MLB Buzz: Albert Pujols, Joba Chamberlain and the Latest MLB Buzz
With only a month or so until pitchers and catchers report to training camp, the final free agents are beginning to find homes at last. Jim Thome signed a deal with the Minnesota Twins, and Rafael Soriano has become the most expensive setup man of all time, hopefully.
I don't see why anyone would pay $11 million for a setup man, but nonetheless, his contract has been signed, and it's time to look at the future.
Joey Votto and the Reds have been back and forth about a possible contract negotiation. Has that happened now? Is anyone in the market for Bruce Chen?
For that matter, why is Carl Pavano still not signed?
Here are the latest MLB rumors and buzz.
Albert Pujols
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First and foremost, Albert Pujols is the best player in the game, and the contract that he signs next will show that.
If he wants to re-sign with the Cardinals however, St. Louis has to act fast.
Pujols has said that he has no interest in continuing contract negotiations once spring training starts for the Cardinals on Feb. 18. This means that if the Cardinals are serious about acquiring Pujols long term—and I would think they are—they only have another month to sign him up.
With Pujols, the question is simply how much to pay him.
There's no doubt in my mind that when it's all said and done, he'll have the richest contract in MLB history.
Until the next richest one, anyway.
Carlos Marmol
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The Cubs' closer could very well get a multi-year deal with the team.
After his first full season as a closer, in which he made $2.15 million, he is eligible for arbitration, and to save on going through that, the Cubs will likely want to keep Marmol around to anchor the bullpen for many years.
Granted, the re-acquisition of Kerry Wood could change how the Cubs will look at any deal involving Marmol.
Rafael Soriano
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We were all shocked when Rafael Soriano, an eighth-inning man, was signed to such a big deal.
While it looked like Brian Cashman was the one that pulled the trigger, it seems now that was not the case.
Brian Cashman had actually vetoed the Soriano acquisition. However, he was outvoted by Hal and Hank Steinbrenner, who were concerned about who Cashman was planning to use as the setup man.
Joba Chamberlain
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Joba Chamberlain was the man that Cashman was planning to use as the setup man to Mariano Rivera before the acquisition of Rafael Soriano.
Now, it seems like Joba Chamberlain could be on his way out of New York.
Chamberlain is now a pitcher that doesn't seem to have a role for the Yankees. At best, he could be a middle reliever for the team.
There's the possibility of an outright release at the rate this is going, given how far he's fallen. Most likely though, he'll be traded, since the Steinbrenners seem so tired of him.
Ben Francisco and Domonic Brown
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The Phillies have signed Ben Francisco to a one-year deal, meaning that they now have two possibilities at right field: Ben Francisco and emerging prospect Domonic Brown.
The question for the Phillies now becomes who they will put at the position.
Right now, it looks like they'll go with both, as Brown bats left-handed while Francisco is a righty.
I would guess that Brown will get the majority of playing time, though, because he's the guy that the Phillies seem to have more invested in.
Chris Carpenter
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In the midst of all the discussion surrounding Albert Pujols, Chris Carpenter's contract also is getting ready to expire.
The Cardinals' 36-year old ace will be looking for big money, perhaps near the size of Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee's contract. Certainly it will be for fewer years, but he and Adam Wainwright have given the Cardinals a great front end of the rotation for many years.
Jeremy Bonderman
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Jeremy Bonderman's had a couple down years, but there are teams interested in him in hopes that he'll rebound.
The three in the mix are the Yankees, Rangers and Cardinals.
Other clubs have reported having interest in him, and other sources have the Yankees not being high on him.
Joey Votto
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The reigning MVP certainly has to be noted.
Earlier this week, it was rumored that both the Reds and Votto were far from a deal, and that Votto wasn't really comfortable with all the attention he has been receiving.
Now, Votto has a new three-year, $38 million contract, and is locked up with the Reds through his arbitration years.
Certainly a nice raise from $525,000 last year, no?
Brian Fuentes
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Fuentes may have finally found a team.
It has been reported that he and the Oakland Athletics are clsoer to a deal. The exact terms of the deal are unknown, and it has not been finalized.
We will likely know the terms tomorrow, as an announcement isn't gong to come on the weekend.
Carl Pavano
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Is Carl Pavano ever going to sign a deal?
These days it's tough to say. Now that Jim Thome has re-signed with the Twins, he's been actively pushing Pavano to do the same.
"Trust me, when I get off the phone with you [reporters], I will definitely be recruiting him and be sending him some text messages," Thome said.
Ryan Franklin
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Earlier this year, it was reported that 2011 would be Ryan Franklin's last season. Now, he's saying that he would like to keep pitching.
When the 2011 season opens, Franklin will be 38, but he hasn't shown the wear and tear of an aging pitcher just yet.
Time will tell how long he can go.
Manny Ramirez
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Man-Ram's name is beginning to pop again as a possibility for teams looking for a power bat.
There are five teams that have interest: the Angels, Twins, Rangers, Rays and Blue Jays.
I still think it's most likely that he goes with the Rays, since he'd likely start most games there, but the others remain possibilities.
Andruw Jones
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The rumors of Andruw Jones going to the Yankees have been around for a couple weeks now, but it seems that the Yankees are starting to increase their pursuit of the center fielder.
The two sides still have a ways to go in terms of money on the contract, but it seems in the interests of both sides to make this happen, so I imagine it will this week.
Johnny Damon
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Johnny Damon's name hasn't been around much during the off season, but rumors are that the Yankees and Rays are both interested in him.
Damon would likely stay a DH at this stage of his career, but he can still hit well enough with the bat that he's a possibility.
Jose Bautista
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The rumors surrounding Bautista have nothing to do with him leaving. He'll be on the Blue Jays next season.
However, he seems to want to play in right field next season rather than third base.
Depending on where the Blue Jays put him, they may end up signing another bat, which could modify free agent rumors for players still seeking a home.
