White Sox sign Pierre from the Dodgers

Today, Ozzie Guillen has managed to bring in outfielder juan Pierre from the LA Dodgers. Pierre has had reduced playing time in LA since the signing of Manny Ramirez. In Chicago, Juan Pierre will become the White Sox's leadoff hitter and main left fielder.

Pierre has bneen traded for two players yet to be named the left fielder was obviously delighted to join White Sox after 18 months of difficulty in LA. Pierre still managed to hit .307 average in 2009 with 57 runs scored.

Big Day of reported trades in MLB

John Lackey to the Red Sox
Firstly reports are currently suggesting that the Boston Red Sox have tentatively agreed terms of a 5-year deal with John Lackey. The LA Angels ace is ready to sign a worth at least $82.5m.

Lackey, 31, is 102-71 with a 3.81 ERA in eight seasons with the Angels, and he would join Josh Beckett and Jon Lester at the top of a powerhouse rotation in Boston.

The signing of Lackey could reduce the chances of Boston resigning Jason Bay (see earlier post for the importance of this). With $82.5m spent on payroll could mean that Bay or Matt Holliday will not be resigned despite the urgent need in outfield.


Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee close to trade

A reported three way deal that would send Roy Hallday to the Phillies and Cliff Lee to the Seattle Mariners is supposedly very close to being completed.

Halladay is set earn $60m on a three-year deal Philadephia. Toronto who are losing Halladay will attain top prospects from the Philles and the Mariners.

Baseball's Great Experiment: Jackie Robinson and his Legacy review

Jules Tygiel book Baseball's Great Experiment: Jackie Robinson and his Legacy is a brilliant compendium of cultural history leading up to the Jackie Robinson's integration into baseball and beyond. The Journal of Sport's History calls the book "The best baseball book of the decade", it is hard to disagree with this opinion.

Professor Tygiel's book is the definitive work on the importance of Jackie Robinson to American history. Tygiel writes a well-researched, dynamic narrative that illustrates Robinson's incredible achievements and strength of character.

This book, unlike others on Robinson, focuses on the years before and after 1947 as well. By doing this, Tygiel reveals the impact of Robinson's achievement in the context of the emerging civil rights movement. Jackie Robinson's story was not his alone- it was the story of the ballplayers who came after him. The book also shows how Robinson's courageous seasons personified the changing American conscience regarding race in the post-war era.

Every serious baseball fan should read this book.

10 out of 10

Free Agency - Impressive roster of free agents remains

There are also some big names available on the trade market, starting with Toronto ace Roy Halladay and including slugging second baseman Dan Uggla and right-hander Derek Lowe. There also will be another haul of free agents come Saturday, when some talented players such as Rockies third baseman Garrett Atkins are not expected to be tendered contracts by the deadline to do so.

At the top tier, starter John Lackey and sluggers Matt Holliday and Jason Bay likely won't be ringing the same financial bells CC Sabathia and Mark Teixeira did a year ago.

Starting pitchers (5): Lackey, Joel Pineiro, Ben Sheets, Justin Duchscherer and Aroldis Chapman. Lackey's far and away the class of the group, and Pineiro is coming off a career year with the Cardinals.

Relief pitchers (5): Jose Valverde, Mike Gonzalez, Fernando Rodney, Octavio Dotel, Darren Oliver.
The Astros have moved on from Valverde, picking Brandon Lyon from the free-agent aisle and acquiring Matt Lindstrom via trade. Valverde stands out with two 40-save seasons preceding a 25-save campaign in '09.

Catchers (2): Bengie Molina, Rod Barajas.

First baseman: Carlos Delgado.
If he's indeed healthy after hip surgery and he can return even to his 2008 form, Delgado could be big again in the middle of someone's lineup.

Second baseman: Orlando Hudson.
What a difference a year makes, eh? Last year, he had to wait and wait for the call, but this year Hudson is top dog among second basemen.

Third baseman: Adrian Beltre
It looks as though Beltre is about to join the Red Sox after strong finish with the Mariners.

Shortstop: Miguel Tejada
Having regained some of his dominant form while with the Astros, Tejada is one of the more coveted bats on the market.

Outfielders (5): Holliday, Bay, Johnny Damon, Mike Cameron, Jermaine Dye.
Holliday and Bay will get big deals, because they're both big-deal guys -- a lot of pop from the right side.

Utility: Mark DeRosa
He'll literally play anywhere, any day. In fact, that might limit teams interested in him, simply because his value might not fit their need for a multi-position player.

Corner infielders: Nick Johnson, Troy Glaus
Would be nice to have a first baseman of Johnson's caliber around especially if Delgado's the starter, and Glaus can deliver some pop off this bench.


Middle infielder: Felipe Lopez.
Orlando Cabrera has made the rounds, and they've won pretty much everywhere he's gone. But Lopez gets an edge here because he brings experience to the table at both middle spots and he's younger.

There are definitely some brilliant free agents available. Most teams could do worse than some of these 25 players

Jason Bay must the Red Sox's primary objective

Today the New York Mets have joined the pursuit for Jason Bay. It was believed that Mets had been looking for pitching to relieve some pressure from Johan Santana. General Manager Omar Minaya looks to have changed direction in searching for the left fielder.

The only definitive offer that Bay has currently received is from the Red Sox. The Canadian turned down a four year deal worth $60m to stay at Fenway Park.


Jason Bay had an excellent season in 2009. He averaged .267 and hit for power with 36 home runs and 119 RBIs. These were career highs for Bay in home runs and RBIs meaning his value has certainly risen ahead of free agency.

When traded to the Red Sox in July 2008, Bay had to take over the left field role from the talismanic Manny Ramirez. As a replacement for the talented Ramirez, Bay has managed to cope with the pressure successfully.

Currently the Red Sox do not have an adequate replacement for Bay in left field. Rumours suggest that Boston are looking to sign Matt Holliday. Holliday is another free agency option. If the Red Sox were to bring him in, Holliday would probably be a solid replacement for Bay having hit 24 home runs and 109 RBIs in 2009 in Oakland and St Louis.

Bay is better player defensively than Manny Ramirez ever was for the Red Sox and he also a slightly better outfielder than Holliday. The comparison between the two offensively is also pretty close.

Holliday is a three time NL All Star with the Colorado Rockies has excellent career statistics with the small-market side. It is often argued that his statistics in Colorado were inflated due at home-run friendly Coors Field. However throughout Holliday's career, he has hit for a better average than Bay at .318 over five seasons.

It would probably be best for Red Sox to try to keep their prized slugger. Since rejecting arbitration, Bay has been in high demand with numerous suitors including the Los Angeles Angels, the Seattle Mariners and now the New York Mets.

To lose Bay would be an extremely significant loss for the Red Sox. Having led the club in the power categories, his success helped to negate David Ortiz's early season slump. His importance in the last 18 months has been unquestionable. Bay is the Red Sox's main power outlet. It would be unlikely to that Holliday would be a similar replacement. As an all-round hitter Holliday is closer to a Kevin Youkilis than Jason Bay.

The Red Sox currently have a very strong offense; in 2010 they will have a full season of Victor Martinez and hopefully resurgent David Ortiz. To bring in Holliday would not be a bad move for the Red Sox. Holliday is obviously a very good ballplayer but it would certainly be in Boston's interests to offer Bay a better deal.

The Red currently have a lot of depth in the pitching staff so the available payroll should be used to keep the slugger in New England rather than being spent on a Roy Halladay. Bay's power and performances in the clutch should definitely justify this. If Epstein does not act quickly Bay will have signed elsewhere.

Yankees on verge of landing Granderson in blockbuster trade

Runours have it the New York Yankees, Arizona Diamondbacks and Detroit Tigers are on the verge of the first major trade of baseball's winter meetings, a deal that would send Tigers speedy outfielder Curtis Granderson to New York.

In the trade, the Diamondbacks would obtain Edwin Jackson and Ian Kennedy, while the Tigers will pick up Max Scherzer, Daniel Schlereth, Phil Coke and outfield prospect Austin Jackson.

Detroit, which failed to make the playoffs following a late-season slide, arelooking to cut the payroll after a big attendance drop this year at Comerica Park. Granderson is owed $5.5 million next year, $8.25 million in 2011 and $10 million in 2012, and his contract includes a $13 million club option for 2013 with a $2 million buyout.

Kennedy, who turns 25 on Dec. 19, impressed when he came up from the minors at the end of the 2007 season, going 1-0 with a 1.89 ERA in three starts. But he struggled with injuries in each of the last two seasons.

If this trade were to go through it would be the first blockbuster trade of the winter. And typically the Yankees are involved.

Pettitte renews contract with the Yankees

Andy Pettitte has completed a new deal with the New York Yankees. The 37 year old left hander agreed to a one year deal worth $11.75m with Yankees.

Pettite had another good season in the Bronx. He pitched 32 starts going 14-8 with a solid 4.16 ERA through the Yanks' championship series.

After winning the clinching games of all three Yankees postseason series this year, going 4-0 in five postseason starts with a 3.52 ERA, the door was considered open for Pettitte to return. The only question was if the hurler would decide that he wished to pitch for one more season.

The southpaws' new contract represents a slight pay raise from last season and more importantly, it is a guaranteed, incentive-free contract, a major issue after Pettitte admitted that he was not ecstatic with the deal he signed with New York last season.

"Everybody knows I wasn't really happy with the contract I took," Pettitte said after the Yankees won the American League Championship Series against the Angels. "But I wanted to take it to come back here to have a chance to do this."

Free Agency - Red Sox agree to Scutaro deal BREAKING NEWS

The Red Sox have just agreed to sign Marco Scutaro on a two year deal. The Sox are expected to confirm the deal if he passes his medical later today.

The main result to come from the Scutaro deal is that Dustin Pedroia will not have to move to shortstop. It had been rumoured in recent days that Pedroia, a Gold Glove winning 2nd baseman, would be moving across the infield to shortstop. A Pedroia move would probably have been detrimental to his fielding abilties.

Theo Epstein (Boston's General Manager) has signed Scutaro to $5m a year two year deal. With the Red Sox only having Jed Lowrie available currently at shortstop as an option, the Scutaro signing was definitely needed. Lowrie who had a poor season in '09 having averaged just .147. That coupled with a career of .258 means that Lowrie is likely to move down to the minors now that Scutaro has arrived at Fenway.

Marco Scutaro had the best year of his career last with the Toronto Blue Jays. He averaged .282 with slugging percentage of .409. Scutaro is also an excellent fielder who is extremely versatile as he can play SS 2B and 3B or in the outfield.

One still wonders whether Scutaro was Boston's first choice at shortstop. It looks as if Epstein was unable to create the blockbuster trade for the Marlins' Hanley Ramirez.

If Scutaro can perform as well as he did in 2009 then he has the opportunity to become the Red Sox's best shortstop since Nomar Garciaparra left in 2004. Its a difficult task to match but Scutaro has the ability and the opportunity.

AL MVP - Joe Mauer

The Minnesota Twins' catcher Joe Mauer has been named Most Valuable Player for 2009 in the American League. The Twins star received 27 out of 28 first place votes and finished comfortably in first place ahead of Mark Teixeira and Derek Jeter.

Mauer's season started perfectly hitting a home run in his first at bat. Mauer finished with a league leading .365 average and on-base percentage of .444. Mauer was obviously a deserved winner having helped his Twins to the playoffs.

NL MVP - Albert Pujols

The great Albert Pujols has been named Most Valuable Player in the National League. The St Louis Cardinals' slugger was a unanimous pick having received all 32 first place picks meaning Pujols retained the title. It is also his third career MVP award.

He led the league in a number of offensive categories. Albert hit 47 home runs and his slugging percentage was an incredible .658. Albert is the third player to win the NL MVP title three times after Roy Campanella and Mike Schmidt.

Do the Boston Red Sox Need Roy Halladay?

Roy Halladay, the six time All Star, has been linked with the Red Sox. The real question is whether the Red Sox need another ace or should the payroll be better used elsewhere.

There are a number of reasons why Boston would look to trade for Halladay. The first of which is his obvious talent. The Toronto Blue Jay's star is one of the dominant pitchers in the American League. Last year he went 17-10 with a 2.79 ERA in a losing team. He was third in the AL in ERA and 4th in wins. His abilities as a pitcher are unquestionable.

The 32-year-old Halladay who has spent his entire career with the Blue Jays is said to want to join a playoff chasing team. For Halladay the Red Sox would be a good fit having made the ALDS again in 2009.

Halladay is definitely a better pitcher than the knuckleballer Tim Wakefield. And if Halladay were to join the Sox he would probably take Wakefield's or Clay Bucholz's place in the rotation. The 43-year-old Wakefield has just signed a two-year, $4m contract extension meaning he is unlikely to be dropped.

Halladay currently earns $40m in Toronto whereas Bucholz earns $413k. Which makes one wonder whether the Red Sox need to use so much of their payroll when they already have aces like Beckett and Daisuke?

The Red Sox rotation is very strong with two players who have pitched no-hitters in Jon Lester and Bucholz to join Daisuke, Beckett, and Wakefield.

The extra payroll could be better used signing an outfielder, either getting by Jason Bay to return to Fenway Park. A replacement for Bay is more imperative than signing Halladay. Bay hit 36 home runs and 116 RBIs. The excellent outfielder gave the Red Sox power during Ortiz's early season slump.

Also Boston need to improve at third base with Mike Lowell having missed 92 regular season games in the last two seasons. Also with age against Lowell, the Red Sox will look at free agents with an abundance of third baseman talent available.

Halladay is in demand. As well as the Red Sox, the Angels and Yankees are both rumoured to be looking at the pitcher.

If the Red Sox were to sign Halladay then their pitching depth chart would certainly be impressive and would definitely be a great addition. But the payroll could be better used at third base or in left field.

Is Dustin Pedroia the Answer at Shortstop for the Boston Red Sox?

Dustin Pedroia, the 2008 American League MVP, is rumoured to moving to shortstop. With the Red Sox looking extremely vacant in that area, Pedroia is looking to step up.

He said to ESPN's Peter Gammons, "They've put it out there, and I've told them I'm all for it. I can do it. I can't wait for [Terry Francona] to call me and ask, 'Can you do it?' I can do it. I really want to do it."

Will he be able perform to high enough standards in a new position?

As an All-American shortstop Arizona State he certainly has the abilities. However, for the Red Sox, Pedroia has only played six games in the position. His fielding percentage at shortstop is .952.

Whereas in his four seasons at second base, he has fielded at an excellent .990 percentage. He also been the fulcrum of 289 doubles plays while fielding at second base. For his performances at second base Pedroia managed to win a deserved Gold Glove in 2008.

One could therefore argue that it would be detrimental for the Red Sox to move Pedroia from second to shortstop. It will take time for him to get to a sufficient standard, especially to a equivalent standard of his second base fielding talent.

The loss of Pedroia at second base would mean that Boston would have to look for a new second baseman. This would cause further disruption for Theo Epstein during a difficult offseason.

So what the options for the Red Sox at shortstop beyond Pedroia?

Currently in the depth chart, the Red Sox only have Jed Lowrie. In his career Lowrie has for a .235 average and an extremely disappointing .147 last season through 32 games.

Boston will have look at the options available in free agency. There are currently two Type A free agents still available. They are Miguel Tejada of the Astros and Orlando Cabrera of the Twins.

Tejada, 35, is a career .289 hitter who hits for power. Last year he hit a commendable .313; however, one doubts that the Red Sox will be able to sign the 35-year-old as the Astros are close to keeping Tejada.

Orlando Cabrera is a more realistic option. The Twins have just signed JJ Hardy at shortstop meaning Cabrera is definitely available. He is certainly a better option than Lowrie.

There are rumours that the Red Sox will look to former draft pick Hanley Ramirez in a blockbuster trade. Ramirez has become the face of the Marlins organisation. The talismanic shortstop had an unbelievable season with the Marlins and would obviously be a brilliant option if available.

Ramirez would certainly be the ideal man to play shortstop for the Red Sox. However, the likelihood of the Red Sox bringing him in is small.

The answer at shortstop, though, is currently not in Red Sox organization. Pedroia is just too good at second base. It is unlikely that Francona will want to lose that. Therefore, the Red Sox will have to look to sign a new shortstop, whoever he maybe.