A slow, somewhat boring offseason in the majors is about to come to an end with spring camps opening in a few days, and for some of the remaining free agents that's not a very good sign.
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Finding a job these days ain't easy, even for big league pitchers with success in their pasts. Now with spring training fast approaching, time and options are running out for both the remaining free agents and clubs still looking to fit that last piece or two into their roster puzzles.
Two big time names available are veterans Pedro Martinez and John Smoltz.
Martinez, an eight-time All-Star, turned 38 during Philadelphia's loss to the Yankees in the 2009 World Series. Rumors were he wanted to return to the Phils where he got in nine regular season starts and three postseason assignments last year. But with their depth in the rotation, the Phillies aren't biting on the reported $5 million salary request by Martinez.
Smoltz was a bust in Boston over eight starts, then fared much better over seven goes in the Cardinals rotation. The righthander will turn 43 in May, and has been linked to the Mets who are looking for almost any warm body for their starting mix.
Smoltz and Martinez, plus the teams they eventually land with, might be better off at this stage making a midseason entrance a la Roger Clemens.
How strange is it for a reliever who picked up 20 saves in 21 chances for a team last year to still be out of work? Such is the case of Mike MacDougal after the Nationals non-tendered their '09 closer. MacDougal looked to be an easy fit with the Phillies, but they signed Danys Baez instead.
It's also strange that lefthander Jarrod Washburn hasn't found a home, even as bad as he stunk it up after being dealt to Detroit from Seattle. Livan Hernandez, one of my favorite pitchers, is still available. Quarter Pounder will end up signing some minor league deal, make a club at the very back end of its rotation coming out of camp and get in 25-30 starts.
Chien-Ming Wang is making a comeback after all sorts of injuries the past couple of years. One report had a Dodgers scout saying it would be late May before he was 100%. Maybe one of the following three teams will ink Wang or one of the other pitchers eventually.
Chicago Cubs 18/1
2009 record/finish: 83-78, 2nd in NL Central
Departing: OF Milton Bradley, RHP Rich Harden, RHP Kevin Gregg
Arriving: OF Marlon Byrd, OF Xavier Nady, 1B Chad Tracy, RHP Carlos Silva
2010 outlook: Doomed, just as soon as I buy my futures on them to win the National League. Chicago Cubs executives should consider adding a few thousand to their already bloated payroll and pay me off to prevent the jinx I put on them each season.
If you're Milton Bradley, how do you take being dealt for a pitcher like Carlos Silva who has posted an ERA in the upper 6's the last two years in pitcher-friendly Safeco? That's the biggest change for the Cubs entering this season, not getting Silva necessarily but replacing Bradley with the likes of Byrd and Nady in their outfield. They've added depth, though even with the money they received for Silva the Cubbies are paying a bunch for a Bradley-less clubhouse.
The biggest keys for Chicago's North Siders will be Alfonso Soriano bouncing back from a poor season overall and Aramis Ramirez staying healthy to pump the offense up. The rotation, without Silva, is pretty deep and the closer issue is settled with Carlos Marmol seated and Kevin Gregg departing for Toronto.
Free MLB Pick: 88 wins, 2nd in NL Central
Arizona Diamondbacks 50/1
2009 record/finish: 70-92, 5th in NL West
Departing: RHP Max Scherzer, 1B Chad Tracy, OF Eric Byrnes, LHP Doug Davis, RHP Jon Garland
Arriving: 2B Kelly Johnson, 1B Adam LaRoche, RHP Edwin Jackson, RHP Ian Kennedy, RHP Bobby Howry
2010 outlook: With Edwin Jackson joining the rotation behind Brandon Webb and Dan Haren, the Diamondbacks could indeed be dangerous. Naturally a lot still depends on Webb bouncing back from the arm surgery that made '09 a wasted season for the righthander. If he does return to forum, this club could even battle for second in the division behind the Dodgers.
There is certainly a lot of power in the order, er, the potential for a lot of power. Mark Reynolds has the biggest stick, along with successive seasons setting new MLB marks for striking out. LaRoche and Johnson, the two newcomers on the right side of the infield could jack 40 between them. There's a 30-HR threat in right field named Justin Upton and a 30-HR thread in center if the Chris Young we saw at the end of '09 is what we see all of '10.
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Hard team to cap, and easy to expect down at the bottom rung or two of the division since Los Angeles, Colorado and San Francisco seemingly have fewer if's.
Free MLB Pick: 78 wins, 4th in NL West
Pittsburgh Pirates 125/1
2009 record/finish: 62-99, 6th in NL Central
Departing: Many during the '09 season
Arriving: OF Ryan Church, 2B Akinori Iwamura, RHP Octavio Dotel, RHP Brendon Donnelly
2010 outlook: I say it each season, so excuse me if you're bored to hear it once again. I feel sorry for Pirates fans. The good people of Pittsburgh, as well as the ghosts of this once proud franchise, deserve better.
No, I wouldn't sell my soul to the devil for the Bucs to have a winning season. However I would sacrifice my own beloved Astros to a 100-loss season if Pittsburgh could be treated to at least an 82-plus win campaign. There, I worked my 'Stros into another article and paid homage to the great fans in Iron City all at the same time.
Andrew McCutchen is one Bucco I'm keen on watching, and maybe we'll see Pedro Alvarez make his major league debut for the Pirates down at the hot corner at some point during the 2010 season. Both McCutchen and Alvarez will be playing for contenders in a few seasons after Pittsburgh deals them away. As Smiley Lewis sang back in 1957, and Aerosmith covered many years later, "Shame, shame, shame."
Free MLB Pick: 68 wins, 6th in NL Central
Part 6 of a 10-part series. To check out what nonsense I've been spewing about other clubs, click the links below in a table listing Bodog futures odds to win the World Series as of Jan 13, 2010.