When people mention some of the bad contracts Jim Hendry has handed out and  Dempster’s name continues to be mentioned. I could see why some would say he is overpaid if he signed a deal similar to CC Sabathia, but he is not getting paid ace money. He is being paid like a number two starter and so far he has pitched like one.  He signed a 4 year $52 million deal following the 2008 season. Dempster had a 3.6 WAR in 2009. Using the value of $4.5 million a win, his 2009 season was worth approximately $16.4 million. He made $9 million in 2009 and I would say that they got good value here. Aside from the meaningless win total stat he was pretty much the same pitcher in 09 that he was in 08. The only difference between the seasons was a more reasonable homerun rate and a higher BABIP. His groundball and contact rates were the same. So in essence he was the same pitcher in 09 than he was in 08 and yet people say he is not worth the money.

People in the Chicago media think of Buehrle as the better pitcher, but for the last two years Dempster has been more valuable. Dempster has been worth 8.7 wins the last two years and Buehrle has been worth 7.9 wins. Another pitcher that is similar to Dempster is John Lackey. Lackey has been worth 5.9 wins the last two seasons, which is about 3 less than Dempster. Lackey signed a 5 year $82.5 million deal and has been putting up similar numbers to Dempster and yet cost $30 million more. So I would say the Cubs are getting good value compared to some other pitchers. I will admit that I would love to get a Roy Halladay type pitcher for an average of $13 million a year, but that is not realistic. Of course we would all like the most value for the money, but so far Dempster has been worth his money. It’s possible he’s not worth his contract in 2012 when he is making $14 million, but for now it’s unfair to say he has been overpaid.

Hendry has had his share of bad contracts like Alfonso Soriano and Aaron Miles, but Dempster is not one of them despite what the Chicago media wants to believe.

Bringingheat.com Lead Journalist

1. Tim Lincecum SF

After two straight NL Cy Young awards, Lincecum is clearly the No. 1 fantasy pitcher. The long-locked little big man has been nothing short of a monster in the fantasy world. His ridiculous strikeout totals are only upstaged by his microscopic ERA and he will rack up innings, wins and low WHIP (Walks + Hits / Innings Pitched). You can draft with confidence. The only risk at this point is injury, and despite his crazy, herky-jerky motion, this dude is as cool as the other side of the pillow (thanks Stuart Scott!). Tony Andracki

2. Felix Hernandez SEA

King Felix finally, FINALLY, backed up his immense hype over a full season. 200 strikeouts, 230+ innings, 19 wins (on a sub-.500 team), a 2.49 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP make for a No. 1 fantasy starter, except that that spot is occupied by Lincecum, who is on another level of pitchers. However, considering he will just be 24 shortly after opening day, the King is the rightful heir to the No. 1 spot if Lincecum should ever fall to injury. You hear that Ludacris, King Felix is coming for that No. 1 spot, too…

3. Zack Greinke KC

How impressive was Greinke in ’09? After battling social anxiety disorder (it’s sometimes easy to forget that professional athletes are real people, too, isn’t it?), Greinke came back to win the AL Cy Young with an incredible season. Assuming he doesn’t have any setbacks psychologically, with his insane talent, Greinke will be a Top 3 fantasy pitcher again. Throw in the fact that he is just 26, the KC ace could be your fantasy ace from years to come. In keeper leagues, you can tie him up for close to a decade before he should start to become an unserviceable starter. Whatever way you look at it, Greinke certainly creates some anxiety for opposing managers and fantasy owners. Scoop him up.

4. Roy Halladay PHI

Let me paint you a picture: Roy Halladay has averaged 243 innings, a 2.78 ERA, 207 Ks and 18.5 wins over the past two seasons with 18 total complete games, including six shutouts. All of that has come in the AL East, arguably the toughest division to pitch in, and with a middle-of-the pack offense supporting him. His move to Philadelphia could pay off in a HUGE way, considering Philly’s defense is better than Toronto’s and their offense is one of the best in recent history. He could easily approach his career-high 22 wins. Consider also that recent pitchers have found great success moving from the AL to the NL, including Cliff Lee and Javy Vazquez last year, and you have yourself an equation you can’t turn away from. Halladay only ranks fourth on this list because of his advanced age (32) compared to those three above him, who are all better options in keeper leagues.

5. Justin Verlander DET

Verlander has had some ups and downs in his career, but last year, he was out of this world, leading the Majors in wins, Ks and innings pitched. He’s been a supreme talent since he entered the league with his triple-digit fastball, but his 2008 season (17 losses, 4.84 ERA) was not even worthy of a No. 5 starter. However, that was a fluke based on the rest of his season totals and he sure harnessed his talent last year. Plus, something has to be said for his durability, making at least 30 starts in four straight seasons and totaling over 200 innings pitched the past three years. His ERA is nothing to write home about, but he should again be in the mid-3 range.

6. Dan Haren ARI

Haren’s first half last year: 18 starts, 9-5, 2.01 ERA, 0.81 WHIP, 129 Ks in 130 IP, and just 16 walks and 12 homers allowed. His second half: 15 starts, 5-5, 4.62 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 94 Ks in 99.1 IP and 22 walks and 15 homers allowed. However, his final numbers weren’t even that bad: 14-10, 3.14 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 223 Ks in 229 IP. Those are still top notch numbers, albeit, not first-round totals. He’s a nice option all things considered, and with Brandon Webb returning to the rotation, Haren might find a little bit more pressure off his shoulders and he can put together two halves that mirror his first-half totals. If not, at least you got yourself an ace in the third or fourth round considering his draft stock has to be down after his poor second half.

7. C.C. Sabathia NYY

Sabathia has been all over the place the past couple of years, but just in location. His production has remained relatively the same—240 or so innings, roughly 200 strikeouts, complete games, shutouts, 17-19 wins and an ERA ranging from 2.70-3.37. Expect more of the same this year. He’s a consistent performer, so you know what you’re going to get from the 30-year-old.

8. Jon Lester BOS

The 26-year-old southpaw has had quite the career, one worthy of a Hollywood movie, or at the very least, a novel. His latest chapter, 2009, saw his strikeouts rise drastically and consequently, his stock has also risen. For the first time in his Major League career, Lester had more strikeouts than innings pitched, totaling 225 whiffs in 203.1 innings. Considering his career progression already, who knows what his true ceiling is. Throw in the all-world offense behind him and a great supporting staff around him in the pitching staff, Lester should, at the very least, reach last year’s totals.

9. Johan Santana NYM

This is the first year in almost a decade that Johan is not considered one of the elite starting pitchers heading into the season. After a down 2009 season in which he saw his batting average against rise (.244) to the highest total he has ever given up over a full season, as well as rising walk totals, decreasing velocity and an elbow injury that shut him down over the season’s final months. After his trade to the Mets, Santana was presumed to see an uptick in his overall numbers moving to the NL and facing opposing pitchers and pinch hitters instead of the DH, but he has actually worsened fantasywise. His two seasons in New York have been the only two years in which he has not had more strikeouts than innings pitched. However, with all that being said, Santana is still one of the game’s best pitchers. Those drawbacks are only drawbacks from his traditional numbers. He will still rack up the strikeouts, complete a few games, and with the Mets offense, should garner 16-20 wins. Not to mention his ERA has never been worse than 3.33 over a full season.

10. Adam Wainwright STL

The 6-foot-7 skyscraper has seen his career progress much like Lester’s—with a lot of storybook moments. Last season was no exception as he turned in by far his best season in the Majors, leading the league in wins and innings pitched. His 212 strikeouts were slightly unexpected, but have become a part of his game now. You shouldn’t expect his 2.63 ERA to continue, but he’s obviously shown he is capable of reaching that lofty number over a full season, so it’s not out of the question.

11. Cliff Lee SEA

After his incredible 2008 campaign where he came out of nowhere to capture the AL Cy Young award, Lee turned in a very solid 2009 season. He is on his third team in the past nine months, and the move to Seattle, despite the spacious ballpark, will decrease his value slightly. The Mariners’ offense is nowhere near what Philly’s was, so his win total may go down, but expecting something around his 2009 numbers would not be unwise.

12. Brandon Webb ARI

If you throw out the 2009 season, Webb would be at least a top 10 pitcher. He strikes out 180 guys a year, throws 230 or so innings, turns in a really solid ERA in the 3.00-3.30 range with 18-20 wins. However, you can’t throw out 2009 just because of the severity of the shoulder injury he suffered. He just started throwing off a mound again and there’s no absolute guarantee that he will be 100 percent by opening day. He is just 30 still, so he has time to rebound, but be at least a little bit wary coming off a serious injury. However, since people will be wary, he could fall in many drafts, so scoop him up if he makes it past the sixth round or so.

13. Josh Beckett BOS

Beckett can be your fantasy ace, but he may not even need to be considering most leagues are 12 teams or less. Whatever team ends up with him as their No. 2 starter is sitting pretty, prettier than Amanda Bynes looks lately. Beckett will get you plenty of strikeouts and wins while racking up 200 innings and turning in an ERA under 4.00 most likely.

14. Yovani Gallardo MIL

The 24-year-old Milwaukee ace is well on his way to becoming a fantasy ace. After a 2009 season in which he averaged 9.91 K/9 innings, Gallardo is emerging as a top end option as starting pitcher. His numbers figure to only get better from here as he continues to develop both physically and mentally, so he’s a very enticing option in keeper leagues as well.

15. Josh Johnson FLA

Johnson has also emerged as one of the top starting pitchers in the game today after a stellar 2009 season that saw him total 15 wins, a 3.23 ERA and 191 strikeouts in 209 innings pitched. He also is near unhittable at times, allowing just a .237 average all year. At just 26, Johnson is also a great option in keeper leagues and he seems to have put his arm troubles in the past for good. He does play for a struggling offense, but his home park is big, so expect 15 or so wins once again with a low ERA.

16. Jake Peavy CWS

One thing is for certain—Peavy will get you strikeouts wherever he pitches, averaging just over a strikeout per inning pitched in his career. He is slightly injury prone, but a full offseason should heal his ankle properly, so he will start 2010 with a slate that is so fresh and so clean, clean. He also is just 28 and will be pitching with an actual, talented offense behind him for the first time in his career. His incredible WHIP and ERA totals may take somewhat of a hit pitching in the American League for a full season for the first time, but he should still be a very good No. 2 fantasy pitcher and could put up ace numbers.

17. Cole Hamels PHI

Everybody was down on Hamels in ’09 because of his inflated ERA and deflated Ks, but expect a full rebound in 2010. He has the talent; 2009 was just a rough year for him. He was a little unlucky, so expect his ERA to come back to earth, although only slightly. His strikeouts will once again be high and he will garner a bunch of wins in the loaded Philadelphia lineup.

18. John Lackey BOS

If healthy, Lackey is a worthy fantasy ace, although that is a pretty big “if” lately, having not surpassed 30 starts in a season since 2007. In the Boston lineup, he will rack up plenty of wins and will continue to pitch a lot of innings with a low ERA and low WHIP, and even though he won’t reach 200 strikeouts, he will come pretty close. The only thing limiting Lackey right now is his injury prone label, but he could easily shed that.

19. Clayton Kershaw LAD

The 22-year-old Kershaw is here to stay, folks. After his 2009 season (2.79 ERA, 9.7 K/9), Kershaw is quickly moving his way up the ranks of fantasy lists everywhere. Heck, by this time next year, he could easily be in the Top 10. In keeper leagues, he should be a hot commodity with five years before he even hits his prime. Scoop him up now before somebody else beats you to it.

20. Tommy Hanson ATL

SEE: Kershaw, Clayton.

Nah, I’m just playing, I will actually explain a little bit more for Hanson, though he and Kershaw’s rationale will mirror each other’s. Hanson is just the poor man’s Kershaw, however. He’s a righty, but that doesn’t matter in fantasy, he’s a year older (23), and his 2009 ERA and K totals were not as good. However, Hanson will put the “Mmmm Bop!” back in your step if you are able to secure him in a keeper league, because he will be a star for years to come.

21. Roy Oswalt HOU

Oswalt’s 2009 season was not one for the ages. He suffered through some minor injuries and rough luck to post an ERA over 4.00 for the first time in his career and only managed eight wins. But, I wouldn’t worry too much about last year. Houston had an underachieving team all-around, but 2010 should be different for both the Astros and for Oswalt. He will once again return to ace status with a season that mimics more of his 2001-08 numbers.

22. Jered Weaver LAA

After Weaver’s rookie performance in 2006, there was a lot of fantasy hype about the kid, but it proved to be much ado about nothing, that is until last year. Weaver set career highs pretty much across the board and made the Angels feel so comfortable that they let John Lackey walk via free agency and left the throne to Weaver. He will be a very solid No. 2 fantasy pitcher for you in all areas. He doesn’t set the world on fire with strikeouts, but he’s no slouch.

23. Javy Vazquez NYY

Vazquez enjoyed the best year of his career last year pitching for the Braves, but the move back to the AL will definitely raise his ERA. His strikeouts, innings pitched and WHIP totals should only drop slightly. His win total, however, should reach 17-18 with the powerful Yankees lineup behind him. The scary thing is, Vaz gives up a few homers (320 over his career) and I don’t know if you’ve heard, but the new Yankee Stadium gives up a few homers of its own. So, beware, but he should still be a very solid No. 2 or No. 3 fantasy starter.

24. Chris Carpenter STL

The only thing keeping Carp from ace status is his risk, which is VERY high. He has had more arm injuries in the past couple of years than many teams have and he has always been injury prone throughout his career. That being said, Carpenter will give you a very low ERA, lots of wins and a pretty decent strikeout total while keeping his WHIP below 1.10. It’s all high risk/high reward, but it’s worth a shot.

25. Matt Cain SF

In ’07 and ’08, Cain was the product of a lot of bad luck, pitching great in games but still somehow coming up on the losing end. In ’09, he had a lot of good luck, mainly with balls in play. He will likely not post a 2.89 ERA again, though that’s not too much out of the question, but he has decreased his walk totals, so he should once again be a pretty good pitcher in 2010. His declining strikeouts are a little worrisome, because if those go, he is not on a good enough of a team to get a lot of wins, so he would become more obsolete in fantasy circles. He should fit in nicely as the No. 3 starter for some team.

26. A.J. Burnett NYY—Will get a lot of Ks and wins, but inconsistent from year to year

27. James Shields TB—Very solid starter coming off down year, will come cheap

28. Wandy Rodriguez HOU—Expect a dropoff from last year, but still very solid

29. Jair Jurrjens ATL—Again, will drop off from last year, but a great No. 3 starter

30. Chad Billingsley LAD—Will rebound from down year, expect numbers closer to ‘08

31. Ricky Nolasco FLA—Another rebound case, was a different pitcher in 2^nd half last year

32. Ubaldo Jimenez COL—Young pitcher just getting better and better, lots of Ks

33. Ted Lilly CHC—Always solid, good ERA and win totals

34. Matt Garza TB—Strikeouts are on the rise

35. Chris Young SD—The only question is will he be healthy?

36. Ervin Santana LAA—Derailed by injuries last year, will provide Ks and wins at least

37. Mark Buehrle CWS—Provides wins and really good ERA and WHIP totals

38. Rich Harden TEX—Move back to AL, is dominant fantasy pitcher when healthy

39. Daisuke Matsuzaka BOS—Will rebound from ’09 season, gets lots of Ks and wins

40. Rick Porcello DET—Young guy, will only improve, Ks should increase

41. Gavin Floyd CWS—Solid starter, decent Ks, will get a lot of wins on South Side

42. Erik Bedard SEA—If healthy is a very good starter, but that is a big “if”

43. Carlos Zambrano CHC—Is just a big question mark all around about numbers and attitude

44. Edinson Volquez CIN—Great in fantasy, but coming off arm injury so beware

45. Edwin Jackson ARI—Played slightly over his head in ’09, may benefit from move to NL

46. Ryan Dempster CHC—Will benefit from more consistent offense in ‘10

47. Max Scherzer DET—Great potential, unsure when he will reach it though, could be in ‘10

48. Scott Kazmir LAA—Really found his groove again in LA, could sustain that all season

49. Brett Myers HOU—Should benefit from change of scenery, always good Ks

50. Scott Baker MIN—Overall very solid starter, ’09 is his ceiling most likely

51. John Danks CWS—Solid ERA and WHIP, will get his fair share of W’s

52. Ben Sheets OAK—High risk/very high reward option

53. Hiroki Kuroda LAD—good ERA with good team leads to wins

54. Andy Pettite NYY—If nothing else, will get plenty of W’s

55. David Price TB—Immense potential, could take step closer to realizing it fully in ‘10

56. Tim Hudson ATL—Rebounding from injury, so some risk here

57. Francisco Liriano MIN—Strong rebound case, I really like him this year

58. Johnny Cueto CIN—Good Ks, is very young, will bounce back

59. Derek Lowe ATL—You know what you’re going to get from Lowe year in, year out

60. Jeff Niemann TB—Very good rookie season, but is a sophomore slump looming?

61. Ricky Romero TOR—Came into his own last year, solid No. 4 starter

62. Kenshin Kawakami ATL—Good No. 4 or No. 5 guy

63. Jonathan Sanchez SF—Real good Ks, had great second half

64. J.A. Happ PHI—Last year was probably his ceiling

65. Brad Penny STL—Could rebound with St. Louis, should at least get wins

66. Kevin Slowey MIN—Worthy of a late round pick in most leagues

67. Joel Pineiro LAA—Solid No. 5 starter, loses value moving to AL

68. Joe Saunders LAA—Guy just knows how to get wins, but that’s all he offers

69. John Maine NYM—Could revert back to ’07 form, but will he? At least offers Ks

70. Jorge De La Rosa COL—Racks up the Ks, but will come with high ERA and WHIP

71. Randy Wells CHC—Last year was probably his ceiling

72. Aaron Harang CIN—Rebound possible, but still scary option based on down ’09 season

73. Wade Davis TB—Performed well in his cup of coffee, but will hit some speed bumps

74. Brad Bergesen BAL—Came into his own last year, decent upside

75. Kevin Millwood BAL—Better in real life than fantasy, will get double digit wins

76. Joe Blanton PHI—Decent option, innings eater and will get some wins

77. Mike Pelfrey NYM—Still very young, has room to grow

78. Gil Meche KC—Coming off down year, should revert back to ’07-08 form

79. Brandon Morrow TOR—Lots of Ks, but injury prone and inconsistent

80. Kevin Correia SD—Is an OK option, but pitches for a real bad offense

81. Ryan Rowland-Smith SEA—Good ERA, decent low-price option

82. Shawn Marcum TOR—Very solid in ’08, but coming off Tommy John surgery

83. Paul Maholm PIT—Not bad, no Ks, pitches for terrible club

84. Randy Wolf MIL—Is overall somewhat solid, but inconsistent year to year

85. Clay Buchholz BOS—Had a very good Sept., but always overshadowed in Boston

86. Jason Marquis WAS—Dependable and picks up some wins, but that’s it

87. Nick Blackburn MIN—4.00 ERA, low Ks, .500 record

88. David Huff CLE—Ended season on hot note, worth a look in AL-only

89. Dallas Braden OAK—Decent option, not many Ks

90. Fausto Carmona CLE—Will he ever revert back to ’07 form? Worth late round pick to find out

91. Barry Zito SF—Eh, best season in SF last year

92. Bud Norris HOU—Real good K potential from a young up-and-comer

93. Aroldis Chapman CIN—Enticing prospect, but that’s it at this point

94. Scott Feldman TEX—Bad at home, good on road

95. Brett Anderson OAK—Good, young option, good Ks

96. Jeremy Guthrie BAL—Has had a real up and down career, worth look only in AL formats

97. Jon Garland SD—Finds ways to get wins, but that will prove tougher in SD

98. Marc Rzepczynski TOR—Good, young potential

99. Chris Tillman/Brian Matusz BAL—Young starters with hype and potential

100. Tommy Hunter/Derek Holland/Matt Harrison TEX—All real young with upside

The main question I pose is simply- does him signing with the Mets make them a contender to overthrow the Phillies in the NL east? My answer to that is …no.

Jason Bay is a good offensive presence. He’s a good hitter who can make you pay in a variety of ways offensively with the obvious home run power- as well as being able to drive the ball the opposite way. Hitting on the road didn’t phase him last year either with 21 homers coming away from Fenway. I also don’t think his defense is as bad as advertised as I think his UZR was a little biased with the fact that he was playing left field at Fenway. I’m not going to sit here and say Bay is over rated or anything along those lines because he’s not. I like Jason Bay- I think he’s a good to great major league hitter- but when you look at the team the Mets are fielding, was signing Bay needed? They already are locked into monster deals with Beltran, Wright, Johan, and Reyes is under contract at a good market price. Now supposedly the Mets didn’t have alot of money to deal with anyway so the question I have to ask is why would the Mets spend 66 million on a player that frankly wasn’t needed.

Look at how the Mets are set up especially in terms of their payroll and downfall. Their bullpen is pretty bad if not terrible. K Rod had better rebound this year or his deal is going to loom even worse than it already is. They have no starting pitching after Johan who by the way is coming off elbow surgery himself.  They don’t have a catcher, and are stuck with Luis Castillo who may or may not stay healthy next year. 66 Million is ALOT of money when your talking about these many holes within an organization. Why not take that 66 million and go after a John Lackey a little harder. Why not take that 66 million and save it for someone like Cliff Lee who will be a free agent in all liklihood at seasons end. Josh Beckett is another one in that same boat. Are they going to have the same money next year to make a run at one of those guys for 8 figures a year? I just don’t think Jason Bay was needed in terms of the dynamics the organization is in right now. They aren’t going to outmash the Phillies next year, and they sure as heck aren’t going to out pitch Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels, or JA Happ. So why? It’s just a curious sign to me because Omar Minaya has been under tremendous pressure to make a big splash this offseason. It almost seams like he made the sign simply to please the fan base. Maybe he feels he has nothing to lose. I dont know. All I do know is that Omar Minaya has made a series of bad moves dating back several years. Look no further than the JJ Putz deal. You trade a series of prospects for a guy you don’t resign…uhhhhh?

Does Jason Bay make the Mets better offensively? Yes. Does he make them a threat to win the NL East let alone the World Series? No. At least not with the holes they still have. If they sign Ben Sheets and/or Eric Bedard- we’ll re-assess the situation but as of right now…Sorry Omar but I think you fumbled the ball again.

This is what I believe Toronto would be getting in return for giving up Halladay-

From Seattle- Phillipe Aumont, Brandon Morrow

From Philadelphia- Dominick Brown, Kyle Drabek, Michael Taylor

Toronto- Won this deal. Somehow they got maximum value for their best pitcher. If they got Drabek and Aumont in the deal- it’s going to be worth it in terms of a rebuilding process. Michael Taylor and/or Dominick Brown only make it better.

Seattle- Won the deal. Cliff lee is going to compliment Felix so well and all of a sudden- are the M’s the now favorites in the American League west?

Philly- I know they got Halladay- but they also lost 7 prospects. I’m going to say they neither won the deal or lost the deal. 7 or 8 prospects for Lee and Halladay and then losing Lee is going to be steep on top of a 100 million dollar deal. However, obviously if Halladay stays healthy- the Phillies are once again the National League favorites.

Tony Andracki

Brett Rosin

This past decade of baseball has been one for the ages. From record-setting personal seasons (Barry Bonds’ 73 home runs in 2001) to walk-off playoff game victories (See: David Ortiz circa 2004 or Luis Gonzalez in the ’01 World Series) and from the Mitchell Report and all of the ensuing problems, to Sammy Sosa’s corked bat, the past 10 years of Major League Baseball have been equal parts exciting and controversial.

Stemming from that, Bringingheat has compiled an All-Decade team that boasts a 25-man roster of players that is destined to stir up arguments about why each player was taken.

There were tough decisions at every position and even the shoe-in players like Albert Pujols and Alex Rodriguez were tough calls because they played half the decade at different positions, begging the question, which position should they play for the All-Decade team?

The roster was not chosen based off numbers alone. Rather, it was based off a combination of intangibles such as leadership ability and clubhouse likeability as well as awards, how successful they made their team and what position or spot in the lineup they would fulfill.

Let the debate begin:

Starting Lineup

Catcher—Joe Mauer

The argument can be made that Mauer isn’t necessarily worthy of this spot on the roster because he played in just six seasons in the decade, totaling just 699 games. However, in those 699, Mauer has built a resume that includes 844 hits, a .327 batting average, a .408 on-base percentage, a 2009 MVP award, three All-Star selections, two Gold Gloves and three Silver Slugger awards. He also finished 4^th in MVP voting in 2008 and 6^th in 2006. Before Mauer came along, no catcher had won a batting title since 1942, largely because most catchers get too banged up to garner enough at-bats to qualify. Mauer, however, already has three batting titles under his belt. With his newfound power (28 homers, 96 RBIs, .587 slugging percentage in ’09) and 34 career steals to go along with a 368-296 walk-strikeout ratio, the 26-year-old catcher is redefining the position. Good thing the Twins passed on Mark Prior and took him 1^st overall in the 2001 draft, huh?

First Baseman—Albert Pujols

Would anybody really be surprised at this selection? Pujols has graced the baseball world with his presence since the 2001 season and has compiled a profile so spectacular that it makes Hank Aaron’s stomach churn and dries Willie Mays’ mouth. If he keeps on this staggering pace, the 29-year-old first baseman will put any debate to rest and overtake the two as the greatest player to ever set foot on a baseball diamond. He’s been a model of consistency, playing at least 143 games in every season since ’01 and never hitting below .314 in a calendar year. He has won two straight NL MVP awards and took home another in 2005. In each of his nine seasons, Pujols has never finished outside of the top-10 in MVP voting, including three second-place finishes. He’s also won a Rookie of the Year award, a Gold Glove and five Silver Slugger awards while being selected to eight All Star Games. We could get into numbers, but we’d be here all day talking about Phat Albert. So, we’ll leave you with this stat: in his nine-year career, Pujols has a walk-strikeout ratio of 811-570. Astounding.

Second Baseman—Chase Utley

Utley is in the same breed as Mauer in that he has only played in seven seasons in the decade and has only been a top performer the last five years of that. However, the second base class was really thin and Utley’s five years were better than most everybody else’s 10. Jeff Kent’s overall numbers were better, but he played nine seasons and there were a lot of rumors that he was a clubhouse cancer, something the team of the decade does not need more than one of (See: Bonds, Barry). In his five years, Utley averaged 39 doubles, 29 homers, 101 RBIs, 111 runs, 15 stolen bases and boasted a .301 AVG and .388 OBP. He has won four straight Silver Sluggers, been named to four straight NL All Star teams and finished in the top-15 of MVP voting each of the five seasons he has been a regular starter. To top it off, he has helped carry his team to back-to-back NL Pennants, winning the World Series in ’08. His five homers and eight RBIs in the ’09 Series was legendary. Thus, paving the way on the All-Decade team for the new Mr. October.

Third Baseman—Alex Rodriguez

The question surrounding A-Rod was not whether he should be on the team or whether he should be in the starting lineup, but where he would play. He spent four seasons as a shortstop and the last six years of the decade as the Yankees’ third baseman. He, like Pujols was voted MVP three times in the decade, in 2003, 2005 and 2007. He was named to nine All Star teams, won seven Silver Sluggers and two Gold Gloves, though both came when he was a shortstop. He hit 30 homers and drove in 100 runs in each year of the ‘00s and never hit below .286. He totaled 435 homers, 1243 RBIs, 1190 runs, 179 stolen bases, 1740 hits and 850 walks in the decade while hitting .304, reaching base at a .401 clip and slugging .587 throughout that span. So what if he admitted to using steroids in 2001-03? The other seven years were more than enough to earn him a starting nod on the All-Decade team. That, and the fact that he’s had more high-profile girlfriends or mistresses in the decade than any other MLB star. We’ll let you decide which had more influence on us.

Shortstop—Derek Jeter

If you could choose one guy to lead the All-Decade team of the 2000s, who better to choose than The Captain? The man whose will (along with the pocketbooks of the Steinbrenners) was enough to lead his team to two championships in the decade. The man who totaled 1940 hits in the 10 years. His resume is jam-packed with goodies and little tidbits and stats that make him a must-have on the All-Decade team as is. But, if one statement can define him, think back to the play a few years back where he ran full speed into the third row of the stands at Yankee Stadium to catch a foul pop-up. He roughed up his chin on the play, but that desire and selflessness caught our attention. Couple that with five 200-hit seasons in the ‘00s and we’ve found ourselves the captain of the All-Decade team.

Left Fielder—Barry Bonds

We know, we know. He’s a jerk to the media and to his teammates. His image has been completely swallowed up with steroid allegations. More controversy has surrounded him than anybody else in the decade, including A-Rod. So why is he on the All-Decade team? Simple: how could we keep him off? It hasn’t been proven in a court of law that Bonds cheated in 2001, when he hit a record 73 homers. He is still the single-season leader in homers. He won four straight NL MVP awards from 2001-04 and led the league in walks seven times, batting average twice, OBP six times and slugging percentage four times. And all of that without recording an at-bat in the final two years of the decade. Domination, thy name is Barry Bonds.

Center Fielder—Ichiro Suzuki

The man who needs only one name also needed only one glance from us before we knew no All-Decade team would be complete without him. Ichiro kicked his decade off in the best fashion anybody possibly could with AL MVP and Rookie of the Year nods and an AL batting title. While that alone was enough to earn him consideration for this prestigious team, the Japanese transfer went on to record more than 200 hits in every season he played in, accumulated 2030 total hits in just nine seasons. He led the AL in hits six times and won two batting titles in the 2000s while earning an All-Star spot and Gold Glove each year. Subarashii. (That means “amazing” in Japanese, though they might as well just change it to Ichiro).

Right Fielder—Vladimir Guerrero

Vlady, Vlady, Vlady. Oh, how you disappointed us in 2009. But, man were you something throughout the decade. From 2000-08, Vlad never hit below .303, finished in the top 10 in MVP voting six times (he won it in 2004), won six Silver Sluggers, was named to seven All Star games and averaged 182 hits, 33 homers, 110 RBIs, 97 runs and 16 stolen bases. His final average for the decade was .323 and he even joined the 30-30 club in both 2001 and ’02. As if his offensive prowess wasn’t enough, Vlad carries a Howitzer for a right arm and combined with Ichiro in center, nobody would dare move up an extra base on this outfield. Of course, nobody would want to play an All-Decade team anyways. They’d get killed. But, that’s a different story for a different day.

Designated Hitter—David Ortiz

Come on, we had to include a designated hitter! We can’t possibly have the best pitchers of the decade hit for themselves. Now, that would just be ridiculous. So, if we’re plucking the best DH of the decade, how could it not be Ortiz? And, if we’re not choosing a set DH (‘cause why would we?) Big Papi deserves to be on this list. We know, that sounds ridiculous. The first three years of the decade were nothing to write home about, let alone worth writing about here. But, he was the offensive catalyst for a team that won two Championships in the decade and his late-inning heroics in the 2004 playoffs were legendary. His upbeat and light-hearted manner is a great addition to any clubhouse and it’s an attitude we welcome with open arms to our All-Decade team. Every championship-caliber team needs a prankster. Ortiz is ours. Deal with it. Oh, and the guy can hit, too, hence his position. He finished in the top five in MVP voting each year from 2003-07, won four straight Silver Sluggers in that span and was named to five straight All Star teams from ’04-’08.

Backup Catcher—Ivan Rodriguez

Pudge is arguably one of the best catchers of all-time and certainly one of the top catchers in the decade. Even though his most productive years both offensively and defensively came in the ‘90s, Pudge won five Gold Gloves in the ‘00s and was named to six All Star games. He wasn’t an offensive juggernaut, averaging just 16 homers, 64 RBIs, 66 runs and a .298 AVG in the 10 years, but he hit over .300 five times, including a .347 AVG in 2000 and a .334 AVG in 2004. He was also the leader of the 2003 World Champion Florida Marlins, providing a leadership in the dugout that is unrivaled. (Noticing a common theme here? Postseason, good clubhouse influences. It’s not just about numbers, folks.)

Backup Corner Infielder—Todd Helton

Helton reached the age of 34 and suddenly became injury prone, turning in a terribly down season in 2008, especially by his standards. But, from 2000-07 Helton made five straight All Star teams and won four Gold Gloves and four Silver Sluggers. He recorded 1500 hits in those eight years, averaging 30 bombs, 108 RBIs and 112 runs per season. In 2000 alone, he led the NL in hits (216), doubles (59), RBIs (147), AVG, OBP and SLG while boasting a 103-61 walk-strikeout ratio. Man, if he had more seasons like that, Pujols would have to worry about playing time in this fantasy land where we get to coach the MLB elite.

Backup Middle Infielder—Jimmy Rollins

J-Roll is the only player to have the length of his career span the entire decade from start to finish. He only managed 14 games in 2000, but broke out in ’01 with 46 steals and 97 runs while leading the NL in at-bats. Since then, he has been the leadoff hitters for one of the best offenses of the decade, scoring an average of 104 runs from ’01-’09. He made headlines when he declared the Phillies the team to beat before the 2007 season. The Phillies had to wait a year for their world-renowned success, but Rollins did everything he could to get the Phils to that point, leading the NL in games played, plate appearances, at-bats, runs and triples. His numbers were good enough for an MVP nod and helped earn him enough attention to take home his first of three straight Gold Gloves. And obviously, Rollins was the table-setter for the NL Pennant-winning Phillies the past two seasons. Plus, it’s always good to have a speed demon and switch hitter on the bench, even for the All-Decade team.

Backup Outfielder—Carlos Beltran

We know, the biggest surprise on the list, huh? Why do you think we saved him until last? He flew under the radar most of the ‘00s since he played for the surprisingly shameless Kansas City Royals for the first half. But, Beltran quietly put up some monster numbers in the decade, recording seven seasons of 100 or more RBIs, six seasons of at least 100 runs, six years of 25+ bombs and five seasons of 25+ steals. He was just two homers short of the sacred 40-40 club in 2004, as well. Beltran also made five trips to the All-Star game and even won three Gold Gloves. It really came down to the wire between him and Torii Hunter’s nine Gold Gloves, but Beltran was far superior offensively. Hunter might be a better clubhouse addition, but we got enough leadership on this team.

Pitching Staff

1) Randy Johnson

Who better in the 2000′s? 3 Cy Youngs (2000, 2001, 2002). 4 time all star (2000, 2001, 2002, 2004). Co MVP of World Series (2001). 4 strike out crowns. (2000, 2001, 2002, 2004). Perfect game (2004).  143-79 with 2268 K’s and an ERA of 3.57 (which was elevated due to the last couple years.) 32 CGs with 12 shutouts.  He made 30 starts or more 7 times. Frankly- who was more terrifying to face? The man is 6-10 and throws 100 mph from a 3/4 arm slot to side arm from the left side. Throw in the old long hair and seriously…be afraid. He’s my ace. He’s the guy I want on the mound for me in his prime and I’ll throw my hat in the ring for him being called the best left hander of ALL TIME.

2) Pedro Martinez

His yin to Randy’s yang. Or something like that. Pedro was dominating. Period.  1 Cy Young (2000). 4 time All Star (2000, 2002, 2005, 2006). 3 time ERA king (2000, 2002, 2003).  2 time strike out leader (2000, 2002).  He went 112- 50 with a 3.16 ERA and 1620 K’s. He threw 18 CG’s with 6 SO’s and in 2000 he put together arguably the best pitching performance since the Gibson days with a 18-6 recrod with 284 K’s and a 1.74 ERA and an even more unreal 0.74 WHIP. We as baseball fans were robbed a little bit when Pedro underwent his shoulder surgery, but when on…he was truly a force on the mound. He was one of those few guys where you know all you need is 1 run to win a game.

3) Roger Clemens

Steroids or no Steroids. He’s the rocket and there’s no way I’m leaving him off my team due to some shady business. I care only about what he was able to do on the mound and he was one of the toughest right handers of all time. Bulldog and work ethic are 2 words that come to mind when thinking about the rocket. In this decade he was a 4 time all star (2001, 2003, 2004, 2005). 2 Cy Youngs (2001, 2004).  Rocket went 107- 50 with a 2.68 ERA and 1356 K’s.  He was definitely a big time pitcher and he was just as good in the 2000′s as he was in the 1990′s. Outstanding.

4) Johan Santana

How did Houston let this guy go? Chosen in the rule 5 draft by the Twins, Johan emerged as the top left hander today. He’s completely dominated for a good part of the decade and it’s tough to leave him off my rotation. He was a 4 time all star (2005, 2006, 2007, 2009). He won 2 Cy Youngs (2004, 2006). Won the pitching triple crown in 2006. (Led league in wins, ERA, k’s.).  Led the league in wins in 2006. Led the league in K’s in 2004, 2005, and 2006. Led the league in ERA in 2004, 2006, and 2008. Johan went 122-60 with an ERA of 3.12 and 1733 K’s. He finished the decade with a 1.11 WHIP which is just nasty. I truly hope this guy regains his health so he can continue to dominate.

5) Roy Halladay

Doc was able to reinvent his delivery through the decade and frankly- that saved his career. He once relied on nothing but 95-97 mph fastballs with no movements and was completely lit up. After being sent back to the minors the Doc changed his arm angle and learned his now famous sinker and cutter. Everything he throws moves and moves alot and it doesn’t help hitters that he can control everything he throws with ease. Roy earned his way into my rotation by being a 6 time all star (2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009) while winning the Cy Young in 2003. Doc went 139- 69 with 1400 K’s and an ERA of 3.43. He might not lead the league in K’s every year, but there’s few better than doc getting guys out. The thing that really stands out to me today is the fact Halladay threw 47 CG’s with 14 SO’s. In the age of pitch counts and innings pitched, he simply goes out every start saying I’m throwing 9 and you’ll like it. Awesome to watch and I hope he continues his dominance. If he does, you’ll see him on another decade team.

Bullpen

Middle Relief- CC Sabathia

CC emerged as one of the best left handers in baseball since his debut way back in 2001 with Cleveland. Throughout the 00′s, CC made 3 all star teams and won a Cy Young award. He compiled a 136-81 record with 1590 k’s and an ERA of 3.62. CC takes the ball every start, no matter how much rest he had and says I will beat you. That’s something I absolutely love about the big man from California. Why did he make this team you ask? Simple- name me a better left hander that can get left handers out in the bullpen? Whose more dominant and who else would you turn to as a lefty specialist. Mike Myers? Jeff Fassaro? Thanks for no thanks. I’ll take CC anyday of the week and twice on Sunday. That 3/4 release point, while being 6’7 while throwing in the mid to upper 90′s with that snap dragon slider? Phew

Middle Relief- John Smoltz

Smoltzy did it all through the 2000′s. He started. He closed. He dominated both and at one time was the nastiest reliever in baseball. He’s gone through the battles of Tommy John and a complete shoulder reconstruction and is still going. Through the decade- Smoltz went 54-42 with 154 saves out of 169 oppertunies. Good for a 91% save percentage. Going back and forth from dominating starter to dominating reliever is not an easy thing to do but Smoltz did it. I want that Smoltz in my bullpen with no questions asked.

Middle Relief-Eric Gagne

It’s hard to leave out a reliever that won a cy young award (2003.) Went to 3 all star games (2002, 2003, 2004) and won a couple Rolaids Reliever of the year awards. For a few years, Gagne was the best. He was better than Nathan, and even better than Mariano. He was lights out, and the game truly was over when he came into the game. He holds the record with 84 straight saves, and that’s something that will be difficult to catch. It all went downhill for Gagne when it was discovered he was doing Steroids, but I choose not to hold any bias towards users. After that, it was nothing but injury to Gagne and unfortunately the days of stardom are done. Throughout the decade Gagne saved 187 games while blowing only 17 good for a 92% save percentage. ( 7 of those came in his last year in Milwaukee.) Pretty darn good. Would you leave him out of your bullpen in the mid 2000′s? I didn’t think so.

Middle Relief- Joe Nathan

Nathan started the decade in the Giants bullpen and for some reason- they didn’t see what the Twins saw. Domination. Traded to Minnesota prior to the 2004 year, the Twins immediately made him their closer. Good decision. Since then Nathan has gone on to save 246 games while blowing only 29. That would be good for a 90% save percentage. He’s been a steady workhorse for the Twins and I don’t think they have the success they’ve had over the last 7 years without this guy. He’s been nails and he’s absolutely dirty. When the Twins starters know it’s an 8 inning game, it really does make things a lot easier. Joe Nathan- I will draft you in at least one league next year since I never have before.

Set Up Man-Trevor Hoffman

Trevor Hoffman has the most career saves in the history of baseball. He’s still doing it today throwing 83 mph. Pretty good if you ask me. He made 5 all star games through the decade (2000, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2009) after being converted from can you believe…a shortstop? Hells Bells closed 363 games through the decade while blowing 40. That would come out to be a 91% save percentage. He possesses one of the best changeups in the game and that’s been his bread and butter for quite awhile. The one thing I love about Hoffman is he doesn’t have that 99 mph fastball most closers have. He gets you out by out thinking you and it’s just fun to watch.

Set Up Man- Billy Wagner

Who would believe that Billy Wagner as a kid was a right handed pitcher? After breaking his right arm twice, he taught himself how to throw left handed. I can stop there right? Okay I’ll keep going. He’s only 5’10 at best and throws 100 mph. I wonder if he can teach me? His slider has been a pitch no one can hit. I feel bad for lefties- now you see it…now you don’t. Hitting a 90 mph slider can’t be easy. In 10 years, Wagner went 284-328 in save oppertunities. 87% isn’t bad but frankly- every pen needs a left handed specialist right? Who better than Wagner?

Closer- Mariano Rivera

My guess is- no one is surprised by this. Mariano made the all star team every year outside of 2002, 2007. What were those managers thinking? Speaking of what were they thinking- did anyone know that Mariano was left unprotected during the expansion draft for the Marlins and Rockies? Well- back then Mariano was an average prospect at best, but still. What makes Mariano so amazing is that he does everything he does with ONE pitch. It’s so good, hitters know it’s coming and they can’t hit it. I’ll make a case for it to be the single most nastiest pitch in history. Well…maybe his spitter but who really knows about that one. I guess I’ll throw out some numbers for everyone- 397 saves with 40 blown saves- that would be a strong…91%. That’s not even talking about his postseason numbers. There is no one else I’d wanna give the ball too in the 9th inning in game 7 with a lead. I didn’t even think twice about naming him my closer for my decade pitching staff….I hope you didn’t either.

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.

7- Are the Tigers going to trade Curtis Granderson and Edwin Jackson? The cost cutting Tigers are supposedly shopping a couple of their better guys this off season, and both guys could be solid pieces to any puzzle, but do come with some risks. Granderson frankly had a pretty poor year last year and can’t hit lefties to save his life. He’s also got a decent contract to pay, but if you can get the Granderson of 2007-2008, it could be worth it. Edwin Jackson is a guy I would absolutely love to go after if I’m a GM. He was a highly touted prospect with a huge arm that can run it up to the triple digits. He took his lumps with Tampa Bay and the Dodgers, but Detroit really saw him make massive strides in learning how to pitch. He added a 2 seamer and figured out he didn’t have to throw 100 without knowing where it was going to get hitters out. His slider also made awesome strides and he’s still relatively young without huge mechanical red flags. I think Detroit would be making a huge mistake if they end up trading him, but if they can’t afford him down the round…might as well get as much as you can.

6- Let the Lackey Sweepstakes begin- John Lackey is the big name on the free agent market this winter, and will most likely seek a deal somewhere between Johan Santana’s (yea right) and AJ Burnett’s. Lackey is a guy who takes the mound with a fire and passion and bulldog like mentality and he’s got the stuff to back it up. He could be a legitimate ace for any team seeking an ace, but the question is…are teams willing to give him the money he wants? He does have a bit of a funky delivery that could explain his elbow and forearm issues. What I mean by that is, when you see the elbow come up above the shoulders getting into his power position, it could be access stress on the elbow and shoulder. So I think there’s definitely some risk here. I still think the Yankees are going to play coy with this one, and if they don’t get Halladay, they’ll make a serious run at Lackey especially if Andy Pettitte decides to leave.

5- Adrian Gonzalez to….who? Adrian Gonzo is a big time power hitting left handed first basemen who also plays the position at a gold glove level. He’s making under 7 million for the next two years so clearly, most teams would be willing to part ways with their better prospects to get him. There’s been rumors about him going to Boston and Chicago, and a couple other teams would make sense in terms of acquiring him, so I expect this to really pick up in a week or so even more than it does now. Who wouldn’t want this guy? He’s hitting 40 bombs in a pitchers park, can drive the baseball the other way with power, and has an outstanding plate vision. This could end up being a massive steal for anyone willing to part with their big time prospects.

Thanks for checking in- and come back to read my final analysis (4-1) of the winter meetings.

Adrian Gonzalez for Derrek Lee?

This offseason, the Cubs have several decisions to make that aren’t centered around Milton Bradley. One superstar in particular is the most intriguing, and that player is Derrek Lee. Derrek has had a solid career with the Cubs since coming over from Florida for Hee Seop Choi, but his contract is expiring and it’s extremely unlikely he’ll be resigned. So why not try and trade him and see what you can get? I realize he has a “no-trade” clause, but I think Lee is the kind of player and person to waive the clause since it’s what the team wants.

Another player that should be on the market is Carlos Zambrano. Carlos could be a heck of a trading piece for the Cubs if they wanted to cut payroll. “Big Z” is supposed to make 17.85 million dollars next year, and that’s a pretty steep price for a pitcher that frankly has not lived up to that contract so far. He’s been up and down, losing velocity on that sinker of his, while still not understanding how to pitch in certain situations and not being able to locate any sort of breaking ball consistently. Throw in a couple DL stints, and some comments about retiring after 2012, and not doing his in-between start work and you have a recipe for disaster. With all that said- Carlos still has ridiculous upside and it’s not out of the realm of possibility for certain major league teams who need pitching see him as the ace he isn’t.

If you head west, the San Diego Padres and new GM Jed Hoyer have a major decision to make as well. Adrian Gonzalez is going to be looking at a massive deal after his 4 year 9 million dollar bargain deal is up after the 2011 season. The Padres are a small market team that probably will not be able to sign him to a deal like Paul Konerko’s or Derrek Lee’s or even better. Do they hold onto him? Do they simply offer him arbitration and hope he declines and collect 2 comp picks for the 2012 draft? Do they trade him now as his value is at the highest? Well if I’m Jed Hoyer- I would definitely look into trading him if you won’t be able to put pieces around him due to no money. Especially with teams having bidding wars over him as he would be the most sought out player not named Roy Halladay this winter. Boston is definitely going to be in the talks seeing the bridge that was built this winter between the two teams. But who else could give the prospects needed while being able to pay him the money he’ll want and deserve?

The Giants are a team on the rise, and they arguably have one of the best pitching staffs in baseball. They have Tim Lincecum who should be a 2 time “Cy Young”-winner this winter, Matt Cain had an outstanding season and is still unbelievably young, and they have “uber prospect” Madison Bumgarner on the way up. Brian Wilson anchors the bullpen. The problem the giants have is simply they can’t hit. Sure they have the panda, and they might bring back Freddy Sanchez, but they’ll likely lose Bengie Molina while bringing up Buster Posey, but there isn’t any sort of power hitter in that lineup. Trading for Adrian Gonzalez won’t be possible seeing as they play in the same division- so where do they turn?

If you read my Jose Reyes article, you’ll already understand why the Mets should trade him. So let me tell you about the series of deals that could take place this winter, and how it helps every team involved.

Deal 1- The Chicago Cubs trade first basemen Derrek Lee to the San Francisco Giants for 2B Nick Noonan, RHP Henry Sosa, 1B Kyle Nicholson, RHP Kevin Pucetas. Why does this make sense? The Cubs are able to cut payroll while getting 4 young players to add to their growing system. They also get the value for a guy they’ll likely lose at seasons end. The Giants add the power hitting, middle of the order first basemen they need without giving up they’re best prospects. They’ll also have a chance at resigning Lee as he’s a California native.

Deal 2- The Chicago Cubs trade Carlos Zambrano (while eating 3 million of his salary this year) to the Mets for SS Jose Reyes. The Cubs are able to further cut they’re high payroll while adding the speed and lead-off hitter they need. Reyes is only making about 9 million for next year and is still young while being able to move Ryan Theriot to second base to platoon with Mike Fontenot. That will allow Lou to use Jeff Baker in a “Mark DeRosa” type role.  The Mets get that monster pitcher that would suit they’re big pitchers ball park. It will serve them well as they now have a go to guy behind Johan Santana. Throw in the health of the rest of the superstars on that team and they could now contend for the east. Well- if the Mets and Cubs make these deals- what do u do about the positions? Continue reading.

Deal 3- The Chicago Cubs sign LHP Randy Wolf to a 1 year 5.75 million dollar deal.

Deal 4- The Chicago Cubs resign Rich Harden to a 1 year 2 million dollar deal with incentives that can make it a 5 million dollar deal.  These deals only cost the cubs about 2.5 million dollars in they’re Payroll for 2010, while lowering it for 2011 and 2012.

Deal 5- The New York Mets sign Orlando Cabrera to a 1 year 4 million dollar deal. It’s a simple stop gap move and it’s not a bad one while waiting for Wilmer Castro or Reese Havens to emerge.

Deal 6- The Chicago Cubs trade RHP Jeff Samardzjia (if he waives no trade clause), RHP Henry Sosa, SS Hak Ju Lee, 1B Jake Fox, RHP Chris Archer to the San Diego Padres for 1B Adrian Gonzalez. The Cubs have now successfully replaced Derrek Lee with a younger, more powerful first basemen whose making way less money while not giving up Starlin Castro or Josh Vitters. Unfortunately they had to give up Chris Archer whose going to be a good one, but this is a trade they have to make. The Padres get well compensated for the loss of they’re best player, but it was the necessary move unfortunately. Until baseball inputs a salary cap- smaller market teams will a lot of the time lose they’re stars. That’s the way the game is right now.

Obviously, the series of deals that I outlined would take a ton of work to get accomplished. But the facts remain the same. These teams have some serious questions to answer about all the players above- and this is definitely a realistic possibility. These players will be talked about in trade talks this offseason, and usually where theres smoke- there’s fire.

Fantasy owners all across the country were selecting Greinke in the middle rounds, and in some drafts fell to the late rounds. Obviously he was their teams best pitcher in 2009 unless they had Tim Lincecum as well. The question on everyone’s mind is: How good is he going to be next year and where to draft him? I know it’s REAL early to start talking fantasy baseball, but in retrospect, serious owners should NEVER stop thinking about fantasy baseball.

Here is some of my input on what to do with this guy when your going through your draft.

I believe that Zach Greinke will be just as good next year and down the line for fantasy owners. He’s got such a powerful arm (94-97 on good days) and he really started commanding a real good feel for 2 different kinds of breaking balls (73-87). He’s one of the few guys that can combine power and finesse and completely dominate lineups with his arsenal. He can strike you out, he can make you put terrible swings on the ball, and he’s real tough to square up. So right there- you’re talking about several fantasy stats. Strike outs, WHIP, ERA, BAA (batting average against for leagues that have it), and of course Wins. It’s hard to predict wins because of the variables that can play against that stat, but if you can get the rest of the categories down, your pitching staff will be all that much better. Another thing to think about is mechanics. I broke them down, and I didn’t see anything to alarm drafters in that regard. So everyone should feel good about taking him as a fantasy ace.

Should he be taken above Halladay and Johan? That’s a tough question to answer because it really depends on the kind of league the owner is in as well as what kind of stats are being used to determine victory. In terms of a general question. I would say yes simply because of the strike outs. Johan will be coming off elbow surgery, and his strike out numbers have started to descend a little bit so it’s not out of the possibility that he’s starting to fall down the fantasy mountain a little bit.

I’ll be coming out with rankings when we get closer to that time, but I will have Greinke right behind Lincecum in terms of fantasy numbers. If your in a Dynasty league that drafts over the winter, JUMP ON HIM EARLY. You can’t afford to pass him up for an older pitcher like Halladay when Greinke has the upside he has.

My top 5 for 2009-

1) Tim Lincecum- San Francisco Giants

2) Zach Greinke- Kansas City Royals

3) Roy Halladay- Toronto Blue Jays

4) Johan Santana- New York Mets

5) Danny Haren- Arizona Diamondbacks

Roy Halladay Throws

Roy Halladay was the biggest name on the trading blocks all year. It came as a shock to just about everyone when he wasn’t dealt. His contract is about up and he’s already stated that he will test the free agent market after the 2010 season. He obviously won’t be back in Toronto, so why is he still there? He’s still there because JP Ricciardi dropped the ball. Several times.

He made the same mistake the Twins made when they were dangling Johan Santana. He tried to drive up the price by putting several teams in the bidding war and eventually chased off every potential suitor when the price became ridiculously high. The Dodgers, Angels, Phillies, Red Sox, Yankees and Cardinals were among the teams all calling into Toronto. How did none of these teams put up an offer on the table worth Toronto’s time? Well, the real answer to this is there were several good, solid offers on the table and JP turned them all down, either due to complete stupidity or selfishness…maybe both. Roy Halladay and the Blue Jays lost the upper hand and all the value in the world for over playing their hand and now they’re pretty much forced to trade him before the July 31st deadline of 2010.

I have to believe he’s going to be the main name being thrown around come December 7th (winter meetings) because quality pitching is not exactly strong this year on the free agent market. So teams looking to bolster their rotation are going to have to work the phones to get something done. Not only that, but if Halladay suffers any kind of injury, he’s gonna lose even more value, and the Jays would be risking losing one of the best pitchers in baseball while getting nothing in return.

I believe the Angels, Dodgers, and Red Sox will be the main suitors for Halladay because those are the teams that match up the best, and are big market teams that will have a shot at resigning Roy.

The Dodgers will be the most interesting team to watch because of Chad Billingsley. They were not willing to part ways with him in July, but after the bad second half and ZERO starts in the postseason, that could be enough to make the Dodgers part ways. The offer I believe would be good enough would be: Billingsley, Scott Elbert (best minor league pitcher although had some shoulder tendinitis last year), Devaris Gordon (Shortstop- on base and hitting machine with plus speed and an above average glove with good range) and Xavier Paul who’s been in the system for a few years now. A major hiccup could be the front office as the owner recently fired his wife (ouch!) and the two are going through a separation which will likely end up in divorce court. Each party wants the Dodgers, so who knows what kind of payroll they’ll be able to add this off-season.

The Angels will probably be in the mix as well, especially if they lose John Lackey, which very well could happen seeing how he wants somewhere around $110 million. Roy Halladay could really put them over the edge in terms of powerhouse AL teams. The prospects they’d have to give up starts with Brandon Wood (SS/3B who can’t seem to crack the everyday MLB roster) Ervin Santana (elbow problems might scare Toronto off and thus demand Joe Saunders) Peter Bourjos (CF, can run like the wind and could eventually be a lead off-type caliber player. Real Exciting) Trevor Reckling (LHP with a plus fastball and slider and a developing changeup. He’s only 19, and IMO the second best pitching prospect in the organization)

The Red Sox are interesting because it all depends on if they can sign the Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman. If they can pull that off, they might be willing to give up Casey Kelly (who’s a RHP/SS in the Boston system) AND Michael Bowden whose highly touted by Theo Epstein, but his struggles at the big league level in his call up might give Boston reason to part ways. Without Chapman, I don’t think the Sox give up both players as well as 2 others. Toronto would be extremely fortunate to land Bowden in a deal as he might be better served in a bigger ballpark where he’ll have the chance to pitch every day at the big league level.

The likely offer without Chapman could be Bowden, OF Ryan Kelish, Luis Esposito who’s a power hitting right handed catcher with an absolute cannon for an arm, and LHP Felix Dubront who could end up being a Doug Davis type starter at the big league level, throwing 88-92 MPH with a changeup that runs away from righties and a sweeping breaking ball. Even with Chapman, I really don’t think the Sox would trade Casey Kelly whose upside could be as good as anyone’s in baseball seeing as they don’t know whether to make him a full time pitcher or full time short stop yet.

It’ll be another interesting offseason surrounding Roy Halladay, and I can’t wait for the talks to heat up!