Cubs among offseason winners
Posted: Wednesday, January 28, 2009 7:38 PM
As we swing into February and the last stages of the offseason, here’s a look at teams which have done well this winter and also those clubs who still have work to do before the new season starts:
CUBS: Keeping Ryan Dempster and adding Milton Bradley make the Cubs the team to beat again in the NL Central. If Bradley stays healthy, their lineup has balance and the potential to lead the league.
If Carlos Marmol can close, the loss of Kerry Wood will barely be felt. Adding Aaron Heilman -- a longtime favorite of Cubs general manager Jim Hendry – bolsters the bullpen. Now the Cubs have two pitchers who can start or relieve -- Heilman and Jeff Samardizija
YANKEES: The obvious top choice of those clubs who have done well this offseason. Look at whom they've added. Then look at the salaries they eliminated from last year. Hard to argue with the bang for their buck. A big plus in enticing Andy Pettitte to return on an incentive-laden deal. Now they need to navigate the furor that lies ahead with the Torre book. Oh, and the Red Sox and Devil Rays as well.
ATHLETICS: This team needed bats to contend and it added Matt Holliday and Jason Giambi. Speculation abounds as to whether Holliday will see September with the A's, but if the team challenges the Angels, it would seem difficult to part with a big bat. Plus, the A's have never been shy about taking draft picks as compensation.
IN MANNY LIMBO:
DODGERS: Retaining Rafael Furcal and Casey Blake, adding solid veterans in Mark Loretta and Brad Ausmus and cutting ties with Andruw Jones makes this a good effort for general manager Ned Colletti. Of course, if they don't bring back Manny Ramirez, they may not be favored in their division. And if Ramirez signs with their rivals (see next item), the balance of power changes dramatically.
GIANTS: If they sign Ramirez, they are division favorites. They would also explode their payroll beyond any reason. Whispers are that they would need to trade Randy Winn (possible) or Aaron Rowand (highly doubtful given the four years left on his deal) to entertain any chance of signing Ramirez. As is, they have bolstered their bullpen with Jeremy Affeldt and Bob Howry added to set up Brian Wilson. They pray their scouts are right and Edgar Renteria has some ball left in him.
STILL HAVE WORK TO DO:
METS: If they aren't quietly working on signing Ramirez, why not? They continue to be the best fit, outside of the Dodgers, for Ramirez. The need is there. One can only wonder if the money is there.
Ownership has publicly stated that the Madoff affair will not affect the Mets. Signing Ramirez would be proof positive of that. If the Mets choose someone whose price is dropping, a la Bobby Abreu, the question of finances will hover. Other than the offense and tabloid mania (never underestimate the importance of that in New York) Ramirez would provide, the Mets worked smoothly in addressing their bullpen woes with the additions of Francisco Rodriguez and J.J. Putz.
RED SOX: They have made some strong moves, notably adding John Smoltz, but the nagging question here is about replacing Ramirez’s bat. It can be argued the Red Sox in 2008 were on the verge of another World Series with their lineup, but can they repeat that performance against an improved Yankees’ team and the still-young Rays. With Mike Lowell recovering and David Ortiz looking to prove his wrist is sound, another bat would calm some concerns around the Red Sox Nation.
BRAVES: So many good ideas went awry here -- trading for Jake Peavy, signing Rafael Furcal, re-signing Smoltz -- that the team finally granted Derek Lowe a generous contract. Their pitching could be good. Can Javier Vazquez shake the big-game question? And do they have enough in the outfield? And will Chipper Jones, after watching Smoltz leave, realize that he may not finish his time in a Braves uniform?
