All of the biggest free agent names have finally found a home as we continue moving toward Opening Day 2009. Let’s look back at the last seven days:
- No question what the biggest story of the week was. Four months after failing to work out a two-year, $45MM deal with the Dodgers, Manny Ramirez signed a… two-year, $45MM contract with the Dodgers. Manny can opt out after the first year, which means we could be in for another offseason of Manny-mania if he has a huge year. He’ll earn $25MM in 2009 in an absolutely loaded Dodgers lineup. Here are his specific contract details.
- It’s a bit unusual for an injury note to be big news on MLBTR, but when it’s announced that Alex Rodriguez will miss a significant amount of time due to a torn labrum in his right hip, it certainly qualifies. The Yankees are currently planning on using Cody Ransom as a replacement for the first month of the season. How disastrous is losing A-Rod for an entire month in that division? Where does everyone see the Yankees finishing in light of this news?
- The A’s made two signings this week: First, Orlando Cabrera inked a one-year, $4MM deal with Oakland early in the week. Later in the week, Nomar Garciaparra also signed a one-year deal, though we don’t have the numbers on his deal. Cabrera is a bargain for a solid upgrade at shortstop, and Garciaparra should be a nice bench bat and great mentor for some of the younger players on the team while backing up just about everyone in the infield. It never hurts to have infield depth with Eric Chavez and Mark Ellis on your squad.
- One person who probably isn’t happy to see Cabrera’s arrival in Oakland is Bobby Crosby. He’s already requested a trade, and we’ve already heard a possible Cubs rumbling. Crosby’s contract will be a big issue in moving him, however.
- The Twins locked up one-fifth of their strong, young rotation when they signed Scott Baker to a four-year, $15.25MM deal with a $9.25MM option for a fifth year. Great signing for an underrated arm, and the Twins may not be done yet. We also heard this week that a Joe Mauer extension could be in the works.
- The Cardinals made a nice move to strengthen their bullpen by signing lefty Dennys Reyes to a very affordable two-year, $3MM deal. Reyes hasn’t been talked about as much as Will Ohman or Joe Beimel this offseason, but he held lefties to just a .202 average last season.
- Updates in Tim’s Offseason In Review series: Mariners, Padres, Orioles, Nationals, and Royals.
