The 2011 World Series has certainly been memorable. Whether it’s Albert Pujols hitting three HRs
\nin a single game or phone gate when Tony LaRussa couldn’t get Jason Motte
\nwarmed up in the bullpen during Game 5, not like we’re going to forget this
\nseries anytime soon. Let’s see what else
\nis going on throughout baseball.<\/p>\n
The Boston Red Sox have certainly made a lot of
\nnews since the end of the regular season, replacing both their manager and
\nGM. They are still negotiating with the
\nChicago Cubs over what the exact compensation should be for Theo Epstein, but
\nthey aren’t in the greatest of bargaining positions as the smear campaign they
\nhave orchestrated against Epstein means there is no way he is ever coming
\nback. The Sox also seem to want a yes
\nman as their next manager, preferring someone who will toe the company line rather
\nthan have someone who might have their own ideas. They did receive some good news however as SP
\nJohn Lackey will miss the entire 2012 season due to Tommy John surgery. Yes, I did say good news as Lackey may have
\nbeen behind a good deal of the clubhouse problems that the Sox had this season
\nand there is no way they could have him
\nback on the club next season. At least
\nnow they don’t have to worry about him until 2013, and won’t have to eat a
\nmajor portion of his contract to deal him.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The National League Central could look awfully
\ndifferent next season if Brewers 1B Prince Fielder and Cardinals 1B Albert
\nPujols both leave their respective teams via free agency. Hard to imagine Pujols leaving especially
\nafter the World Series, but Fielder’s departure is a foregone conclusion. Seems unlikely that the Yanks or Sox will
\nmake a move for either player, which makes you wonder who the biggest
\ncontenders will be. Toronto has made
\nplenty of moves this year but it seems unlikely they will sign a huge ticket
\nfree agent, think they may have had enough with Vernon Wells and Alex
\nRios. Baltimore would seem to be a fit,
\nbut would either player want to go in that direction, change leagues to play on
\nan also ran team. Texas might have the
\ncash but has a hard enough time finding ABs for the players on the current
\nroster. The Angels will have Kendry
\nMorales returning and may have found a future star in Mark Trumbo. No one is going to Seattle. Washington seems to have the money and the
\nability to make a big free agent signing this off-season, and may actually be
\nan up and coming team, but I just can’t see either player in a Nationals
\nuniform. Mets don’t have the money to
\nsign Jose Reyes. Apparently the Cubs
\nhave decided they won’t bid on either player.
\nThe Dodgers certainly have the need, but that ownership is a mess. Perhaps the Yanks will get involved, but what
\ndoes that mean for Jesus Montero or maybe the Red Sox don’t re-sign David Ortiz
\nopening up the DH slot, should be an interesting free agent market for both
\nplayers.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Have to wonder if CJ Wilson played himself out of
\na huge big money contract with his subpar performance in the playoffs. Have to wonder if the Yankees will back out
\nof giving another big money deal to a pitcher.
\nThey still have to give CC Sabathia some kind of extension after he opts
\nout, and there has to be some concern that he will break down before that
\ncontract ends, do they really want to give big money to Wilson when his
\nperformance in big games is in question and either way he is not a true number
\none, someone will give him a nice pay day, have a feeling it’s back in Texas.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The Phillies decided not to pick up the option for
\neither Roy Oswalt or Brad Lidge. Not
\nreally a shock as Philly might want to cut some payroll. Lidge is not the same pitcher he was, doesn’t
\nseem to have fully recovered from the arm injury he suffered last season and
\nOswalt just wasn’t all that effective.
\nOswalt has stated a few times that he has no interest in pitching in the
\nAL which will limit his suitors as well, especially if he wants a multi-year
\ndeal.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
After the World Series is over, it will be another
\nlong cold winter. Spring training can’t
\ncome soon enough.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The 2011 World Series has certainly been memorable. Whether it’s Albert Pujols hitting three HRs in a single game or phone gate when Tony LaRussa couldn’t get Jason Motte warmed up in the bullpen during Game 5, not like we’re going to forget this series anytime soon. Let’s see what else is going on throughout […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":785,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13522,9],"tags":[796,3252,17026,589,222,506,13419,17023,9973,3167,11499,1985,17025,5159,3064,1445,207,100,6531,17024],"class_list":["post-18025","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-clearing-the-bases-fantasy","category-general","tag-albert-pujols","tag-alex-rios","tag-balti","tag-boston-red-sox","tag-bullpen","tag-chicago-cubs","tag-clearing-the-bases","tag-exact-compensation","tag-foregone-conclusion","tag-john-lackey","tag-national-league-central","tag-prince-fielder","tag-smear-campaign","tag-theo-epstein","tag-tommy-john","tag-tommy-john-surgery","tag-tony-larussa","tag-vernon-wells","tag-yanks","tag-yes-man"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t