MLBTR Originals

Here's a look back at the original reporting and analysis produced by MLBTR's writing team this week..

• MLBTR was the first to learn of Wily Mo Pena's multi-year, multi-million dollar deal with Japan's Fukuoka Softbank Hawks.  In eight major league seasons, Pena has a .250/.303/.445 slash line with 84 homers.
• Ben Nicholson-Smith asked some of baseball's top executives what they felt was the hardest-to-obtain commodity.  Pirates GM Neal Huntington, Mets GM Sandy Alderson, and Orioles GM Dan Duquette all weighed in.
• Looking for cliffnotes on the new collective bargaining agreement?  Don't worry, we've got you covered with a post on the CBA's details and ten highlights from the new agreement.
• Mike Axisa asked MLBTR readers which big name free agent will sign next and Mark Buehrle received the most votes with 3,805 (21%).  David Ortiz and C.J. Wilson weren't far behind with 18% and 16% of the vote, respectively.
• MLBTR's GM Candidate series continued as Ben Nicholson-Smith interviewed Peter Woodfork, a senior VP in MLB’s baseball operations department.
• Kelly Johnson’s free agent stock has improved considerably in the past week and it has nothing to do with his ability to contribute on a baseball field, writes Ben Nicholson-Smith.
• Francisco Cordero became even more attractive on the open market when his Type A status was modified into a Type B by the new collective bargaining agreement, writes Mark Polishuk.
• Twelve months ago, Bartolo Colon was nothing more than an afterthought.  Now, however, the pitcher could get $3-4MM guaranteed on a one-year deal with incentives, Mike Axisa writes.
• Ben Nicholson-Smith gave his take on what we learned from this week's arbitration offers.  Here's a look at some of the more interesting cases from this week.
• On Thursday, Mark Polishuk revisited the MLBTR writing staff's preseason picks.  This season's playoff teams and award winners proved to be extremely hard to predict.  Miraculously, I had the best luck of anyone as I correctly picked six out of the 17 possible categories. 
• This week's edition of Baseball Blogs Weigh In features analysis of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, discussions on the MVP award, and an examination of the Athletics' rebuilding process.
• I took a look at the Braves' pitching surplus and wondered if they might use it to improve in other areas.
• If you missed Tim Dierkes' weekly chat, you can check out the transcript right here.
• Ben Nicholson-Smith took a look at how the top AL MVP finishers and the top NL MVP finishers were acquired.
• Thirteen years ago this week, Bernie Williams re-signed with the Yankees after nearly joining the rival Red Sox that offseason.  Williams' deal was worth $87.5MM over seven years.
• Aramis Ramirez's free agency seemingly came at a great time, writes Tim Dierkes.  Tim writes that he can picture three years and as much as $42MM for Ramirez, but at this point it's unclear where that might come from.
• On Thursday, more than 71% of MLBTR readers polled said that Bobby Valentine would be the next manager of the Red Sox.  We also asked where MLBTR readers believe that C.J. Wilson will land and less than 10% see him re-signing with the Rangers.
• While the Marlins are busy trying to lure free agents to their new ballpark in Miami, they also have decisions to make about some players they currently employ. One of those players is non-tender candidate Chris Volstad, writes Mike Axisa.