AGRI Biz

My Preseason AL Rookie of the Year Pick: Travis Snider AL Rookie of the Year Winner: Andrew Bailey Here is what I wrote back in August about the AL Rookie of the Year Award. ôOnce I looked deeper into the numbers, I have realized there might not be a better choice than the Oakland AÆs closer. His biggest competition will come from Elvis Andrus, Gordon Beckham, and fellow pitcher Rick Porcello. David ...

My preseason NL Rookie of the Year pick: Cameron Maybin NL Rookie of the Year winner: Chris Coghlan At least I got the team right. According to ESPN.com, Florida Marlins left fielder Chris Coghlan has been voted National League Rookie of the Year by the Baseball WritersÆ Association of America. Coghlan received 17 first-place votes and 105 points overall. Philadelphia PhilliesÆ pitcher JA Happ finished second with 94 votes. Coghlan led all National League ...

According to the Toronto Star , Toronto Blue Jays OF Vernon Wells had surgery on Thursday to repair cartilage damage in his left wrist. The surgery was a success and Wells is expected to be ready by spring training. Wells, who played with pain in his wrist all season hit a disappointing .250 with 15 home runs with a .711 OPS. Really not what the Blue Jays were hoping for when they ...

I have never met Seattle MarinersÆ general manager Jack Zduriencik. As a matter of fact, if he delivered the bacon cheeseburger I ordered from the diner last night to my apartment, I wouldnÆt have recognized him. But I will tell you this: I really like the guy. I like the guy because in a sport where so many of its general managers donÆt have a plan of attack, Zduriencik clearly does. Zduriencik ...

It didnÆt take Jim Riggleman long to make his first decision as full-time manager of the Washington Nationals. Starting shortstop Christian Guzman will be moved over to second base in 2010. The Nationals became concerned with GuzmanÆs range at short last year, and now coupled with off-season surgery on his throwing shoulder, it makes sense for the Nationals to move Guzman to second base. GuzmanÆs move to second base presumably opens ...

Update: According to the Dallas Morning News, John Wetteland was hospitalized because of an elevated heart rate and blood pressure. "My wife and I are very appreciative of the over-and-above care of our local officers and paramedics," Wetteland said. "I am currently resting safely at home." Obviously an elevated heart is the complete opposite of someone attempting suicide. My dad gets an elevated heart rate watching the New York Mets every summer, ...

In a move that has been rumored for weeks, the Atlanta Braves and Tim Hudson made it official today when the former University of Auburn standout signed a three-year contract extension. The three-year deal is worth $9 million per season and includes a club option for 2013. This deal doesnÆt come without its risks. Hudson is 34-years-old and is coming off Tommy John surgery. The first two years of this deal will ...

Shocking news out of the recent GM meeting in Chicago: The Tigers' Curtis Granderson may be up for a trade. What's so surprising is,á I donÆt think the words "trade" and "Granderson" have ever been used in the same sentence. Why would the TigersÆ GM, Dave Dombrowski, look to trade Granderson? Here are some of the contracts the Tigers are paying in 2010. Nate Robertson: $10 million Dontrell Willis: $12 million Carlos Guillen: $13 ...

According to SI.comÆs Jon Heyman via Twitter, the Washington Nationals are expected to name Jim Riggleman as manager. Riggleman took over for Manny Acta with 75 games remaining in the 2009 season after Acta was fired by the Nationals. Riggleman went 33-42 in those 75 games. Here is why I think Riggleman is the perfect fit for the Nationals: To endure as much losing as Riggleman has done as a manager in his ...

According to SI.comÆs Jon Heyman, via Twitter , Boston Red Sox C Jason Varitek has exercised his $3 million player option for 2010. For Varitek, this move makes all the sense in the world. For the Red Sox, I am confident in saying they were hoping Varitek would either retire or decline the option and look for work somewhere else. If he wanted to stay in baseball, Varitek really had no other ...