Category Archives: MLB

MLB Arbitration Rundown: Who’s Staying, Who’s Going?!

This year 23 free agents were offered arbitration. Of those 23, ten are Type A free agents and thirteen are Type B. Teams that sign a Type A free agent will lose their first-round pick—if that club finished in the … Continue reading

Posted in Adrian Beltre, Baseball, Billy Wagner, Brandon Lyon, Brian Shouse, Carl Pavano, Cheap Seat Chronicles, Chone Figgins, Fernando Rodney, Free Agency, Gregg Zaun, Ivan Rodriguez, Jason Bay, Jason Marquis, Joel Pineiro, John Lackey, Jose Valverde, Justin Duchscherer, Marco Scutaro, Mark DeRosa, Marlon Byrd, Matt Holliday, Mike Gonzalez, MLB, Rafael Betancourt, Rafael Soriano, Rod Barajas | Leave a comment

Billy Wagner Signs with the Atlanta Braves

That didn’t take long. Just hours after the deadline for teams to offer arbitration, the Atlanta Braves have reportedly signed free agent closer Billy Wagner to a one-year deal. The deal is reportedly worth $7 million and has a $6.5 … Continue reading

Posted in Atlanta Braves, Baseball, Billy Wagner, Boston Red Sox, Cheap Seat Chronicles, Free Agency, MLB | 2 Comments

Minnesota’s Free Agent Targets Become Clearer Following Arbitration Deadline

Twins general manager Bill Smith had better have the Pohlad’s checkbook ready. As Tuesday night’s 11 p.m. deadline for teams to offer arbitration came and went, it officially sounded the real opening bell on free agency. Don’t get me wrong, … Continue reading

Posted in AL Central, American League, Baseball, Cheap Seat Chronicles, Erik Bedard, Felipe Lopez, Free Agency, Miguel Tejada, Minnesota Twins, MLB, Orlando Hudson, Rich Harden | Leave a comment

Carl Pavano Receives Arbitration Offer from Minnesota

The Twins have reportedly offered Carl Pavano arbitration. Minnesota had until Tuesday’s 11 p.m. deadline to offer the right hander arbitration for next season, but chose to do so early. The decision makes sense as Pavano qualifies as a Type … Continue reading

Posted in AL Central, American League, Baseball, Carl Pavano, Cheap Seat Chronicles, Free Agency, Injuries, Minnesota Twins, MLB | 1 Comment

Boston Blunder: Red Sox Continue to Strike Out in Pursuit of Shorstops

The Boston Red Sox need a shortstop. It’s as simple as that. It’s time for the club to forget about acquiring ace Roy Halladay or a slugging first baseman like Adrian Gonzalez or Miguel Cabrera. The Red Sox number one … Continue reading

Posted in AL East, Alex Gonzalez, American League, Baseball, Boston Red Sox, Cheap Seat Chronicles, Edgar Renteria, Felipe Lopez, Free Agency, Hanley Ramirez, J.J. Hardy, Julio Lugo, Miguel Tejada, MLB, MLB Trades, Nomar Garciaparra, Orlando Cabrera, Stephen Drew, Trade Rumors | 1 Comment

Bert Blyleven Makes Another Pitch at Cooperstown

Bert Blyleven belongs in the Hall of Fame. In fact, he’s belonged in the Hall of Fame for twelve years. Yet, for twelve years in a row, the Baseball Writers Association of American has erred by leaving him out in … Continue reading

Posted in Baseball, Bert Blyleven, Cheap Seat Chronicles, Hall of Fame, Minnesota Twins, MLB | 1 Comment

Alex Gonzalez Signs with Toronto

Shortstop Alex Gonzalez will be taking his slick defense up north next summer. Gonzalez, 32, signed a one-year, $2.75 million contract with the Blue Jays on Thursday. The contract includes a $2.5 million option for 2011. The deal comes just … Continue reading

Posted in AL East, Alex Gonzalez, Baseball, Boston Red Sox, Cheap Seat Chronicles, Free Agency, MLB, Toronto Blue Jays | Leave a comment

Shelley Duncan’s Free Agency Offers a Long Overdue Opportunity

Shelley Duncan is finally free. After nine years of indentured servitude in the New York Yankees’ farm system, Duncan is a free agent for the first time. Unfortunately, Duncan is no longer the long-ball hitting prospect who was drafted in … Continue reading

Posted in Baseball, Cheap Seat Chronicles, Free Agency, MLB, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Shelley Duncan, St. Louis Cardinals | Leave a comment

Minnesota Twins Gave Plenty to be Thankful for in 2009

Thanksgiving is upon us once again. We all know that Thanksgiving is supposed to be about families and turkeys and a rapidly-depleting supply of shopping days until Christmas. In the minds of baseball fans, Thanksgiving is just a pit stop … Continue reading

Posted in AL Central, American League, Awards, Baseball, Cheap Seat Chronicles, Delmon Young, Jason Kubel, Joe Crede, Joe Mauer, Michael Cuddyer, Minnesota Twins, MLB, MVP, Nick Blackburn, Orlando Cabrera, Scott Baker | Leave a comment

Joe Mauer Wins American League MVP

Joe Mauer can now add American League Most Valuable Player to his already imposing resume. Mauer received 27 out of 28 first-place votes to runaway with the award. Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera received the other first-place vote but … Continue reading

Posted in American League, Awards, Baseball, Cheap Seat Chronicles, Joe Mauer, Minnesota Twins, MLB, MVP | 3 Comments

Joe Mauer’s Potential Trade Destinations, Minnesota’s Worst-Case Scenario

It’s almost time to let the real “Hot Stove Season” begin in earnest. Barring some unforeseen blunder by the Baseball Writers Association of America, Joe Mauer will be crowned the 2009 American League Most Valuable Player on Monday afternoon. When … Continue reading

Posted in AL Central, AL East, AL West, American League, Awards, Baseball, Boston Red Sox, Cheap Seat Chronicles, Chicago Cubs, Free Agency, Joe Mauer, Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, MLB, MLB Trades, MVP, National League, New York Mets, New York Yankees, NL Central, NL East, NL West, Texas Rangers, Trade Rumors | 1 Comment

Frugal Fish: Josh Johnson and Florida Falter on Four-Year Pact

Once a cheap team, always a cheap team. The Florida Marlins have reportedly “reached an impasse” with ace Josh Johnson regarding a proposed four-year contract extension. Matt Sosnick, Johnson’s agent, was reportedly seeking a deal very similar to the four-year, … Continue reading

Posted in Baseball, Cheap Seat Chronicles, Josh Johnson, Miami Marlins, MLB, MLB Trades, Trade Rumors | 1 Comment

Déjà Vu: Mike Lowell May Be on Red Sox’s Trading Block

The Boston Red Sox are considering acquiring a marquee first baseman. The club is reportedly interested in San Diego’s Adrian Gonzalez and Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera. If either one is acquired in a trade, the Red Sox would move incumbent first … Continue reading

Posted in AL East, Baseball, Boston Red Sox, Cheap Seat Chronicles, Injuries, Mike Lowell, MLB, MLB Trades, Trade Rumors | 1 Comment

Garrett Atkins and Colorado: Stuck Between a Rockie and a Hard Place

Garrett Atkins is a man without a job, yet he is still gainfully employed. It may sound like the ultimate contradiction, but it’s merely a sign of the times in Major League Baseball. Many teams are currently at a tipping … Continue reading

Posted in Baseball, Cheap Seat Chronicles, Colorado Rockies, Free Agency, Garrett Atkins, MLB, MLB Trades, Trade Rumors | 1 Comment

Minnesota Twins: Jason Kubel’s Long Road Back Leads to the Top

Jason Kubel is finally where he belongs, at the top. After a career-best season in 2009, Kubel, 27, proved to be one of baseball’s premier designated hitters, working at a considerably lower rate than many of his contemporaries. At this … Continue reading

Posted in AL Central, American League, Baseball, Cheap Seat Chronicles, Injuries, Jason Kubel, Minnesota Twins, MLB | 2 Comments