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.