Spring Training 2011: Alex Rodriguez and 25 Aging Stars Ready to Shine
All major league teams are now full bore in camp and the countdown until March 31st can't end quick enough. With teams going through their full workouts and games starting last weekend, who are the "old timers" that came into camp maybe a little more fit than last year?
Bleacher Report will look at these aging stars and see if they can regain or increase their numbers from last year.
Alex Rodriguez: New York Yankees
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Where do you start with A-Rod? Biggest contract in the history of baseball on two separate occasions. League most valuable player, World Series champion, home run hitting machine, all of which on a beat-up body?
A-Rod has come into camp this year 10 pounds lighter than his playing weight last year, and says he has lost 3 percent of his body fat. His surgically repaired hip is going on year three now and age certainly isn't in A-Rod's corner, but if in fact the weight loss is the case (the popcorn in the Super Bowl surely was non-buttered) then the Yankees are back in business in the middle of their order.
CC Sabathia: New York Yankees
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CC came into camp noticeably lighter than in recent memory. After his first workout, he stated to the media that he's hoping the weight loss will get him further into games. It shouldn't come as a big surprise that a 6'7", 300 pound-plus pitcher does get tired in the summer heat working six or seven innings.
He lost 25 pounds in the offseason and hopes to keep it off during the year. In order for the Yankees to contend, they'll need their ace to work those six or seven innings every time out. With the new, lighter CC, the Yankees are set at the top of an otherwise suspect rotation.
Lance Berkman: St. Louis Cardinals
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Berkman signed a free-agent deal to play in one of the most history-rich baseball towns in the league, St. Louis. There was a catch, though—a guy named Pujols currently plays first base, which means the Puma will be asked to play the outfield.
When the Yankees acquired him last year from the Astros, his numbers weren't anything Earth-shattering, but after losing some extra pounds this offseason, it should help with his range in right field and help him put up some respectable numbers in his first season in St. Louis.
Chipper Jones: Atlanta Braves
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Chipper Jones is winding down his career as well and in all honesty this may be the ride off into the sunset for Jones. After surgery on his knee last year, he's ready to come back and lead the young, hungry Braves into what may be a two-team NL East race.
Jones is surrounded once again with top-notch talent, including Brian McCann, Dan Uggla and Jason Heyward. Jones will put up numbers if he can stay healthy and for the Braves to catch the Phillies, he'll need to.
Johnny Damon: Tampa Bay Rays
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Johnny Damon is in the twilight of his career but the Rays still think he has something to offer. After a short stint in Detroit, Damon now calls Tampa home and with it hopes of padding a potential Hall of Fame career having over 2,500 hits.
Damon will have to earn his time with the young Rays but he is a back in the AL East and will have another solid season.
Manny Ramirez: Tampa Bay Rays
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Mannywood is no longer, but he is back with one of his former teammates from Boston in Johnny Damon.
Manny's overall numbers are outstanding. The problem with Manny is just that, Manny. Will Joe Maddon allow Manny to be Manny or will be held to the same standard as all the other Rays?
Whatever the case may be, the Rays hope that Ramirez has one more year left in him to help Tampa compete in the AL East.
John Lackey: Boston Red Sox
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Lackey was arguably the No. 1 free agent pitcher in 2010's class and all in all didn't have a bad season for the Sox. He went 14-1, had a 4.40 ERA and struck out 156 hitters.
This season, reports are that Lackey came in 15 pounds lighter and with a mindset that he wants to show the Red Sox nation what they paid for last year when he signed from the Angels.
The Sox will need Lackey this year, as in some ways he's the forgotten starter with Buchholz, Lester, Dice-K and Beckett. If they all can stay healthy, all the teams in the AL East will be playing for second place.
Derrek Lee: Baltimore Orioles
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Derrek Lee played for the Cubs and the Braves last year and is now with the Orioles. He signed with Baltimore this offseason and is looking to put a mediocre 2010 season behind him.
Lee still has some mileage in him and will be asked to knock in some big runs for the Orioles this season.
Aramis Ramirez: Chicago Cubs
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Ramirez did hit 25 home runs and drove in 83 runs in 2010, but outside of 2009 (injury), they were his worst power numbers since 2004.
Ramirez will have some help this year with another member of this list in Carlos Pena. If the Cubs hope to capitalize on the Cardinals' misfortune of losing Adam Wainwright, Ramirez needs to have the type of numbers he had from 2004-2008.
Carlos Pena: Chicago Cubs
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As mentioned in the last slide, Carlos Pena will be asked to either provide protection for Aramis Ramirez or numbers of his own in 2011. He signed a one-year deal with the Cubs possibly hoping for a bigger payday next season.
Pena always has been able to hit for power but his strikeouts and low batting average are two things that managers and fans have to learn to take with Pena. Expect Pena to enjoy the Friendly Confines and have a solid 2011 campaign.
Brandon Webb: Texas Rangers
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Webb is coming back after a two-year stint with arm injuries. When he was right, he was lights-out for the D-Backs, winning the Cy Young once and finishing second twice in a three-year time frame. Then the injuries hit.
Now he is back with the Rangers trying to get his career back on track. Manager Ron Washington liked what he saw the first couple days in camp and the hope is that Webb can get back to a portion of what he once was. He has a lot of work to do but seems determined to get there.
Russell Martin: New York Yankees
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Martin is looking to get his career back on track with the Yankees in 2011. It seems he will be "the man" behind the plate as Jorge Posada moves to a predominately DH role this year.
Martin's offensive numbers have been in decline the the past couple of years but the Yankees think he has some left in the tank. Hopefully for Yankee fans, Martin does.
Nate McLouth: Atlanta Braves
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McLouth may not be a "star" but he is getting up there and seems to have lost a bit of the magic he had in his 2008 season with the Pirates. However, he has been injured the past couple years and at 29 years old, he still has the ability to right the ship and duplicate the numbers he had while with the Pirates.
He's in a good situation in Atlanta, where he may hit in the two hole, which would allow him to score runs with Chipper, Heyward and Uggla all batting behind him. He seems to be ready for the 2011 season—let's hope he can put a good one together.
Jake Peavy: White Sox
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Peavy was supposed to be the ace that the White Sox desperately wanted when they obtained him from the Padres towards the end of the 2009 season. Since then, he's had ankle injuries and then, last year, the freak shoulder injury.
All signs are that he's improving and should pitch in the early part of the 2011 season (although it probably won't be April). Peavy, when healthy, is as good as they come and will look to justify the trade made for him two years ago.
Carlos Lee: Houston Astros
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El Caballo signed a six-year, $100 million contract in 2007 with the Astros, and the club has been second-guessed ever since. This year, Lee will hope to improve on an off season by his standards of 24 home runs and 89 RBI.
The Astros are going through a rebuilding process but there are some pieces to help out Lee with Hunter Pence and Michael Bourne. If Lee is a team player, he'll do his part to help the Astros climb the ranks of the NL Central.
AJ Burnett: New York Yankees
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Things couldn't have gotten much worse for Burnett than they did in the 2010 season. He was questioned about his control and was in manager Joe Girardi's doghouse most of the season based on his on-the-mound performance.
When he signed the $82.5 million contract in 2009, it was assumed the Bombers were getting a solid No. 2 pitcher. Since then, he hasn't exactly been consistent. All signs from training camp, though, are that his head is screwed on this year and he is expecting a breakout year.
With the staff the Yankees have, they had better hope that's the case.
Grady Sizemore: Cleveland Indians
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Grady Sizemore is only 28 years old but it seems he's been around forever. Sizemore is coming off microfracture knee surgery and won't be able to go until at least late April or May.
Still, he is coming back to a team that is rebuilding and needs his leadership and abilities on a daily basis to be a factor in the division. The Twins, Tigers and White Sox are a long ways out in front of the Indians but Cleveland does have some pieces in place to be competitive.
Having Sizemore come back and blossom would be a huge bonus for the Tribe.
Magglio Ordonez: Detroit Tigers
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Ordonez was on pace to have a solid 2010 campaign until an ankle injury sidelined him for the remainder of the season. Batting behind Miguel Cabrera gave Ordonez ample opportunities to drive in runs.
This year's Detroit Tigers have even more fire power with the addition of free-agent catcher Victor Martinez. Simply because of his place in the lineup, Ordonez should have a huge comeback year and should be right in the thick of things in the AL Central.
Carlos Beltran: New York Mets
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Beltran got off on the wrong foot last season, delaying his knee surgery until later on in the offseason, then missed more than half of the regular season.
There has been talk of moving him to right field, a plan that doesn't really seem to phase him in a positive way, but the Mets need him this year if they are to be competitive in the NL East.
After signing the big contract in 2005, Beltran has been consistent but not necessarily the superstar the Mets were hoping they would get.
Todd Helton: Colorado Rockies
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Helton isn't the player he once was, but of course age does that to a person. He is in the twilight of his career and seems perfectly content not being the center of attention.
Still, the Rockies need his defense and his occasional pop in the order to make things happen with Gomez and Tulo leading the pack. Helton looks to have maybe one more good year in him and this would be the perfect opportunity to cash in on that one year.
Jason Bay: New York Mets
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Bay and his four-year, $66 million contract didn't pay much dividends in his first year with the Mets. He missed most of it with injury but year two will hopefully be a different story.
Bay only played in 95 games last year and didn't provide the power the Mets were hoping they'd get. Still, the Mets have some pieces to contend with Jose Reyes and David Wright, but Bay must regain his form from Boston and Pittsburgh for this to happen.
Expect Bay to have a better season and justify the money given to him.
Jimmy Rollins: Philadelphia Phillies
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J-Roll has never been afraid to speak his mind. When the Mets spent all that money last year, J-Roll predicted the Phillies would win the division—it happened.
This year the shortstop is predicting a 100-win season from the Phillies. Don't be surprised if this comes to bear as well, but the offense will need to really step up if this is to occur. Rollins was hurt most of last year with his hamstrings and never really produced at the top of the batting order.
Rollins has always spoken his mind and this year he will back it up, again.
Derek Jeter: New York Yankees
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Three years, $51 million. That's what the Yankees signed "the Captain" for this offseason; that he remained in New York was not really to the surprise of anyone (because they were bidding against themselves), but the money Jeter got did raise eyebrows.
He's coming off his worst batting average season since 1995, when he played in only 15 games, but all his other numbers were pretty close to what they've always been.
Jeter was not happy at all with the way his contract was handled in the media and all but vowed to put his critics to rest. Being the competitor he is, I think he'll have a huge year for the Yankees.
J.J Putz: Arizona Diamondbacks
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I put Putz on this list for the simple fact he hasn't regained his overall "stuff" he had when he was the All-Star closer in Seattle. Since then, he's been on the disabled list, off to the Mets and last year with the White Sox.
In the latter two destinations, Putz served more as a setup man than the closer he once was.
The Diamondbacks gave him a two-year, $10 million contract to step in and take over the closer role for a team that isn't supposed to make much noise in the NL West but has the talent to make things interesting.
Putz shouldn't have the same pressure as in New York or Chicago, and Arizona should be a nice place to regain his closer form.
Brian Roberts: Baltimore Orioles
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When Roberts is right, he is a great leadoff man who can steal bases and hit for a pretty solid average. Roberts was limited to 59 games last year and it showed in the Orioles' record.
This is a new season and with it comes new teammates: Mark Reynolds, Vladimir Guerrero and Derrek Lee. Roberts will be the catalyst for the Orioles, who also have Nick Markakis and Luke Scott in their lineup.
If Roberts can stay healthy, the Orioles may surprise some people in the AL East.
