While we’re in the midst of a lag between baseball seasons, there’s been a considerable amount of action worth discussing. With a number of exciting names in the mix, this should come as no surprise.
A few smart signings can seriously increase a team’s chances to contend. Look no further than the New York Yankees last season, as many credit their success to the free agents they signed.
Any team that attracts some big names like Burnett, Texeira, and Sabathia stands to contend. This gave them two of the best pitchers and one of the best hitters in the majors.
How about this year? Are there any teams with makeovers in process that seem destined to rise in the ranks of franchises next year? Here are a few of the biggest signings through the first couple months of the winter season.
Acknowledging the need to compete with the Yankees in 2010, the Red Sox knew that they had to make a move. They couldn’t have done much better than signing John Lackey, the biggest pitcher in the free agent pool.
While he experiences an occasional injury, all in all he’s one of the best there is. Few pitchers have been as consistent has Lackey during the course of the last five seasons.
One may be surprised by the fact that a competitive team like the Angels somehow let Lackey go. While this is obviously an unfortunate blow to the franchise, all is not lost. Having signed Hideki Matsui, the balance of power slightly shifts away from the Yankees and in favor of the Angels. The man who many credit with having won the World Series for New York will now be playing in Los Angeles.
He’s also an extremely reliable outfielder through the course of any season, making great offensive contributions. While he’s 35 years old, he hasn’t shown many signs of slowing down, so the Angels should expect some solid contributions next season. Matsui’s presence will definitely be felt in Los Angeles.
Aside from baseball, the author additionally frequently blogs on monogrammed bath towels and monogrammed diaper bag
Comments on this entry are closed.