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December 14, 2004 9:05 PM ET
Athletics: Hudson center of trade talks
The News
Oakland general manager Billy Beane may be close to trading pitcher Tim Hudson.na for years, ever since he was a minor-leaguer, and he would likely have to be included in any deal with Boston. The Braves have offered some of their top pitching prospects in return for Hudson, who is available because he will be a free agent after this season and the A's don't believe they can afford to re-sign him.

December 14, 2004 8:20 PM ET
Angels: Byrd agrees to a one-year deal
The News
Pitcher Paul Byrd will be an Angel next season. The right-hander agreed to a one-year, $4.5 million contract with the team on Tuesday. He started last season on the 60-day disabled list because of reconstructive elbow surgery and went 8-7 with a 3.94 ERA after being activated on July 19.
Our View
Byrd will be under the radar of many fantasy owners going into 2005, but he is someone you should keep an eye on this spring to see if his arm is back at full strength. If so, then he will be an intriguing sleeper who could win double-digit games and have an ERA around four.

December 14, 2004 7:48 PM ET
Mets: Piazza to catch next season
The News
The Mike Piazza experiment at first base has been aborted. The Newark Star-Ledger is reporting that the Mets have told Piazza will return to being a full-time catcher in 2005. "They've [The Mets] told him to put away his first baseman's mitt," Piazza's agent, Dan Lozano, told the newspaper. "I think he feels more comfortable (behind the plate)." He hit .266 with 20 home runs and 54 RBI in 129 games for the Mets last season.
Our View
Piazza never adjusted well to first base, although playing there would have likely added years to his career. If he stays a Met then fantasy owners know what to expect from him, but if he is traded to an American League team he may perform better at a designated hitter.

December 14, 2004 7:02 PM ET
Diamondbacks: Clayton inks deal
The News
Arizona signed shortstop Royce Clayton to a one-year deal on Tuesday. The 34-year old hit .279 with eight home runs and 54 RBI for the Rockies last season. Financial terms were not announced.
Our View
Clayton's numbers last season were a bit inflated because he played half his games in the thin air of Coors Field. While Bank One Ballpark can be friendly to hitters fantasy owners should expect a drop in Royce's offensive output.

December 14, 2004 7:01 PM ET
Red Sox: Schilling's recovery is behind schedule
The News
Pitcher Curt Shilling doesn't think he will be ready for the start of the 2005 season. He told a Boston radio station that his recovery is about a month behind schedule. According to the Associated Press, Schilling said that he had a cast removed from the ankle over the weekend and learned for the first time that he wouldn't be able to rotate his ankle for four to five weeks which prevent him from starting his off-season throwing routine until a month later than he originally anticipated. "Lots can change once it comes out of a cast and I get going and I know I've been a quick healer," Curt told Boston's WEEI. "But as of right now the timetable looks something later than Opening Day."
Our View
Schilling may have been a quick healer in the past, but he is older now and potential fantasy owners must pay attention to how he progresses this off-season. We will be continuously updating his rehabilitation as more information becomes available.

December 14, 2004 7:00 PM ET
Reds: Ortiz acquired
The News
The Reds traded for Ramon Ortiz on Tuesday in exchange for minor-leaguer Dustin Moseley. Ortiz made 14 starts and 20 relief appearances for the Angels last season, going 5-7 with a 4.43 ERA. "We have been pursuing Mr. Ortiz for months," Cincinnati general manager Dan O'Brien said. "We sensed he might be available at some point. His success has been as a starting pitcher, accumulating 200 innings and putting up double-digit wins for a successive number of years."
Our View
Ortiz will be a part of the Reds' rotation in 2005 and is capable of getting double digit victories if things go well in Cincinnati.

December 14, 2004 4:23 PM ET
Angels: Yan joins bullpen
The News
The Angels have signed right-hander Esteban Yan to a two-year, $2.25 million deal. Yan went 3-6 with a 3.83 ERA and seven saves last season as a Tiger. "He'll fit very nicely into the Angels' bullpen," general manager Bill Stoneman said in a conference call with the media. "He's done pretty much everything in the bullpen. He comes in with a really strong arm. This guy throws pretty hard, he's got a splitter, he's got some experience."
Our View
Yan will join with Brendan Donnelly and Scot Shields to form the bridge between the Angels' starters and their new closer, Francisco Rodriguez. The team lost Troy Percival to the Tigers this off-season, but will continue to have a strong bullpen.

December 14, 2004 4:19 PM ET
Cardinals: Diaz close to signing
The News
Catcher Einar Diaz is close to signing a one-year deal worth $600,000 with the Cardinals, according to ESPN. Diaz hit .223 with one home run and 11 RBI in 55 games with Montreal last season.
Our View
Diaz will backup Yadier Molina for the Cardinals in 2005. He will likely play only a couple games a week in that role and has no fantasy value

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December 16, 2004 8:32 PM ET
Braves: Hudson acquired in trade
The News
Pitcher Tim Hudson is the newest member of the Braves organization. The team obtained the right-hander, a Georgia native, from the Athletics on Thursday in exchange for outfielder Charles Thomas and pitchers Juan Cruz and Dan Meyer. "This winter, we have set our sights on going back to sort of the old-fashioned Braves' way of building championship teams with dominant pitching," Atlanta general manager John Schuerholz told the Associated Press. "That's what we think we have done, and we are excited about the pitching staff we have put together for the season." The A's expect Meyer to join their rotation this season. "Meyer has pitched at every level successfully," general manager Billy Beane said. "He has a sterling track record up to this point, and he's a guy we've always liked." Hudson, an All-Star, went 12-6 with a 3.53 ERA last season for Oakland.
Our View
Hudson will benefit early in the season by switching leagues and facing a new lot of batters for the first time in their careers. His numbers over the last five seasons have been consistently excellent and fantasy owners should expect another stellar season from the 29-year old. Dan Meyer will be a rookie next season but should earn a spot in the Oakland rotation.

December 16, 2004 6:34 PM ET
Twins: Mulholland agrees to contract
The News
Pitcher Terry Mulholland will be a Twin for another season. He agreed to a minor-league contract with an invitation to the club's spring training on Thursday. He went 5-9 with a 5.18 ERA in 39 appearances for Minnesota last season.
Our View
Mulholland became the Twins' fifth starter last season after the team tried out some young candidates who all failed in the role. Minnesota has one spot open in their rotation after Brad Radke, Johan Santana, Carlos Silva, and Kyle Lohse but the team would rather have Terry come out of the bullpen for long relief appearances.

December 16, 2004 6:33 PM ET
White Sox: Uribe re-signs
The News
Juan Uribe and the White Sox agreed to a three-year, $9.75 million contract on Thursday. According to the Chicago Tribune, Uribe will be paid $2.15 million in 2005, $3.15 million in 2006 and $4.15 million in 2007 with a club option for 2008 at $5.0 million. "As an organization we were very high on Juan when we acquired him, and he has lived up to our expectations," said general manager Ken Williams in a statement. "He is that rare middle infielder with power and versatility, and he plays with energy and enthusiasm every single game." Uribe hit .283 with a career-high 23 home runs and 74 RBI last season. He played 77 games at second base, 38 at short and 27 at third for the White Sox after coming over in a mid-season trade with the Rockies.
Our View
Uribe is expected to play second base most of the time next season and will rank among the top-15 at the position in AL-only fantasy leagues.

December 16, 2004 5:50 PM ET
Pirates: Santiago deal imminent
The News
The Pirates are close to finding their catcher for next season. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is reporting that the team is about to acquire Benito Santiago from the Royals in exchange for minor-league pitcher Leo Nunez. Santiago, who missed most of the year with a fractured left hand, hit .274 with six home runs and 23 RBI for the Royals last season.
Our View
Fanasty owners simply can't trust Benito to play an entire season. He will be 40 years old in 2005 and has played more than 110 games only twice in the last eight years.

December 16, 2004 5:41 PM ET
Tigers: Drew is team's next goal
The News
The Tigers appear to be the front-runners to acquire free agent outfielder J.D. Drew, who hit .305 with 31 home runs and 93 RBI for the Braves last season. He rejected the Braves' offer of a three-year, $25 million contract in November. J.D. is coming off his first season without a stint on the disabled list.
Our View
The Tigers have been big spenders during the last two off-seasons and Drew would be a huge addition to their outfield. He is one of the top 20 outfielders in fantasy baseball when healthy.

December 16, 2004 5:00 PM ET
Mets: Delgado now a top target
The News
With Mike Piazza moving back to catcher next season the Mets will need a new first basemen. They have focused their interest on free agent Carlos Delgado and are willing to offer him a four-year contract worth nearly $60 million, according to New York Newsday. The left-hander hit .269 with 32 home runs and 99 RBI for the Blue Jays last season.
Our View
With the Mariners out of money to spend on big name free agents, the bidding war over Delgado appears to be between the Mets and Orioles. If New York can't land Carlos then they will likely shift their focus to a defensive-minded first baseman and abandon their desire to have a slugger at the position.

December 16, 2004 4:10 PM ET
Mariners: Beltre coming to Safeco
The News
Third baseman Adrian Beltre will be spending the next five years by the Space Needle. ESPN's Peter Gammons is reporting that the Mariners have agreed with Beltre on a five-year contract worth $65 million. Beltre is one of the best defensive third baseman in the majors and hit .334 with 121 RBI last season along with a major-league leading 48 home runs.
Our View
Beltre put it all together last season and made himself the top third baseman on the free agent market. He more than doubled his previous season-high for home runs and also set career-highs in hits, doubles, and RBI. While he probably won't be setting more career highs, Beltre will enter this season as one of the elite fantasy third basemen in the American League.

December 16, 2004 3:19 PM ET
Braves: Smoltz signs two-year deal
The News
Pitcher John Smoltz has a new contract with the Braves, one that will keep him in Atlanta for at least the next two seasons. He was operating under a contract that would have made him a free agent after 2005 but agreed to the new deal on Thursday. "He [Smoltz] has been a constant during our string of 13 straight division titles, both with his pitching and his leadership," Braves general manager John Schuerholz told the Associated Press. The 37-year old Smoltz is returning to the team's rotation after spending the last four years in the bullpen.
Our View
Smoltz will get his wish this season and be moved back into the starting rotation. His arm is believed to be back at full strength and doctors have told him that being a starting pitcher will be easier on him than if he had stayed in the bullpen. The right-hander is no longer the same pitcher who won 24 games and the Cy Young award in 1996, but he has succeeded in every role the Braves have put him in

Arizona and Shawn Green reached an agreement in principle Sunday night on a three-year, $32 million contract that would clear the way for the Los Angeles Dodgers slugger to waive his no-trade clause and be dealt to the Diamondbacks.
Green will come to Phoenix for a physical on Monday, Diamondbacks general partner Ken Kendrick said.

The deal will give Green a $2 million signing bonus, $10.5 million this year, $8 million in 2006 and $9.5 million in 2007. The agreement includes a mutual option for a fourth year, with a $2 million buyout should the Diamondbacks decide not to retain Green.

The deal was reached about four hours before the 48-hour window to negotiate granted by Major League Baseball was to end at 1 a.m.

Green's agreement to waive his no-trade clause would pave the way for a trade that would send him and $10 million from the Dodgers to the Diamondbacks for four minor league players, including catching prospect Dioner Navarro and pitcher William Juarez.

Green had been due $16 million for next season, the final year of his contract, but agreed to restructure it with the Diamondbacks.

The Dodgers need to complete the trade to sign World Series hero Derek Lowe, who has agreed in principal to a four-year contract worth about $36 million.

Navarro is to come to the Diamondbacks as part of the trade of Randy Johnson to the New York Yankees. That deal is expected to become official once the players involved pass physicals on Monday.

The Diamondbacks also get pitchers Javier Vazquez and Brad Halsey, along with $9 million, from the Yankees.

"Our view of this is that we effectively traded Randy Johnson for Vazquez, Halsey, Shawn Green and $19 million," Kendrick said.

Arizona and Los Angeles have made three stabs at trading Green. The first one fell apart when a 10-player, three-team megadeal involving the Yankees collapsed. A second attempt failed when the Diamondbacks and Green could not agree on a contract in an earlier 48-hour negotiating window granted by the MLB.

The second try was more fruitful because the Dodgers upped their cash contribution from $8 million to $10 million in exchange for getting two more minor league players.

Green had expressed his desire to end his career with the Dodgers, but the team's' repeated attempts to trade him had made him willing to listen to the Diamondbacks offer.

Green, 32, would play right field for Arizona, Kendrick has said. The left-handed batter hit 49 home runs for the Dodgers in 2001 and 42 in 2002, but his power dropped off significantly the past two seasons.

He did, however, hit 18 home runs with 45 RBI after the All-Star break last season to help the Dodgers win the NL West title.

Arizona lost 111 games last season, but the ownership group that took over a year ago had vowed to try to build a contender in a hurry. The Diamondbacks have signed free agent third baseman Troy Glaus and pitcher Russ Ortiz.

The Diamondbacks hired an outside negotiator, Mark Rosenthal, for the Green talks because Arizona's chairman Jeff Moorad used to be Green's agent.

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March 9, 2005 10:11 PM ET
Pirates: Bay has a bone bruise
The News
The Pirates got a bit of good news on Wednesday.na LaLoosh look like Greg Maddux. The Cardinals' organization has been tossing around this idea since 2001. Unfortunately for Ankiel, the Cards' outfield is stacked with Larry Walker, Jim Edmonds, and Reggie Sanders. It doesn't seem realistic to think the they could use his career .207 batting average. We'd feel more comfortable taking him as a pitcher, knowing he won't pitch, than taking him as an outfielder.
March 9, 2005 12:11 PM ET
Angels: McPherson out at least one week
The News
Angels rookie third baseman Dallas McPherson is expected to miss one to two weeks after an MRI revealed a protruding disk in his lower back. Tuesday morning, manager Mike Scioscia told the Los Angeles Times McPherson's injury was "not out of the ordinary." However, later that day the Angels had McPherson on a plane to Southern California to be examined by a back specialist. General Manger Bill Stoneman said the MRI test did not seem to indicate any serious injury.
Our View
McPherson, who hit 40 home runs in the minor leagues last season, was sidelined two years ago because of a ruptured disk. The Angels' management appear as if they will leave any decisions to the medical specialists. McPherson has only played in one exhibition game and is said to be moving "gingerly" around the park. He is middle-to-late-round pick when healthy. We'll continue to monitor the status of his back.
March 9, 2005 11:02 AM ET
White Sox: Contreras roughed up again
The News
White Sox pitcher Jose Contreras experienced his second consecutive lousy outing Tuesday during the White Sox's 6-1 loss to the Rockies. He yielded two earned runs, giving up three walks and two hits in three innings. His control seems to be an issue. "As long as my arm is good, everything else will fall in place," Contreras told the Chicago Tribune. He has allowed seven hits and five walks in 5 2/3 innings this spring.
Our View
We can only assume, according to Contreras' quote, that his arm is not good. That's the only reason we can explain how awful he has been this spring. Being a bit rusty early in the spring is normal, but it's becoming apparent that it's dangerous putting the ball in Contreras' hand. Although he won 13 games last year, he did sport a 5.50 ERA. Contreras is late round pick at best.
March 9, 2005 10:44 AM ET
Giants: Bonds eyes opener
The News
Giants' outfielder Barry Bonds took batting practice for the second straight day Tuesday, taking about 60 pitches. Bonds told the San Francisco Chronicle that he won't declare himself ready for the opener until he plays a full game in Arizona and can play the following day, too. On Tuesday, Major League Baseball granted Bonds permission to play designated hitter at home exhibition games as long as the visiting team agrees. That team would get to use the DH, too. Bonds has played in 18-straight openers –- six with the Pirates, 12 with the Giants.
Our View
Bonds is just stubborn enough to play on Opening Day. Although he has not done extensive running or shagged flies, Bonds loves playing in front of the sellout crowds at Dodger Stadium, and we have no reason to believe he won't be available.
March 9, 2005 10:09 AM ET
White Sox: Thomas out until at least May
The News
The White Sox medical staff dropped a bomb on Frank Thomas Tuesday when they told him that returning any time before May would be dangerous. Thomas was sore after his first workout Tuesday, which is to be expected, but the training staff fears that Thomas may overdo things rehabbing his surgically repaired ankle bone.
Our View
Thomas should heed his medical staff's advice and nurse his injury along slowly. It won't do him or his owners any good if he returns too quickly and reinjures his ankle. Thomas only played in 74 games last year but managed to hit 18 home runs and knock in 49 RBI. However, in 2003, he had 42 home runs with 105 RBI, proving when he's healthy he can still produce big numbers. Due to Thomas' uncertainty, he only warrants late round consideration.
March 9, 2005 9:40 AM ET
Diamondbacks: Gonzalez passes test
The News
Diamondbacks outfielder Luis Gonzalez tested his arm by throwing a dart from left field to the plate during Tuesday's 10-2 victory over the Athletics. As general manager Joe Garagiola Jr. watched from the stands at Tucson Electric Park, he was heard muttering, "Oh, gosh no," when Gonzalez reared back to make the throw, according to The Arizona Republic. Although the throw was late and a little off target, Gonzalez was relieved he had no problems. He went 0-for-2 at the plate with a sacrifice fly.
Our View
Knowing that his arm won't fall off when letting loose must be a relief for Gonzalez. Now that he has confidence in his arm, maybe he can relax and find his timing at the plate

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