MLBTR Originals News & Rumors

As the baseball world focuses on the League Division Series, we here at MLBTR are looking ahead to the offseason. Here's a recap of our original content from the past week…

• Ben Nicholson-Smith broke down Jose Bautista's historic arbitration case with some help from an expert.
• Tim Dierkes looked at the free agent market for second basemen, shortstops, and third basemen, as well as the trade market for first basemen, second basemen, and shortstops. He also listed the hardest-throwing free agent relievers.
• Tim also looked at the arbitration cases facing the Diamondbacks, Cardinals, Pirates, Brewers, and Astros this winter.
• Ben continued his series looking at what was said when each of the current general managers were hired. This week he tackled the NL East and NL Central.
• Mark Polishuk listed the managers and general managers who are entering the final year of their contracts. Ben re-introduced us to Sandy Alderson, the leading candidate for the Mets GM job.
• As usual, we examined the stock of several soon-to-be free agents. This week we tackled Carl Crawford of the Rays, Takashi Saito of the Braves, Jonny Gomes of the Reds, and Rick Ankiel of the Braves. We also looked at two non-tender candidates: Todd Coffey of the Brewers, and James Loney of the Dodgers.
• Our series looking at the largest bonuses each team has given to amateurs continued with the Braves, Orioles, and Red Sox.
• Among the poll questions this week, we asked who you thought would win the ALCS as well as the NLCS. We also want to know what you think the Reds will do with Orlando Cabrera's option.
• I dug up the latest and greatest links in this week's edition of Baseball Blogs Weigh In.
• Howard Megdal's latest Jack Of All Trades post highlighted Nelson Cruz.
• Here is Tim's chat transcript.
• Last, but certainly not least, welcome to all of the new readers that stumbled across the site this week! Here's a handy guide with all the different ways you can use MLBTR, as well as a list of our regular features. Make sure you check out our complete list of 2011 free agents.

There wasn't much in the way of rumors or transactions this week, but that's understandable. Everyone is focused on the postseason, including players, team executives, and agents. Here's a look at the original content we provided over the last seven days…

• Now that the regular season is over, Eddie Bajek was able to finalize his reverse-engineered Elias rankings. Here's a list of all the Type-A and Type-B free agents, and also the 2011 draft order.
• Tim Dierkes looked at Mike Napoli's arbitration case, and he listed some free agent groundballers and innings eaters. Scott Boras is well-positioned for the offseason. 
• Ben Nicholson-Smith dug up some third base options for the Indians, and we also looked at the free agent market for first basemen and the trade market for catchers.
• The Arbitration Eligibles series continued with the Reds, the Cubs, the Nationals, the Phillies, and the Mets.  
• Ben looked back at what was being said when active GM's were hired, covering the AL East, AL Central, and AL West. 
• We examined the stock of several pending free agents, including A.J. Pierzynski of the White Sox, Gerald Laird of the Tigers, Ramon Hernandez of the Reds, Cliff Lee of the Rangers, and Aaron Harang of the Reds. We also looked at Brian Bannister's case for being non-tendered, and discussed Ryan Ludwick's future.
• This week's polls featured questions about which player will improve his free agent stock the most during the postseason, which team will win the World Series, and also whether or not the Blue Jays will re-sign John Buck.
• I kicked off a series looking at the largest bonuses each team has given to amateur players, starting with the Diamondbacks. I also rounded up the best links in this week's edition of Baseball Blogs Weigh In.
• Howard Megdal's latest Jack Of All Trades pieces featured old-timer Bobby Bonds and the active Jose Guillen.
• Ben's chat transcript can be found here.
• Make sure you visit MLBTR's forums.

Here's a look back at some of the analysis and reporting MLBTR's writing team delivered this week..

• This week, MLBTR readers voted on who will have the best record in baseball, the next losing team to make the playoffs, and extending Josh Hamilton.
• Mark Polishuk examined Mike Napoli's trade value and fleshed out some potential suitors for him.
• Keep an eye on the Cubs' Carlos Marmol, he's an extension candidate.  The Indians' Shin-Soo Choo is also an extension candidate, though striking an extension with agent Scott Boras may not be easy.
• Two years ago, Francisco Rodriguez was the most attractive closer on the open market.  Now, it's hard to gauge what his trade value could be.  
• Ben Nicholson-Smith named the five difference-making waiver claims in 2010.
• Sorry, Edwin Encarnacion.  You've been identified as a non-tender candidate.
• Speaking of which, if you're fuzzy on what non-tenders are all about, you can check out this post right here.
• We collected the very best from baseball blogs on all kinds of hot stove issues.
• Kerry Wood will likely be looking at a one-year deal for 2011.  That might be the best route for Jorge Cantu to take as well.

Here at MLBTR we're all about up-to-the-second hot stove news, but we also provide plenty of original content as well. Let's look back at the week that was in the exclusive-to-MLBTR department…

• Ben Nicholson-Smith went behind the scenes of an MLB trade with some help from Andy MacPhail and Jed Hoyer.
• Ben also did a ton of work on potential pitching moves. He named some alternatives to free agent starters, and listed the teams that could be interested in Cliff Lee as well as innings eaters. He also gave us nine teams that already have their 2011 rotation set, and nine that are likely to bring in some pitching.
• We continued to look at the stock of several upcoming free agents, including Hideki Matsui of the Angels, John Buck of the Blue Jays, Hiroki Kuroda of the Dodgers, Brian Fuentes of the Twins, and Vicente Padilla of the Dodgers, 
• Some players aren't as lucky and get forced into free agency when their team declines to tender them a contract. This week we looked at non-tender candidates Kevin Kouzmanoff of the A's, Bobby Jenks of the White Sox, Cody Ross of the Giants, and Zach Duke of the Pirates,
• This week MLBTR readers voted on the AL East, which player will sign for the most guaranteed money after the season, and whether or not the Red Sox will re-sign Adrian Beltre.
• Ben's chat transcript can be read here.
• I rounded up the latest and greatest from the blogosphere in this week's Baseball Blogs Weigh In.
• Howard Megdal's latest Jack Of All Trades feature looked at Mike Lowell. 
• If you're relatively new to the trade rumor scene, make sure you check out our handy guide to all the different ways you can use MLBTR.

Here at MLBTradeRumors, we're about a lot more than supplying you with up-to-the-minute hot stove news.  Here's a look back at some of our original work this week..

• I have good news and bad news.  The bad news is that the 2011 Rotations series is complete and has come to a close.  The good news is that you can check out every team's preview right here.
• This week MLBTR readers voted on the NL West, the best minor league deal, and Manny Ramirez's next contract.
• The Blue Jays have a lot of options when it comes to Kevin Gregg, writes Ben Nicholson-Smith.
• We continued to examine non-tender candidates this week with looks at Matt Diaz of the Braves and Willy Aybar of the Rays.
• On Thursday we brought you the latest installment of Eddie Bajek's Elias Rankings.
• Luke Adams brought us a look at Carlos Pena's stock as he heads into free agency.
• Check out the transcript of Ben's chat right here.
• Mike Axisa brought us another round up of the best from the baseball blogosphere with Baseball Blogs Weigh In.
• Geovany Soto is an extension candidate after a fantastic year at the plate.

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

• This week we brought you up to speed on a pair of non-tender candidates: Dodgers second baseman Ryan Theriot and Mariners second baseman Jose Lopez.
• Brandon Webb's agent emailed MLBTR to make it known that his client is seeking an incentive-based contract with a significant base salary.  The contracts of Brad Penny, Rich Harden, Ben Sheets, and Tim Hudson will be used as starting points, says Jonathan Maurer.
• This week we unfurled the "5 Surprises" series.  The Dodgers, Rockies, and D'Backs were all chosen to kick off the new feature.
• After the season the Elias Sports Bureau will label free agents as Type A, B, or leave them without a label.  MLBTR readers can keep track of how players will be designated thanks to Eddie Bajek's projected Elias rankings.
• We picked up our "Free Agent Stock Watch" series this week with examinations of Giants outfielder Pat Burrell and Orioles reliever Koji Uehara.
• Is your favorite team out of contention?  Don't worry, we got you covered.  Now you can track your team's bid for a higher draft pick on our reverse standings page.
• Tim Dierkes broke down the arbitration-eligible players for the White Sox, Indians, Tigers, Royals, and Twins.
• Oakland's Trevor Cahill could be in line to receive an extension, writes Luke Adams.  Meanwhile, Ben Nicholson-Smith says that Jon Lester's deal will be a model for Clay Buchholz's extension, if Boston decides to go that route.
• On Wednesday Tim conducted his weekly chat.
• Our look at 2011 rotations rolled on with previews of the Twins, Cardinals, Mariners, Rays, White Sox, Red Sox, Orioles, and Blue Jays.
• If you're unclear on how September trades work, we have a post explaining everything you need to know.
• Howard Megdal wrote an entertaining recap of the 1982 trade deadline.
• MLBTR readers voted on a pair of phenoms, which late-season addition will perform better, the White Sox's acquisition of Ramirez, and discussed Adrian Beltre's next contract.

Let's take a look back at some of the original reporting and analysis from MLBTR's writing team this week..

• Over the next few months we'll be looking for potential non-tender candidates.  We turned the spotlight on Braves outfielder Melky Cabrera and Rockies second baseman Clint Barmes in recent days. 
• We rolled out even more previews of starting rotations in 2011.  This week we covered the Tigers, Royals, and Indians.  For the Tigers piece, Ben Nicholson-Smith spoke to Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, and Armando Galarraga. 
• We've seen some interesting deals go down on August 25th in years past, writes Tim Dierkes.
• Ben Nicholson-Smith broke down the Dodgers' big decision.
• On Sunday MLBTR released another round of Elias Rankings projections courtesy of Eddie Bajek.
• If you missed out on Tim Dierkes' weekly chat, you can read the transcript here.
• We took a look at arbitration-eligible players on the Blue Jays, Rays, Yankees, Red Sox, and Orioles this week.
• Did you know that eight players who signed for over $1MM this offseason have been dumped so far this year?
• Howard Megdal named David Cone this week's "Jack Of All Trades".
• Mike Axisa delivered his weekly look at the blogosphere.
• Several teams spent big on the draft when they weren't expected to, writes Ben Nicholson-Smith.  Ben spoke to Blue Jays scouting director Andrew Tinnish, Indians scouting director Brad Grant, and Pirates GM Neal Huntington for the article. 
• MLBTR readers voted on the Blue Jays' bullpen, whether an NL team would claim Manny Ramirez, Austin Kearns' future and discussed Manny Parra's future, Cody Ross' trade value, and whether the Cubs will sign Adam Dunn.

Here's a look back at some of the analysis and reporting MLBTR's writing team delivered this week..

• This week MLBTR continued to look at the probable and possible starting rotations for clubs in 2011.  The Yankees, Giants, Rockies, Phillies, Marlins, Athletics, and Padres have all been profiled in the last seven days.  To see all of our 2011 rotation previews, click here.
• Ben Nicholson-Smith drew a comparison between Josh Hamilton and Kevin Youkilis.
• On Monday we unfurled our listing of final-year arbitration-eligible players. 
  
• Howard Megdal reflected on the 1980 trade deadline.   Fun Fact: This was the year that Gaylord Perry, then 41, was shipped to the Yankees.  Perry started eight games for the Bombers that year.
• The Phillies have been doling out contract years like candy, says Tim Dierkes.
• David Chadd, the vice president of amateur scouting for the Tigers, spoke to Ben Nicholson-Smith about the club's 2010 draft.
• MLBTR was first to learn of the Phillies' agreements with draft picks Brian Pointer and Jonathan Musser.  Both players were signed for more than their slot suggested.
  
• Tim Dierkes analyzed the trade market for veteran Craig Counsell.
  
• As always we conducted our weekly chat and if you missed out you can review the transcript.
  
• MLBTR readers voted on Adam LaRoche's future, Francisco Rodriguez's contract, the wisdom of tendering a contract offer to J.J. Hardy and discussed where Magglio Ordonez will end up, whether the Dodgers should deal Ted Lilly, and what the Mets should do with R.A. Dickey.