Hot Stove

Kipnis should rebound. He's a talented 27-year-old with speed and power who's produced before. As to the other three: big question marks. Swisher is 34, has had two declining years now, including last year's stinker, and has never been the most dedicated player to his craft. Bourn is a beat-up 32 year old, isn't great at getting on base, and whose greatest skill is speed on the bases and in the field. With that skill significantly hampered and declining, I wouldn't hold my breath on him either. As to Murphy, he is a very hard worker; he's just not significantly gifted. He's a great complimentary player, but you can never expect a whole lot from him. I don't see great things from the Indians this year. They'll be competitive when Lindor, Zimmer, and Frazier come up.

As to Suzuki, he's not seeing much time in that outfield, barring injuries. He is, however, the perfectly classy, smart 25th player for a young contending team. Not only will he bring savvy defense and heads-up play in the few times he actually plays, he will show the Marlins' young players how to carry themselves on the field and in the clubhouse.

Good observations! Maybe the Indians young pitchers will keep them competitive.

Orioles acquire Travis Snider from the Pirates for a A guy. I like it, quite a cheap contract ($2M) for a guy who hit pretty well last year. He doesn't have to live up to his former top prospect hype to easily be worth that little money and improve upon the likes of Lough and Delmon Young. Little baby moves like this add up (see SF, Burrell , Cody Ross, Andres Torres...)

Orioles acquire Travis Snider from the Pirates for a A guy. I like it, quite a cheap contract ($2M) for a guy who hit pretty well last year. He doesn't have to live up to his former top prospect hype to easily be worth that little money and improve upon the likes of Lough and Delmon Young. Little baby moves like this add up (see SF, Burrell , Cody Ross, Andres Torres...)

I love this move! I predict right now that Snider goes NUTS in that park this year.

Snider is definitely a nice addition, and he came cheaply...Tarpley is nothing special. However, the Orioles are going to have to do a bit more if they are going to approach replacing Cruz and Markakis. If Pearce stays at first/dh, I'm not sure De Aza, Snider, Young, and Lough will be able to do that. Lucky for the O's, with their talented infield (watch Schoop), loaded bullpen, and yeoman rotation (watch Gausman), they probably won't need to do so.

Another interesting trade was the Red Sox sending Anthony Ranaudo to Texas for Robbie Ross. Ranaudo was the top pitching prospect in the nation going into his disastrous junior year at LSU. Boston still took him in the first round and he held his own in his cup of coffee last year. He has solid #4-#3 starter potential and should have little trouble cracking the sub-par Texas rotation. Boston needed a lefthander for their bullpen and will give Ross every chance to overcome his poor season last year and be one.

Having now traded Ranaudo, Allen Webster, and Rubby de La Rosa away, it would appear the Sox' pitching cupboard would be bare. However, it only cleared room for superior pitching prospects Matt Barnes, Henry Owens, and Eduardo Rodriguez.

No posts in over a week. Has the fire gone out on our little stove?

As of right now according to MLB.com Shields remains unsigned. Are there any others unsigned you would like your favorite team to take a closer look at. This is traditionally bargain time and some good value can be scooped up at affordable prices.

Looks like the Padres are about to sign Shields. They will be an interesting team to watch this year.

Read the Shields Padres is a done deal. Padres were certainly active. With this pitching addition to go with the offense upgrades what do you think the Padres chances are of competing in the NL West? Defending WS champs and new biggest budget team Dodgers to go up against.

I am still mulling over whether the Dodgers helped or hurt themselves this winter. They seemed intent on improving the defense even if it cost offense. Will be interesting to watch how that unfolds. Defense seems to be getting more attention as the offense generating PEDS appears coming under control.

Even if Kemp has a great year with the Padres, the Dodgers definitely didn't hurt themselves, particularly with Grandal at catcher. They got a defensive and offensive upgrade at 2b in Kendrick. They made room for Joc Pederson, the best outfield prospect they've had since Kemp and the best Cf in their upper levels. Brett Anderson and Brandon McCarthy--who pitched awesomely for the Yankees--were solid pickups and should give the Dodgers the best rotation in the division. Joel Peralta had an off-year, but he's a solid innings-eater and should help support Jansen, Howell, and League in their solid bullpen.

As to San Diego, they definitely aren't giving defense too much attention. Their fairly powerful new outfield of Myers, Kemp, and Upton aren't going to win any Gold Gloves...and it could get really ugly if they actually play Myers in Cf. Middlebrooks has a nice glove, but he hasn't shown he can hit in the majors for a full year yet. Norris is a beast against lefties, but he hasn't proven he can hit regularly against righties; he never did it for Oakland. Alonso looks like a bust at first. Gyorko was a disaster at the plate and could lose his job to Spangenberg, new contract or no. And whether they go with Barmes, Amarista, or Solarte at SS, they're not going to impress. So, I'm not too bowled over by their lineup.

As to their pitching, Shields is a nice #2 starter to lead their rotation, with Cashner, Ross, Kennedy rounding out a solid front four. Their bullpen will also be strong with Street closing and Torres, Quackenbush, and Thayer supporting. However, it won't be enough for them to surpass LA and SF, and Preller could end up regretting giving up Max Fried, Joe Ross, Trea Turner, and Jace Pedersen for an unsuccessful one-year shot.

Mariner's sign Rickie Weeks for 1/$2M. Love that move. Excellent depth piece for basically no cost.