Last winter, Mark Teixeira spurned the Sox for the evil empire, and this could be Boston’s big counter. With the loss of Lowell, this likely means the Sox are going to go after a third basemen in the likes of Mark DeRosa, Adrian Beltre, or even Pedro Feliz or they’ll move Youk across the diamond to third for good and bring  prospect Lars Anderson to the mix at first. Either of those wouldn’t be terrible moves, but they don’t scream “Here we come Yankees!”

After the Yankees successfully landed Curtis Granderson, Boston surely doesn’t want to leave the winter meetings without making a splash which is why I firmly believe Theo Epstein is going to make a run at Adrian Gonzalez. It obviously would be a heck of a trade and THAT would scream “here we come Yankees!” If my gut feeling is right, Clay Buchholz could be the centerpiece in the deal along with Michael Bowden or Casey Kelly. Boston has a heck of a farm system so I believe they’ll be able to land Gonzo without much difficulty if that is in fact the way their going and frankly- why wouldn’t it be? Adrian Gonzalez would be a monster in Fenway and frankly- as of right now- I don’t think they can compete with the Yanks with an aging Papi. They’re offseason could look alot like the Yanks last year with Matt Holliday/Jason Bay and/or Adrian Gonzalez and/or John Lackey and/or Roy Halladay.

If they can land Bay/Holliday and complete  it with Adrian Gonzalez? Look out. I just can’t sit here and believe that Theo Epstein is going to allow Brian Cashmen to beat him in a second consecutive offseason. Adrian Gonzalez- you should start packing.

4) Felix Hernandez- staying or going? Extended or traded? This is one that is CLEARLY very much up in the air. Depending on who you talk to or what you read, King Felix is looking at an extension that could reach Carlos Zambrano or better like in terms of years and dollars. Can Seattle afford that? I have my doubts. If they can’t- they clearly need to trade him for the best of the best. This kid is outstanding and is going to get better. I think it’d be a mistake to not pay him, but if you can’t you can’t. I would imagine 15 teams be in the mix at least. Nonetheless, it’ll be interesting to hear what happens in terms of potential deals if any.

3) Jason Bay- The second biggest free agent this year is going to get his pay day. The question is, where does Bay want to go? He turned down an offer with Boston which wasn’t a surprise and that was rumored to be around 65 million over 5 years. If that’s the starting point, he’s going to get 75 from someone….or at least his agent thinks so. I have a feeling he ends up back in Boston, but he very well could end up in Seattle where he has a house and is from British Columbia. He could end up as a Yankee. Heck he could end up as a National who aren’t afraid to throw some dollars around as they made Mark Teixeira a 100 million dollar offer. I personally think he’s going to get 6 to 7 serious offers to consider…and that’s alot. Must be nice.

2) Roy Halladay- I would be shocked…SHOCKED if he’s not traded by the end of December let alone the end of the winter meetings. I don’t see how Toronto would still have value if they continue to wait. I once again see 4 or 5 teams being in talks, with the Red Sox and Yankees fighting again. The Dodgers and Angels could be in there, but I don’t think he goes to either team with Boston allowing that. Boston has the farm system so they’re definitely the favorite in my eyes. He’s the best pitcher on the market, and whatever team gets him will clearly be pleased with the workhorse mentality he brings.

Matt Holliday possibly headed to his fourth team in 3 years.

Check out Brett’s top 10 plots of the winter meetings 10-8 and 7-5.

It’s been a trying year for some in both worlds, namely for Cubs fans (I weep with the rest of you all) and fantasy owners who are coming off almost a decade straight of top-three finishes and somehow found themselves in fifth place all the way back in May and expected A-Rod to come back from his hip injury to save their team, but instead they remained in fifth place at season’s end much to their own bewilderment and awe (I may be speaking from personal experience here).

As the saying goes, “hindsight is always 20-20.” In an effort to prove the validity of this statement and to play some solid Monday Morning Quarterback, I’ve compiled an awards ceremony for the 2009 fantasy season complete with Silver Sluggers for each position in each league (the most valuable fantasy player from each position) and Rookie of the Year nods.

MVP—Albert Pujols

This isn’t even a question. Pujols was the man all season long, ranking near the top in just about every offensive category. In my points league, he had an almost-unheard of 796 points (nobody has reached the 800 plateau since A-Rod’s 2007 season and before that, you’d have to go back to Barry Bonds’ steroid-driven 73-homer, 2001 season). He was the toast of Rotisserie leagues with a .327 AVG, 124 runs, 47 homers, 135 RBIs and even mustered up 16 stolen bases. The main knock on Pujols the past couple of years is his lack of production in the stolen-base department, but you can’t argue with 16 swipes ever, let alone from a guy who is an absolute BEAST in every other 5×5 category. For those of you that play head-to-head leagues, he even helped you out in walks (115) and strikeouts (only 64?!!!). He sets the standard for which all other fantasy players strive to become.

Cy Young—Justin Verlander

This was a tough choice, maybe the toughest of all the awards. With names like Roy Halladay, Tim Lincecum, CC Sabathia and Zack Grienke bouncing around my head, I decided to go with the Tigers’ ace. Verlander led the Majors in innings pitched, strikeouts and wins in addition to sporting a 3.45 ERA while pitching to the Designated Hitters in the American League.

AL Rookie of the Year—Andrew Bailey

Question: what ML closer had a better WHIP (Walks + Hits / Innings Pitched) (.88) than Mariano Rivera (.90)? I’d give you a hint, but I think it’s pretty obvious given the subhead. Bailey was near-unstoppable all season as the Athletics’ closer, saving 26 games in 30 chances while striking out 91 in 83.1 innings. He also sported a 1.84 ERA and six wins. It’s hard to be a rookie pitcher, let alone in the AL. It’s even harder to be a rookie closer in the AL. Instead, Bailey went all season long like he’d been doing it as long as Mariano Rivera. And for a young closer, it’s never bad to emulate Mo, either in real life or in the fantasy world.

NL Rookie of the Year—Tommy Hanson

Honorable Mention—Andrew McCutchen

This was also a tough choice as McCutchen (.286 AVG, 74 R, 12 HR, 54 RBIs, 22 SB) was a five-category producer, but Hanson was money from the day he got the call to become a part of the Atlanta Braves’ rotation. His 11-4 record, 1.18 WHIP and 2.89 ERA were indicitive of his all-world talent and his 116 Ks in 127.2 IP weren’t too shabby, either.

AL Silver Sluggers

Catcher—Joe Mauer

Is anybody really surprised here? I don’t know if he suddenly tapped into the power behind his sideburns, but whatever he did differently this season, it worked like a charm. Mauer, the best hitting catcher in the game today, maybe ever, again won an AL Batting Crown (.365), but this time added incredible power numbers to his already gaudy statistics. His 94 runs, 28 homers and 96 RBIs easily ranks him as the most valuable catcher in all of baseball even if you don’t take into account the fact that he missed the first month of the season with back issues. This guy is a man among boys and fantasy gold. He was so good that I couldn’t even give Victor Martinez honorable mention despite a superb offensive season (.303, 88, 23, 108).

First Baseman—Mark Teixeira

Honorable Mention—Kendry Morales

George Steinbrenner and the Yankees’ front office spent a lot of money securing Teixeira in the offseason and Big Tex paid off big time. The 29-year-old first baseman put up some of the best numbers of his career (.292, 103, 39, 122) while batting in front of the game’s second-best player (A-Rod). He started off slow with just three homers, 10 RBIs and a .200 AVG in April, but once A-Rod returned from his hip injury, Tex went off, hitting 36 homers and driving in 112 runs the rest of the way.

Morales, the 26-year-old Cuban defector, was the rightful replacement to the first base job for the Angels after Teixeira left and he almost matched Big Tex in numbers. His line of .306, 86, 34, 108 was a welcome surprise to fantasy owners everywhere.

Second Baseman—Ian Kinsler

Kinsler once again showed that he is the best AL second baseman in the fantasy world when he’s healthy enough to take the field. However, he also showed that he is not the most durable player with another DL stint, but was so productive when he was on the diamond that he helped carry some teams to a fantasy championship, as he did for Team Diamond in my league. He was second in my league in points for second baseman (only Chase Utley had more) and his 30-30 season was a welcome addition to any team.

Third Baseman—Alex Rodriguez

Many would argue that Evan Longoria or even Chone Figgins would be better options here, but when taking missed time into account, A-Rod is clearly the best choice among AL third basemen. The artist formerly known as the best player in baseball (sorry A-Rod, you’re the man but Pujols is a God) put together his 12th straight season with at least 30 homers and 100 RBIs thanks to a two-homer, seven-RBI performance in his final game of the season, helping cement his case as best fantasy AL third baseman in addition to helping many fantasy owners close out their championship seasons. This guy did it all for owners who rode out his early season hip injury and slow start upon his return, even totaling double digits in steals once again (14). Now, if only playoff stats counted too…

Shortstop—Derek Jeter

Let’s hear it for New York!!! The Captain rounds out the list of Yankee infielders who helped earn their fantasy owners a league championship. While he may not have made the Yankee hat as famous as Jay-Z, Jeter had a resurgent year, hitting .334 with 107 runs, 18 homers, 66 RBIs and 30 steals, helping out in every category. He was consistent from start to end which made weekly head-to-head owners happy and put up great overall numbers, which made everybody happy. He even made the move to leadoff in the order seamlessly, never hurting his fantasy owners all season.

Left Fielder—Carl Crawford

Crawford was once again a monster on the basepaths (60 steals) and helped out in every other category with a .305 AVG, 96 runs, 15 homers and 68 RBIs. His 60 steals were a career high and he rebounded with one of the best years of his career after an injury-riddled and disappointing 2008 campaign.

Center Fielder—Jacoby Ellsbury

The freshest-looking face on this list, what Ellsbury lacks in facial hair he makes up for with blinding speed on the bases while setting the table for one of the best offenses in baseball with the Red Sox. His 70 steals led the Majors and helped garner him the title of the second highest scoring outfielder in my points league. His .301 AVG, 94 runs, eight homers and 60 RBIs also helped out fantasy owners while his prowess on the basepaths was enough to win some owners the steals category hands down.

Right Fielder—Shin-Soo Choo

Shin-Soo Who? Why him? Well, the answer is pretty simple. The 27-year-old South Korean outfielder edged out Bobby Abreu in this category in part because he had more home runs and a higher average, but also because Abreu likely went higher than Choo in leagues by five or more rounds, yet the two were very close statistically. Choo’s numbers (.300, 87, 20, 86, 21) help Rotisserie owners in every category and were enough to earn him the 11th highest scoring outfielder in my points league.

Designated Hitter—Adam Lind

Yes, that Adam Lind. The old Blue Jays top prospect. He finally put it all together for a magical season at the plate (.305, 93, 35, 114) while picking up the slack for Alex Rios (before he left for Chi town) and Vernon Wells. Many people took late-round fliers on Lind and they were rewarded kindly for their faith as his numbers were almost worthy of a first-round pick.

NL Silver Sluggers

Catcher—Brian McCann

It was a tough year for any catcher not named Mauer or Martinez (who spends a lot of his time at first base or DHing anyways) and McCann was likely the next best option for any fantasy owner out there. His numbers (.281, 63, 21, 94) weren’t bad, but they didn’t exactly inspire their owners to write love ballads about him like some Mauer owners may have done (not me, but I certainly am tempted to even though I was stupid enough to pass on him in drafts).

First Baseman—Albert Pujols

Enough said.

But, for argument’s sake, if Pujols didn’t win the award, it would have to be a tie between Ryan Howard and Prince Fielder. The two men are not only alike in their body build (SEE: brick shithouse), but their performance on the field left their fantasy owners reeling as well, but in a good way. Both All Stars drove in 141 runs and scored roughly the same amount of runs (Howard: 105, Fielder: 103) while clubbing 40-plus homers (Howard: 45, Fielder: 46). Howard gets the edge with eight steals (HOW?!) while Fielder was able to limit his strikeouts (something Howard may never learn how to do) and post a .299 batting average.

Second Baseman—Chase Utley

Yes, he’s the new Reggie Jackson. That is great and I’m not trying to take away from anything he has done in the postseason because he’s been more inhuman than a Twilight movie in October/November (which speaking of which, why in the hell is the World Series being played in November now?), but did he perform in the regular season? The answer is a resounding yes as his Pony-Boy haircut (yes, that was an Outsiders reference) must have fueled him for the best overall season he has put together in his career. His batting average (.282) was a little down from his career norm, but he made up for that with 112 runs, 31 homers, 93 RBIs and 23 steals were a welcome addition to any fantasy team. He wasn’t thrown out once all year on the basepaths, obviously taking notes from his double-play partner Jimmy Rollins. Hell, Utley even threw in 88 walks for leagues that count bases on balls in their scoring. Any way you look at it, Utley is a fantasy stud from a weak, weak position.

Third Baseman—Mark Reynolds

Honorable Mention—Ryan Zimmerman

Reynolds may strike out more in one season than Pujols does in his entire career, but that doesn’t mean he still can’t be productive in the fantasy world. Reynolds was solid last year (28 HR, 97 RBIs, 11 SB), but he took it to another level in 2009, putting up such gaudy numbers that I almost didn’t include Zimmerman as an Honorable Mention. Despite his record-setting whiff numbers (223, and yes, he did top his own mark for strikeouts in a season), Reynolds was able to muster up a .260 AVG to go along with his 44 homers and 24 stolen bases. His 98 runs and 102 RBIs don’t hurt, either.

If not for a terrible supporting cast, Zimmerman may have been the most valuable third baseman in all of fantasy. His all-around solid numbers (.292, 110, 33, 106) were good enough for a fourth-place finish among third basemen in my league, finishing behind just Reynolds in the NL.

Shortstop—Hanley Ramirez

Honorable Mention—Troy Tulowitzki

Hanley may not have come that close to a 30-30 season with just 24 bombs and 27 swipes, but more than made up for that with a .342 AVG on top of his 101 runs and 106 RBIs. He is the unquestioned leader of the offense in Florida and all 500 of their fans give him a standing ovation every time he is announced before the start of their games. Fantasy owners may follow suit after an uber-successful 2009 campaign.

Tulo, as he is better known since Tulowitzki doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue, hit for a cycle in the ’09 season both in terms of the original definition (against the Cubs in early August) and in the fantasy world as he put up great numbers in every category in his junior year after a sophomore slump. His numbers (.297, 101, 32, 92, 20) are what owners should expect from now on. Unless of course he can only put up good fantasy seasons in odd years.

Left Field—Ryan Braun

Braun was the leading point-getter out of all outfielders in my league and fourth overall among hitters (behind only the big three of Pujols, Fielder and Howard). He posted career highs in steals (20), runs (113) and RBIs (114) while smacking 32 homers en route to a 203-hit season and a .320 AVG.

Center Field—Matt Kemp

Kemp turned in a great season despite his constant state of flux in the Dodgers’ lineup. Why Joe Torre insisted on batting Kemp 8th is beyond me, but wherever he batted, Kemp was unstoppable in the fantasy world. He approached a .300 AVG (.297) and the 30-30 club (26 HR, 34 SB) while scoring 97 runs and driving in 101. He played great defense in center as well, not that that matters for fantasy, though. It was just a part of my ‘Praise Matt Kemp Hour’ that I do every day shortly after I turn my head East and pray to A-Rod and Albert Pujols to help me figure out a way to get them on the same fantasy team in one season.

Right Field—Jayson Werth

Though I originally had Werth on this list just so I could post a photo of his sick facial hair, I took a closer look at his numbers and realized he was more than worthy of the spot. He didn’t reach the century mark in runs or RBIs (98 and 99, respectively), but fell just short. He also parked 36 long balls and swiped 20 bags while stroking at a .268 clip in his first year as a season-long starter. Expect good things to come from both Werth and his chin stubble in the future.

Catcher

• Phillies: Carlos Ruiz. Carlos Ruiz is your prototypical defensive catcher whom you don’t really care about offensively, as long as he calls a good game for your pitching staff and shuts the running game down. However, Ruiz has actually had a decent postseason less far, but I would be surprised if that continues against the Yankee Power arms.
• Yankees: Jorge Posada. Jorge Posada is one of the best offensive catchers in the game still, and had a solid year. He’s been just as solid in the postseason and with his experience, I have a hard time believing he’ll be a non factor. The main question is going to be, will Joe Girardi go to him when it’s AJ Burnett’s time to take the mound? Regardless, this guy has to get his AB’s

Edge- Yankees

First Basemen

• Phillies: Ryan Howard. Ryan Howard is obviously one of the biggest threats in baseball. He’s had another MVP type campaign and followed it up with the MVP in the NLCS with a monster series against Joe Torre’s Dodgers. With that said, Howard has a mountain of a task seeing as he has to face CC Sabathia at least twice. That’s no easy task for anyone.
• Yankees: Mark Teixeira. Teixeira has had a postseason to forget so far, but I’m sure Yankee fans will forgive him if they can celebrate a World Series Title. He came to New York with high expectations and could be the front runner for the AL MVP, however he’s had a miserable postseason. He could be the key for a title or a choke. Being he’s a switch hitter, he’s gonna have the advantage over Howard due to pitching matchups. He’s also much more solid with the glove so at least he’ll save some runs if he doesn’t create them

Edge- Yankees

Second Basemen

• Phillies: Chase Utley. Utley came back from hip surgery with out any problem and had another 30 home run season. He’s been a mainstay in the middle of the order and has had a nice postseason, but he’s going to have the same problems Howard has dealing with the best left hander in baseball- CC Sabathia. If anyone is up to that task, its Chase Utley. The man can flat out rake.
• Yankees: Robinson Cano. Not many teams can say they have a hitter like Cano hitting 6th and 7th in the order, and that’s a testament to how good the Yankee lineup is. Cano has had a real fine postseason and has been even better with the glove. However, he’s gotta face a couple tough lefties himself so it’s not gonna be an easy task for Mr. Cano to have a big series.

Edge- Phillies

Shortstop

• Phillies: Jimmy Rollins. Not an easy season for the former MVP. He got off to a slow start, and quite possibly was the most unlucky hitter in all of baseball (horrrrrrrible BABIP). He has to be the jump starter this series, getting on base, and stealing bases like he’s never done before. If he struggles, the Phillies will NOT repeat.
• Yankees: Derek Jeter. What can I say about Derek Jeter? He’s one of the most clutch hitters in the history of the postseason and is arguably the best on/off the field leader in the history of baseball. His teammates look to him to lead and he does it. He’s a sure first ballot Hall of Famer, and I can see the captain having a big series getting on base for the meat of the order.

Edge- Yankees

Third Base

• Phillies: Pedro Feliz. Not the worst option in the world, but certain not the best. Feliz has seemingly forgotten how to hit home runs, and now would be a good time to remember. Being one of the only power right handed bats on the team, I suspect him needing to pick up the load against the powerful lefties of the Yankees. If so, it would take alot of pressure off Utley, Howard, Ibanez.
• Yankees: Alex Rodriguez. ARod has had a postseason to remember. He’s mashed and he’s been clutch. Who said Arod couldn’t hit in October? Watching Jeter, Arod, and Teixeira celebrate together on the diamond was an amazing sight to see and I’m happy for the guy. He’s been through a lot off the field (to his own fault), but he’s still one of the best and most feared right handed hitters in the history of baseball.

Edge- Yankees

Left Field

• Phillies: Raul Ibanez. Ibanez’s contract was suspect coming into the season, and now a lot of teams are surely wishing they gave him what he wanted. He had a 30 home run season hitting in the middle of the order and definitely cannot be overlooked. However, Ibanez is left handed and even though he’s had a good showing against left handers, CC Sabathia is another beast. Defensively he’s not very good, so he’s gonna have to pick it up if he wants to contribute.
• Yankees: Johnny Damon. Damon had a terrible ALDS, and a better ALCS. Which Damon is gonna show up in the World Series? It could be his last games as a Yankee so you know he’s going to want to go out with a bang, and show why he should be resigned. He’s gonna have to go through Cliff Lee and last year’s hero Cole Hamels to do it though. When on base, he’s gotta run. A single run can win a CC/Lee matchup so a SB could be key. Dave Roberts 2004 scenario coming up?

Edge- Even

Centerfield

• Phillies: Shane Victorino. The Flyin’ Hawaiian could be a nuisance on the bases if he does get on base. He’s going to have to do everything he can to disrupt the rhythm of the Yankee staff. He has the ability to hit the home run as well as the gaps, so he could be a sleeper in terms of production. He’s pretty darn good in center with an above average arm so it’ll be tough for the Yanks to take the extra base on him.
• Yankees: Melkey Cabrera. Melkey briefly lost his job to Brett Gardner earlier this year, but was able to make a little run and take it back when Gardner was DL’d. He hit .391 with 4 RBI’s out of the 9 hole which is pretty darn good if you ask me. If he can hit .300 this series, you can call it a success.

Edge- Phillies

Right Field

• Phillies: Jayson Werth. What a wonderful story Werth has been this year. He’s virtually come out of nowhere and was an all star this season. He’s an outstanding defensive right fielder with a extremely powerful right arm. He can hit the long ball with the best of them, and with Feliz, the Phillies need him to produce against CC Sabathia. He’s also had a nice postseason away from the band box in Philly, so he probably won’t be affected by the glimmer of New York.
• Yankees: Nick Swisher. The Swish has had a real bad postseason. Any production from him in the series is going to be considered better than his production in the past 2. Being a swish hitter (gotta like that!), he’s going to have the advantage, and if Swish breaks out- look out Philly.

Edge- Phillies

Starting Pitching

• Phillies: Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels, Pedro Martinez, Joe Blanton. The Phillies after Cliff Lee have been decent to subpar. Cole Hamels hasn’t nearly been the same Cole Hamels of last year, and he gives up a ton of homers. Against the powerful lineup of the Yankees in two hitter’s parks- he could end up with a sprained neck just as easily as throwing the shutout. Pedro is not the Pedro of old, while only making a handful of starts this year. Are you really going to trust him to the point of 7 innings of no run baseball? Pretty unfair if you ask me. Joe Blanton could be the key guy in this series if Manuel goes to him game 3. He’s familiar with the Yankee lineup, and picked up some experience last year. Cliff Lee is going to have to put this team on his back with at least 2 starts. You can’t trust the back 3 against the opposing lineup, which adds to the pressure. The only way the Phillies win this series is if Lee can snag 2 or even 3 wins. If anyone can do it- Cliff Lee can.
• Yankees: CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett, Andy Pettitte. CC Sabathia has been flat out dirty this postseason, and Andy just set the record for most wins ever in the postseason. The main question is going to be, which AJ Burnett shows up. AJ has some of the best pure stuff in baseball, and if he locates while having the fastball and curveball going? It’s going to be a long night for Philly. CC is going to get a guaranteed 2 starts and possibly 3, so you know he’s going to bring his “A” game. Pettitte obviously won’t be overlooked with his track record, and the Phillies are left handed hitter dominant so he’s got the edge in game 3 at Philly.

Edge- Yankees

Bullpen

• Phillies:  Brad Lidge was brutal this year, but has seemingly found the magic this postseason. He HAS TO SLAM THE DOOR SHUT, when/if his number is called in a save situation. A blown save is going to bury the Phillies. Ryan Madson has looked a little tired to me this postseason. He carried a ton of innings for an overworked bullpen this year, but when on can be lights out. Power arms are really good to have in the pen come the postseason and the Phillies have them.
• Yankees:  Mariano Rivera is the best closer in the history of baseball. He can litterally make games 6 innings long for teams and is the best weapon to have. If Phil Hughes and Joba can be lights out in the 7th and 8th innings knowing Mariano can easily get a 4, 5 out save- this series is going to be over quickly. Joe Girardi has plenty of wiggle room here.

Edge- Yankees

Manager

• Phillies: Charlie Manuel. Charlie is back and feeling confident. He’s got the experience and has the Phillies playing at their highest levels. It’s hard not to like him and the support he has from the front office is extremely important. He’ll have his team pumped up.
• Yankees: Joe Girardi. Joe has taken some heat this postseason and I find that unfair. It’s his first postseason and first World Series, but no one has been more ready for the lights and lasers.

Advantage- Phillies

Wild Card

• Phillies:  Ben Francisco. It’s not out of realm of possibility Ben is called upon against the left handed pitching whether it be as a starter or pinch hitter. If he can come through- it’ll make Charlie look like a genius.
• Yankees:  Hideki Matsui. Matsui is going to be used only in Yankee Stadium so the home games are going to be vastly important. If he’s cleaning up ARod and Tex- the Yankees are going to roll.

Brett’s Prediction? Yankees in 6.