The Oakland A's are on Their A Game

Trevor Cahill will be striking out batters for many years to come in Oakland.

Courtesy of Swingin’ A’s

The Oakland Athletics and 23-year-old starting pitcher Trevor Cahill have agreed to a five-year-contract worth at least $30.5 million. The contract also includes options for the 2016 and 2017 seasons that would pay the right-hander roughly $13 million each season.

This a great move by the Athletics. Last season, Cahill sported an 18-8 records with a 2.97 ERA, good enough to finish ninth in the American League Cy Young Award voting.

There is a chance that the Athletics are looking into signing multiyear contracts with various other pitchers as well. Gio Gonzalez impressed the Athletics last season with over 200 innings to go along with 15 wins and a sub 4.00 ERA.

Gio Gonzalez could be the next Athletic to be locked up for more than a few seasons.

Courtesy of Zimbio.com

In addition to Cahill, the Athletics have been securing a solid foundation by agreeing to multiyear contract with other core players. The team signed starting pitcher Brett Anderson to four-year extension that could be worth more than $30 about a year ago, and they inked catcher Kurt Suzuki to a four-year deal last July.

Based on their various moves, the Athletics are looking to build a team for today and beyond. Playing in a relatively weak division, aside from the Texas Rangers, the team could become a competitive force in the American League for many years to come. The Seattle Mariners struggled mightily last season, and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim fell below .500 after winning the division for three straight seasons.

Starting pitching has always been the key to the Athletics’ success, as evidenced by their low ERA last season. They are continuing to build on that success by locking in durable starting pitchers and a catcher that can handle them. 

Manny's Done Being Manny

Manny Ramirez won’t be swinging for Tampa Bay anymore.

      Courtesy of AllVoices.com

Manny Ramirez, regarded by many as one of the greatest power hitters of this generation, abruptly announced his retirement from Major League Baseball Friday under suspicion of drug use.

Playing nearly 20 seasons in the Major Leagues, Ramirez racked up 555 homeruns, nearly 2,600 hits and over 1,800 RBI’s. Only time will tell if the once-great slugger will be enshrined into the Hall of Fame.

Now that Ramirez has retired, the Tampa Bay Rays must find someone to fill the now vacant designated hitter role. The team had signed him to a one-year, $2 million contract over the offseason hoping that he could fulfill that role, but he managed only one hit in seventeen at-bats for a .059 average.

Casey Kotchman could begin seeing more at-bats for the Rays, seeing as he was called up to take the roster spot opened by Ramirez’s retirement. The first baseman has played 646 games at the major league level with the Los Angeles Angels, Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox, Seattle Mariners, and Rays. He was hitting .250 for the team’s AAA affiliate.

Johnny Damon could be spending less time on the field and more time at the plate with Ramirez’s recent retirement.

Courtesy of Zimbio.com

Johnny Damon, signed to a one-year contract in January with the Rays, could be seeing more time at the DH spot with Ramirez gone. He has been playing some left field and first base in 2011. Throughout his career, he has over 2,500 hits and 215 homeruns, along with nearly 400 stolen bases.

Regardless of who takes over for Ramirez, his legacy will always be one that is seen as impressive yet questionable. Anyone who puts up power numbers like his is bound to see some respect, yet his suspected drug use could cause a blockage in his road to Cooperstown.  

Opening Opportunities on Opening Day

Adam Dunn figures to be a huge difference maker for the White Sox in 2011.

Courtesy of WhiteSoxTalk.com

Opening Day began in Major League Baseball Thursday and Friday, with many new faces acquired over the offseason making their debut with new teams.

Adam Dunn, signed to a 4-year, $56 million contract over the offseason by the Chicago White Sox, made a good first impression, blasting a homerun in his second at-bat of the game while driving in four runs.

The big power hitter seems fit to make a big impact for the South Siders this season, as he will begin his first season as a full-time designated hitter.

Victor Martinez, signed to a $50 million deal in the winter by the Detroit Tigers, began his season as a DH, despite being a catcher throughout his career. It seems as though the Tigers were weary of his defensive skills, prompting them to move him into his current role.

The former Cleveland Indians and Boston Red Sox player collected a single in four at-bats on Opening Day, leaving two on base hitting behind the fearsome duo of Miguel Cabrera and Magglio Ordonez. Despite his lack of power in the first game of the year, Martinez should provide some pop and energy to a team that missed the playoffs last year with an 81-81 record.

Busch Stadium saw a good deal of newcomers between the San Diego Padres and St. Louis Cardinals. Cameron Maybin, acquired from the Florida Marlins over the offseason by the Padres, made a diving catch in the first inning along with a game-tying homerun in the ninth.

Lance Berkman, signed by the Cardinals to roam right field despite not playing there in four seasons, went two for four while playing decent defense.

Ryan Theriot, the Cardinals’ new shortstop who was acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers, collected a hit in the leadoff spot, but also made a fielding gaffe that allowed the go-ahead run for the Padres to score in the eleventh inning. Seeing his defensive struggles may have prompted some to believe that the trading of defensive whiz Brendan Ryan was not the best idea.

Ryan Theriot will have to improve on his shortstop fielding abilities to impress the Cardinals this season.

Courtesy of Bleacher Nation

Amongst the biggest offseason acquisitions were the Red Sox picking up first baseman Adrian Gonzalez from the Padres and signing outfield Carl Crawford to a seven year, $142 million contract. Gonzalez went two for four in his debut, driving in three runs. Crawford struggled in his first game with the Sox, failing to collect a hit in four at-bats with three strikeouts.

So, based on Opening Day statistics, it seems that many Major League teams made good moves this offseason. Then again, one game doesn’t determine how the rest of the season will play out. Many of these players could fall into obscurity despite their massive salaries, or they could rise into a new light where they earn their multi-million dollar paycheck. 

Rumblings in the Rotation of the New York Yankees

 Millwood throwing a pitch for the American League East Baltimore Orioles in 2010. He could make his way up to a more successful team in their division in 2011.

Courtesy of CBS Sports

Kevin Millwood, who tied for the American League lead in losses last season, signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees Friday pending a physical.

This may come as a shock to some, seeing as Millwood, a National League all-star in 1999, reportedly rejected a minor league offer from the Yankees in February.

Millwood joins a long list of candidates to fill out the rotation for the Yankees in 2011 behind C.C. Sabathia, Phil Hughes, and the often questionable A.J. Burnett. Amongst these candidates are Bartolo Colon, Freddy Garcia, and Ivan Nova.

Unfortunately for the 36-year-old right-hander, New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman has stated that he will not start the season on the major league roster. However, with some seasoning in the minors that he missed during spring training, Millwood could definitely contribute to the team.

In another move related to the Yankees’ pitching, they traded possible rotation candidate Sergio Mitre to the Milwaukee Brewers for outfielder Chris Dickerson Friday.

Mitre, who had a 5.73 earned run average for the Yankees this spring in 11 innings, may have needed a change in pace after struggling throughout the preseason and the 2010 postseason with an ERA over 10.

 Sergio Mitre will be trading in Bronx gear for a Brewers uniform this season .

Courtesy of Bronx Baseball Daily

Now with Mitre gone, the Yankees rotation picture seems to be clearer, with impressive springs by Bartolo Colon, who has a 2.40 ERA in four starts, and Ivan Nova, who has only given up two runs throughout all of spring training.

The Yankees must be aware of a possible downfall in their rotation, however. Good springs do not always equate to good seasons, and Colon has not started more than 30 games in a season since he won the America League Cy Young Award in 2005. Nova has potential, but is still young at age 24. Signing Millwood, if anything, gives the Yankees some much needed insurance for what is still a shaky rotation.  

The Future Job Hunting of a Second Base Millionaire

 Luis Castillo missing a popup for the New York Mets against the New York Yankees in 2009.

Courtesy of New York Daily News 

Earlier this week, the New York Mets released veteran infielder Luis Castillo, despite having to pay him the remaining $6 million on his four year, $25 million deal.

http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110318&content_id=17005364&vkey=news_nym&c_id=nym

The aging all-star had dealt with constant injuries since signing with the Mets in 2007 after they acquired him from the Minnesota Twins. This spring, he was batting a respectable .286, but with no stolen bases and various gaffes in the field.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/castilu01.shtml

http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/stats/sortable_player_stats.jsp?c_id=nym&baseballScope=NYN&subScope=pos&teamPosCode=all&statType=Overview&timeSubFrame=23&sitSplit=&venueID=&Submit=Submit&timeFrame=1

Despite having a relatively successful season for the Mets in 2009 with a .302 average and 20 stolen bases in 142 games, the fan base never seemed to forgive him for misjudging an infield popup in a game against the New York Yankees that season. His miscue in the field cost the Mets the game, and Castillo the respect of Mets fans.

http://articles.nydailynews.com/2009-06-13/sports/17926229_1_luis-castillo-joba-chamberlain-drifting

Castillo said he hopes to catch on with another team before the season begins. Amongst his possible replacements as starting second baseman for the Mets are Brad Emaus, Daniel Murphy, Luis Hernandez and Justin Turner.

Emaus has no major league experience. However, he has found relative success in the minor leagues, hitting .290 with 15 home runs and 75 RBI’s between AA and AAA in 2010. He has primarily been a third baseman throughout his career. 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=emaus-001bra

Murphy played regularly for the Mets in 2009, hitting .266 with 12 homers in 155 games. He primarily played first base for the National League New York team, but also played a few games in the outfield. Constant injuries prevented Murphy from playing in the Majors in 2010.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/murphda08.shtml

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=29200

Dan Murphy could be playing up the middle for the Mets in 2011.

Courtesy of NJ.com

Hernandez has some major league experience, playing in 120 games over four seasons with the Baltimore Orioles, Kansas City Royals, and Mets. He had relative success in the Mets’ minor league system last season, hitting .290 while playing a respectable Shortstop.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hernalu01.shtml

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=hernan003lui

Justin Turner has had a relatively successful minor league career with a .309 average over five seasons. In addition to playing almost 400 games at second base, he has also played the three other infield positions along with some outfield.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=turner001jus

It seems as though any of these four players have a good shot at claiming the job as starting second baseman of the New York Mets. Regardless, it is sad to see a once great all-star in Castillo to fall to the depths of being released by a team that once desired him.

Quade's Quarreling Cubs

Aramis Ramirez launching a pitch for the Chicago Cubs.. 

Courtesy of FantasyPhenoms

Earlier this week, Chicago Cubs Aramis Ramirez and Carlos Silva were involved in a dugout argument during a spring training game that following an opening inning that included three errors.

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110302&content_id=16793978&vkey=news_chc&c_id=chc

Supposedly, Silva, who was making his first spring start, made a general comment that Ramirez may have taken offense to. Based on his poor performance (.247 average) last season, perhaps the once prominent third basemen should be focusing on his offense at the plate as opposed to in the dugout.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/ramirar01.shtml

Needless to the say, the Cubs have had their fair share of clubhouse problems over the years. Just last year, former ace pitcher Carlos Zambrano threw a tantrum in the team dugout that resulted in a suspension for the team that allowed him to undergo anger management treatments. Surely, this suspension really seemed to have a negative impact on his performance, starting only 20 of his 36 games pitched.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/z/zambrca01.shtml

Not too longer after the incident, manager Mike Quade, who is currently in the midst of his first spring training with the Cubs, called a team meeting in order to address the issues that occurred. Surely, these could very easily come back to haunt the Cubs later on in the season.

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110303&content_id=16802916&vkey=news_chc&c_id=chc

If the Cubs hope to do anything remotely successful for the first time since their last World Series win in the 1908, they’ve got to do something about their team chemistry issues. No matter how much money they spend, the problems are not simply going to go away.

If the Cubs wise up, Carlos Silva could be walking batters elsewhere sometime soon. 
Courtesy of CubbiesCrib

The resolution to this problem could actually lie within getting rid of some money, or payroll to be more exact. Trading the overpaid Carlos Silva could not only get rid of some payroll ($11.5 Million in 2011), but also possibly get rid of a clubhouse cancer that might be bringing the team down.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/silvaca01.shtml

Thankfully for the Cubs, the massive contract of the Aramis Ramirez will be freed up at the end of this season after he exercised his player option for at least one more season with the club.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20101104&content_id=15999450&vkey=news_chc&c_id=chc

Year in and year out, the Cubs just seem to throw money out there, giving them a $123.3 Million payroll for 2011. Regardless, they failed to have a winning record last year, and have had nonstop clubhouse problems that they thought disappeared with the 2009 trade of Milton Bradley.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CHC/2010-roster.shtml

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bradlmi01.shtml

The Cubs have been going about putting a baseball team together the wrong way; if they ever hope to start winning, they have to start investing money into good clubhouse players who actually play well enough for the money they deserve and act their age. 

The Woes of Wainwright and the St. Louis Cardinals

Adam Wainwright firing a pitch for the Cardinals in 2010. 
Courtesy of TheSportsKraze

Earlier this week, it was announced that St. Louis Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright would miss the entirety of the 2011 season, and possibly some of the 2012 season, due to a right elbow injury that requires Tommy John surgery.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110224&content_id=16720738&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb

This comes as a huge blow to a Cardinals team that had been depending on another great season from the southpaw from Georgia. After all, he's finished in top three for National League Cy Young Award voting the past two seasons, accumulating 39 wins and 425 strikeouts. 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/wainwad01.shtml

Many critics had figured the Cardinals would be very competitive in the NL Central Division this season, though those views could now be entirely skewed due to this untimely injury to one of the game's great young pitchers. 

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110223&content_id=16717554&c_id=stl&partnerId=rss_stl

Despite the untimely injury to Wainwright, the Cardinals still have a shot at making a run for the pennant this season. They still have three time Most Valuable Player Albert Pujols for at least one more year, Matt Holliday drove in 103 runs last year with 28 home runs, and they still have three elite starting pitchers in Chris Carpenter, Jaime Garcia, and Jake Westbrook. The same cannot be said for the often erratic Kyle Lohse. 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pujolal01.shtml

http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/STL/2010.shtml

http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/team/roster_active.jsp?c_id=stl

Now the team must deal with figuring out who will take the now open spot in the rotation. At least one source is pointing to the Cardinals filling out the rotation from within the organization, though there are still a few free agent starting pitchers available. Kevin Millwood and Jeremy Bonderman could fit the bill in this situation.

http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110224&content_id=16721990&vkey=news_stl&c_id=stl

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/news/hot_stove/y2010/free_agent_tracker.jsp?fastatus=unsigned&subscope=pos&teamPosCode=S

There are a number of options within the organization. Ian Snell started eight games for the Seattle Mariners in 2011, though he posted an unimpressive 6.41 ERA. Miguel Batista has started over 200 games in his career, though he served primarily as a reliever for the Washington Nationals last season and is now over the hill at age 40. It would seem that the most intriguing candidate for the job would be Kyle McClellan, who has trained to be a starter for the team before. 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/snellia01.shtml

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/batismi01.shtml

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/5723840b-0b75-5d51-aaa5-07a549083433.html

Ian Snell could be fitting the bill of starter for the Cardinals this season. 
Courtesy of Zimbio.com

Surely, Wainwright's injury is a huge blow to the great National League team. However, given the masterful work of pitching coach Dave Duncan in the past and the team's potent offense, there still is a chance for this team to make the playoffs. Don't expect the Redbirds to throw in the towel early.