that the White Sox are offering Damon a one-year contract with significant deferred compensation. The site pegs the present-day value of the offer at $4.5 million.

Padres CEO Jeff Moorad tells the San Diego-Union Tribune that he wants first baseman Adrian Gonzalez to remain with the club past the 2011 season when his contract expires.

"I’m still hopeful that Adrian and his representatives help us structure a contract that we can afford and fits into our long-term payroll," Moorad said in an interview with the newspaper. "At some point, (general manager) Jed (Hoyer) will explore whether there is a creative approach that works for all. Until then, I’m going to remain optimistic."

Many observers believe the Padres will not be able to afford Gonzalez, who will make $10 million over the next two seasons. The team reportedly has been gauging trade interest since 2009. The Boston Red Sox have been the team linked the closest to the discussions.

Gonzalez, 27, slugged 40 home runs and compiled a .958 OPS, both career highs, last season.
 

You need only check out the pitching staff of every contender to identify the No. 1 trend of the offseason. From Philadelphia to Seattle, from Boston to L.A., the rich got richer in the pitching department.

On the first official day of spring training workouts for pitchers and catchers, here are the top 20 offseason pitching acquisitions:

Roy Halladay joins the NL’s best team.

1. Roy Halladay, SP, Phillies. One of the game’s best starters ended up in an ideal spot: on the National League’s best team, which just so happens to train near his offseason home.

2. Cliff Lee, SP, Mariners. Admittedly shaken when traded by Philadelphia, Lee could have landed in far worse situations than behind one of the game’s best starters, Felix Hernandez, on the fastest-rising team in the game.

3. John Lackey, SP, Red Sox. His Angels managed to beat the Red Sox only once in the playoffs, so why not join them? Lackey’s arrival gives Boston the American League’s best rotation.

4. Billy Wagner, SP, Braves. With 26 strikeouts in 15 2/3 innings after his return from Tommy John surgery last season, Wagner convinced Atlanta he has plenty left at age 38.

5. Javier Vazquez, SP, Yankees. Talk about sweet landings: Vazquez went from fourth in NL Cy Young voting to No. 4 in the World Series champions’ rotation.

6. Randy Wolf, SP, Brewers. The Brewers won 80 games with the majors’ worst rotation last season. They gave Wolf a three-year, $29.75 million deal to lead the turnaround.

7. Jose Valverde, RP, Tigers. His mistake in turning down the Astros’ arbitration offer might have cost him millions, but the Tigers were happy to take advantage. Valverde should be an upgrade over last year’s closer, Fernando Rodney.

8. Joel Pineiro, SP, Angels. Don’t think adding a No. 3 starter is a big deal? Consider: If Pineiro had ended up someplace else — such as Seattle — would the Angels still be favorites in the AL West?

9. Rafael Soriano, RP, Rays. For the first time since early 2008, manager Joe Maddon won’t have to rely on a closer-by-committee, or closer-by-matchups as the manager says. That is, if Soriano can be more consistent than he was with the Braves last season.

Can Rich Harden stay healthy in Texas?

10. Rich Harden, SP, Rangers. His stuff is undeniably better than previous No. 1 Kevin Millwood’s. But with Harden, the question is always about health. Maybe Nolan Ryan’s get-tough plan with his starters will work for Harden. If it does, the Rangers will have their best rotation in a long time.

11. Brad Penny, SP, Cardinals. The Oklahoman says he always has wanted to pitch for the Cardinals. Manager Tony La Russa says he always has wanted Penny on his side. Now they have each other. Time for pitching coach Dave Duncan to work his magic. "I’m excited to be part of this," Penny says. "I’ve heard how hard these guys work. I’m definitely going to learn from them. And we’ve got a great catcher (Yadier Molina) and he will also make it a lot of fun for me."

12. Edwin Jackson, SP, Diamondbacks. If Jackson pitches like he did in the first half of ’09 (2.52 ERA), Arizona will have the division’s top rotation from 1-3. Of course, the D-backs also need a healthy Brandon Webb to make that happen.

13. Ben Sheets, SP, Athletics. Giving $10 million to a guy who missed all of last season seems a bit excessive for such a fiscally responsible club. But if Sheets is right, the A’s could be one of the season’s surprise teams.

14. Max Scherzer, SP, Tigers. A win-win for Detroit: Many scouts like Scherzer more than the hard-throwing righthander for whom he was traded (Jackson). The bonus: Scherzer’s salary is much smaller.

15. Aroldis Chapman, SP, Reds. The lefthanded phenom won’t turn the Reds into contenders overnight, but Chapman might be ready sooner than many think. "Based on the pressure he’s already faced and the power arm he has, he should be more equipped to break into the big leagues even if he’s not completely culturalized," teammate Bronson Arroyo says. "You have more pressure pitching for the national team in Cuba than probably any team in the world. (On) no other team does the dictator of the country bring you in when you’re an 18-year-old kid and say, ‘Don’t let our country down.’ You know if you mess up too bad, you might not eat or your family might not eat."

The Nats signed Jason Marquis to be an innings eater.

16. Kevin Millwood, SP, Orioles. His new club believes his experience from pitching in hitter-friendly Texas makes him the right guy to put atop its up-and-coming rotation. The Red Sox and Yankees could have something to say about that.

17. Brandon Lyon, RP, Astros. No reliever signed for more ($15 million) than the righthander. No wonder the Astros are saying the cyst drained from Lyon’s shoulder last month was no big deal.

18. Darren Oliver, RP, Rangers. The Angels’ loss is the Rangers’ gain. Texas, in fact, arguably has a deeper bullpen than L.A. now.

19. Jason Marquis, SP, Nationals. The 2009 All-Star will eat innings and make the wait for Stephen Strasburg a little less painful for Nationals fans.

20. John Smoltz, SP/RP, TBD. Whoever signs the 42-year-old righthander will be getting a big-game pitcher who can start or close. Another future Hall of Famer, Pedro Martinez, also remains available.

Stan McNeal is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at smcneal@sportingnews.com.

The Rays entered 2009 determined to prove that their trip to the 2008 World Series wasn’t a fluke. Didn’t happen. Because of injuries and a group of underperforming stars, they weren’t a factor in the AL East race in the second half, and an 11-game losing streak in early September erased any thoughts of claiming the wild card. That painful learning experience behind them, there are plenty of reasons — Evan Longoria, an MVP-caliber hitter, anchors a strong lineup, and the rotation is solid –to believe 2010 will have more in common with 2008 than 2009 for Tampa Bay.

Will Carl Crawford be trade bait if the Rays struggle?

Three questions

1. Is Rafael Soriano the answer to the bullpen issues?
Few were shocked when the Rays reached the middle of June and neither Troy Percival nor Jason Isringhausen, their mind-is-willing-but-flesh-is-weak veteran closers, was healthy. The bullpen, which was a strength for the Rays during their playoff push in 2008, fell into a bit of disarray. Lefthander J.P. Howell, one of nine different Rays to record at least one save last year, did an admirable job until he faltered late in the season.

That ninth-inning uncertainty is why the Rays targeted Soriano, who was 27-for-31 in save opportunities for the Braves in 2009. "When you get one guy that you feel can handle the ninth inning, it permits you to mix and match through the first eight, which is kind of a nice thing to do," Rays manager Joe Maddon said.

2. Will Pat Burrell and Dioner Navarro produce offensively?
You would be hard-pressed to find a pair of teammates who disappointed more in 2009, and neither will have a long leash should his struggles continue into 2010. Navarro, the squad’s unofficial Mr. Clutch in 2008, dropped from a .295 batting average and .757 OPS to a .218 average and .583 OPS. The Rays traded for catcher Kelly Shoppach this offseason, and he will share time behind the plate.

Burrell, who was signed as a free agent before the 2009 season to provide righthanded power as the DH, went from 33 homers and an .875 OPS with the Phillies to 14 homers and a .682 OPS, both career lows.

"I really believe that the second year (in the AL) is going to matter a lot for him," Maddon said. "Leaving his only organization last year probably was more difficult than he let on — switching leagues, switching positions, going to arguably the best division in all of baseball and all of the very good pitchers that he had to face. There were a lot of different factors involved in regards to not having a typical year for him."

3. What should they do with Carl Crawford?
The left fielder is one of the most exciting players in the game — his 15 homers, 60 stolen bases and .305 average speak to that — but he will be a free agent after the 2010 season and his next contract will be a whopper. That doesn’t necessarily fit the Rays’ blueprint of high-talent, low-cost players. If the team struggles early, the front office could entertain trade offers for Crawford, who doesn’t turn 29 until August and would command a hearty package of low-cost talent in return.

But if the Rays are in the thick of the AL East or wild-card race, can they really trade Crawford? If they don’t, he almost will certainly test the free agent market after the season. It likely would require a significant hometown discount for him to remain in Tampa Bay.

Projected lineup
1. SS Jason Bartlett: Hit at least .345 in 4 of 6 months.
2. LF Carl Crawford: Hit .295 at home, .315 on road.
3. 3B Evan Longoria: Top-three MVP finish very possible.
4. 1B Carlos Pena: Has averaged 39 HRs, .935 OPS with Rays.
5. 2B Ben Zobrist: Breakthrough year: 91 RBIs, 91 runs, 91 BBs.
6. CF B.J. Upton: OPS dropped from .784 to .686.
7. DH Pat Burrell: .202 AVG, 0 HRs vs. lefthanders.
8. RF Matt Joyce: Gabe Kapler and Fernando Perez in mix.
9. C Dioner Navarro: .183 AVG vs. righthanders.

Projected rotation
1. RHP James Shields: 3.42 ERA in first half; 5.16 ERA in second.
2. RHP Matt Garza: Held lefthanders to .196 AVG, .608 OPS.
3. LHP David Price: Quality starts in 6 of final 8 starts.
4. RHP Jeff Niemann: 13-6, 3.94 ERA as rookie.
5. RHP Wade Davis: 4-hit, 10-K shutout in third career start.

Projected closer
RHP Rafael Soriano: Held opposing hitters to .194 AVG.

Grades

Offense: B. The star power is here: Ben Zobrist, Carlos Pena and Evan Longoria all have finished in the top 11 in the AL MVP voting the past two seasons, and Crawford, B.J. Upton and Jason Bartlett combined for 132 stolen bases last year — more than 26 teams. Questions at DH, right field and catcher keep the Rays from getting an "A."

Pitching: B. The rotation has five guys capable of giving No. 1-starter performances on any given night; the goal is improved consistency. Dropping the ugly numbers from Scott Kazmir (5.92 ERA) and Andy Sonnanstine (6.89 ERA as starter) should help improve the unit’s 4.54 ERA. If Soriano is the ninth-inning answer, the bullpen should fall into place.

Bench: B. Willy Aybar has been an invaluable part of the Rays’ bench the past two years; he is a switch hitter who has started games at all four infield positions and clubbed a combined 22 homers. Speedy Fernando Perez missed all of 2009 but can play all three outfield positions.

Manager: A. Maddon punched all the right buttons and pulled all the right levers in 2008. That magic touch didn’t extend into 2009, but he understands his players’ strengths and weaknesses as well as any manager in baseball. Maddon’s emphasis on teaching the Ray Way of baseball in the minors should pay off this season.

Sporting News prediction: The Rays have the talent and experience to compete for a postseason berth, but beating out the Yankees and Red Sox won’t be easy. The more likely scenario has them finishing as the best third-place team in the majors.

COMING THURSDAY: Blue Jays preview.

Ryan Fagan is a staff writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at rfagan@sportingnews.com.

An MRI exam on the pitching shoulder of Braves righthander Jair Jurrjens revealed no structural damage, according to the team’s website.

Jurrjens merely is dealing with inflammation and tightness in the shoulder. He told the website that he could begin a throwing program in the next few days and still could be ready for the start of the regular season.

Jurrjens had experienced discomfort since reporting early to Braves camp last week.

The 24-year-old went 14-10 with a 2.60 ERA in 34 starts last season.