Cardinals 2015 Preview

2014 Record: 90-72, lost to San Francisco in NLCS 4-1
2014 Runs Scored: 619
2014 Runs Allowed: 603
Additions: Jason Heyward, Jordan Walden, Matt Belisle, Carlos Villanueva, Ty Kelly, Dean Anna, Mark Reynolds
Losses: Oscar Taveras, Daniel Descalso, AJ Pierzynski, Pat Neshek, Shelby Miller, Jason Motte, Mark Ellis, Shane Robinson

The 2014 season was an up and down year for the Cardinals. St. Louis spent much of the season behind the Brewers, until catching them late in the season. They didn't take full possession of first place until September 1st, which they held on to for the rest of the season. The Cardinals also scored 183 less runs in 2014 than they did in the previous season. In fact, the Redbirds only scored 16 runs more than they allowed last season.

Still, the Cardinals beat the favored Dodgers in the Division Series. This included beating NL MVP and three time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw twice in the series. This moved Mike Matheny's squad to the NLCS, where they faced the Giants for the second time in three years. Another dominant lefty awaited, Madison Bumgarner. The Cardinals lost to Bumgarner twice, and loss two more close games to blow the series.

It was a disappointing finish to the season, but the Cardinals went further than many prognosticators predicted them to. Still, this was a team with talented veterans and emerging young talent positioned well for 2015. Then some even worse news hit the Cardinals. Less than two weeks after their elimination, Oscar Taveras died in a car accident in the Dominican Republic. The player who was supposed to be a big part of the Cardinals future was gone.

GM John Mozeliak quickly filled the void early in the offseason. The original plan was to let Taveras and Randal Grichuk compete for the right field job in spring training. With Taveras' death and the team's lack of offense, Mozeliak made a major move. He traded starting pitcher Shelby Miller and pitching prospect Tyrell Jenkins to the Braves for right fielder Jason Heyward and reliever Jordan Walden. This is somewhat of a risky trade considering that Heyward is a year away from free agency, and the years they are giving away from Miller and possibly Jenkins.

Still, Heyward is a big upgrade in the short term. He is the best defensive right fielder in baseball, and will be an offensive upgrade from last year's right field production. Heyward hasn't developed into a superstar, but gets on base, has speed on the basepaths, and has power potential. Walden will be one of Matheny's top setup relievers, and replace Pat Neshek. I would imagine that the Cardinals front office intends to keep Heyward around, and will make a serious effort at that.

Offensively, I would expect this team to improve for 2015. I'm not saying they are going to lead the NL in runs scored like they did in 2013 or 2011. Still, this is a club that underachieved with the bat last year. Matt Carpenter has been this team's sparkplug since taking over the leadoff spot in April 2013. Carpenter had a solid season in 2014, but it was a significant drop off from 2013. Carpenter's line dropped from .318/.392/.481 (average/on base/slugging) in 2013 to .272/.375/.375 in 2014. It might be unrealistic for Carpenter to match his 2013 season, but I would expect him to improve on his numbers for 2015. He showed in the postseason that he can still hit for power. Carpenter had 4 doubles and 4 home runs in 8 playoff games last year.

While Carpenter is the Cardinals catalyst, there are two more important players in their offensive attack, Matt Holliday and Yadier Molina. Holliday struggled in the first half, but had his usual dominant second half. His splits were .265/.373/.389 in the first half, and .281/.367/.515 in the second half. He hit 14 of his 20 home runs in the second half. Holliday is now 35 years old, and may be on a slow decline phase. However, with his strong second half, I have hope that he will have a rebound year in 2015.

Molina suffered a thumb injury that cost him two months last year. It sapped him of his power, but he managed to hit .282 for the season. Maybe, Molina's power days are numbered and he'll never match his totals from 2011 to 2013. Then again, I would chalk that up to injuries. Molina is entering his age 32 season, and has caught a heavy workload during his 11 years in the league. Matheny would be wise to not to ride Molina so hard during the season. Give him an occasional day off, or even give him a spot start at first base on occasions. They need to keep Molina fresh for the postseason.

The Cardinals might have the division's best middle infield. Jhonny Peralta got off to a slow start, but picked it up later in the year. He finished with a club record 21 home runs for a shortstop. He also exceeded expectations on his defense. At second base, Kolten Wong enters the season as the entrenched starter. Wong finished third in the NL Rookie of the Year voting after hitting .249 with 12 home runs and 20 stolen bases. Wong didn't fully get going last year until after a stint in the minor leagues and the disabled list. With Wong fully confident in his abilities, this could be a breakout season for him.

Another young player the Cardinals are looking for improvement from is Matt Adams. Adams seemed too focused on beating the shift, and it sacrificed his power. He hit only 15 home runs last year, which is two less than he hit in 244 less plate appearances during the 2013 season. The Cardinals are also concerned about his lack of walks. They brought in Mark Reynolds to be a right handed compliment, but the Cardinals need Adams to step up. This is the guy with the most power potential on the team.

At center field, Jon Jay enters the season as the team's starter. Last season, Jay entered the season with an undefined role, but his play pushed his way into the lineup. Jay isn't a flashy defender, doesn't have breakaway speed, nor is he a power hitter, but he does get on base. Peter Bourjos returns after an up and down season last year. Bourjos could be a key contributor this year if he can pick up his hitting. Bourjos has the raw talent that Jay doesn't have, but only hit .234 for the Redbirds last year. He enters the season in a fourth outfielder role.

Matheny has many different options on setting his lineup. Carpenter has been a very good leadoff hitter, but could be moved down to the number 2 or 3 spot, if needed. Jay and Heyward have experience in the leadoff role as well, and there has been rumblings of Wong leading off if he got his OBP up. Heyward may also be a middle of the lineup hitter, if his power increases. Spring training will play a big role on Matheny figuring out the right lineup mix this year. The offense was down last year, but it was league wide. The Cardinals are banking on a rebound this season.

Defensively, this could be one of the best Cardinals teams since the Jim Edmonds and Scott Rolen era. Heyward comes with the reputation of an elite defender. When paired with Bourjos in center, the Cardinals would have two outfielders that could cover a ton of ground. Wong and Peralta are very good up the middle. Wong could have a Gold Glove in his future. Carpenter has re-adjusted to his natural position at third base, after some early problems last year. As always, Molina's defensive contributions are vital for this club. He is a great framer of pitches, works good with the young pitching staff, is good at blocking balls in the dirt, and still has a cannon for an arm. He shuts down the opponents running game.

The Cardinals bench will be slightly different this year. Mark Ellis and Daniel Descalso are gone, and the team added a couple of Rule V guys to compete for a utility infield spot with Pete Kozma and Greg Garcia. Shane Robinson was let go in the offseason, and the club could see more of Randal Grichuk and Stephen Piscotty at some point this year. Tony Cruz returns as the backup catcher. Cruz, Bourjos, and Reynolds are locks to make the club, with two bench roles up for grabs.

In the rotation, the Cardinals still have plenty of depth, despite the trade of Miller. Adam Wainwright anchors the staff, and is coming off one of his best years. There are some concerns about his elbow and his inning workload, but Wainwright has proven to be a horse. This is a guy you can count on for 200 plus innings, a sub-3 ERA, and close to 20 wins.

Lance Lynn made a huge step up last season. Lynn won over 15 games for the third straight season, and reached the 200 inning mark for the second straight season. The biggest improvement was Lynn's ERA which dropped to 2.74, which was 9th in the National League. After Lynn, the Cardinals will go with John Lackey in the third spot. Lackey came over in a midseason trade that involved Joe Kelly and Allen Craig last July. He is a veteran presence in the rotation, and is in the final year of his contract.

The Cardinals can probably depend on their first three starters, but there are some question marks in the back end of the rotation. Michael Wacha missed most of the second half due to his shoulder. If Wacha's shoulder is healed, then the Cardinals will be in good shape. The 2013 NLCS MVP was encouraged by a pre-spring training bullpen session. For the fifth spot, it looks like the team will go with Carlos Martinez. Martinez has filthy stuff, but there are questions about his ability to go deeper than 5 innings.

There are some other options if the team needs another starter. The Redbirds were rumored to be in the market for a big name starter in the offseason, but those rumors turned out to be unfounded. Lefty Marco Gonzales will be the first option if another starter is needed. Gonzales won two games out of the bullpen in the NLDS against the Dodgers last fall. He is a fast riser like Wacha, debuting a year after being drafted. Tyler Lyons is another possibility, if needed. Jaime Garcia returns for the final year of his contract, but who knows what to expect from him? Garcia hasn't pitched a full season since 2011. Any contribution Garcia gives should be looked on as a bonus at this point.

The bullpen was somewhat of a trouble spot last year. Trevor Rosenthal epitomized that inconsistency. Rosenthal was dominant in 2013, but was up and down in 2014. Rosenthal blew 6 saves and lost 6 games during 2014. His strikeout rate decreased, and his walk rate increased. The Cardinals desperately need Rosenthal to find his 2013 success.

Jordan Walden was acquired in the Heyward trade, and has closing experience. He was a All Star closer for the Angels in 2011, and has been Craig Kimbrel's top setup man for the past two seasons in Atlanta. Walden will be taking the role that Pat Neshek had last year. Walden looks to be Matheny's insurance in case Rosenthal has any problems this year.

With Martinez moving to the rotation, and Jason Motte also leaving via free agency, that leaves Seth Maness as the lone right handed holdover from last year's bullpen. Matt Belisle and Carlos Villanueva were picked up in the offseason as low cost bullpen options. Mozeliak is hoping that he can find another Neshek. Another option is rookie Sam Tuivailala, who will compete with Belisle and Villanueva for a bullpen job.

From the left side, the team has many options. Veteran Randy Choate returns after a shaky postseason. Sam Freeman had a breakout year last year, after several years of shifting from the minors to the majors. Gonzales could be an option, but the club would prefer him to be in the rotation (which could start him in the minors). Nick Greenwood and Kevin Siegrist are other options for the bullpen. Siegrist is the most intriguing option. He was dominant in 2013, but struggled mightily in 2014. If Siegrist gets it going, then the Cardinals will have a very good late inning option.

The Cardinals enter spring training with a very solid ballclub. There are very few holes, but a couple of potential problem areas. Mozeliak has proven that he will address a need in the middle of the season, if need be. The NL Central is possibly the toughest division in the major leagues right now. The Pirates were a playoff team last year, the Brewers led the division for five months, the Reds won't be as injury bitten, and the Cubs are improving. The Cardinals are one of the most talented teams in the majors, and should make another run at a championship this year.

Expected Lineup

3B Matt Carpenter
RF Jason Heyward
LF Matt Holliday
SS Jhonny Peralta
1B Matt Adams
C Yadier Molina
2B Kolten Wong
CF Jon Jay

Bench

CF Peter Bourjos
MI Mark Reynolds
C Tony Cruz
IF Pete Kozma
OF Randal Grichuk/IF Greg Garcia

Rotation

RH Adam Wainwright
RH Lance Lynn
RH John Lackey
RH Michael Wacha
RH Carlos Martinez/LH Marco Gonzales

Bullpen

RH Trevor Rosenthal
RH Jordan Walden
LH Sam Freeman
LH Randy Choate
LH Kevin Siegrist
RH Seth Maness
RH Matt Belisle/RH Carlos Villanueva

The Cubs Expectations Aren't Based in Reality

There has been a lot of buzz about the Chicago Cubs this offseason. The high profile additions of manager Joe Maddon and left handed pitcher Jon Lester will do that. Another reason for the optimism is the talented prospects the Cubs have. Expectations for the Cubs are sky high for an organization that hasn't won a World Series since 1908. Las Vegas has given the Cubs 14-1 odds to win the World Series, the same odds as that perennial winners like the Red Sox and Cardinals have. Maddon and Team President Theo Epstein expect the team to contend this year. Even first baseman Anthony Rizzo thinks that the Cubs are "World Series worthy."

Cubbie fans are set up for more disappointment if they think 2015 is going to be their year. This ball club has finished in last place the past five years. Last year's record of 73-89 was their best record in five years. Maddon will be the Cubs third manager in the Epstein era in four seasons. It took 88 wins for the Giants to win the last wild card spot last season. Even if everything goes right, are the Cubs going to be 15 games (or more) better than last year?

The NL Central is one of the toughest divisions in baseball. Going into the season, the Cardinals are clearly a better team. The Pirates were a playoff team last year. The Brewers were division leaders for five months of the season, until a September collapse. The Reds were plagued by injuries last year, but were a playoff team three out of the four previous seasons. That said, the Cubs aren't going to be a doormat anymore. I believe they will show some improvement, and possibly make a run at .500 this coming season. How do they compare with the rest of the division?

Catcher

The Cubs traded for former Diamondbacks catcher Miguel Montero this offseason. Montero was an All Star replacement for Yadier Molina last season, but had a down year. Now 31, Montero may not be the same hitter he was from 2009 to 2012. He is a defensive upgrade from Wellington Castillo, but his offensive numbers weren't much different than Castillo's(except for OBP). Russell Martin departed the Pirates via free agency, but this division includes Molina, Jonathon Lucroy, and Devin Mesoraco.    Cubs-4th best

First Baseman

Anthony Rizzo had a breakout season last year, making his first All Star team. Rizzo was second in the NL with 32 home runs and fourth in OBP. He is also a good defensive first baseman, and has emerged as one of the league's best at first. In the Central, only Joey Votto can compare to him. Votto is coming off a season in which he missed 100 games. When healthy, Votto is an on base machine that plays good defense. I think Votto has a comeback year this year, and will give him the benefit of the doubt.    Cubs-2nd best

Second Baseman

Javier Baez is the likely starter at second for the Cubs. He has a lot of power, but struck out 95 times in 213 big league at bats. Baez hit only .169 and is not a patient hitter. That said, Baez hit 37 home runs in the minors in 2013. If he can adjust to big league pitching, he has star potential. That said, he has a lot to prove. That's why the Cubs traded for Tommy La Stella as a back up plan. Right now, it is hard to place Baez ahead of any division rival at second. Brandon Phillips has been the division's best second baseman for years, but Neil Walker has probably overtaken him. Kolten Wong finished third in ROY voting, and could make a major leap forward this year. Even Scooter Gennett has to be considered better than Baez at this point.    Cubs-5th best

Shorstop

It seems like Starlin Castro has been playing forever, but he will only be 25 this season. Castro has already made three All Star teams in that span. The Cubs also have Addison Russell waiting in the wings in the minors. The Cubs will hold on to Castro this year, but a trade or position switch could be in the future. Castro looks to be the second best shortstop to the Cardinals Jhonny Peralta.  Cubs-2nd best

Third Baseman

With the Cubs trade of Luis Valbuena, they have opened up third base for 2013 top pick Kris Bryant. Bryant crushed 43 home runs combined in Double A and Triple A. Chicago isn't sure if Bryant is going to be a third baseman or left fielder, but will likely start him at third this season. Maddon has experience with rookie third baseman, with Evan Longoria in 2008 with the Rays. This division also has All Stars Todd Frazier, Matt Carpenter, and Aramis Ramirez. Josh Harrison was also an All Star as an outfielder, but will replace Pedro Alvarez, who moves to first base. Ramirez is now 36, and posted his lowest OPS since 2010. Right now, it is hard to place Bryant. He has the talent to be the best third baseman in the league, but could also be the worst. Right now, I can only put him above Harrison, and he could move ahead of Ramirez. Cubs-4th best

Left Fielder

Chris Coghlan took over as the team's left fielder, and had his best season since he won the 2009 Rookie of the Year. Coghlan has been up and down throughout his career, and have Junior Lake and Arismendy Alcantara as backup options. This is a weak spot for the Cubs, and their rivals are all better at this spot.   Cubs-5th best

Center Fielder

Alcantara was pegged at center, but the trade for Dexter Fowler changes those plans. Alcantara could be sent down for more seasoning, but will likely make some contributions to this year's team. Fowler gives the team a temporary fix and upgrade. Still, this division contains elite center fielders Andrew McCutchen and Carlos Gomez. It also contains Billy Hamilton and the Cardinals duo of Jon Jay and Peter Bourjos. Hamilton is the fastest player in the league and plays great defense. He isn't that much of a hitter, and is caught stealing more than he should be. There is a big gap from McCutchen/Gomez and the rest. It's really a coinflip on this one.   Cubs-tied for 3rd with STL and CIN

Right Fielder

Of all the Cubs prospects to make their debut last year, Jorge Soler looked the best. The Cuban hit 5 home runs and .292 in 24 late season games. It could be a battle between Soler and Bryant for NL Rookie of the Year in 2015. This division includes established right fielders like Jason Heyward, Ryan Braun, and Jay Bruce. Heyward is the best defensive right fielder in baseball, and came over to St. Louis in an offseason trade. Braun is coming off a down year, and there are questions on how good the post-suspension Braun will be. Bruce has some questions surrounding him as well, due to injuries. Still, both of these two players have a track record that leads to expectations of a rebound. The Pirates also debuted a top prospect, Gregory Polanco last year. Soler looked more impressive than Polanco in 2015, with Polanco struggling in the big leagues.   Cubs-4th best(could move up)

Starting Rotation

The addition of Jon Lester certainly improves the rotation. Lester split last year between the Red Sox and Athletics, and had one of his best seasons. Epstein's familiarity with him was a key factor in luring him to Chicago. While this is an exciting move for the team, Lester is just one pitcher. The team is relying on Jake Arrieta, Jason Hammel, Travis Wood, Liam Hendricks, and Edwin Jackson to complete it's rotation. Arrieta had a breakout season at age 28 last year, posting a 2.53 ERA. However, Arrieta only pitched 156.2 innings. Wood was an All Star in 2013, but his ERA ballooned to 5.03 last year. His rebound would give the Cubs a second lefty and a good middle of the rotation starter. Hammel returns after being traded away last year to Oakland. Hendricks pitched well in 13 starts after his call up last year, and has the edge over Jackson for the last spot.

The Cubs depth after Lester is questionable, and is clearly behind other teams in the division. The Cardinals have the best rotation in the division, led by Adam Wainwright and Lance Lynn. There are some questions with Michael Wacha's shoulder, Carlos Martinez's readiness, and even Wainwright's elbow. John Lackey returns for 2015, and the team also has young lefty Marco Gonzales and oft-injured Jaime Garcia as other rotation options. No other team can match the Cardinals pitching depth and quality.

The Reds also have a formidable rotation led by Johnny Cueto and Homer Bailey. They traded away Mat Latos and Alfredo Simon, but still have Mike Leake and Tony Cingrani in their rotation. The Pirates subtracted Edinson Volquez, but brought back AJ Burnett and retained Francisco Liriano. The biggest key for Pittsburgh's success is the development of Gerrit Cole. Cole has top of the rotation stuff, and could make a leap forward this season. Milwaukee traded away Yovani Gallardo to open room for Jimmy Nelson, but now are thin on depth. The Brewers have a rotation with solid, but not spectacular pitchers like Kyle Lohse, Matt Garza, and Wily Peralta. I think that the Cardinals, Reds and Pirates rotation is clearly better than Chicago's right now. The Brewers have a more balanced rotation, but lacks the ace that the Cubs have. I would rank those two rotations about even.   Cubs-tied for 4th with the Brewers

Bullpen

The Cubs went with Hector Rondon as their closer last year, and he saved 29 games. Pedro Strop and Neil Ramirez were his primary set up relievers, and Jason Motte joins the team as a free agent. The Pirates have the most bullpen depth in the division, and have a good lefty/righty late inning combo with Tony Watson and Mark Melancon. The Reds are lacking bullpen depth, but have the division's best closer, Aroldis Chapman. Trevor Rosenthal had an up and down season for the Cardinals last year, but they also have good depth. Milwaukee is still working on their bullpen, with Jonathon Broxton and Jim Henderson being their internal closing options right now. There are talks of bringing back Francisco Rodriguez or trading for Jonathon Papelbon. Bullpens are usually one of the last things that teams figure out. Relievers can be inconsistent from year to year. The Cubs look to have more depth than in the past, but lack a shut down reliever like Chapman.


While the Cubs should be excited about their future, playoff and World Series talk is premature. I wouldn't expect the Back to the Future prediction about the Cubs winning the 2015 World Series to happen. It is unrealistic to think that all of their rookie stars are going to break out this year. This was a team 12th in runs scored last year, and 13th in runs allowed. The NL Central is a tough division with four other quality teams in it. Despite the optimism by Maddon and Rizzo, this team is likely at least a year away from serious playoff contention.

Is Scherzer the Nats Missing Piece?

The Washington Nationals have finished with the National League's best record two out of the last three seasons. This is a very talented team that already featured one of the game's best pitching staffs, and some young up and coming position players. Despite all the talent in D.C., the Nats lost in the Division Series in 2012 and 2014. They have been unable to replicate their regular season success in the postseason, losing to the Cardinals and Giants in the postseason.

Last week, the Nationals were the mystery team that swooped in and signed Max Scherzer. Rumors of him going to the Red Sox, Dodgers, Yankees, Cubs, or even Cardinals were unfounded. Scherzer had turned down a $140 million contract from the Tigers last year, and his asking price scared many teams away. His agent Scott Boras had also limited his market. However, Boras always seems to get his client the big contract. These sort of contracts are decided at the ownership level, and 89 year old owner Ted Lerner isn't concerned about the long term future. He's hoping for a championship today.

Scherzer signed a record 7 year, $210 million contract for a right handed pitcher. It is actually a 14 year contract, with half the money deferred. The Nationals already feature a rotation with All Star Jordan Zimmermann, phenom Stephen Strasburg, and lefty Gio Gonzalez. Doug Fister and Tanner Roark also had very good seasons last year. That gives the Nats six solid starters. The signing of Scherzer makes it very unlikely the team will re-sign pending free agent Zimmermann after the season. Zimmermann had turned down an extension. It also could hurt efforts to re-sign shortstop Ian Desmond after the season.

This move reminds me of when the Braves signed Greg Maddux to a rotation that already included Tom Glavine and John Smoltz. Or when the Red Sox traded for Curt Schilling after they fell short of the World Series in 2003. The addition of Scherzer certainly won't hurt in the short term. But what about the long term? Will Scherzer be an ace type pitcher 4 or 5 years into the contract? Will the Scherzer deal keep the team from being able to keep players such as Strasburg, Desmond, Bryce Harper, or Anthony Rendon long term? Especially, when the team also has a lot of money tied up in Ryan Zimmerman and Jayson Werth, along with Scherzer.

For the next few seasons, I would expect Scherzer to pitch at an All Star level. Moving to the NL should help him out since he won't have to face the DH. The last two seasons, Scherzer was dominant in Detroit. He won the Cy Young Award in 2013, and won 18 games last season. He has became a better pitcher than when he was younger and tried to strike everybody out. He now pitches deeper into games, and gives up less runs. Scherzer hasn't won the World Series, but has pitched in the postseason the past four seasons. He has a 4-3 record, 3.73 ERA, and 80 strikeouts in 62.2 innings.

That been said, there has been many long term pitching contracts that have gone bad. One can think of the past contracts of Kevin Brown, Mike Hampton, Denny Neagle, Barry Zito, and Carl Pavano as examples of disasters. Other pitchers such as CC Sabathia, Johan Santana, and Cliff Lee pitched well during the first half of their contracts, only to suffer injuries during the last part.

The Nats are almost certain to win the NL East division crown again this season. The Phillies are rebuilding an aging roster, the Mets have offensive holes, and the Braves are also looking towards the future. Only the Marlins figure to be in the running, and they are clearly a cut below the Nats. The addition of Scherzer is not meant to win the division, it was meant to make noise in October. The way this contract will be viewed 10 years from now depends a lot on if the Nats win a World Series during that span.

Washington returns most of the team that won 96 games last year. Only Adam LaRoche, Rafael Soriano, Asdrubal Cabrera, and Tyler Clippard won't return from last year's roster. Long time third baseman Ryan Zimmerman will replace LaRoche at first base after an injury plagued season. This will keep third base open for Rendon, who opened some eyes with his play last year. Soriano lost his closer job late last year to Drew Storen, and is currently unsigned. Clippard was traded for Yunel Escobar, who will take over second base. The team also will utilize Danny Espinosa in the middle infield. To shore up the bullpen depth, the team recently signed former Toronto closer Casey Janssen. This team has a lot of depth and talent, and will look to shed their reputation as a postseason choker this year.


             
                                     RIP Ernie Banks

Four Greats Enter the Hall

The Hall of Fame voting process has been under heavy scrutiny in recent years due to the lack of players elected and PED concerns. Just two years ago, the BBWAA failed to nominate a single candidate. Last year, Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, and Frank Thomas were elected from a crowded ballot. Along with many deserving candidates returning, there were several new candidates for the 2015 ballot. First time candidates Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez, and John Smoltz were elected. Holdover Craig Biggio was also elected after falling two votes shy last year.

Tuesday's HOF election was a historic one. Only three other times in history have the writers elected four or more candidates in a single election. It hasn't happened since 1955, when Mickey Cochrane, Gabby Hartnett, Ted Lyons, and Joe DiMaggio were elected. The ballot has cleared up some, but there are still many Hall worthy candidates left. We'll get to that later. I have bitched about the writers being too picky in the past, but I can't argue with them this year. At least four deserving candidates made it in.

Randy Johnson won 303 games and 5 Cy Young Awards during his 22 year career. Control problems plagued Johnson throughout his 20's. The Montreal Expos drafted Johnson in the second round in the 1985 draft. Four years later, Montreal traded Johnson to Seattle for Mark Langston. Johnson showed glimpses of greatness during his first three seasons on the Mariners, but it wasn't until after a talk with Nolan Ryan that Johnson put it all together.

Johnson finished second and third in the 1993 and 1994 CYA voting. In 1995, he played a major role in helping the Mariners reach their first postseason berth. Seattle rallied from behind to tie the Angels for the division lead and forced a tiebreaker playoff game. Johnson faced Langston (who he was once traded for), and struck out 12 Angels in a complete game victory. Many credit that game for saving baseball in Seattle. Johnson would win his first Cy Young in 1995, and helped the Mariners again make the postseason in 1997.

The Mariners and Johnson were unable to agree to a contract extension before the 1998 season. Seattle slumped in 1998, and dealt Johnson to the Astros at the trading deadline. Johnson had struggled with Seattle, but went 10-1 with a 1.28 ERA in Houston. Johnson would lose two games to San Diego in the NLDS, including one to Kevin Brown. That offseason, both Brown and Johnson were free agents. The Dodgers decided to pass on Johnson, and signed Brown to baseball's first $100 million contract. The Dodgers were worried about Johnson's back, and he went on the sign with division rival Arizona. It was an offseason that would have long term effects on both franchises.

The Diamondbacks wound up in the postseason in only their second year of existence, while the Dodgers never made the playoffs with Brown. Johnson would win the Cy Young Award in 1999, giving him one in each league. He would go on to win the next three CYA's. The Diamondbacks again lost in the Division Series, dropping Johnson's playoff record to 2-6. Like Clayton Kershaw today, Johnson had gained a reputation as someone who couldn't win in the playoffs.

In 2001, Johnson would change that perception. He started the All Star Game in Seattle, and had a career high 372 strikeouts. Arizona won the NL West, and the combo of Johnson and Curt Schilling would be tough for any team to overcome in a short series. Johnson won 5 games in that postseason, including the decisive Game 7. Johnson and Schilling were named co-World Series MVP's in 2001.

2001 would be a high point in Johnson's career. He won his final CYA in 2002, although he came close again in 2004. Johnson also pitched a perfect game in 2004. After a disastrous 111 loss season, Arizona dealt Johnson to the Yankees. Johnson wasn't the same pitcher in New York, and would be traded back to Arizona before the 2007 season. He finished up his career with the Giants in 2009, and won his 300th game there. Johnson ranks up with Lefty Grove, Warren Spahn, Sandy Koufax, and Steve Carlton as one of the best left handed pitchers of all time. The big question is will he go in as a Mariner or a Diamondback?

Pedro Martinez was a farmhand with the Dodgers when his older brother Ramon was an All Star pitcher. Pedro would join his brother during the 1993 season as a reliever, and the Dodgers thought he was too smallish to be a starter.  After the season, the Dodgers traded him to Montreal for DeLino DeShields, one of the worst trades in Dodgers history.  Montreal would put him into the rotation intermediately. Martinez pitched well in 1994, and the Expos had the majors best record at the time the strike ended the season.

The 1994 strike and cancellation of the World Series was a turning point for the worse for the Expos. The team would never recover, and moved to Washington ten years later. The Expos dealt away many star players from the 1994 team coming into the new season. Martinez would make his first All Star team in 1996, and would take his game to an elite level the following season. During the 1997 campaign, Martinez compiled a 1.90 ERA, won 17 games, struck out 305 batters, and won his first Cy Young.

The small market Expos couldn't afford to keep Martinez, so they decided to deal him before he left as a free agent. Soon after the trade, the Red Sox signed Martinez to a six year extension. Martinez finished second to Roger Clemens in the CYA race in 1998, and the Red Sox won the wild card. The next two seasons were among the greatest in baseball history. During the 1999 All Star Game at Fenway Park, Martinez struck out five straight batters. He won the pitching Triple Crown in 1999, his second CYA, and nearly the MVP. The Red Sox upset the Indians in the ALDS, and faced their archrival Yankees in the ALCS. Martinez outdueled Clemens in Game 3, but Boston lost the series.

Martinez was miles better than the competition in the heart of the steroid era. During the 2000 season, Martinez led the AL with a 1.74 ERA and a 0.73 WHIP. Martinez's ERA was almost two runs lower than Roger Clemens 3.70, which was second in the AL that year. Only 3 other pitchers who qualified for the AL ERA title had a ERA under 4 in 2000.

In the 2001 season, Martinez was limited to 18 starts due to injury. Martinez was still dominant, but would pitch 200 innings or more only two more times. The Yankees were still a roadblock, and Martinez famously referred to New York as "his daddy." The Red Sox took the Yankees to seven games in the 2003 ALCS, but lost in a wild Game 7. Manager Grady Little was criticized for leaving in Martinez too long (he allowed the tying run), and would be fired. Imagine the criticism Little would of got if he took out Martinez earlier, and the bullpen blew it.

The Red Sox would trade for Curt Schilling, attempt to waive Manny Ramirez, and named Terry Francona manager in a turbulent offseason. The Red Sox were entering year 86 without a World Series title. They had came close many times, only to fall short. Martinez was entering the final year of his contract, and long time shortstop Nomar Garciaparra was traded during a trading deadline shakeup. Martinez wasn't as sharp during 2004, and his ERA ballooned to 3.90.

Expectations were sky high in Boston, and many thought this would finally be the year they reversed the curse. The Garciaparra trade was drastic, but the moves paid off. The team finished hot, and and swept the Angels in the ALDS. They faced a familiar foe in the ALCS, the Yankees. New York took a 3-0 series advantage, but the Red Sox beat the odds and came back to win the series. Boston went on to dispatch the Cardinals in the World Series, and ended their long stretch of futility. Martinez pitched 7 scoreless innings in a Game 3 win.

2004 would be Martinez' last season in Boston. The Red Sox decided to pass on re-signing Martinez, and signed a four year deal with the Mets. Martinez would have one more big season in 2005 for the Mets, but that would be his last injury free season with New York. Martinez then pitched his final season with the Phillies in 2009.

The Phillies were the defending World Series champions, and were looking to defend their crown. Martinez was no longer the pitcher he used to be, but he helped the Phillies out down the stretch. He pitched 7 scoreless innings in a win vs. his former team the Dodgers in the NLCS. The Phillies would go on to face the Yankees in the World Series. Martinez would face his old foe, but lost two starts to the Yankees, and the Phillies lost the series in six games. Despite that, Martinez is one of the best pitchers of his era, or any era. His seven year stretch from 1997 to 2003 matches up with anybody.

John Smoltz was the third wheel along with Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine in the Braves great rotation of the 1990's. Smoltz joins the other two in the Hall of Fame, after they were both inducted last year. This marks one of the few times in baseball history where a team had three Hall of Fame starters. Smoltz was actually drafted by his hometown Detroit Tigers, but was traded away to Atlanta during a 1987 midseason deal for Doyle Alexander. Smoltz would make his major league debut in 1988, and pitch the next 21 years with the Braves.

Early on in his career, Smoltz struggled with wildness; leading the National League in wild pitches three straight years from 1990-92. He also showed signs of dominance, making his first All Star team in first full season in 1989. In 1991, the Braves went from last place to first place. Smoltz and 1991 Cy Young winner Glavine were a big reason why. Smoltz would pitch in his first of many postseasons, and had a career 15-4 record with a 2.67 ERA in October. Smoltz also drew the Game 7 of the 1991 World Series start vs. Jack Morris. Smoltz pitched 7.1 innings of scoreless ball, but left with a no-decision. The Braves wound up losing in the 10th inning, and fell short of a championship.

In 1992, the Braves returned to the World Series to face the Blue Jays. Smoltz had just the NLCS MVP after going 2-0 with a 2.66 ERA in three starts. Atlanta again fell short in the World Series, losing their second in a row. After the season, Atlanta signed Maddux, giving Atlanta the best trio in baseball at the time (and maybe ever). However, this did not change the Braves luck in the postseason for 1993. They would lose to the Phillies in the NLCS that year.

Smoltz had slumped in 1994, posting an ERA over 4 in that strike shortened year. He rebounded in 1995, lowering his ERA by a run. 1995 would also mark a high point in the Braves run of 14 straight division titles. This team finally was able to get it done in October. The beat the Indians to win their first World Series since 1957, and first in Atlanta. Glavine took the World Series MVP honors. By this point of his career, Smoltz had been overshadowed by his two Cy Young Award winning teammates.

Smoltz would have his finest season in 1996. He won 24 games, had a 2.94 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 276 strikeouts, and led the NL in innings pitched. Smoltz would go on to win the Cy Young Award, giving the Braves three pitchers who had won the award. The Braves went back to the World Series that year, but were upset by the Yankees. He was a free agent at the season's end, but signed a five year deal to remain in Atlanta.

In 1997, Smoltz again lead the NL in innings pitched, proving to be one of the game's most durable pitchers. He wouldn't be so lucky in coming years. Smoltz failed to reach 200 innings the next two seasons, but got some really bad news in 2000. He needed Tommy John surgery. Smoltz would be out the entire 2000 season, and miss part of 2001.

When he came back from injury, Smoltz was inserted into the bullpen. In 2002, he finished third in the Cy Young voting after finishing with 55 saves. He had 45 saves in 2003 with a microscopic 1.12 ERA. After the 2004 season, Smoltz moved back to the rotation. He had done a great job as a closer, saving 154 games in 3 plus seasons.

There had been a few pitchers who moved from starter to closer(Dennis Eckersley comes to mind), but it was very rare for a closer to become a starter. Especially someone who was in there late 30's. Smoltz was up to the challenge, and actually made two All Star teams in his second stint as a starter. In 2006, he tied for the lead in wins for the NL. The 2008 season was cut short due to injury, and would be Smoltz's last season in Atlanta. He signed with Boston, but was released after 15 starts. He wound up finishing his career with the Cardinals for the last two months of 2009.

Craig Biggio spent his entire 20 year career with the Astros, and played several different positions. He was drafted by Houston with their first pick in 1987, and was up in the majors a year later. While thought of as a second baseman, Biggio actually was a catcher his first few seasons. He actually caught Nolan Ryan at one point in time. During his rookie season of 1989, he won the Silver Slugger Award as a catcher. Biggio was a rare catcher with speed, stealing over 20 bases twice as a catcher.

In 1991, Biggio made his first All Star team. 1991 marked the arrival of Jeff Bagwell, who along with Biggio, would be the face of the franchise for the next 15 years. With his speed and bat, the Astros decided to change Biggio's  position for the 1992 season. He was moved to second base, but was kept in the leadoff spot. Biggio also made the All Star team again in 1992 as a second baseman. In 1994, he led the NL in stolen bases and had his finest season to date. 1994 would also be Biggio's first Gold Glove season. He would win the next four Gold Gloves at second.

By the mid-90's, Biggio had been regarded with Roberto Alomar, as one of the game's best second baseman. He was known for his pine tar helmet, and his knack for getting hit by pitches. Biggio was hit by 285 pitches during his career, second most all time. In 1997, Biggio finished 4th in NL MVP voting, after leading the league with 146 runs scored. The Astros would win the NL Central division that year, marking Biggio's first playoff appearance. It would be a quick one, as the Braves swept them out of the playoffs.

Biggio had another outstanding season in 1998, and the Astros won 102 games that year. They had acquired Moises Alou before the season, and had made a midseason trade for fellow HOFer Johnson. Expectations were high for the Astros, but they lost to the Padres in the first round. The Astros won their third straight division crown in 1999, but were again dispatched in the first round. Biggio missed 61 games to injury in 2000, and missed the playoffs that year. They returned to the playoffs in 2001, only to be swept by the Braves in the Division Series.

After the 2002 season, the Astros signed Jeff Kent as a free agent. Kent was also a second baseman, and this required another position change for Biggio. He played 2003 and part of 2004 as a center fielder, before moving to left when Carlos Beltran was acquired. In 2004, the team picked up Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens. Along with Roy Oswalt, this gave Houston a dominant rotation. They started off slow, but rallied late in the year to win the wild card. They would face their postseason nemesis Atlanta again in the Division Series. This time, the Astros won in five games. They took the 105 win Cardinals to seven games in the NLCS, but fell short.

Kent left after two seasons, and Biggio returned to second base for the 2005 season. This was another up and down year, but the Astros again rallied from behind to win the wild card. They beat the Braves again in the Division Series, and had a rematch with the Cardinals in the NLCS. The Astros would go on to defeat the Cardinals to reach their first World Series. Biggio had finally got a chance to play in the Fall Classic. Houston's opponent would be the Chicago White Sox, who hadn't played in the World Series since 1959. The Astros were slightly favored, but the White Sox won the World Series in a sweep.

Biggio played two more seasons after the 2005 World Series loss, but was no longer the same player. In 2007, he notched his 3000th hit. This would be his final season, and he retired at the end of the season. Biggio holds many club records, including hits, runs, and stolen bases. Unlike the three pitchers elected, it took Biggio three tries to make Cooperstown. That isn't unusual though, it also took Ryne Sandberg three tries to get in. Biggio will be the first player to wear an Astros cap on his Hall of Fame plaque.

Mike Piazza was the next closest, getting 69.9 percent of the vote. Piazza is considered to be the best offensive catcher in baseball history, and will probably get in soon. There is no proof of any PED use, but it's obvious that some writers have some suspicion on Piazza. The same can be said about Jeff Bagwell, who finished sixth in the voting this year. Bagwell needs another 20 percent to get in. Bagwell is the only first baseman in history to hit over 400 home runs and have over 200 stolen bases.

While Piazza and Bagwell are losing votes due to a crowded ballot and perceptions of steroid use, other candidates are in worse shape. Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens gained a few votes, but both are hovering around the mid-30 percent on voting. Other PED suspected or admitted players such as Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, and Gary Sheffield barely stayed on the ballot this year. I've said before we don't know who all used, and it's very possible that there are player(s) who dabbled in PED's that are already in the Hall. It's hard to look back at an era where there was no testing, and make judgments 15 years later.

Tim Raines is another deserving candidate who hasn't gotten his due yet. Raines finished with 55 percent, which is 9 percent higher than last year. Raines was an on base machine who stole 808 bases in his career. There are no PED concerns with Raines, but the crowded ballot is hurting him. Also hurting him is that Raines had his best years in Montreal under the radar. Other candidates who have a good case are Fred McGriff, Alan Trammell, Edgar Martinez, Jeff Kent, and even Larry Walker.

With the election of Smoltz, there should be some momentum for Curt Schilling and Mike Mussina in future ballots. Schilling has just as good of career numbers as Smoltz, and was also dominating in the postseason. Mussina had a underrated career, but never won a Cy Young Award or a World Series. Mussina might end up being a Bert Blyleven type who gets in at the end of his eligibility.

As for 2016 newcomers, Ken Griffey Jr. leads the pack. He will most certainly get in next year. Trevor Hoffman, Billy Wagner, and Jim Edmonds will also be eligible for the first time next year. Hoffman will probably get the most support out of those three, but Wagner was more dominating than Hoffman. Wagner didn't pitch as long, and has 179 less saves than Hoffman. Wagner's ERA and WHIP are better, though. Edmonds deserves serious consideration, but some think he will struggle to stay on the ballot. I think that Griffey and Piazza will probably make it next year, with a possible third candidate sneaking in.

Winter Meetings Recap

The 2014-15 offseason has been a busy one. Jon Lester, Nelson Cruz, Pablo Sandoval, and Hanley Ramirez have all signed new long term deals in what has been a overall weak free agent class. Max Scherzer and James Shields remain on the market. The theme this offseason has been trades. The Athletics, Rays, and Braves have all been sellers; with Oakland most radically shaking up their roster. The Padres and Marlins have been known for their thriftiness in the past, but have been buyers this offseason. Both Chicago teams have made some major moves, while both Los Angeles teams have made some changes.

Below is a look at the active teams this offseason

Marlins Make a Big Splash

Miami raised some eyebrows when it gave Giancarlo Stanton a record 13 year, $ 325 million contract. This organization has a history of fire sales in the past, most recently after the 2012 season. Besides Stanton, the Marlins have emerging talents like outfielders Marcell Ozuna and Christian Yelich, shorstop Adeiny Hechaverria, and pitchers Jose Fernandez and Henderson Alvarez. The Marlins have a promising young core of players, but still had some holes coming into the offseason.

The Marlins struck a deal with the Dodgers to acquire second baseman Dee Gordon and pitcher Dan Haren. In return, they dealt away several prospects, including pitcher Andrew Heaney. Haren has hinted at retirement if he was traded, but hasn't indicated what his plans are. Gordon led the National League in steals last year, and will be the Marlins new leadoff hitter. Later, Miami struck a deal for Reds pitcher Mat Latos to beef up the rotation. Michael Morse was signed to take over first base, and Martin Prado will take over at third after coming over in a trade from the Yankees. With the Braves looking toward the future, the Marlins could be the Nationals main competition for the division crown next season.

Cubs Open the Checkbook

The Cubs hired Theo Epstein to run their baseball operations three years ago to rebuild their organization. Epstein had previously ran the Red Sox, and they ended a 86 year championship drought during his time there. There were big expectations despite that the Cubs were in horrible shape, and the new ownership was reluctant to spend money early on. Epstein focused his efforts on the farm system, and now the Cubs have several highly ranked offensive prospects. At the major league level, things haven't gone too well. Joe Maddon will be Epstein's third manager after two straight last place seasons.

Maddon is considered to be one of the best managers in baseball, and led the Rays to the playoffs four times. Managing the Cubs is a tough job, and frustrated prominent managers like Lou Piniella, Dusty Baker, Don Zimmer, and Leo Durocher in the past. There is a stigma on a Cubs franchise that hasn't won a World Series since Theodore Roosevelt was President, and not played in a World Series since World War II. Maddon will be the 50th different Cubs manager since their 1908 World Series championship.

Epstein was familiar with left hander Jon Lester from his Boston days, and lured Lester to Chicago by giving him a six year, $ 150 million deal. Lester gives the Cubs a big game pitcher and an ace, although a very expensive one. Right before the Lester deal, the Cubs worked out a deal with Arizona for catcher Miguel Montero. Chicago has also picked up Jason Motte and Jason Hammel. Starlin Castro and Anthony Rizzo both made the All Star team last year, and the Cubs will see what prospects Javier Baez, Aridsemy Alcantara, Jorge Soler, and Kris Bryant can do next season. The future looks better than it has in years for the Cubs, but they should temper their expectations. It's hard to take the World Series talk seriously. For a team that hasn't had a winning season since 2008, they should set realistic goals.

Who is A.J. Preller? Padres Make Big Moves

New GM A.J. Preller was a virtual unknown, but has made a name for himself in the past couple of weeks. Preller came from the Rangers organization with a player development background. The Padres have one of the game's better farm systems. At the major league level, they struggled to score runs, finishing dead last in the majors. Despite that, Bud Black's squad won 77 games, mostly due to their pitching. Preller has decided to aggressively address the Padres lack of offense with a series of deals.

The Padres unsuccessfully tried to lure Pablo Sandoval to San Diego early on in the offseason, but after he signed with Boston, Preller remained determined to make changes. Preller's first move was to acquire Matt Kemp from the Dodgers for Yasmani Grandal, Joe Weiland, and a prospect. The Dodgers had a logjam in the outfield and were looking to move the oft-injured Kemp and the remainder of his contract. Kemp has five years and $ 108 million left on his contract, and the Dodgers picked up $ 30 million in the deal. That would be the first of many moves.

The next move would be a deal to acquire 2013 AL Rookie of the Year Wil Myers from the Rays in a 3 team, 11 player trade that also included the Nationals. Myers had a sophomore slump, and the Rays have soured on him. Then, Preller traded for Athletics catcher Derek Norris to replace Grandal. The following day, Preller worked out a deal with the Braves for Justin Upton, and with Boston for third baseman Will Middlebrooks. The Padres have also worked out deals for pitchers Brandon Morrow and Josh Johnson.

The Padres dealt away 9 out of their 21 top prospects, but should have a much stronger offense next year. Despite that, Preller was able to hang on to the Padres top three prospects. Kemp, Myers, and Upton may not be the best defensive outfield, but the team hopes the offensive improvement will outweigh the defensive risk. The Padres still have outfielders Cameron Maybin, Max Venable, and Seth Smith on the roster, and will likely move at least one of them. Smith could also move to first base to replace Yonder Alonso, who had a really bad year in 2014. San Diego is betting that a change of scenery will help Myers and Middlebrooks.

These moves may or may not pay off. Still, this is a much needed jolt for what had been a very bland team. This should boost fan support for the team. This looks to be one of the weaker divisions in baseball, especially the Diamondbacks and Rockies. The Dodgers have won the division the past two seasons, and have re-tooled this offseason. The Giants won the wild card and continued their pattern of winning the World Series and missing the playoffs. Losing Pablo Sandoval to free agency is a big loss, and 2015 looks like an off year for the Giants. There is an opening in the NL West, and the Padres are trying to capitalize on that.

Dodgers Re-Tool a Flawed Roster

The Dodgers employ the game's best pitcher in Clayton Kershaw, and perhaps the best trio of starting pitchers along with Zack Greinke and Hyun-Jin Ryu. Despite that, they lost to the Cardinals in October the second season in a row. After the season, GM Ned Colletti was re-assigned, and former Rays GM Andrew Friedman took over baseball operations.

One of Friedman's first tasks was to clear up an outfield logjam that has caused some clubhouse friction. Cuban phenom Yasiel Puig has earned a spot, although his game needs some work and could use some maturity. This left two spots for three players, all of who were signed to expensive long term contracts. The team also felt comfortable with Scott Van Slyke as a reserve outfielder, and wanted to make room for prospect Joc Pederson in center field. Carl Crawford, Andre Ethier, and Matt Kemp were no long the star players they were in the past, and it would be tough to move these contracts.

Kemp had finished second to Ryan Braun in the 2011 season, and was awarded with a eight year contract afterwards. Kemp has had several injury problems since then, which has limited his playing time and effectiveness. After a injury plagued 2013, Kemp rebounded to hit 25 home runs in 2014. Kemp is no longer a viable option for center field, and is a corner outfielder at this point of his career now. Friedman was able to work out a deal with the Padres to acquire Yasmani Grandal, who will take over for A.J. Ellis as the team's everyday catcher. Ellis will remain as a backup.

The Kemp trade leaves Ethier and Crawford to platoon in left field, with the Dodgers intending to start Pederson in center, and Puig in right. Ethier and Crawford have had their fair share of injury problems, and Ethier slumped in 2014. Ethier has stated he wants more playing time next year, and the Dodgers could still trade one of them.

The team's middle infield will be different next year. The Dodgers decided that Hanley Ramirez wasn't worth the money, and let him depart. Ramirez is a dynamic offensive talent, but there were concerns about his defense at shortstop, injury history, and negative clubhouse influence. Friedman worked out a deal with the Phillies for Jimmy Rollins for a couple of mid level prospects. Rollins is 36, but a good short term fix until Corey Seager is ready. Second baseman Dee Gordon was traded to the Marlins, and Friedman then worked out a deal for for the Angels Howie Kendrick. Adrian Gonzalez, Juan Uribe, Puig, and Crawford(in a platoon) will be the Dodgers only returning starting position players next year.

These deals shed some payroll, and added a few prospects. It also cleared up some clubhouse problems caused by competition for playing time by big name veterans. Dan Haren was dealt away in the Gordon deal that netted several prospects. Friedman also parted ways with Brian Wilson, who was no longer the pitcher he was with the Giants. With these moves freeing up money, the team added Brandon McCarthy and Brett Anderson for pitching depth. Despite losing some big name players, this will be a less flawed roster in 2015 than it has the past couple of years.

Boston Adds the Kung Fu Panda and Misses Out on Lester

Part of Ben Cherington's strategy last July when trading Jon Lester was to try to get him back this offseason. Lester wanted to stay, but turned down a four year, $ 70 million extension in spring training. Boston figured they could add Yoenis Cespesdes from Oakland for a two month rental of Lester. Lester wound up getting over twice as much money from the Cubs as Cherington offered him earlier in the year. Lester would not be making a return to Boston, but the team made several big moves.

The Red Sox were determined to add offense, and added two big name free agents. The first was Hanley Ramirez, formerly of the Dodgers, and originally drafted by the Red Sox. Ramirez had been the key piece in the Josh Beckett trade nine years ago. Ramirez has primarily been a shortstop and third baseman in the majors, but Boston is planning to play him in left field. Ramirez has never played left field, and resisted a move to third base while with the Marlins. Ramirez' days as a shortstop were thought to be close to over, especially with the presence of Xander Bogaerts, but no one profiled him as a left fielder before.

One of the main reasons Ramirez is slotted for left field and not third base is because Boston made another big addition. Right after the Ramirez signing, Cherington signed former Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval. Sandoval is a two time All Star, three time World Series champion, and won the 2012 World Series MVP. David Ortiz played a big role in recruiting Sandoval and Ramirez. Sandoval's weight has been a concern, but in the American League he has the option of moving to DH when Ortiz retires. Sandoval has been known as a clutch hitter, and his power numbers should improve in Fenway Park.

While Cherington upgraded the offense, the pitching staff needed work. Only Clay Buchholz and Joe Kelly were penciled in for the 2015 rotation, and both missed time because of injury last year. Missing out on Lester, and unwilling to meet Max Scherzer's demands, he had to look in different avenues for starters. Cherington worked out a deal with Arizona that brought left hander Wade Miley over for Rubby de la Rosa and Allen Webster. He then dealt Cespesdes to Detroit for Rick Porcello, and worked out a deal with the Cubs for Felix Doubront. Justin Masterson was signed to a one year deal, with hopes of a rebound. Boston has also been rumored to be seeking a trade for Phillies left hander Cole Hamels.

Boston went from last place in 2012 to World Series champions in 2013 to last place again in 2014. The Red Sox made a similar splash after 2012 when it added Mike Napoli, Shane Victorino, Stephen Drew, Ryan Dempster, and Koji Uehara. The Sox should be much improved in 2015, but I don't think they're World Series contenders yet. Their starting pitching remains a weak spot, but the AL East is weaker than in year's past. The Orioles lost Nelson Cruz and Nick Markakis this offseason, the Rays have entered a rebuilding phase, and the Yankees aren't the Yankees anymore. Luckily for the Red Sox, they still have enough pieces to contend in this division.

The Noise from the North

The Blue Jays haven't made the playoffs since they won the World Series back in 1993. The Jays haven't been terrible in that stretch, and have had many winning seasons since then. Toronto just hasn't been good enough to get over the hump since then. The second wild card was supposed to help teams like the Blue Jays, who were usually buried by the Red Sox and Yankees. With the AL East weaker than it has been in years, Toronto has made some moves this offseason to make a run at the division crown.

Toronto actually held first place early on in 2014, but the Orioles ran away with the division in the second half. Injuries to Edwin Encarnacion, Jose Reyes, and other key contributors put them in a hole they couldn't overcome. The pitching faded in the second half. Blue Jays management hopes that the addition of catcher Russell Martin will help with the pitchers, especially the young ones. Martin had a big year with the bat in 2014, and had a .402 OBP. Pirates manager Clint Hurdle considered Martin to be his most important player after Andrew McCutchen. Martin is a native of Ontario and should provide leadership to this Jays squad.

Another big addition was acquiring third baseman Josh Donaldson, who has been a MVP candidate the last two years. The Jays traded Brett Lawrie and three pitching prospects to Oakland to get him. Donaldson adds another big bat to go along with Encarnacion and Jose Bautista. Lawrie was a much hyped prospect, but hasn't lived up to his full potential, partly due to injuries. Melky Cabrera left as a free agent, and the Jays traded away pitcher J.A. Happ to the Mariners for Michael Saunders to fill the void. The club decided not to re-sign Colby Rasmus, and will instead hand center field to 22 year old Ontario native Dalton Pompey.

The Jays pitching is led by two pitchers in their late 30's in R.A. Dickey and Mark Buehrle. Both were solid pitchers last year, and Buehrle even made the All Star team. It's not ideal to rely solely on older pitchers. Toronto will need to see progress from promising young pitchers Drew Hutchison and Marco Stroman. If that happens, then the Jays will be in good shape. The bullpen also has some question marks if closer Casey Janssen isn't re-signed.

After the Royals ended their stretch of futility last October, the Blue Jays now have baseball's longest active playoff drought. Many commentators consider Toronto to be division favorites in a weakened AL East. The same thing was said prior to 2013 after several big additions, and the season was a disaster. The upcoming season is a golden opportunity for Toronto to make a playoff run.

The other Chicago team Makes Some Big Changes

The White Sox have endured two losing seasons in a row after Robin Ventura led the club to a winning record in his first season in 2012. Paul Konerko played his final season in 2014, and will go down as one of the best players in franchise history. The White Sox found a heir apparent to Konerko and Frank Thomas with Cuban slugger Jose Abreu. Abreu won the Rookie of the Year in 2014, hit 36 home runs, and led the American League in slugging pct. Another bright spot for Chicago is Chris Sale, one of the best pitchers in baseball.

In a matter of weeks, White Sox management signed Zack Duke, Adam LaRoche, David Robertson, and Melky Cabrera. A trade for Jeff Samardzija for spare parts was also made. The pitching staff had been a weakness after Chris Sale and Jose Quintana last year, especially the bullpen. Robertson and Duke should greatly improve the bullpen. Division rival Kansas City proved how important the bullpen can be for a team. Samardzija gives the team a dominant right handed pitcher to go with lefties Sale, Quintana, and John Danks.

Offensively, the White Sox are built around Abreu. LaRoche and Cabrera should give Abreu some protection in 2015. Alexei Ramirez has been a quietly underrated shortstop, and made his first All Star team last year. Promising young players like Adam Eaton and Avasail Garcia look to take a step up in 2014. There are a couple of holes at second and third base, but this is a much better team than it was a couple of months ago. The AL Central race should be interesting next year.

Tigers Change Their Stripes

Detroit entered the offseason with Max Scherzer, Torii Hunter, and Victor Martinez entering free agency. Dave Dombrowski decided that Martinez was his biggest priority, and signed him to a four year contract. Hunter left for the Twins, and Scherzer will not be re-signing with the Tigers. Rick Porcello was also traded for outfielder Yoenis Cespesdes. Anthony Gose was acquired from the Blue Jays, and will take over center field.

The rotation will look vastly different next season. Only Justin Verlander, Anibal Sanchez, and David Price will be returning. Alfredo Simon was acquired from Cincinnati to take one of the spots vacated. Shane Greene was acquired in a three way deal that sent Robbie Ray to Arizona. The bullpen is still a problem spot. Cespesdes will add a bat to go with Martinez, Miguel Cabrera, and Ian Kinsler.

The Tigers have won the AL Central four times in a row. There will be much more competition for the division crown in 2015. The Royals are coming off a World Series appearance, and the White Sox made some major improvements this offseason. The Indians are also a solid club, and the Twins are decent. The division title will not be a cake walk next year. The Tigers are still a leading contender, but it is not a certainty in 2015.

Trader Billy Beane

The Athletics will have a drastically different roster than they did when they lost the AL Wild Card Game. Beane, who has never been afraid to make a trade, has outdid himself this offseason. Derek Norris, Brandon Moss, Jed Lowrie, Jonny Gomes, Jon Lester, Jeff Samardzija, Jason Hammel, Luke Gregerson, Nick Punto, and Adam Dunn are all ex-Athletics. Beane has traded many of his best players for prospects, and even Beane isn't sure on who will make up his roster next season.

The group of players who made three straight postseason appearances is mostly gone. Beane has stocked up on pitchers, catchers, middle infielders, and designated hitters, and his team will have plenty of options next season. That said, no one knows how good these players will be in the majors. Among the new faces includes Brett Lawrie and Billy Butler. Beane's team will also retain a good bullpen led by Sean Doolittle and Ryan Cook.

This is somewhat similar to what Beane did during the 2011-12 offseason. Beane faced similar criticism when he traded off Gio Gonzalez, Trevor Cahill, and Andrew Bailey for prospects. Those moves paid off, but will it again this time? The A's are a team in flux, and look to be behind teams like the Angels and Mariners in 2015. Beane's all-in attempt did not work in 2014, and he decided to make major changes. I wouldn't completely write off Oakland, but I don't expect them to be in the playoff mix for 2015.

Heyward/Miller Trade Analysis

On Tuesday, November 17th the Cardinals and Braves made a major trade that had been in the works for weeks. The Cardinals were looking to boost their offense after it slipped from first to ninth in the NL in runs scored. The Braves were looking to upgrade their pitching staff with the anticipated departures of Aaron Harang and Ervin Santana. Cardinals GM John Mozeliak and his counterpart John Hart agreed to a trade that sent Jason Heyward and Jordan Walden to the Cardinals for Shelby Miller and Tyrell Jenkins. With the recent death of Oscar Taveras, the Cardinals felt they needed to make this move.

Heyward burst on the scene in 2010, and had a strong first half that led to an All Star appearance. He went on to finish second in the Rookie of the Year vote to Buster Posey. Many scouts thought Heyward had superstar potential, and was even compared to Hank Aaron at one point during his rookie year. Then Heyward had a sophomore slump in 2011, and his batting average dipped to .227.

In 2012, Heyward had a bounce back season, and hit a career high 27 home runs. He also won his first Gold Glove that season. While he had a nice season, Heyward was considered a strikeout prone player who struck out 152 times in 2012. During the 2013 season, the Braves moved Heyward to the leadoff spot to replace the struggling B.J. Upton. Heyward has since cut down on the strikeouts and improved his walk rate.

While Heyward may never be a superstar or future Hall of Famer, he has turned out to be a very good player. He is the best defensive right fielder in baseball. He is a high on base pct. guy. He has some speed, and stole over 20 bases twice in his career. Heyward hasn't turned out to be the power hitter he was projected to be, but Mozeliak feels like that could change in St. Louis, especially if he's not the leadoff hitter.

Along with Heyward, the Cardinals acquire reliever Jordan Walden. Walden originally came up in 2010 with the Angels, and made the All Star team the following season. He has spent the last two years in Atlanta setting up for Craig Kimbrel. Walden will fill the role of Pat Neshek, who most likely will depart in free agency.

Miller had finished third in the Rookie of the Year voting in 2013. He had been one of baseball's top pitching prospects since being drafted in 2009. While Miller had a terrific rookie year, he was left off the playoff rotation in favor of fellow rookie Michael Wacha in 2013. Wacha went on to have a brilliant postseason, including beating Clayton Kershaw twice in the NLCS and winning the NLCS MVP.

Miller labored during many of his starts this year, and didn't pitch deep into games. The coaching staff seemed to sour on him. There was one instance during a Sunday night game that he got a stern talking to by manager Mike Matheny, pitching coach Derek Lilliquist, and Yadier Molina on separate occasions. Some thought that Miller needed maturity, others thought he needed another pitch to compliment his fastball.

While Miller struggled during much of the season, he turned it on in September. He went 2-0 with a 1.48 ERA in five starts that month. In a reversal of last season, Miller was put on the playoff rotation over Wacha, who missed two months because of shoulder problems. Miller pitched 5.2 innings in a Game 4 win vs. the Dodgers, and was roughed up in another start in the NLCS vs. the Giants.

Despite Miller's inconsistency, he is 26-18 with a 3.33 ERA in his two plus years in the big leagues. Some say that he isn't going to be an ace, and is only a number three starter. Still, that has value. Just a few short years ago, the Cardinals had pitchers like Kip Wells and Todd Wellemeyer in the rotation. Cardinals fans would of been begging to have a starter as good as Miller back in those days. Good thing that the Cardinals have Marco Gonzales and Carlos Martinez to fall back on. Both pitchers are projected to be starters, and will compete for the fifth spot in spring training.

The Braves will be getting four years of Miller's services, and one more pre-arbitration season. It is possible that a change of scenery could be the best thing for Miller's career.  Atlanta has also received Tyrell Jenkins, who was in A-ball last year. Jenkins was drafted in 2010 at age 17, and was once one of the Cardinals top prospects. He had suffered from injuries and poor performance since. This season, Jenkins seemed to figure it out. He had been impressive in the Arizona Fall League. With Heyward up for free agency after 2015, the Cardinals have risked 10 years of team control for two promising pitchers.

I don't think the Cardinals made this move without the intention to attempt to sign Heyward long term. In the past, they have made similar moves with Mark McGwire, Jim Edmonds, and Matt Holliday. Given the recent record setting extension that Giancarlo Stanton got from the Marlins, the price will be high. The question is has Heyward reached his full potential yet. At age 25, Heyward could drive up the price too high if he has a monster season. As with the Holliday deal, I would expect that Mozeliak and Bill De Witt will try their best to work out an extension.

Oscar Taveras, Shooting Star

Cardinals 22 year old right fielder Oscar Taveras had just completed an up and down rookie campaign this year. Taveras had been a much heralded prospect who was compared to Albert Pujols and Vladimir Guerrero. Highlights of his 2014 season include a home run in his major league debut and a pinch hit home run during Game 2 of the NLCS. Taveras also had some difficulties during the past season, including some defensive lapses. Tragically, on October 26^th, Taveras and his girlfiend Edilia Arvelos died in a car accident in the Dominican Republic.

Taveras’ death shocked his Cardinals organization and all of baseball. Taveras had been close to players like Carlos Martinez and Kolten Wong, who played with him in the minor leagues. He was also liked by veterans such as Jon Jay and Yadier Molina. Two players who played in the World Series had been close to Taveras. The Giants Juan Perez had tears in his eyes when he found out about his death during Game 5 of the World Series. Perez later entered the game, and hit a triple. The Royals Yordano Ventura put a tribute to Taveras on his hat, then went on to get the win in Game 6.

At a young age, Taveras wanted to become a big league star. His father, Francisco Taveras had played minor league ball in the Brewers organization. Oscar would tell his father, “I’m going to make you the happiest father in the world. I want to be a star. I want to be a major leaguer. I’m the phenomenon. I’m the best.” Taveras was known as “El Fenomeno” or the Phenomenon in his hometown of Porta Plata, Dominican Republic.

Unfortunately, Taveras never got a chance to realize his potential. A combination of a wet road and traveling too fast led to Taveras losing control of his 2014 Camaro, which ran off the road and hit a tree. Two young people lost their lives way before their time. Taveras also leaves behind a one year old son, Oscar Yadier Taveras.

Taveras is the third active Cardinals player to die since 2002. Daryl Kile had died in his hotel room in Chicago during the 2002 season of a heart attack. Josh Hancock died in a drinking and driving accident during the 2007 season. Cardinals manager Mike Matheny was the team’s catcher during the 2002 season, and along with then-manager Tony La Russa helped the team cope with the tragedy of losing a teammate. Matheny will be in a similar position during next season. Matheny, GM John Mozeliak, Molina, Martinez, and Matt Carpenter all traveled to Taveras’ hometown to attend his funeral on October 28^th.

Cardinal fans will never know how good Taveras could have been. He was billed as the Cardinals best hitting prospect since Pujols, and compared to a left handed Vladimir Guerrero. Like Guerrero, Taveras was a good bad ball hitter, and had a rare ability to effectively hit pitches out of the strike zone. In 2011, Taveras hit .386 in A-ball. He followed up that season with another big year for Double A Springfield in 2012. Taveras hit .321, with 23 home runs, and 94 RBI’s during his 2012 campaign. If it wasn’t for a high ankle sprain that led to season ending surgery, Taveras would have of made his major league debut in 2013.

Taveras didn’t make the big club out of spring training this year, and was passed over promotion by Randal Grichuk early in the year. In his debut on May 31st against Giants pitcher Yusmeiro Petit, Taveras hit a home run. Immeadiately after hitting a home run, it started pouring down rain that caused a 47 minute rain delay. Taveras didn’t hit much after that, and was sent down on June 19^th, his birthday. He would be called back up eleven days later, for good.

The trade of Allen Craig opened up a full time spot for Taveras in right field. Baseball had come easy to Taveras since signing in 2008 at age 16. His brief time in the majors had been the only time he struggled during his career. Taveras hit better, but didn’t have the same passion for defense as he did hitting. He would lose playing time to Grichuk and Peter Bourjos later in the season. During the playoffs, it was Grichuk, not Taveras, who was the starting right fielder for the Cardinals.

While Taveras’ did have his struggles in 2014, big things were still expected of him. The team was planning on him working out in its spring training complex in November. He was scheduled to play winter ball this December. Mozeliak and Matheny were planning on Taveras competing for the right field spot in spring training next year. Besides his enormous talent, there were other reasons for optimism. Taveras had hit .295 in September, and hit a big pinch hit home run in the Cardinals only win against the Giants in the NLCS.

Many feel like the Cardinals missed out on a future star and a potential franchise player. Taveras was compared to players who won MVP’s. The Cardinals front office had previously hyped up prospects like J.D. Drew and Colby Rasmus in a similar way. Drew went on to have a very good career and Rasmus has had some moderate success, but neither player turned into stars.  There’s no telling what kind of career Taveras would have had. Fate had it that he would be struck down before his time.