It's here. After flocking for hundreds upon hundreds of miles from the far north, wild west, and eventful east to the warm tropics of the south, Major League Baseball has finally made its much anticipated return, with all 30 teams now officially in full swing entering Spring Training with an infinite number of intriguing storylines: Who will be this year's Cardinals? Will A-Rod finally gel in the Big Apple? Will Barry Bonds surpass Hank Aaron? Will Tom Glavine win his 300th?
While I can't yet answer any of these questions, I can prepare you for the upcoming season with a little insight on new faces in new places: Sometimes it works, other times it doesn't. But when it does, like it did for St. Louis when it traded for Jeff Weaver midway through last year, the new addition can serve as the main catalyst to your club winning the World Series. So without further ado, I give you the 10 best acquisitions of the 2006-2007 offseason:
10. Daisuke Matsuzaka, SP, Boston Red Sox
I was more excited this week to write this article than I was when I found out that Beyoncé was the new cover girl for this year's Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue (OK, maybe not), but it truly pains me to put the new Sox hurler here at No. 10. I still fail to understand how a guy who has never pitched in the majors can be worth $103 million, but suffice it to say that nobody is worth that much (not even you, David Beckham), so it's not Matsuzaka's fault that Red Sox General Manager Theo Epstein decided to throw that much cash in his direction.
Ironically, it's Matsuzaka's novelty that is actually his greatest strength. With a repertoire of six different pitches including a critically acclaimed gyro ball that apparently makes Barry Zito's curve look like a straight heater, Matsuzaka will surely be able to confuse the steroids out of hitters, especially early on in the season, and should give the BoSox a reliable No. 2 or No. 3 in what has become one of the more formidable rotations in baseball. Also, remember that with each passing day we get that much closer to the epic showdown between Dice-K and his rival, Hideki Matsui.
9. Andy Pettitte, SP, New York Yankees
Speaking of the Yankees...how about General Manager Brian Cashman's move to bring back old friend and four-time World Series champion, Pettitte, to solidify the Bronx Bombers' staff and to help it to get back to what it was seven years ago: good. Pettitte brings poise and experience to a rotation that has been severely lacking a dependable anchorman since the southpaw left for Houston at the end of the 2003 season. With the Astros last year, Pettitte went 14-13 with a 4.20 ERA and 178 strikeouts, while posting the second-lowest ERA in the league for the second half of the season (2.80). Don't be surprised if he continues to keep hitters off balance with his marvelous ability to change speeds in what will be his second stint in New York...or if No. 46 can entice former teammate and best friend Roger Clemens to join him onboard sometime at the beginning of the summer.
8. Gary Sheffield, DH/RF, Detroit Tigers
Jim Leyland has only talked briefly about whether Sheffield will see the majority of time as the designated hitter, in right field, or split time with Magglio Ordonez. But guess what? It doesn't matter. As long as last year's manager of the year has the King of the Hitch in the lineup everyday, the Tigers will remain a force to be reckoned with. Sheffield, who was acquired via trade with the Yankees earlier this winter after complaining to everyone but the Dalai Lama about his menial, diminished role on the team, will likely hit third for Detroit, and could be the final piece to Motown finally recapturing a title...just don't spill beer on him.
7. Eric Gagné, RP, Texas Rangers
It's true that Gagné has not thrown a pitch in a game in almost a year, but anytime you can get a former Cy Young winner for $8 million, you've got to take it. Gagné and 2006 closer Akinori Otsuka (2.11 ERA, 32 saves in 36 chances), who will become the set-up man this year, should make for an excellent one-two punch for the eighth and the ninth inning. Now if only this Sosa guy was for real...
6. Carlos Lee, LF, Houston Astros
El Caballo! The horse brings his .300 batting average, 37 homers, and 116 RBI to an Astros squad that was in the bottom third of the National League in runs scored last year with only 735, good for fifth worst. Although viewed as somewhat of a liability in left field, his mere presence enables slugger Lance Berkman to move permanently from the outfield become the team's everyday first baseman, putting far less demanding physical pressure on his body, which should ultimately enable him to swing a more powerful stick this season. Lee and Berkman could become one of the more potent duos in the National League, especially if third baseman Morgan Ensberg (.235, 23, 58) and outfielder Jason Lane (.201, 15, 45) can bounce back from what was a terrible year for both of them and provide some protection for the two-headed monster.
El Caballo could be the start to something great deep in the heart of Texas with what should be a solid offense, and a revamped pitching staff with newcomers Jason Jennings and Woody Williams behind ace Roy Oswalt. It's just too bad that they play in one of the toughest divisions in the majors (N.L. Central), and that Lee comes with a $100 million contract.
5. Freddy Garcia, SP, Philadelphia Phillies
Finally some pitching. Last year, the Phillies (85-77) finished with a better record than the World Series champion Cardinals (83-78), but missed the playoffs again, taking home only the National League MVP trophy that went to first baseman Ryan Howard. Philly has had the offense, led by Howard, Chase Utley, and Pat Burrell; they've just lacked an ace in the starting rotation. Garcia fills that void. The former White Sox hurler comes into the City of Brotherly Love (Tim Hardaway's least favorite town, apparently) fresh off of a 17-9 year where he had a respectable 4.53 ERA and 135 strikeouts. His numbers should only improve during his transition to the National League without having to deal with the designated hitter anymore. Oh yeah, his career ERA against National League East opponents is 1.12.
4. Jason Schmidt, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers
Perhaps no move was smarter than that of the Dodgers to steal away their rival's No. 1 gun. Schmidt, who has won only 23 games over the last two seasons with San Francisco, heads south with a chip on his shoulder, seeking a vengeance against the Giants who opted not to bring back the flame-throwing right-hander. Schmidt will join one of the best staffs in the National League with Derek Lowe, Brad Penny, newly signed Randy Wolf, and youngster Hong-Chih Kuo complementing a fine offense led by Nomar Garciaparra and Jeff Kent. We can only hope that manager Grady Little decides to pull Schmidt if the veteran hurler gets into trouble in a Game 7, lest he lose his job and be ostracized from the community again.
3. Miguel Batista/Jeff Weaver, SPs, Seattle Mariners
In the words of Hilary Duff: "Why not take a crazy chance?" Well, I just did. Batista (11-8, 4.58 ERA, 110 Ks) put together a solid year in 2006 with the Diamondbacks, and Weaver was outstanding for the Cardinals in their run to the World Series championship. Both of these additions, along with lefty Horacio Ramirez will give Seattle a decent rotation with Felix Hernandez and Jarrod Washburn occupying the first two spots.
The M's also come into 2007 with a solid bullpen led by closer J.J. Putz (2.30 ERA, 36 saves), Jake Woods (7-4, 4.20 ERA), and Mark Lowe (1-0, 1.93 ERA). Adrian Beltre has come into Spring Training completely rejuvenated, as has Richie Sexson and newly acquired former Nationals Jose Vidro and Jose Guillen. And how can we forget about Ichiro? How's this for a bold prediction: The Seattle Mariners will make the playoffs.
2. Randy Johnson, SP, Arizona Diamondbacks
First, if you haven't yet seen the D'Backs' new uniforms, please log onto MLB.com immediately and check them out. Secondly, if you haven't yet noticed that abnormally tall, familiar frame and face that's back in the desert, it's the Big Unit, Randy Johnson. Over the last two seasons with the Yankees, the timeless, hard-throwing lefthander really never felt comfortable in New York, compiling a 34-19 record with a disappointing (at least in Steinbrenner's book) 4.40 ERA, which paved the way for a trade.
Now, the 43 year old returns to the place where he pitched his way to four consecutive Cy Young awards ('99-'02), threw a perfect game, and won his only World Series in 2001, and joins a pretty formidable rotation headed by 2006 N.L. Cy Young winner Brandon Webb, Livan Hernandez, and Doug Davis. Johnson insists that his famous mullet won't be coming back any time soon, but we can be sure that his untouchable slider will be.
1. Alfonso Soriano, CF, Chicago Cubs
He may have never played the position before, but that won't stop the speedy former second baseman from taking the Cubs to the postseason for the first time since 2003. Soriano, who signed one of the richest contracts in MLB history this winter ($136 million over eight years), brings his 46 homeruns and 41 stolen bases from a year ago to Wrigley Field, and will likely lead off a lineup that already consists of sluggers Derek Lee and Aramis Ramirez, with a backbone of a pitching staff fronted by Carlos Zambrano, Mark Prior, and Ted Lilly, not to mention former Notre Dame wideout Jeff Samardzija.
The Cubbies may have spent close to $300 million on free agents this offseason, but it'll all be worth it come October. Manager Lou Piniella will have something to smile about once again.
*Please note: If and when SP Roger Clemens signs with any team, he will assume No. 1 on this list, and everyone else will move down one spot. Thank you.