Miguel Tejada: Signed one year deal with Orioles

Miguel Tejada is an excellent addition to the Orioles. His skills at third base haven't been tested yet, however he can still hit very well. His slugging has deteriorated a bit, but he's a gap hitter that will hit for average. He will fit perfectly in the Orioles lineup, but the Orioles still need some more power in the lineup. Russell Branyan can be signed to play first base and Jonny Gomes can be signed to be their designated hitter.

Jim Thome: Signed one year deal with Twins

Jim Thome still has major league talent. He doesn't have elite power anymore but can provide some off the bench for the Twins. He is a guarantee to provide a very good on base percentage even though he does strike out a lot. He has more going for him to pinch hit than against him, even with his high strike out counts. He is a good bat off the bench.

Rick Ankiel: Signed one year deal with Royals

Rick Ankiel was a nice story a few years ago, but the major leagues have shown that he's a marginal player at best. He has made some flashy plays in the outfield, but he's not that great of a fielder. Upon his return to the major leagues, he showed impressive power, but that's if he gets his pitches to swing at. Pitchers have figured him out resulting in less production, lower batting average, and proving he is not an everyday player.

The Royals need more production in their lineup. Russell Branyan should be signed and play third base. Jermaine Dye should be signed to be the designated hitter. Chris Denorfia, Brian Giles, Gary Sheffield, or Randy Winn should be signed to play right field.

Jason Giambi: Signed one year deal with Rockies

Jason Giambi is clearly at the end of his career, but he still has something to offer for the Rockies. No matter what else he does, a great on base percentage is guaranteed. Although he strikes out a bit too much to be a great pinch hitter, you know for the most part he'll find his way on base for the top of the lineup. He will be a good bench player.

Jose Arredondo: Signed minor league contract with Reds

Jose Arredondo is a very good major league reliever. On the Reds roster, he is the fourth best reliever they have out of seven quality relievers. This adds depth to the Reds bullpen and Arredondo is capable of getting outs when he's needed.

The Reds should still look at Erik Bedard for the top of their rotation.

Reds Bullpen

CL - Arthur Rhodes (LHP)
SU - Nick Masset (RHP)
SU - Micah Owings (RHP)
1 - Jose Arredondo (RHP)
2 - Francisco Corder (RHP)
3 - Danny Herrera

Ron Belliard: Signed one year deal with Dodgers

Ron Belliard is a solid defensive second baseman with gap power. He won't provide an outstanding average but he can hit doubles. However, the Dodgers did not need to get another starting player. Blake DeWitt can handle the second base job and the role of the second baseman this year for the Dodgers is to play good defense. DeWitt can field better and will provide a slightly better average. Belliard will be a good backup this season.

Jon Garland: Signed one year deal with Padres

Jon Garland is a good starting pitcher. On any good team, he would be a solid number four starter in a rotation. On the Padres, I would have him used as a fifth starter, which symbolizes good depth in the rotation. One problem is the Padres do not have a top starter going into this season. Erik Bedard would be a great option for the Padres.

Adam LaRoche: Signed one year deal with Diamondbacks

Adam LaRoche provides a lot to a team. He is not an elite hitter, but does have gaps power and will provide a solid on base percentage. He is also a good fielder at first base. The Diamondbacks made a good move signing LaRoche to play everyday and strengthening their overall team. I felt the best option before was Brandon Allen, but he's not ready to provide what LaRoche is capable of doing.

Rafael Betancourt: Signed two year deal with Rockies

The Rockies don't have much in their bullpen, so Rafael Betancourt is a terrific addition. Betancourt should be the setup man to Huston Street this season. The Rockies still need to improve their bullpen by adding more quality relievers.

Relief Pitchers Available

Brandon Backe
Joe Beimel
Joaquin Benoit
Chad Bradford
Fernando Cabrera
Kevin Cameron
Jesus Colome
David Davidson
Alan Embree
Scott Eyre
Josh Fogg
Casey Fossum
Chad Fox
Ryan Franklin
Dan Giese
Tom Gordon
Kevin Gregg
Mark Hendrickson
Mike Hinckley
Jason Isringhausen
Randy Johnson
Masahide Kobayashi
Justin Miller
Trever Miller
Guillermo Mota
Bill Murphy
Joe Nelson
Tomokazu Ohka
Will Ohman
Horacio Ramirez
Rich Rundles
Billy Sadler
John Smoltz
Justin Speier
Ken Takahashi
Brett Tomko
Luis Vizcaino
Jason Waddell
Doug Waechter
David Weather
Todd Wellemeyer

Kevin Cash: Signed minor league contract with Astros

Kevin Cash is a good defensive catcher and an overall better player than J.R. Towles. Cash should be the opening day catcher. Though he has a weak major league bat, it's still better than what Towles has proven in his career so far.

The Astros still need a starting second baseman. The two free agents who would be ideal fits are Omar Infante and Felipe Lopez.

Doug Davis: Signed one year deal with Brewers

Doug Davis would be a terrific number three starter in a solid rotation. On the Brewers, he will be slotted as the number four starter this season which creates depth and adds strength to the rotation. The Brewers have six capable starters now and have a rotation ready for the 2010 season.

Brewers Rotation

1 - Randy Wolf
2 - Yovani Gallardo
3 - Seth McClung
4 - Doug Davis
5 - Carlos Villanueva

Shawn Hill: Signed minor league contract with Blue Jays

Shawn Hill can be a number four starter on any rotation. The Blue Jays already have been starters in the fourth and fifth spots in the rotation, so Hill should start the season in the minors. He adds depth to the Blue Jays if their fourth or fifth starters get injured during the season.

The Blue Jays still need a number one starter. Erik Bedard is available as a free agent and could fit that role.

Paul Lo Duca: Signed minor league contract with Rockies

Paul Lo Duca may not have the mindblowing numbers, but he is the exact type of player the Rockies need. The Rockies need a catcher that is capable of consistently putting the ball in play. Lo Duca hardly strikes out and that's all the Rockies will need out of their catcher this season. This move fills one hole and leaves the hole at third base the only one remaining. Russell Branyan would be a perfect fit to play third and hit in the middle of the lineup.

Gary Matthews Jr.: Traded to Mets

Gary Matthews Jr. will not contribute anything of significance to the Mets this season. He doesn't get on base enough. He doesn't hit for a high average or power. He is a subpar outfielder. He doesn't fit any role a major league team would need.

The Mets need to continue looking for a first baseman. Rich Aurilia, Nomar Garciaparra, Adam LaRoche, Greg Norton, or Chad Tracy would all be good fits for the Mets.

Jay Payton: Signed minor league contract with Rockies

Jay Payton is no longer a major league player. Sitting out last year will not help him this season. He won't be able to perform with the bat, but he can be an above average fielding left fielder. Best case scenario, Payton can be used in the later innings as a defensive replacement.

The Rockies still need a third baseman and a catcher. Moving Russell Branyan back to third base would fill the hole at the hot corner and add more power which the lineup really needs. The Rockies should look at signing Paul Phillips to catch because he would fill their catching hole and their spot in the lineup the best.

Joel Pineiro: Signed two year deal with Angels

The Angels add depth to their starting rotation with this signing. They had five good starters before this move and now they have six. Matt Palmer should be the pitcher that is bumped from the rotation and into the bullpen because he can perform very well there. In any good rotation, Pineiro would be an ideal third starter which should be his role this season.

Angels Rotation

1 - Jered Weaver
2 - Joe Saunders
3 - Joel Pineiro
4 - Ervin Santana
5 - Trevor Bell

Brian Stokes: Traded to Angels

Brian Stokes allows a few too many baserunners to be a trusted member of the Angels bullpen. If there is a chance, the Angels should use him in the minors to start the season because the Angels have seven quality relievers going into this season. The Angels pitching is set for opening day, any quality addition can only add more depth.

Santiago Casilla: Signed minor league contract with Giants

Santiago Casilla should remain in the minors for this coming season. He gives up too many hits, which causes issues in any sort of relief situation. The Giants have seven solid relief pitchers coming into the season on their roster. Depth is useful, but Casilla should not be significant in the majors this season.

Octavio Dotel: Signed one year deal with Pirates

Octavio Dotel will not provide adequate relief for the Pirates this season. He walks too many batters to be a reliable relief pitcher. As it stands right now, the Pirates have their top six relievers set and on the roster.

Osiris Matos: Signed minor league contract with Giants

Osiris Matos is not a major league reliever. The Giants have seven capable relievers that can come out of their bullpen this season, so Matos should start and remain in the minor leagues for the Giants. The Giants pitching is set for the start of the 2010 season.

Vicente Padilla: Signed one year deal with Dodgers

Vicente Padilla is a very good pitcher. He would be a solid number four starter in a good rotation and if needed he can be an effective reliever. Looking at the Dodgers rotation, however, I like Chad Billingsley, Charlie Haeger, Clayton Kershaw, Hiroki Kuroda, and Eric Stults better than Padilla, which really defines the depth the Dodgers have built with this signing. The Dodgers have eleven better pitchers than Padilla that can relieve in the bullpen. The Dodgers pitching is a strength and Padilla only makes it stronger even if his impact isn't immediate.

Jeff Salazar: Signed minor league contract with Orioles

Jeff Salazar is not a major league hitter and shouldn't be used as one on the Orioles. He is a very good outfielder and can play all three positions, but he should start in the minors and if the Orioles need a backup outfielder then call him up. He would be a good late inning replacement.

The Orioles are lacking guaranteed power in the lineup. They should look at Russell Branyan to play first base and Jermaine Dye to be their designated hitter.

Corey Sullivan: Signed minor league contract with Astros

Corey Sullivan may not stand out as a major league player statistically, but he makes up for it defensively. He can play all three outfield positions well and when called up to the majors, he would be a great defensive replacement in the later innings. He's not horrible with the bat, but he doesn't do anything specifically well.

The Astros still need a second baseman. Felipe Lopez and Omar Infante are perfect fits for the Astros.

Brandon Jones: Claimed off Waivers by Pirates

Brandon Jones is a good major league player, who should start the season on the Pirates bench. He's a very good fielding outfielder and can play all positions. He's also a solid doubles hitter. He can be very useful for the Pirates in late innings or even if an outfielder needs a day off.

The Pirates need a third baseman and a shortstop. If the Pirates can get Omar Infante or Felipe Lopez to move to third base, they would be very good in their everyday lineup. Orlando Cabrera, Ramon Martinez, or Miguel Tejada would be good fits at short stop.

Merkin Valdez: Acquired by Blue Jays for cash

Merkin Valdez is a below average reliever. He allows to many hits and walks, which makes him unreliable in any situation. He should stay in the minors if possible because the Blue Jays have nine good relief pitchers on their roster now.

Bengie Molina: Signed one year deal with Giants

Bengie Molina would have been a perfect fit in the Giants two hole because he consistently puts the ball in play, but Buster Posey is the everyday catcher. The Giants need a center fielder who can hit the way Molina does and Molina cannot play center field. Molina is an ideal pinch hitter and good defensive catcher.

Endy Chavez, Ryan Freel, and Joey Gathright would all be perfect fits for the Giants center fielder.

Jeremy Reed: Signed minor league contract with Blue Jays

Jeremy Reed is a good fielding outfielder. He can play all of the outfield position. His bat is not major league quality, which is why he will be starting in the minor leagues, but he can be a good late inning defensive replacement for the Blue Jays this season.

The Blue Jays still need a catcher like Brad Ausmus, Rod Barajas, Michael Barrett, Kevin Cash, Jason LaRue, Chad Moeller, Bengie Molina, Jose Molina, Eric Munson, Kyle Phillips, Paul Phillips, Guillermo Rodriguez, or Yorvit Torrealba.

Brian Bixler: Traded to Indians

Brian Bixler has not proven that he can perform in anyway in the major leagues. He can't hit the ball and doesn't walk resulting in a horrific on base percentage. He strikes out a lot and has no power. Defensively, he's a weak fielding shortstop. He should not be in the major leagues.

The Indians need some more in their lineup. Russell Branyan would fill the void at first and the power bat they need.

Jerry Hairston Jr.: Signed one year deal with Padres

Jerry Hairston Jr. is a solid fielding infielder. Given the Padres do not have a third baseman, Hairston would fit in perfectly batting eighth and giving a good glove at third base. He is a good veteran presence and a hardnosed player. The Padres should look at Ron Belliard or Felipe Lopez to fill the second base position.

Nick Green: Signed minor league contract with Dodgers

Nick Green doesn't do anything with such strength that he can fit a role on the Dodgers. He's not the best hitter or fielder and should remain in the minors for the season. Rafael Furcal and Chin Lung Hu are better options at shortstop.

Doug Mientkiewicz: Signed minor league contract with Dodgers

Doug Mientkiewicz should start the season in the majors. Before this signing, I felt James Loney should bat second because he can put the ball in play consistently, however so can Doug Mientkiewicz. In addition, Mientkiewicz should provide a better on base percentage than Loney and in turn Mientkiewicz should start for the Dodgers this season.

Russ Ortiz: Signed minor league contract with Dodgers

Russ Ortiz should stay in the minors all season. He cannot help the Dodgers this season if they want to have success this season. He walks a lot of batters, gives up tons of hits, and allows too many runs to score which will hurt the Dodgers. Ortiz is not a major league hitter, but the Dodgers were already in strong shape in their pitching staff.

D.J. Carrasco: Signed minor league contract with Pirates

The Pirates made a very good move and potentially filled the final hole in their starting rotation. D.J. Carrasco has the upside of being the number two starter the Pirates needed. At this point, the Pirates pitching staff is ready for the 2010 season to begin.

Starting Rotation

1 - Zach Duke
2 - D.J. Carrasco
3 - Daniel McCutchen
4 - Paul Maholm
5 - Ross Ohlendorf

Aaron Cunningham: Traded to Padres

Aaron Cunningham is a very good hitter and should start in left field for the Padres. This is an improvement in their lineup, but doesn't complete the holes that remain at second base and third base. Ron Belliard and Felipe Lopez would be good fit to play second base. Geoff Blum, Mike Lamb, or Melvin Mora would be very good additions to play third base.

Brendan Donnelly: Signed one year deal with Pirates

Brendan Donnelly is a good reliever and will help the Pirates this season. The Pirates needed bullpen help and Donnelly gives the bullpen six good arms to pitch in the later innings. The Pirates have filled another hole in their team for the 2010 season.

Pirates Bullpen

CL - Vinnie Chulk (RHP)
SU - Steven Jackson (RHP)
SU - Brendan Donnelly (RHP)
1 - Evan Meek (RHP)
2 - Jeff Karstens (RHP)
3 - Anthony Claggett (RHP)

Scott Hairston: Traded to Padres

Scott Hairston is a solid fielding outfielder and a decent hitter. He shows some power which would be good off the bench as a pinch hitter and he could go and play the outfield late in innings. He is a good addition to the roster for depth, but he shouldn't be a starter on the Padres. The Padres need a second baseman and a third baseman. Ron Belliard and Felipe Lopez would be good fit to play second base. Geoff Blum, Mike Lamb, or Melvin Mora would be very good additions to play third base.

Eric Sogard: Traded to Athletics

Eric Sogard is a solid hitting second baseman who should start with for the Athletics this season. He can hit a lot of double and should bat sixth in their lineup in 2010. Sogard will be a very good addition to the team.

Kevin Kouzmanoff: Traded to Oakland

Kevin Kouzmanoff is a very good fielding third baseman. He should compete with Jake Fox for the starting position at third base. Fox is a lesser fielder but a better hitter. Worse case scenario for Kouzmanoff is he becomes a defensive replacement late in games.

Tommy Everidge: Claimed off Waivers by Mariners

Tommy Everidge is a terrific pickup by the Mariners. Everidge has shown to have power which the Mariners desperately need and can play first base for the Mariners. In addition, the Mariners should look at Russell Branyan as the designated hitter to complete the batting order.

Shane Loux: Signed minor league contract with Astros

Shane Loux cannot start for the Astros this season. He will pitch batting practice to the opponents. The Astros have five solid starters to go into this season so Loux will not break into the rotation out of spring training. He allows too many baserunners to be effective out of the bullpen. The Astros have ten solid relievers going into this season.

Edwin Moreno: Signed minor league contract with Red Sox

Edwin Moreno is not a major league reliever. He gives up too many hits and walks to be effective in a big spot. He is signed to pitch in the minors and he should stay there for the season.

Jorge Sosa: Signed minor league contract with Red Sox

Jorge Sosa is not a good major league pitcher and should remain in the minors for the Red Sox. The Red Sox have nine quality relievers in the majors and minors that can come out of the Red Sox bullpen. The Red Sox pitching is already set for the 2010 season.

Gil Velazquez: Signed minor league contract with Red Sox

Gil Velazquez is a solid fielding shortstop with a very weak bat. At best he will be a bench player in the major leagues for the Red Sox. He can be used as a defensive replacement in the later innings if he's called up to the majors.

Mike Redmond: Signed one year deal with Indians

Mike Redmond is a very good defensive catcher. Redmond will prove to be a solid backup and a good veteran presence for Lou Marson who should be the starting catcher next season.

Greg Aquino: Signed minor league contract with White Sox

Greg Aquino has not proven to be a reliable reliever in the major leagues. The White Sox would be best to leave him in the minor leagues this season because he should not make a significant contribution to the major league team. The White Sox have nine relief pitchers that would be very good in the major leagues without looking at Greg Aquino.

Daniel Cabrera: Signed minor league contract with White Sox

Daniel Cabrera has always been a potential that never panned out. He is not consistently in the strike zone and he gives up too many hits and runs. This combination is not good enough to be a long man in a bullpen. He should remain in the minors for the White Sox all season. The White Sox have a full compliment of pitchers without Cabrera.

Phil Dumatrait: Signed minor league contract with Tigers

Phil Dumatrait is a poor major league pitcher and though the Tigers need help in the bullpen, he is not the answer. The Tigers have two other pitchers that are better than Dumatrait, but who should also not be significant members of the bullpen. The Tigers need to choose relievers from the following list for more success at the end of games.

Remaining Free Agent Relief Pitchers

Joe Beimel
Joaquin Benoit
Chad Bradford
Kiko Calero
Buddy Carlyle
Jesus Colome
Bartolo Colon
Jose Contreras
David Davidson
Brendan Donnelly
Alan Embree
Scott Eyre
Josh Fogg
Ryan Franklin
Edgar Gonzalez
Tom Gordon
Kevin Gregg
Mark Hendrickson
Rich Hill
Mike Hinckley
Jason Isringhausen
Masahide Kobayashi
Carlos Martinez
Justin Miller
Trever Miller
Eric Milton
Guillermo Mota
Bill Murphy
Joe Nelson
Tomokazu Ohka
Will Ohman
Chan Ho Park
Rich Rundles
Glendon Rusch
Billy Sadler
Alfredo Simon
Justin Speier
Ken Takahashi
Brett Tomko
Luis Vizcaino
Jason Waddell
Doug Waechter
David Weathers
Kip Wells
Jamey Wright

Jose Valverde: Signed two year deal with Tigers

Jose Valverde is a welcome addition to a very poor Tigers bullpen. Valverde will do an excellent job shutting down the opposition in the later innings. The Tigers still need more relief help as their bullpen is still very weak, but Valverde is an excellent pickup and puts them in better position.

Remaining Free Agent Relief Pitchers

Joe Beimel
Joaquin Benoit
Chad Bradford
Kiko Calero
Buddy Carlyle
Jesus Colome
Bartolo Colon
Jose Contreras
David Davidson
Brendan Donnelly
Alan Embree
Scott Eyre
Josh Fogg
Ryan Franklin
Edgar Gonzalez
Tom Gordon
Kevin Gregg
Mark Hendrickson
Rich Hill
Mike Hinckley
Jason Isringhausen
Masahide Kobayashi
Carlos Martinez
Justin Miller
Trever Miller
Eric Milton
Guillermo Mota
Bill Murphy
Joe Nelson
Tomokazu Ohka
Will Ohman
Chan Ho Park
Rich Rundles
Glendon Rusch
Billy Sadler
Alfredo Simon
Justin Speier
Ken Takahashi
Brett Tomko
Luis Vizcaino
Jason Waddell
Doug Waechter
David Weathers
Kip Wells
Jamey Wright

Ryan Church: Signed one year deal with Pirates

Ryan Church is a good defensive outfielder that can hit a lot of doubles. He will be a very useful member at the bottom of the lineup and playing right field. Adding Church shuffles the current roster around but the Pirates still have holes at shortstop and third base. Omar Infante and Felipe Lopez could be moved to shortstop and would be excellent fits with the Pirates. In addition, the Pirates should sign Melvin Mora to play third base.

Aubrey Huff: Signed one year deal with Giants

Aubrey Huff is a good hitter with good doubles power and a good on base percentage. He can field first base decently as well. He can use these skills coming off the bench because Jesus Guzman would be the better candidate to play first base for the Giants this season.

The Giants need to find a center fielder for the top of their order. Endy Chavez, Ryan Freel, or Joey Gathright would fit perfect into the Giants lineup to complete their order.

Brad Nelson: Signed minor league contract with Mariners

Brad Nelson has some power, but not enough to warrant an everyday position. He doesn't have anything else of note that can make an impact on the Mariners offensively or defensively. Nelson should remain in the minors for the season.

The Mariners need more power in their lineup. Russell Branyan should be signed to play first base and Jermaine Dye should be signed be their designated hitter.

Brian Bass: Signed minor league contract with Pirates

Brian Bass is another pitcher the Pirates brought in that has no business playing in the major leagues this season. The Pirates need more bullpen pitchers and Bass should not be one of them. The Pirates now have fourteen pitchers that have been brought in on major and minor league contracts that should not get an opportunity at all in the majors.

Remaining Free Agent Relief Pitchers

Joe Beimel
Joaquin Benoit
Chad Bradford
Kiko Calero
Buddy Carlyle
Jesus Colome
Bartolo Colon
Jose Contreras
David Davidson
Brendan Donnelly
Alan Embree
Scott Eyre
Josh Fogg
Ryan Franklin
Edgar Gonzalez
Tom Gordon
Kevin Gregg
Mark Hendrickson
Rich Hill
Mike Hinckley
Jason Isringhausen
Masahide Kobayashi
Carlos Martinez
Justin Miller
Trever Miller
Eric Milton
Guillermo Mota
Bill Murphy
Joe Nelson
Tomokazu Ohka
Will Ohman
Chan Ho Park
Rich Rundles
Glendon Rusch
Billy Sadler
Alfredo Simon
Justin Speier
Ken Takahashi
Brett Tomko
Jose Valverde
Luis Vizcaino
Jason Waddell
Doug Waechter
David Weathers
Kip Wells
Jamey Wright

Ramon Castro: Signed one year deal with White Sox

Ramon Castro does not offer anything the White Sox need. A.J. Pierzynski and Tyler Flowers can do very well behind the plate and at the plate. Ramon Castro was never known for being a good defensive catcher and his hitting has fallen off lately.

The White Sox need some power in their lineup. Russell Branyan would be a good fit to play first base and hit in the middle of the order. The White Sox need a third baseman and the only way they can get what they need is to move Omar Infante or Felipe Lopez to third base.

Mark Grudzielanek: Signed minor league contract with Indians

This signing is terrific for the Indians. Mark Grudzielanek still has plenty of talent as a baseball player. He is a good fielding second baseman and can hit well with some gap power. I would expect him to get significant playing time in the majors this season for the Indians. They should still look for a power hitting first baseman such as Russell Branyan.

Eric Hinske: Signed one year deal with Braves

Eric Hinske is a pretty decent fielding outfielder, but he's not much of a hitter. He will be fine off the bench for the Braves as a late inning defensive replacement. The Braves need more power in their starting lineup. Russell Branyan is the only true power hitter left and should be signed by the Braves to play first base. The Braves should also look at Jermaine Dye to play right field as he is the next best power hitter available on the free agent market.

Brett Myers: Signed one year deal with Astros

Brett Myers could be an important part of the Astros bullpen. He is not good enough to be a starting pitcher, but he has the stuff to be a very effective reliever and he will crack the top six in the bullpen.

Astros Bullpen

CL - Samuel Gervacio (RHP)
SU - Tim Byrdak (LHP)
SU - Brandon Lyon (RHP)
1 - Jose Valdez (RHP)
2 - Jeff Fulchino (RHP)
3 - Brett Myers (RHP)

Argenis Reyes: Signed minor league contract with Dodgers

Argenis Reyes is a solid fielding infielder, but can't hit at all. If called up to the majors, he can provide solid defense in the late innings for the Dodgers. He won't provide anything of value with his bat.

Khalil Greene: Signed one year deal with Rangers

Khalil Greene doesn't provide anything of use to the Rangers or any team. He seems to have been figured out by pitching and his defense is very weak. The Rangers need a power hitting first baseman and a solid catcher. Russell Branyan is still available to play first and one of the following catchers will be sufficient.

Catchers

Brad Ausmus
Rod Barajas
Michael Barrett
Kevin Cash
Jason LaRue
Chad Moeller
Bengie Molina
Jose Molina
Eric Munson
Kyle Phillips
Paul Phillips
Mike Redmond
Guillermo Rodrigue
Yorvit Torrealba

Aroldis Chapman: Signed six year contract with Reds

Aroldis Chapman could be a number three starter for the Reds this season. The Reds really needed a top starter and a number two starter. Erik Bedard would be a good investment at the top of the rotation but there aren't any number two starters remaining in the free agent market. If Edinson Volquez was healthy, he could have been a number two starter. As a result, Chapman being the best number three starter on the Reds roster and out of the remaining free agent starters would be forced to be a number two starter for the season. Aaron Harang is also a solid number three starter so only the number two slot will be mildly weakened. The Reds got the best option remaining to be their number two starter.

Andy Gonzalez: Signed minor league contract with Orioles

Andy Gonzalez belongs in the minor leagues all season. He can't hit or field and the Orioles have many infielder options who are better than Gonzalez. The Orioles need more power in their lineup. They should invest in Russell Branyan to play first base and either Jermaine Dye or Marcus Thames as a designated hitter.

Vladimir Guerrero: Signed one year deal with Rangers

Vladimir Guerrero's best years are behind him. The Rangers need a player that has a little more power than I think Guerrero can produce at this point. The Rangers should look at Russell Branyan to play first and provide the needed power. They also need to choose from the following list of catchers.

Catchers

Brad Ausmus
Rod Barajas
Michael Barrett
Kevin Cash
Jason LaRue
Chad Moeller
Bengie Molina
Jose Molina
Eric Munson
Kyle Phillips
Paul Phillips
Mike Redmond
Guillermo Rodrigue
Yorvit Torrealba

Matt Herges: Signed minor league contract with Royals

Matt Herges should win a slot on the major league roster and should eventually be used as one of the setup men in their bullpen. He is a reliable reliever and could be a good bridge to Joakim Soria.

Royals Bullpen

CL - Joakin Soria (RHP)
SU - Carlos Rosa (RHP)
SU - Matt Herges (RHP)
1 - Juan Cruz (RHP)
2 - Brian Bannister (RHP)
3 - Bryan Bullington (RHP)

Zach Jackson: Traded to Blue Jays

Zach Jackson should not contribute anything to the Blue Jays of any significance. He gives up a lot of run, hits, and walks. He should stay in the minors if at all possible or possibly be released if there is no option but to keep him on the roster. The Blue Jays still need a top starter and should look at Erik Bedard for this season.

Josh Banks: Signed minor league contract with Astros

Although Josh Banks is a starter, he can become a useful member of the Astros bullpen. The Astros do have better talent in the bullpen, but Banks can still contribute and adds depth to their bullpen.

Adrian Beltre: Signed one year deal with Red Sox

Adrian Beltre does not perform in anyway that is beneficial to the Red Sox. He doesn't have enough power. He doesn't consistently have good at bats. His field is vastly overrated. Mike Lowell is overall a better player and still on the Red Sox roster. The Red Sox have all their needs filled, so this signing is just a waste of a roster space.

Scott Podsednik: Signed one year deal with Royals

The Royals have filled on of their four holes in their batting order with signing Scott Podsednik. He will give the Royals a hitter that can provide a very good batting average and good defense in left field.

The Royals still need a lot of power in their lineup. Russell Branyan would be a good fit at first base, which moves Billy Butler to the designated hitter role. Jermaine Dye is their best option to play right field and hit for very good power. If the Royals can sign Omar Infante or Felipe Lopez to move to third base, they'd also fill a missing hole in their lineup.

Matthew Brown: Signed minor league contract with Rangers

The Rangers bringing in Matthew Brown is a very good move. I see him as the Rangers third baseman at some point during the season. His glove needs work, but he can hit with decent power and can hit it in the gaps. He can be a productive member of the batting order for the Rangers this season. The Rangers should look at Russell Branyan to play first base and they also should look at the following list of catchers.

Catchers

Brad Ausmus
Rod Barajas
Michael Barrett
Kevin Cash
Jason LaRue
Chad Moeller
Bengie Molina
Jose Molina
Eric Munson
Kyle Phillips
Paul Phillips
Mike Redmond
Guillermo Rodrigue
Yorvit Torrealba

Jack Cust: Signed one year deal with Athletics

Jack Cust is known for his power, but the most important thing he brings to the table is con base percentage. He hits for a low average, but he finds his way on base by walking a lot. He strikes out a lot, but he can still get on base. He'll give you the homeruns, but his on base percentage is what should stand out more. Oakland should bring in Miguel Tejada to fill shortstop and complete their lineup.

Lenny DiNardo: Signed minor league contract with Oakland

Lenny DiNardo should not play in the majors this year. He's become increasingly hittable almost to the point of batting practice. He also shows a strong tendency to fear the strike zone because he's been giving up a lot of hits. The Royals do not need him in the major leagues this year.

Bill Hall: Traded to Red Sox

Bill Hall isn't that good of a player, but if he makes contact with the ball it is typically good contact. He's a feast or famine sort of hitter with more famine than feast. Hall can hit the ball into the gaps more than hitting home runs. The Red Sox continue to add depth to their complete starting roster.

Casey Kotchman: Traded to Mariners

Casey Kotchman can fit well in the Mariners lineup batting sixth. The main issue right now for the Mariners is they need a power hitter and the only legitimate power hitter remaining is Russell Branyan. Branyan plays first and so does Kotchman. If the Mariners sign Branyan, then Kotchman will be forced to the bench.

Jay Marshall: Claimed off Waivers by Mets

Jay Marshall hasn't proven anything in the major leagues or even consistency in the minor leagues. If the Mets want success this year, Marshall should remain in the minors. The Mets do have other talent that can pitch in the bullpen.

Jorge Padilla: Signed minor league contract with Blue Jays

Jorge Padilla should eventually be in the major leagues this season playing left field. He can hit for average and giving him the everyday playing time will give him the experience and opportunity to succeed. This could turn into a very underrated and shrewd move by the Blue Jays. In turn the Blue Jays should turn to a catcher like Brad Ausmus, Rod Barajas, Michael Barrett, Kevin Cash, Jason LaRue, Chad Moeller, Bengie Molina, Jose Molina, Eric Munson, Kyle Phillips, Paul Phillips, Mike Redmond, Guillermo Rodriguez, or Yorvit Torrealba.

Dane Sardinha: Signed minor league contract with Phillies

Dane Sardinha should remain in the minor leagues all season. He's not a good fielding catcher and can't hit major league pitching at all. The Phillies have Carlos Ruiz and Brian Schneider, so I would not expect to see much of Sardinha at all this season. I do not believe Placido Polanco can perform the way the Phillies expect him to, so if they can get Omar Infante or Felipe Lopez to move to third base then their lineup will be complete.

Matt Capps: Signed one year deal with Nationals

The Nationals have much better talent than Capps to potentially be in their bullpen. Capps has been trending in the wrong direction over the past few years. He hasn't been fooling the hitters as frequently as he used to. The Nationals have eleven capable relievers on their roster, but they need some starting pitching. Possible third starters that are available are Aroldis Chapman, Doug Davis, Dan Giese, Noah Lowry, Odalis Perez, Joel Pineiro, and Jarrod Washburn. Possible back of the rotation starters that are available are Cha Seung Baek, Braden Looper, and Pedro Martinez.

Clay Condrey: Signed one year deal with Twins

Clay Condrey is a very good relief pitcher. He adds depth to the bullpen. Initially he shouldn't get a lot of work because he'll be lower in priority in the bullpen, but when he's used, he'll do the job very well.

Chris Woodward: Signed minor league contract with Mariners

Chris Woodward should remain in the minors all year. The Mariners do not need a guy who cannot contribute anything of significance on the roster. He can't hit well and he can't field any position with any proficiency. The Mariners need a power hitter and the only guy remaining in free agency is Russell Branyan.

Russ Adams: Signed minor league contract with Mets

Russ Adams doesn't hit or field well and should not be in the majors for the Mets this season. Adams will be used to fill up the triple A roster and nothing more. The Mets should continue to look for a first baseman. Rich Aurilia, Nomar Garciaparra, Aubrey Huff, Adam LaRoche, Greg Norton, Robb Quinlan, and Chad Tracy are all good candidates for the Mets.

Josh Anderson: Signed minor league contract with Reds

The Reds have talent to piece together a starting lineup, so the signing of Josh Anderson will not impact that. Anderson does not do enough in any facet of the game to make him have a role he can fit. He should remain in the minors for the Reds all season.

Danys Baez: Signed two year deal with Phillies

Danys Baez is the most reliable reliever in the Phillies bullpen now. Last year the bullpen was a bit of the weakness especially at the end of the game and Baez should be the closer, but Lidge has the seniority and will probably get the opportunity. Baez will be there as a stabilizing force. The Phillies pitching is in very good shape for the 2010 season.

Jason Bay: Signed four year deal with Mets

Jason Bay is the power hitter the Mets absolutely needed in their lineup. Bay will be the cleanup hitter for the Mets. The lineup is now strong offensively, however the Mets should invest in a first basemen. Rich Aurilia, Nomar Garciaparra, Aubrey Huff, Adam LaRoche, Greg Norton, Robb Quinlan, or Chad Tracy could fill the remaining hole for the Mets.

R.A. Dickey: Signed minor league contract with Mets

R.A. Dickey could be an underrated signing by the Mets. I would expect him to make a good number of starts in the major league because the Mets have a ton of decent starting pitchers. Other than Johan Santana, they don't have anyone who stands out, but Dickey can make a positive contribution for the Mets.

Shelley Duncan: Signed minor league contract with Indians

I would expect the Indians to have Shelley Duncan man left field for a good stretch this season. Give him the opportunity, he will provide the power the Indians truly need in their lineup. Before him, they had nobody. Hafner and Sizemore are decent power hitters, but they're not enough. The Indians should look at Russell Branyan to play first.

Troy Glaus: Signed one year deal with Braves

Troy Glaus would be a great choice to play first base and add a power bat in the middle of the lineup if Russell Branyan wasn't still available and would give the Braves more of what they need. I do not see Glaus providing power from an elite power hitter. Branyan isn't an elite hitter by any means, but his strength provides more of what the Braves need. Glaus will be very good there, but there was one better. The Braves should look into Jason Bay to play left field as another power bat.

Andy Green: Signed minor league contract with Mets

Andy Green is not a major league player. He's not a good fielding infielder and he can't hit that well either. He should remain in the minors and cannot be a major contributor to the Mets this season.

Matt Holliday: Signed seven year deal with Cardinals

Matt Holliday is a very good hitter that can hit anywhere in the lineup for the Cardinals. He adds more depth to an underrated lineup. He can hit for average and with power to all fields. He is not known for having a great glove which means the Cardinals should look at a center fielder with good defense. They should look at Endy Chavez, Darin Erstad, Ryan Freel, Joey Gathright, Reed Johnson, or Randy Winn to play center field.

Austin Kearns: Signed minor league contract with Indians

Austin Kearns has good fielding skills but his bat has gotten worse ever year. The Indians have Shin Soo Choo to play right field who is a significantly better hitter, but Kearns can be used in later innings for defense. The Indians need a major upgrade in power. They should look at Jason Bay, Matt Holliday, or Russell Branyan.

Zack Segovia: Signed minor league contract with Yankees

The Yankees do need some bullpen help, but Segovia should remain in the minors all season because he cannot help them. There are many other better options still available for the Yankees bullpen.

Relief Pitchers

Danys Baez
Joe Beimel
Joaquin Benoit
Chad Bradford
Kiko Calero
Buddy Carlyle
Jesus Colome
Bartolo Colon
Jose Contreras
David Davidson
Brendan Donnelly
Alan Embree
Scott Eyre
Josh Fogg
Ryan Franklin
Edgar Gonzalez
Tom Gordon
Kevin Gregg
Mark Hendrickson
Matt Herges
Rich Hill
Mike Hinckley
Jason Isringhausen
Masahide Kobayashi
Brandon Lyon
Carlos Martinez
Justin Miller
Trever Miller
Eric Milton
Guillermo Mota
Bill Murphy
Brett Myers
Tomokazu Ohka
Will Ohman
Chan Ho Park
Rich Rundles
Glendon Rusch
Billy Sadler
Alfredo Simon
Justin Speier
Ken Takahashi
Brett Tomko
Jose Valverde
Luis Vizcaino
Jason Waddell
Doug Waechter
David Weathers
Kip Wells
Jamey Wright

Brian Shouse: Signed minor league contract with Red Sox

Brian Shouse is a very good major league reliever. I would expect him to make the Red Sox out of spring training. He could be one of their better relievers and even be used as a left handed setup man to Jonathan Papelbon. The Red Sox have many relief pitchers, but Shouse could make an immediate impact.

Juan Uribe: Signed one year deal with Giants

Juan Uribe is a very good signing by the Giants. Uribe can play a decent shortstop and can hit pretty well in the middle of the lineup. Uribe fills the inadequate shortstop position and the Giants only need a center fielder to complete their lineup. Center fielders that fit the needs of the Giants are Endy Chavez, Ryan Freel, and Joey Gathright.

Neal Cotts: Signed minor league contract with Pirates

Neal Cotts is not a very good major league relief pitcher. He allows to many baserunners to be effective. The Pirates need to improve their bullpen and Cotts is not the answer.

Relief Pitchers

Danys Baez
Joe Beimel
Joaquin Benoit
Chad Bradford
Kiko Calero
Buddy Carlyle
Jesus Colome
Bartolo Colon
Jose Contreras
David Davidson
Brendan Donnelly
Alan Embree
Scott Eyre
Josh Fogg
Ryan Franklin
Edgar Gonzalez
Tom Gordon
Kevin Gregg
Mark Hendrickson
Matt Herges
Rich Hill
Mike Hinckley
Jason Isringhausen
Masahide Kobayashi
Brandon Lyon
Carlos Martinez
Justin Miller
Trever Miller
Eric Milton
Guillermo Mota
Bill Murphy
Brett Myers
Joe Nelson
Tomokazu Ohka
Will Ohman
Chan Ho Park
Rich Rundles
Glendon Rusch
Billy Sadler
Brian Shouse
Alfredo Simon
Justin Speier
Ken Takahashi
Brett Tomko
Jose Valverde
Luis Vizcaino
Jason Waddell
Doug Waechter
David Weathers
Kip Wells
Jamey Wright

Miguel Olivo: Signed one year deal with Rockies

Miguel Olivo is a decent major league player, but he doesn't fit a specific role. The Rockies need a player that either doesn't strike out enough or has a lot of power and Olivo is none of those. As it is, Iannetta should start because he is the better defensive catcher and will bat in the lower area of the lineup. The Rockies need power and should look at Matt Holliday, Jason Bay, or Russell Branyan. To fill center field the Rockies should look at Endy Chavez, Ryan Freel, or Joey Gathright.

Jack Taschner: Signed minor league contract with Pirates

Jack Taschner will start in the minors and should stay in the minors. He gives up too many hits to even be considered being brought in a tight situation and he'll be prone to setting up the following reliever with tight situations. The Pirates need to improve their bullpen, but this minor league signing will not do it.

Relief Pitchers

Danys Baez
Joe Beimel
Joaquin Benoit
Chad Bradford
Kiko Calero
Buddy Carlyle
Jesus Colome
Bartolo Colon
Jose Contreras
David Davidson
Brendan Donnelly
Alan Embree
Scott Eyre
Josh Fogg
Ryan Franklin
Edgar Gonzalez
Tom Gordon
Kevin Gregg
Mark Hendrickson
Matt Herges
Rich Hill
Mike Hinckley
Jason Isringhausen
Masahide Kobayashi
Brandon Lyon
Carlos Martinez
Justin Miller
Trever Miller
Eric Milton
Guillermo Mota
Bill Murphy
Brett Myers
Joe Nelson
Tomokazu Ohka
Will Ohman
Chan Ho Park
Rich Rundles
Glendon Rusch
Billy Sadler
Brian Shouse
Alfredo Simon
Justin Speier
Ken Takahashi
Brett Tomko
Jose Valverde
Luis Vizcaino
Jason Waddell
Doug Waechter
David Weathers
Kip Wells
Jamey Wright

Jonathan Van Every: Signed minor league contract with Pirates

The Pirates needed power in their lineup and coming out of the Spring Training, I would expect to see him in the opening day lineup in one of the corner outfield positions. The Pirates had a lot of holes in their lineup coming out of the last season and they are filling them up. The Pirates still need a catcher and a third baseman. Juan Uribe would be a great fit at third base and Robinson Cancel, Bengie Molina, or Paul Phillips would be fine fits behind the plate.

Virgil Vasquez: Signed minor league contract with Pirates

Virgil Vasquez is not a major league pitcher and will not help the Pirates this year at all. He gives up too many runs to start and he's not even close to being a good relief pitcher. The Pirates need a number two starter and Vasquez shouldn't come close to the rotation. John Smoltz would be a good pitcher for the Pirates to pick up.

Tyler Yates: Signed minor league contract with Pirates

Tyler Yates is not a good relief pitcher. The Pirates need to add to their bullpen, but Yates won't be the guy to make the impact. Yates should spend his season in the minors because he's not a major league pitcher.

Relief Pitchers

Danys Baez
Joe Beimel
Joaquin Benoit
Chad Bradford
Kiko Calero
Buddy Carlyle
Jesus Colome
Bartolo Colon
Jose Contreras
David Davidson
Brendan Donnelly
Alan Embree
Scott Eyre
Josh Fogg
Ryan Franklin
Edgar Gonzalez
Tom Gordon
Kevin Gregg
Mark Hendrickson
Matt Herges
Rich Hill
Mike Hinckley
Jason Isringhausen
Masahide Kobayashi
Brandon Lyon
Carlos Martinez
Justin Miller
Trever Miller
Eric Milton
Guillermo Mota
Bill Murphy
Brett Myers
Joe Nelson
Tomokazu Ohka
Will Ohman
Chan Ho Park
Rich Rundles
Glendon Rusch
Billy Sadler
Brian Shouse
Alfredo Simon
Justin Speier
Ken Takahashi
Brett Tomko
Jose Valverde
Luis Vizcaino
Jason Waddell
Doug Waechter
David Weathers
Kip Wells
Jamey Wright

Marlon Byrd: Signed three year deal with Cubs

Marlon Byrd is a solid hitter with good gap power, but the Cubs need a different type of hitter. They need either a .300 hitter or a hitter with more power to play left field. Scott Podsednik, Jason Bay, or Matt Holliday should be manning left field on opening day with Sam Fuld in center and Kosuke Fukudome in right field.

Kelly Johnson: Signed one year deal with Diamondbacks

Kelly Johnson does not fit a specific role that starting players need to fill. He doesn't have a great on base percentage, hit for a great average, have impressive power, or even field that well. I would prefer Rusty Ryal to start at second for the Diamondbacks.

Mark DeRosa: Signed two year contract with Giants

Mark DeRosa is a good fielding third baseman and though he's known for his bat, he doesn't fit the holes the Giants have in their lineup. They do not have a top of the order and DeRosa doesn't provide the on base percentage and strikes out too much. The Giants need a center fielder and a shortstop. Endy Chavez, Jeff Fiorentino, Ryan Freel, Joey Gathright, Jonathan Van Every, and Randy Winn would be good players to man center field. Orlando Cabrera, Ramon Martinez, or Miguel Tejada would be a good as a shortstop.

Jeff Bailey: Signed minor league contract with Diamondbacks

Jeff Bailey knows how to get on base. If he's brought to the major league club, the Diamondbacks know they'll get a good at bat from Bailey. I would prefer Brandon Allen to play first base for the Diamondbacks, so I don't expect Bailey to play everyday, but if he was, he'd be a good top of the order guy.

Josh Bard: Signed minor league contract with Mariners

Josh Bard is not a major league player and will remain in the minors for the majority of the season if the Mariners look to have a good season. Bard isn't a good fielding catcher and doesn't do anything notable with the bat. The Mariners need some power in the lineup and should sign both Jonathan Van Every and Russell Branyan.

Eric Bruntlett: Signed minor league contract with Nationals

Eric Bruntlett doesn't field or hit well, but if he makes contact he is capable of putting the ball in the gaps. The Nationals can use him as a pinch hitter that needs to get into the scoring position, but he is best suited to remain in the minors all year. The Nationals should trade Ryan Zimmerman for multiple pieces to deepen the farm system and sign Geoff Blum, Mark DeRosa, Troy Glaus, Mike Lamb, Melvin Mora, or Juan Uribe to play third base.

Kelvim Escobar: Signed one year deal with Mets

Kelvim Escobar is a very good pitcher and should be in the Mets starting rotation. I've heard the Mets want to use him in the bullpen, and though he'd perform well there, he'd have a bigger impact in the starting rotation as a strong pitcher to follow Johan Santana. The Mets are trying to remake their pitching staff and if Escobar shows he's overcome his injuries, he's a very good talent on the team.

Starting Rotation

1 - Johan Santana
2 - Kelvim Escobar
3 - Nelson Figueroa
4 - Fernando Nieve
5 - Mike Pelfrey

Bobby Howry: Signed one year deal with Diamondback

Bobby Howry is a very good relief pitcher. Immediately, Howry would become the setup man in the Diamondbacks bullpen. The Diamondbacks now have seven good relief pitchers, so their relievers are getting deeper. The Diamondbacks still need to address the back end of their rotation. Number four starters that are available are Jon Garland, Shawn Hill, Vicente Padilla, Jason Schmidt, and Todd Wellemeyer. Number five starters that are available are Cha Seung Baek, Braden Looper, and Pedro Martinez.

Josh Whitesell: Signed minor league contract with Nationals

Josh Whitesell is a good fielding first baseman, but brings nothing productive to the table offensively. The Nationals have Adam Dunn who will start at first and be a key member in the heart of the lineup. Whitesell can be used in the majors as a defensive replacement for Dunn in later innings when the Nationals have the lead. I am still advocating the Nationals trading Ryan Zimmerman for plenty of prospects to deepen the minor league system and bring in a defense oriented third baseman for the season. Geoff Blum, Mark DeRosa, Troy Glaus, Mike Lamb, Melvin Mora, or Juan Uribe would be very good on the Nationals.

Eddie Guardado: Signed minor league contract with Nationals

Eddie Guardado is still a good major league relief pitcher. He is the ninth best reliever out of eleven good relievers on the Nationals roster. They have very good depth in their bullpen but do need to complete their starting rotation. Number three starters that are available are Aroldis Chapman, Doug Davis, Dan Giese, Noah Lowry, Odalis Perez, Joel Pineiro, and Jarrod Washburn. Number five starters that are available are Cha Seung Baek, Braden Looper, and Pedro Martinez.

Justin Duchscherer: Signed one year deal with Athletics

Justin Duchscherer is a terrific signing by the Athletics. His signing completed the Athletics rotation with him being a top of the line starter. The Athletics have a complete rotation and a deep bullpen and they're in good shape for 2010.

Athletics Rotation

1 - Justin Duchscherer
2 - Josh Outman
3 - Dallas Braden
4 - Brett Anderson
5 - Trevor Cahill

Fernando Rodney: Signed two year deal with Angels

Fernando Rodney is a very good relief pitcher and should be a part of the Angels bullpen. The Angels do have six pitchers that are better than Rodney, but he provides good depth if anyone is to get injured. The Angels still need a top starter such as Erik Bedard or Justin Duchscherer.

Brian Anderson: Signed one year deal with Royals

Brian Anderson is a very good fielding outfielder. The Royals already have a good fielding outfielder in David DeJesus and he is also a better hitter than Anderson. The Royals need to fill a ton of holes in their lineup. They should look at Jonathan Van Every for center field. They should look at Jason Bay, Matt Holliday, or Russell Branyan for a designated hitter. They should look at Juan Uribe for third base. They should look at Chris Denorfia, Brian Giles, Gary Sheffield, or Randy Winn for right field.

Coco Crisp: Signed one year deal with Athletics

Coco Crisp will provide a good on base percentage for the Athletics. He is perfect for the top of the order for Oakland as long as he remains healthy. He is a subpar center fielder, but he is the best suited on the team for center field. The Athletics should look at Miguel Tejada to fit that final hole in the lineup as the sixth hitter and the shortstop.

Nick Johnson: Signed one year deal with Yankees

Nick Johnson is exactly what the Yankees need in their batting order, however they needed this bat to be able to play left field. He will give you an excellent on base percentage, but there's no room in their lineup for a third first baseman with a good on base percentage like Mark Teixeira and Juan Miranda. Both Teixeira and Miranda bring more to the table than just an on base percentage and that is why they get the preference in the lineup over Nick Johnson. The Yankees should bring in one of these players for left field Jason Bay, Johnny Damon, Matt Holliday, Jorge Padilla, or Scott Podsednik.

Brandon League: Traded to Mariners

Brandon League is a very good arm that's joining a good bullpen already. League should be slotted as one of the setup men in the bullpen because he doesn't give up a lot of hits and is capable of shutting down batters. The Mariners pitching is in excellent shape coming into this season.

Brandon Morrow: Traded to Blue Jays

Brandon Morrow can be a solid number two starter on any team. The Blue Jays have three number two starters and Morrow is the worst of the three, which will move him near the bottom of the order. The real issue is with all the number two starters, they do not have a starter to head their rotation and they need that top starter either Erik Bedard or Justin Duchscherer in order to compete this year.

Garrett Atkins: Signed one year deal with Orioles

This move has nothing but upside as long as the Orioles aren't leaning on his production for their offense this year. Over the past few years his numbers have trended downward hitting rock bottom in 2009 and I didn't see many signs of him coming back. If he does Andy MacPhail is a genius, but I don't see it happening. Poor fielder and poor hitter at this point in his career, but the saving grace is he's only 30 so there's a chance. The O's should look at Jason Bay, Matt Holliday, Jonathan Van Every, and Russell Branyan because they are still lacking power in the lineup.

Melky Cabrera: Traded to Braves

Melky Cabrera is a very good fielding outfielder. He can field all three outfield positions well. He also knows how to put the ball in play when he's hitting, which makes him a good candidate for a pinch hitter or even at the top of the starting lineup. The Braves really need some more power in their lineup in the form of Jason Bay or Matt Holliday in left field, Jonathan Van Every in center field, or Russell Branyan at first base.

Michael Dunn: Traded to Braves

Michael Dunn is a good arm out of the bullpen. The Braves have seven better relievers, but Dunn could contribute as well. Dunn will add some more depth to a solid bullpen for the Braves.

Boone Logan: Traded to Yankees

Boone Logan should not be a major part of the Yankees bullpen this year. He allows too many runs and baserunners to have any positive effect in the bullpen. The Yankees already have six solid members of the bullpen, so this is not a pressing issue, but there are better arms than Logan on the free agent market.

Jason Marquis: Signed two year deal with Natonals

Jason Marquis is a terrific signing for the Nationals. Before the signing, the Nationals had two good starting pitchers out of a five man rotation. I would place Marquis at the top of the rotation because every start he makes, the Nationals will feel like they have a chance of winning. It would be a great way to start the season on a positive note to have Marquis get the opening day start. The Nationals still need a number three and a number five starter, but they're filling the holes they still have.

Number Three Starters

Aroldis Chapman
Doug Davis
R.A. Dickey
Dan Giese
Odalis Perez
Joel Pineiro
Jarrod Washburn

Number Five Starters

Cha Seung Baek
Braden Looper
Pedro Martinez

Darren Oliver: Signed one year contract with Rangers

Darren Oliver is a very good left-handed relief pitcher. On the Rangers, he should be slotted as the second setup man because he has shown that he can avoid allowing baserunners. The depth of the bullpen improves as well since there were enough arms before, and now there are more.

Rangers Bullpen

CL - Neftali Feliz (RHP)
SU - Frank Francisco (RHP)
SU - Darren Oliver (LHP)
1 - Darren O'Day (RHP)
2 - C.J. Wilson (LHP)
3 - Tommy Hunter (RHP)

Mike Rivera: Signed minor league contract with Yankees

Mike Rivera is a solid defensive catcher and would be a terrific backup to Jorge Posada, if called to the majors. Rivera brings more to the table defensively than Francisco Cervelli and his defense could make him a starter on teams that have bats in the first six spots. The Yankees would be depending on Posada's bat a bit, so if Rivera wins the backup spot, the Yankees would probably need an additional bat on days Posada is resting, but Rivera will not hurt you behind the plate.

Javier Vazquez: Traded to Yankees

Javier Vazquez is a number two starter on any team, but on the Yankees he will probably be lower in the rotation. Vazquez will add more depth to a rotation that won the World Series last season. As a result of Vazquez's addition, it will move a pitcher into the bullpen, where the Yankees need more arms.

Arodys Vizcaino: Traded to Braves

Arodys Vizcaino is a very young pitcher that appears to have some good stuff. He's still early in his minor league career but I see him being a very productive member out of the bullpen in his near future. The Braves made a good move by acquiring him and their pitching continues to get deeper.

Saul Rivera: Signed minor league contract with Indians

Saul Rivera is not a good relief pitcher and will not make a major impact on the Indians this year. The Indians have nine good relievers right now, so the depth is there, maybe Rivera can prove himself this year in the minors and get ready for the 2011 season. The bullpen is there for the Indians, but they still need a fifth starter. They should look at Cha Seung Baek, Braden Looper, or Pedro Martinez.

Dusty Ryan: Traded to Padres

Dusty Ryan is now the best catcher on the Padres and should be behind the plate on opening day. He's a solid hitter and provides the best defense behind the plate out of the rest of the Padres catchers. The Padres are filling out their starting lineup and only need a regular second baseman to complete the starting eight positions. Ronnie Belliard and Felipe Lopez would be the two ideal fits for the Padres in 2010.

Milton Bradley: Traded to Mariners

Milton Bradley provides a solid hitter with an excellent on base percentage. He can play the outfield, but because of his injury history, he would be best suited for the DH role. I see Bradley's power numbers dropping, but he will maintain a good batting average and will have professional at bats. The Mariners still lack power and should take a look at Russell Branyan and Jonathan Van Every.

Jamey Carroll: Signed two year deal with Dodgers

Jamey Carroll is a very good defensive second baseman. His offense is similar to Blake DeWitt, who should be the starting second baseman starting next season, so anytime DeWitt needs a day off, the offense might take a slight dip, but the defense will improve. It will be a solid tandem going into the 2010 season.

Elmer Dessens: Signed minor league contract with Mets

Elmer Dessens is coming off a strong season coming out of the bullpen for the Mets and there is no reason for Dessens to take a step back in the same role in 2010. The Mets do have good arms to relieve their starters and Dessens would not crack the top six relievers, but if he was to make a large contribution, it wouldn't hurt the Mets this coming season.

Joe Dillon: Signed minor league contract with Rays

Joe Dillon can provide a bat with good on base percentage who can bat ninth in the lineup. He can play anywhere, which is a good versatility for any hole the Rays need on any given day. I would suggest to play him in right field and sign a centerfielder with low strikeout totals. Endy Chavez, Ryan Freel, and Joey Gathright could fit that role for the Rays.

Freddy Dolsi: Claimed off Waivers by White Sox

Freddy Dolsi gives up too many baserunners to be part of the everyday bullpen of the White Sox. The White Sox do have plenty of relievers on their roster, so Dolsi will not need to make a huge contribution, which will benefit the White Sox. The pitching for the White Sox is in excellent shape and the roster has plenty for opening day.

Ryan Langerhans: Signed one year deal with Mariners

Ryan Langerhans is a very good fielding outfielder and should make good late inning contributions in the outfield. His weak bat will be the reason he can't play everyday for the Mariners. The Mariners need help in the power department. Looking for players like Matt Holliday, Jason Bay, Jonathan Van Every, and Russell Branyan would be a good idea for the middle of the lineup.

Javier Lopez: Signed one year deal with Pirates

The Pirates could use a left handed reliever in the bullpen, but Javier Lopez might not be the right fit. Left handed relievers are not a necessity, so it is not the end of the world if he doesn't wind up working out the Pirates, but the main concern with Lopez is his increasing baserunner totals over the past few years. A quality relief pitcher cannot allow a lot of baserunners. The Pirates bullpen still has holes remaining and the following list of relievers could be quality arms.

Danys Baez
Joe Beimel
Joaquin Benoit
Chad Bradford
Kiko Calero
Buddy Carlyle
Jesus Colome
Bartolo Colon
Jose Contreras
David Davidson
Elmer Dessens
Brendan Donnelly
Alan Embree
Scott Eyre
Josh Fogg
Ryan Franklin
Edgar Gonzalez
Tom Gordon
Kevin Gregg
Eddie Guardado
Mark Hendrickson
Matt Herges
Rich Hill
Mike Hinckley
Bobby Howry
Jason Isringhausen
Masahide Kobayashi
Brandon Lyon
Carlos Martinez
Justin Miller
Trever Miller
Eric Milton
Guillermo Mota
Bill Murphy
Brett Myera
Joe Nelson
Tomokazu Ohka
Will Ohman
Darren Oliver
Chan Ho Park
Fernando Rodney
Rich Rundles
Glendon Rusch
Billy Sadler
Brian Shouse
Alfredo Simon
Justin Speier
Ken Takahashi
Brett Tomko
Jose Valverde
Luis Vizcaino
Jason Waddell
Doug Waechter
David Weathers
Kip Wells
Jamey Wright

Laynce Nix: Signed minor league contract with Reds

Laynce Nix is a very good defensive outfielder. He could be a solid bench player for the Reds in the late innings. Nix is possibly their best defensive outfielder on the roster and I expect him to be on the bench coming out of the spring training. The Reds have a complete lineup for their position players and should focus on their starting rotation.

Carlos Silva: Traded to Cubs

Carlos Silva is not a good pitcher and should not make any major contribution to the Cubs. He gives up too many runs and too many hits. Luckily the Cubs will not need to use Silva in the rotation or even in the bullpen. Their pitching staff is set for the 2010 season.

Joe Thurston: Signed minor league contract with Braves

Joe Thurston is a marginal major league bench player at best. His fielding is subpar, he might get a few hits, but other than that he belongs in the minors for the Braves during the entire 2010 season. The Braves need more power in the middle of the lineup perhaps in the form of Russell Branyan at first base and Jonathan Van Every in center field. Jonathan Van Every isn't a guarantee in centerfield, so if the Braves choose to place Nate McLouth out there, they can find a power bat in Matt Holliday to play left field.