Braves, Red Sox, Cubs getting busy

Let's go already. 

What has been a painfully slow offseason for second-tier free agents is starting to run wild, like a Lindsay Lohan Internet rumor.

The Braves and Derek Lowe have agreed to a 4-year, $60 million deal today and the Mets have dangled a reported 3-year, $30 million offer in front of Oliver Perez's nose.

With names like Sabathia, Burnett and Teixeira safely tucked away in pin stripes, it's the rival Red Sox who have started to spend fast and furiously.

Here's a break down of where some of the most active teams stand in their offseason shopping spree.

ATLANTA BRAVES: For some reason, they let John Smoltz walk after 21 years of service, for a somewhat measly $3 million. Boston offered Smoltz $5.5 million, while Atlanta's best offer was $2.5 million. Both had about $5 million worth of incentives, although Boston's were more realistic to reach. 

Either the Braves have suddenly gotten cheap (which doesn't seem to be the case with the Lowe signing) or they know something about Smoltz's shoulder (he's not due back 'til June 1). It's likely Smoltz will end up as an 8th-inning guy, so he probably isn't worth a gamble before the last couple rounds.

The Lowe signing gives the Braves a top-of-the-rotation starter, although some would argue he's not a true No. 1. At $15 million a year, he's probably a tweener between a 1 and 2 starter and given the economy, I'd say Lowe did pretty well. Especially for someone who turns 36 in June. Be wary, fantasy owners, and don't reach for a guy who has been mainly a journeyman who put together a fine contract season in hitter-friendly Dodgers Stadium against a very weak N.L. West. That ERA and WHIP might take a whippin' when you play the Mets and Phillies 19 times a year.

Adam Dunn has been linked to the Braves, but after the Lowe signing, I'm guessing the coffers are a little bare. A trade for current Yankees Nick Swisher or Xavier Nady is more likely. Either guy could be an every-day starter in Atlanta and be a nice 4th OF in mixed leagues.

The Braves still need starting pitching, so don't rule out a revisit to a Jake Peavy trade, but unless the new San Diego ownership brings down the price tag, don't count on it.

CHICAGO CUBS: The past week has been like Christmas Eve around Wrigley. One surprise after the other, mostly good, although we're hoping one or more of Jim Hendry's recent moves doesn't turn into a lump of coal in the stocking.

First, Mark DeRosa, possibly the Cubs MVP last season, was traded for three Cleveland Indians pitching prospects. Hmmmm. This, on its face is very bizarre, especially on a team that is as close to rebuilding as Harry Caray was to buying a 12-pack of O'Douls.

The same day the Cubs signed Aaron Miles, who put together a fine .317 average last year in regular duty for the Cardinals and as scouting reports go, can play every position DeRosa can, plus center field. Still, it's a definite power downgrade (4 HR, 31 RBI compared to 21 and 87), but the company line is Miles is coveted for his left-handed bat (he's a switch-hitter) and the Cubs save roughly $3 million this year. Miles and Mike Fontenot will battle, and possibly platoon, at 2B. Neither is worth a roster spot, unless you're in an NL format.

Of the three Indians pitching prospects, only Jeff Steven (the closer for the USA team in Beijing), who struck out 81 batters in 58 1/3 innings between AA and AAA, is deemed MLB ready.

Days later, the Cubs sent Jason Marquis and almost a million to the Rockies for RP Luis Vizcaino, saving almost $5 million in payroll.

The in-between-the-lines here is the Cubs are setting up another run at Peavy. They've cleared some cap room, opened up a starting slot and added some pitching prospects.

But with both the Padres and the Cubs ownerships in flux, we'll have to wait a couple more weeks, likely, before anything happens.

In the meantime, the Cubs inked Milton Bradley to a 3-year, $30 million deal. Do I like the deal? Not really. Yeah, Bradley led the A.L. with a .436 .obp in 126 games last year, but 106 of those were as DH, and since 2000, he's only played in more than 101 games one other time (141 games with the Dodgers in 2004). Not to mention the Cubs are his 7th team in 10 years. Red flag, anyone? Bradley's not someone I'm willing to pay market value in an auction draft.

Personally, for similar money you could probably have signed rather Adam Dunn, who has played at least 152 games the past five season and sports a career .381 obp. But at least the Cubs can turn the third year into an option if Bradley breaks down bad this season.

Under the radar, the Cubs signed Joey Gathright to a 1-year, $800,000 deal to be an extra OF and late-inning pinch runner/defensive replacement. Not only does Gathright have wheels, he can jump over cars. Seriously.

Another possible signing for the Cubs is Japanese lefty Ken Takahashi, which if this happens, you can almost bet he'll be known as just "Ken" around the Friendly Confines.

Why sign another reliever? Quite possibly, simply to give Kosuke Fukudome some company in the clubhouse. The Cubs have three more years and $36 invested in Fukudome and if it helps make him more comfortable, it might be worth it.

Takahashi, er, Ken, is shown here with a blazing 142-km fastball. OK, it's not that great once you convert, just 88.6 mph, but with a 123-km change-up (76 mph), he looks great ... at least in this Japanese League game:

RED SOX: Finally, the team that seems to be the most active in the past five days is Boston. Almost as if GM Theo Epstein has money to burn after missing out on Teixeira, Boston has signed mostly insurance guys in Smoltz, Brad Penny, Rocco Baldelli and Takashi Saito. 

If there's one common thread in all these signings, it's that they're all high risk/reward guys under market value given heavy incentive-laden contracts. Each name has plenty of fantasy relevance attached to it and if just two of the four signings work out, Epstein will come out smelling like a rose. If I had to guess, Penny might be the one who ends up with the most fantasy impact in 2009, followed by Baldelli.

MANNY RAMIREZ: This is turning into a two-team game of poke between the Giants and the Dodgers, with Scott Boras the dealer. My guess here is the Giants are not as desperate as the Dodgers and are just making sure they don't get him for a song. Of course, with old-timers Randy Johnson and Jason Giambi in the fold, the Giants may want Manny to help round out the shuffleboard game.

Burnett to Yanks; Peavy deal dead

Just when you thought the Yankees had made their big splash, a second cannonball has landed.

New York and A. J. Burnett have just agreed to a 5-year, $82.5 million deal, merely hours after the Yanks opened the coffers to sign C.C. Sabathia to a 7-year, $161 million contract. 

First-name initials must be all the buzz in the Bronx this offseason. Too bad B. J. Ryan wasn't available.

The scary part after these two signings is that the Yankees might not be done. How can that be, after cutting checks worth $243.5 million in the past 48 hours? Consider both Bobby Abreu and Jason Giambi had huge contracts both come off the books.

And don't forget the Yankees open up a new revenue-streaming stadium in April. 

But even with the deepest pockets in pro sports, landing a third big fish, Mark Teixeira, is probably not doable. Teixeira reportedly has 8- and 9-year offers on the table from Baltimore and Washington in the $150-$160 million range and the Red Sox are said to be serious bidders as well.

Look for Teixeira, a Maryland native, to sign with either the Red Sox, Orioles or Nationals -- probably in that order -- as the Angels appear to be both too far from home and not desperate enough to hand out a 10-year deal, which Teixeira reportedly covets.

The aging Yanks, however, will still try to upgrade their lineup as a Melky Cabrera-Mike Cameron swap is very possible. A Robinson Cano-Matt Kemp swap has also been rumored.

Peavy-Cubs deal dead: In the end, Cubs GM Jim Hendry just couldn't justify adding to the already bloated payroll of the Cubs, without adding the coveted left-handed bat. 

The sticking point in a complicated three- or four-team deal was how much money the Cubs would have to eat of Jason Marquis' $9.5 million contract.

As a Cubs fan, it pains me to see the Cubs getting cheap, right at the doorstep of adding one of the Top 5 pitchers in baseball. After all, what is the best way to get out of the first round? Exactly. Elite pitching.

But I understand the ownership situation is dicey at best. And I would love the chance to land a Brian Roberts or Rafael Furcal, although it sounds like Milton Bradley is the most likely bat headed to the Windy City.

Phillies sign Ibanez: The biggest news out from the World Champs had been Cole Hamels calling the Mets, "Choke artists," until Philadelphia shored up its outfield by giving Raul Ibanez a three-year, $30 million contract.

Indians close with Wood: Talk about a deal taking forever to close. Sounds like this deal is done, just held up by Kerry Wood passing a physical, which is no small feat. Terms are reportedly $20 million over 2 years, with a third-year option.

In other news: The Blue Jays are buying into the Matt Clement comeback trail, giving the rotator-cuffed pitcher  a minor league contract... the Orioles are trying to move the control-plagued, strikeout phenom Daniel Cabrera ... a Julio Lugo-Eric Byrnes deal fell apart, probably after the Diamondbacks looked at splits of Lugo last season ... on a related note, Felipe Lopez, who was a stolen base fool for the Reds before falling off the fantasy map in Washington, signed a one year deal worth $3.5 million with Arizona to replace free agent Orlando Hudson ... the Indians tendered a contract for C Kelly Shoppach and why not after the backup catcher hit 21 HR, filling in for Victor Martinez ... the Cubs, Rays, Angels and Dodgers expressed interest in RBI-machine Bobby Abreu, although the Angels and Dodgers appear to have a glut in the OF, especially if the Dodgers sign Manny Ramirez, who is reportedly miffed at the lack of offers flooding in ... the Mets traded for J.J. Putz on Thursday, giving them possibly the best back end of the rotation, after having arguably the worst before the week began. 

Yanks sign Sabathia; Peavy to Cubs?

Really, not much has transpired since the end of that wacked-out World Series. 

Until the past 24 hours, that is.

The Winter Meetings usually yield some big-name free agent signings and like clockwork, this morning, sources say the Yankees have signed C.C. Sabathia, the most coveted free agent pitching prospect. The deal is worth $161 million over 7 years, which would be the largest deal ever for a pitcher, fourth largest for any player.

There had been so much talk that Sabathia wanted to go to the left coast. Of course, by most accounts, no team could offer him more than $100 million. So now with the extra money, he can just buy a private jet to fly to his northern California home. Sheesh. So much for the downturn in the economy.

Fantasy spin: Not a huge fan of Sabathia, after the Brewers rode him into the ground, throwing him approximately 4,000 innings in the month of September. Weight has also been an issue for Sabathia and you wonder if the new contract will impact his size and/or effectiveness. Still, pitching for the Yankees, he'll undoubtedly be a top 5 pitcher in almost every publication, starting in a couple weeks. I'd stay away, unless he drops outside the top 10.

K-Rod to Mets: So, a three-year, $37 million deal for former Angels closer Fransisco Rodriguez, who set the saves record this year with 62? This is about half the money K-Rod wanted, according to initial reports. Call it a perfect storm that cost him a fortune. Economic downturn. Glut of free agent closers. Few suitors from big markets. And truthfully, the Mets were bidding against themselves on this one. There is a $14 million, fourth-year vesting option, which sounds tricky, but even still, the Mets have immediately upgraded their bullpen and with one signing are suddenly the favorites in the NL East again.

Fantasy spin: Closers are so interchangeable in fantasy, I wouldn't waste a top pick here. K-Rod was fourth or fifth on most expert's lists going into 2008 and he finished with 62 saves. Nobody saw that coming. And nobody will be shocked if he only saves 35 for the Mets, which could happen as the Angels' small ball mentality tends to maximize save opportunities, which reminds me, don't sleep on whoever wins the Angels closer job. Could easily be 50 saves this year and he'll probably be cheap.

Peavy to Cubs? Well, not just yet, but no rumor has had more legs and a longer shelf life than this one. I've never seen a GM be so forthright to try to trade a player to one specific team. Partly because Peavy has a very limited no-trade clause and the Braves backed out and decided to pick up Javier Vazquez (cough, bit mistake), from the White Sox. Only the stock market sank lower than Ozzie Guillen's faith in Vazquez down the stretch.

But back to Peavy. The latest rumor has the Cubs, Padres and Phillies set to pull off a three-way deal. These are tricky, but occasionally done, as opposed to fantasy, where I've never seen it happen, despite many attempts. The skinny: Peavy goes to the Cubs; Jason Marquis to the Padres (with the Cubs eating half or more of the $9.5 million owed). Mark DeRosa goes to the Phillies, who in turn send the Padres more pitching prospect and possibly a top catcher prospect.

Let's see: Peavy for Marquis and DeRosa....uh, where do I sign? Yes, Peavy had a stint on the DL, but when you check out his stats the past four seasons, the guy has simply been the best pitcher in baseball not named Santana. DeRosa was money last year and is a nice, sturdy, flexible player. Marquis had his moments the past two seasons, mostly mixed. If the Cubs can pull this off, someone needs to just go ahead and mail Jim Hendry GM of the Year award.

Fantasy spin: Won't spend too much time, since it hasn't happened yet, but uptick Peavy slightly as a 20-win season becomes a legit possibility. His ERA/WHIP might take a hit, though, going from Petco to Wrigley.

Wood to Indians? Keeping it close to Wrigley, the Cubs closer Kerry Wood is now a free agent after the Cubs decided they had other pressing needs (and capable Carlos Marmol locked up). The Cleveland Indians, who have tried 75 options in the past two seasons at closer, are close to giving Wood a two-year deal with a vesting option (argyle, I presume). Nobody knows the exact terms, but the Detroit Free-Press says it's worth around $20 million. Not sure why they're the only ones reporting this.

Fantasy spin: Mid to late rounds, after all the name brand guys are gone, take a flier on Wood, but temper the expectations. Wood has been to the DL so often (12 times), I think he's built a summer home there.

Other tidbits: Mike Lamb re-signed with the Brewers....the Dodgers gave Casey Blake $17.5 million over 3 years and Mark Loretta $1.25 million over 1 year ... the Rockies are close to locking up former A's RP Alan Embree ... the Orioles sent Ramon Hernandez and between $2 and $3 million to the Reds for Ryan Freel, which has to have Cincy fans holding their breath, hoping that surely, they're not putting their trust in Corey Patterson.

There's also a bazillion rumors out there, 85 percent of them never come to fruition, but I'll be reporting on the key chatter as the Hot Stove season really heats up.

Did Rays' Maddon blow it in Game 5?

Just a few quick thoughts about strategy in Game 5 of the World Series.

Admittedly, it's much easier to manage from the couch. Or second-guess the day after.

Still, I can't let it go without bringing up a few managerial tactics by Rays manager Joe Maddon. It seems that no media outlet (including both major papers that cover the Rays) have bothered to second-guess Maddon, who deserves an A+ for getting the Rays this far in the first place.

Still, there are three things I can't help but question in an unprecedented Series game that lasted 48 hours from start to finish.

1). David Price. This is the easy one to take Maddon to task with. And frankly, it's the most subjective. Price has been the wild card all postseason and against the Red Sox, he came in and delivered a World Series berth to the Tampa Bay region. So, who only use Price 1 inning, if he's your best bet out of the bullpen?

Perhaps, Maddon was worried about overusing Price. After all, the Rays had four innings to shut the Phillies down. But the best that I can figure is Maddon badly wanted J.P. Howell to face Pat Burrell. Howell has a nasty curve and Burrell is known for chasing junk in the dirt. Maddon got his matchup, but not the result (Burrell doubled, which led to the winning run).

I don't have a problem not starting with Price, as Grant Balfour has done an admirable job this year. And Price, while dominant, has had control issues, so there's no guarantee he mows down the Phils for 12 straight outs.

Still, bringing out Price in the 7th inning (not the 8th) seems to be the way to go with a tie game in the balance and a season on the line.

2). Carl Crawford not stealing in the 8th? Crawford has been the single best base stealer in the American League over the past five years. Plus, he's one of the most successful base swipers in baseball history at 82.5 percent. Crawford stole 6 bases in the postseason and the Rays stole a postseason record 24.

Crawford led off the 8th inning with a clean single to center. B.J. Upton was up next and instead of taking a pitch or two to let Crawford get into scoring position with nobody out, Upton swings at the first pitch and hits into a double play. Game over.

Why didn't Maddon put the mandatory green light on for Crawford and the red light to Upton? To me, this was the most egregious error of the night. Pressing the issue has been the Rays' M.O. all season, especially in the playoffs. When it counted most, Maddon got conservative.

3). Fernando Perez not stealing 3rd in the 9th. This is my final rant and I'll get off my soap box. Dioner Navarro sawed a broken-bat single off the nearly-unhittable Brad Lidge. Predictably, Perez pinch-ran and easily stole second base. Wasn't close.

Pinch-hitter Ben Zobrist had just one strike on him. There was one out. Lidge has not blown a save all season long. Why not send Perez, one of the fastest guys in baseball, to third. Gutsy? Sure. But what's harder to do? Get a single off a dominant closer or steal a base and get a fly ball. Zobrist accomplished the fly ball a couple pitches later. But Perez ends up stranded at third.

Now, it's your turn. Did you think Maddon could've managed the game any differently? Starting in the bottom of the 6th inning, the strategic moves take on a whole new meaning.

The non-steal attempts by Crawford and Perez weren't awful, and haven't been mentioned, even on the game broadcast, but in my mind, considering the circumstances and Maddon's style, they were both way too conservative. This was a team with the season on the line. They need to manufacture a run somehow, someway.

Still, it's a great story, one of the best in baseball in my lifetime. And Maddon deserves praise for not just getting to the Series, but for winning the A.L. East with a payroll one-fifth as big as the Yankees.

Hopefully, this isn't the last we've seen of the Rays.

Why the Rays will win Game 5

The game is tied 2-2 in the bottom of the 6th.

But Mother Nature is winning.

The question now is: Who will win tonight? Patience.

The most bizarre World Series situation has unfolded over the past 36 hours with Game 5 being suspended because of a rain that went from an annoyance to turn-the-windshield-wipers-on-high in the span of a couple innings Monday night.

MLB probably waited too long to call the game. But they waited just long enough for Tampa Bay to tie Philadelphia 2-2 with a Carlos Pena opposite-field single.

And now the wait. Who will win Game 5? 

Easy.

Controversy has been brewing in the sports media on Bud Selig's rule change, insisting the game would not have ended because of rain, even after the 5th inning, had the Rays not scored that tying run in the 6th. Even though the letter of the law states that.

Incidentally, I agree with Selig's ruling, which as commissioner he's allowed to do. You simply can't end the World Series on a called game in the 6th inning. This guy's still trying to recover his image from calling the All-Star game a few years ago, tied in the 12th inning.

So, where does that leave us for tonight's 8:37 p.m., 6th-inning first pitch? 

Not so fast.

The fact that the Rays players didn't know what they were dealing with, specifically Pena, when he was at the plate. If he strikes out, is that the end of their run? Sure, Joe Madden could have told his players what the commish had decided, but the fact that the decision was made on the fly without the players' knowledge is stirring the pot. 

Pressure does change how you play the game. Sometimes dramatically. And leave it to Madden, the unorthodox, fifth-infielder, mad scientist to keep that pressure boiling in the clubhouse, which may have led to the them tying the game in a near-downpour.

Which leads us right back to our suspended game, which will be nearly 48 hours old before we know the winner of Game 5, and more importantly, whether the Phillies will bring the first major sports championship to the city since 1980.

My official gut feeling for tonight's game: The Rays win 3-2.

Let me explain. 

Temperatures will be in the upper 30s at first pitch. Wind chill will be around 30. 

Have you ever tried swinging a bat in these conditions? It's brutal. Actually beyond that. 

And both teams will be using their best bullpen guys. Grant Balfour was the pitcher of record for the Rays, but look for David Price to throw at least two innings tonight. And I wouldn't be surprised if Madden digs deep into his bag of tricks and sends out Game 4 pitcher Andy Sonnanstine.

And you can bet the Phillies will likely stick with setup diva Ryan Madsen and closer Brad Lidge, who hasn't blown a save all year. 

Yes, these hitters are all big boys, but the sting of the bat and the deadness of the ball in these frigid conditions will likely paralyze most long-ball hitters, even the HR-swatting Ryan Howard, who had recently found his stroke, as if it was the remote stuck between two cushions of the couch.

Tonight, it's all going to come down to Small Ball.

Not to say the Phills can't manufacture a run. But the Rays and Madden's NL-style, run-manufacturing coaching all season long gives the Rays a huge advantage, despite the Phillies getting 12 outs to the Rays' 9. 

Look for Carl Crawford or B.J. Upton or even Jason Bartlett to steal a base or two to set up the winning run, possibly a bunt or sac fly or a grounder to the right side that sends this thing back to Tampa Bay.

And then, the Series will be on.

This 2-day rain delay may be a huge inconvenience for the players and fans alike.

But it's doing wonders for  turning a World Series Snoozefest into must-see TV.

Rays starting Kazmir a mistake

Sure, it's easy to second-guess a manager's decision after the fact.

But here's one before hand. Call it 20/20 foresight:

Starting Scott Kazmir is a mistake for the Tampa Bay Rays.

Rays manager decided to roll the dice with Game 2 starter Kazmir in Game 5 against the Red Sox, in a game the Rays could clinch their first World Series berth.

The reasoning is Kazmir's career numbers (4-4 with a 3.02 ) at Fenway have been much better than those of James Sheilds (0-3, 10.13).

But when you look at Kazmir's most recent success against Boston it's a no-brainer to use Shields. Kazmir gave up 5 ER in 4 1/3 innings in Game 2, not to mention the 9 ER in 3 IP he served up to Boston on Sept. 15 show he could be just what the slumping Red Sox need.

Shields has been their rock all year and the Rays should go for the knockout punch while they can.

Thanks to TV, there's a day off between Games 4 and 5, which gives Kazmir the proper rest (four days) that makes this decision appealing.

But Madden shouldn't try to outsmart himself.

This is just the sort of decision that may rally Boston and inspire a Game 5 win. A 3-1 lead seems like a done deal.

Just ask the Cubs how that worked out in 2003.

Does Manny deserve 'despicable' label?

Manny being Manny is one thing.

But the question has surfaced in bold type recently whether or not Manny Ramirez's actions in Boston, where he appeared to be tanking it to get traded to the Dodgers, went too far.

The controversial quotes were delivered by MLB on Fox analyst Tim McCarver, according to a report in the MLB on FOX analyst Tim McCarver said, according to a report in the Philadelphia Inquirer.

"It's extraordinary — the dichotomy between what he was in Boston and what he is in Los Angeles," McCarver was quoted. "I mean, talk about wearing out your welcome in a town, and it was a long welcome with the Red Sox. But some of the things he did were simply despicable, despicable — like not playing, refusing to play. Forgetting what knee to limp on. And now it's washed, it's gone."

Is "despicable" a little strong for Manny's actions?

Perhaps. But depending on which coast you live on, you see this thing through different glass.

Looking at how Manny rolled out excuse after excuse for why he couldn't play in those final weeks in Boston, then miraculously seemed perfectly healthy in Los Angeles doesn't sit well with most baseball purists.

But how is this different than someone in the final year of his contract, running out every hit, diving for balls, taking the extra base, all for that extra 1-2 million per year on a multi-season deal?

(For example, see Adrian Beltre).

Thursday night, as the NLCS kicked off with a 3-2 Phillies win over the Dodgers, Manny went 2-for-4, including a double in the first that just missed going out.

Manny hit .398 with 53 RBI in the final two months with the Dodgers. These were numbers only a healthy Manny, playing at his absolute peak, could reach. So why could he not even play in a key game against the Yankees, despite looking completely fine taking batting practice?

Perhaps only one thing could put a rest to the whole "despicable" debacle.

Manny and the Dodgers facing the Red Sox in the Series.

Now that's must-see TV.