Ballpark Travel

Free Agents: None Arbitration Eligible: Matt Capps , RP; Zach Duke, SP; Tyler Yates, RP; Ronny Cedeno , INF; Denny Bautista , RP; Lastings Milledge , OF. Needs: 1B, SS, SP, RP, Depth Likely Outcome: First, due to popular demand the Pirates make an early appearance on my offseason thoughts. Looking at this team, there is very little to hope for except for a miracle in player development. They have a good core of young talent, but for the Pirates to experience a winning season for the first time since 1992, they are going to need a miracle. Their offense is loaded with young potential in Ryan Doumit (C), Steve Pearce (1B), Delwyn Young (2B), Andy LaRoche (3B), Lastings Milledge ( LF ), Andrew McCutchen (CF) and Garrett Jones (RF). All of whom will be 29 or younger on Opening Day next season. What I would do this offseason is add as many veteran players that will sign to add depth to the Pirates bench and to help develop this group of young talent. They have done this in the pas

Free Agents: Adam LaRoche , 1B; Greg Norton, 1B; Garrett Anderson, OF; x-Tim Hudson, SP; Mike Gonzalez, RP; Rafael Soriano , RP Arbitration Eligible: Kelly Johnson, 2B; Ryan Church, OF; Matt Diaz , OF; Peter Moylan , RP Needs: 1B, Corner Outfield, RP Likely Outcome : There is going to be a bit of turnover in the bullpen as it does not seem likely that both the 8 th and 9 th inning options for 2009 will return. However expect most of the starting rotation to stay the same. The Braves are in an fortunate situation with six legitimate starting pitchers including Tim Hudson, who is in an option year of his contract worth 12M. It is going to be a tough decision, but the Braves would be able to maneuver in the free agent market a lot easier with an Hudson's contract off the books. It would be coming at a cost as that decision would effectively take one of the top starters out of the rotation. Offensively, I expect to see the Braves get very creative in the trade market to add some pow

Potential Free Agents for 2009-2010: Catchers: Josh Bard BOS Michael Barrett TOR Henry Blanco SD Ramon Castro CWS Jason Kendall MIL Jason LaRue STL Chad Moeller BAL Bengie Molina SF Jose Molina NYY x-Miguel Olivo KC Mike Redmond MIN Brian Schneider NYM x-Gregg Zaun TB First-Basemen: Hank Blalock TEX Russell Branyan SEA Carlos Delgado NYM Nomar Garciaparra OAK Jason Giambi COL Aubrey Huff DET Nick Johnson WAS Adam LaRoche ATL Kevin Millar TOR Greg Norton ATL Robb Quinlan LAA Matt Stairs PHI Mike Sweeney SEA Jim Thome LAD Chad Tracy ARZ Second Basemen: Marlon Anderson NYM Ron Belliard LAD Jamey Carroll CLE David Eckstein SD Orlando Hudson LAD Felipe Lopez MIL Mark Loretta LAD Third Basemen: Adrian Beltre SEA Geoff Blum HOU Joe Crede MIN Mark DeRosa STL Pedro Feliz PHI Chone Figgins LAA Troy Glaus STL Jerry Hairston NYY Mike Lamb MIL Melvin Mora BAL Juan Uribe SF Shortstops: Orlando Cabrera MIN Juan Castro LAD Alex Cora NYM Khalil Greene STL Ramon Martinez LAD Miguel Tejada HOU Corner Out

Free Agents : x-Dmitri Young, 1B; x-Austin Kearns , OF; Odalis Perez, LHP ; Gary Glover, RHP ; Gary Majewski , RHP ; Ron Villone , LHP ; Mike MacDougal , RHP ; Josh Bard, C; Pete Orr, 2B; Livan Hernandez, RP. Arbitration Eligible : Josh Willingham , OF; Scott Olsen, LHP ; Logan Kensing , RHP ; Jason Bergmann , RHP ; Sean Burnett, RHP ; Needs : SP, RP, 2B, OF, Depth Likely Outcome : The Nationals are going to have a bit of payroll flexibility this offseason , but I cannot see them adding a whole lot of salary for 2010. If they are willing to make a commitment to adding another legitimate starting pitcher. Fortunately for them, this is absolutely going to be a buyers market for starting pitching. With high risk, high reward options all over in the form of Erik Bedard , Justin Duchscherer , Kelvim Escobar , Rich Harden or Ben Sheets the Nationals could be a player for one of those types to add some depth to a very weak pitching staff. In the bullpen, they would benefit greatly from bri