Eduardo Sanchez: Top Reliever To Suit Up In Winter Ball

The Cardinal Nation

Shelby Miller: Early Spring Plans

The Cardinal Nation

Cardinals' "All-Time 9" Batting Seasons Voter's Guide

Now that baseball’s second season has begun (or, given that the playoffs now take more than a month, third season), fans have two things left to do: Discuss trades and signings or vote in meaningless online polls. It is the latter that inspires today’s post.

Fungoes

Joe Beimel, Josh Fogg, & Matt Herges File For Free Agency

Right-hander Jose Contreras and left-hander Joe Beimel, both late-season additions to the Rockies' bullpen, each filed for free agency on Monday. Colorado can still negotiate to retain both, but will have to bid against other teams.

Rockies Official Site

Will Ohman Files For Free Agency

Infielders Juan Castro and Mark Loretta and reliever Will Ohman filed for free agency Monday, leaving Jason Schmidt as the only Dodgers player eligible for free agency yet to file. Schmidt is expected to retire.

Dodgers Official Site

Albert Pujols, Rogers Hornsby, Stan Musial, & Babe Ruth Compared Updated

How does Albert Pujols compare to the other great Redbird hitters of all-time? Those two being Stan Musial and Rogers Hornsby. Musial and Hornsby both played for 23-24 years and with Albert 9 years into his career we can sort of project where he could end up if he doesn't have any major injuries. Of course over time he will age and slow down and have some sort of injuries, but even with that considered his total lifetime numbers could be staggering.

Redbirds Rap

Jose Valverde Files For Free Agency

Astros closer Jose Valverde filed for free agency Monday, joining teammates Miguel Tejada, LaTroy Hawkins, Jason Michaels and Darin Erstad, who filed last week.

Astros Official Site

Brandon Lyon Files For Free Agency

Brandon Lyon became the final member of the team's free-agent eligibles to file Monday, formally placing the late-inning reliever on the market as Detroit tries to sort out its bullpen situation for next season.

Tigers Official Site

Craig Counsell Files For Free Agency, Brewers Still Thinking Over Braden Looper

Brewers infielder Craig Counsell and reliever David Weathers were among the 31 players who formally filed for free agency on Monday.

Brewers Official Site

A Few AFL Pitch/FX Leaders

I like the Arizona Fall League. I've been tracking and classifying a lot pitches, thanks to the PITCHf/x installations in Peoria and Surprise. Nearly 10,000 pitches through Saturday's Rising Stars Game.

Beyond The Boxscore

Blue Jays Claim Mike McCoy Off Waivers

The Blue Jays added a pair of players to their 40-man roster on Monday, selecting the contract of first baseman Brian Dopirak from Triple-A Las Vegas and claiming infielder Mike McCoy off waivers from the Rockies.

Blue Jays Official Site

Todd Wellemeyer Files For Free Agency

Todd Wellemeyer became the ninth and final Cardinals player to file for free agency on Monday, the fifth day that eligible players could formally file.
Cardinals Official Site

Todd Wellemeyer: Final Cardinals Free Agent Filer

Jason Isringhausen Files For Free Agency, Rays Decline Option On Brian Shouse

Jason Isringhausen filed for free agency on Monday, making him the sixth Rays player to become a free agent this offseason.

Rays Official Site

John Mozeliak Hopes To Meet With Scott Boras, Matt Holliday

Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak said Monday afternoon that he hopes to meet with the agent for free agent left fielder Matt Holliday before Major League Baseball’s general managers’ meetings conclude Wednesday.

Cardinal Beat

Jim Riggleman: Nationals To Decide Soon

Nationals interim manager Jim Riggleman doesn't know if he'll be at the helm on a permanent basis, but he indicated a decision could be made after the General Managers Meetings.

Nationals Official Site

Dodgers Bring Back Rick Honeycutt As Pitching Coach

Returning are hitting coach Don Mattingly, pitching coach Rick Honeycutt, third-base coach Larry Bowa, first-base coach Mariano Duncan, bench coach Bob Schaefer, bullpen coach Kenny Howell and hitting coaches Jeff Pentland and Manny Mota.

Dodgers Official Site

St. Louis Globe-Democrat Names Rob Rains Sports Editor

The new online St. Louis Globe-Democrat has named veteran sportswriter Rob Rains as its sports editor and lead baseball writer.

St. Louis Globe-Democrat

Rockies Plan To Non Tender Garret Atkins

The Rockies plan not to tender a contract to third baseman Garret Atkins.

NY Post

Russell Branyan Expects To Top Himself In 2010

Life is good for Russell Branyan.

The swimming pool and Jacuzzi being built in the backyard of his Nashville, Tenn., home is nearly finished. A new addition to his family, a daughter named Quinn, was born on Friday. And his lower back is pain-free.

Mariners Official Site

Cardinals Have Bevy Of Award Hopefuls

Throughout October and early November, baseball's postseason awards trickled out, a few at a time. On Tuesday, the stream becomes a deluge.

Cardinals Official Site

Extended Musings On Whether MLB Needs A Salary Cap

In 1995 the New York Yankees payroll was $58 million…..

Maury Brown’s piece “Reasons for Not Having a Salary Cap in MLB are Numerous” delved into the complicated issue of the mighty salary cap. Which, after a Yankee 27th World Series, has somehow become an all-knowing, all-powerful and omnipotent force.

The Biz Of Baseball

Gordo Live 11-9-09

Join columnist Jeff Gordon for a live chat from 1-2 p.m. Monday about the Cards, Rams, Blues, Mizzou or whatever sport or team is on your mind.

STL Today

Signing Most-Valuable Players

There's no new news, which means it's time we go over some old news: the decision to sign Ryan Franklin to a multi-year extension stipulating that he was not allowed to record another out in 2009.

Viva El Birdos

Cardinals Have Yet To Make Offer For Matt Holliday (As Of Sunday)

Though the St. Louis Post-Dispatch suggested that the "framework'' of a contract offer to the 29-year-old Holliday, estimated to be $96 million for six years, has been put forth, Boras said on Sunday that the Cardinals have made no proposals.

Sports Illustrated

Marlins Will Shop Dan Uggla During The Winter Meetings

Indications are 2B Dan Uggla will get traded by the winter meetings next month and that RF Cody Ross will be back next year.

Palm Beach Post

Rangers Have Trade Chips In Pitchers

The Rangers may be in the unusual position of being able to trade starting pitching this offseason.

Rangers Official Site

Phillies Plan To Make Run At Mark DeRosa

The Phillies are expected to make a run at free agent third baseman Mark DeRosa, who hit .250 with 23 homers and 78 RBIs in 2009 for Cleveland and St. Louis. Before exploring this option, the Phillies need to get a favorable medical report on DeRosa, who had left wrist surgery on Oct. 28. The former University of Pennsylvania quarterback is expected to be completely healthy by spring training.

Philly Burbs

Cardinals Winter League Notebook 11-9-09

Anthony Fonseca is the player of the day in our daily report on Cardinals prospects in winter ball.

The Cardinal Nation

Lou Brock Next Cardinal To Sell Off Collection

Continuing the theme in a year of auctions by former Cardinals greats Bob Gibson and Curt Flood, Hall of Famer Lou Brock is next in line. The legendary “baseburglar” is offering a number of his personal baseball-related items for sale this month.

The Cardinal Nation Blog

Catch Me If You Can: Market Full Of Backstops

The free-agent market for catchers in 2009-10 is chock full of high-profile experience, durability and veteran savvy behind the plate.

MLB

Projecting Where The Free Agents Will Land

1. Matt Holliday - Mets. The Mets could grab headlines by signing Holliday to a six or seven-year deal for more than $100MM.

15. Joel Pineiro - Cardinals. He'd be a big loss for the Cardinals, who have rotation openings after Chris Carpenter, Adam Wainwright, and Kyle Lohse. Pineiro walked just 27 in 214 innings posted a 60.5% groundball rate due to a newfound sinker.

39. John Smoltz - Tigers. Smoltz of course came up with the Tigers, and they considered him a year ago. They could sign him and keep an open mind as to his role.

41. Mark DeRosa - Phillies. I debated flipping the DeRosa-Beltre predictions, as both the Phillies and Twins have a need at third base. DeRosa, a former Penn quarterback, has been linked to the Phils for years.

MASN Sports

At Least Mark McGwire Has Never Done This

Sammy Sosa, like his old rival Mark McGwire, has been accused of using chemical enhancements back in his heyday.

Tipsheet

SBN Manager Of The Year

The cloud of white smoke your computer emitted last night might have tipped you off, but this year's SBN blogger awards are going to be revealed this week. They're just like the BBWAA awards, except that tomorrow's post isn't set aside for ragging on the choices. Yet. Stop the drumroll:

Viva El Birdos

Chatting With Lance Lynn

Senior Minor League writer Dustin Mattison chats with our Scout.com/The Cardinal Nation Minor League Pitcher of the Year Lance Lynn.

The Cardinal Nation

Jeff Luhnow Joins Brian Feldman & Derrick Goold Of The Hot Corner (11-8-09)

101 ESPN

Cardinals Expect Little To Happen At General Managers' Meetings

A year after doing business at an ostentatious resort perched on Southern California bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Major League Baseball is sticking with a minimalist theme for this week's annual meetings of general managers.

STL Today