Thursday, February 20, 2014

Can Homer bail out Reds on overpriced deal?

Thursday is the first day when all of the players from every major league have reported to spring training.
Wednesday's biggest signing was RHP Homer Bailey with a 6-year, $105-million contract extension with the Reds. I expect Bailey to have a big year, but I'd kind of want him to have that big year before I started shelling out cash equal to what Mark Zuckerberg makes by the time he wakes up in the morning.
Bailey has pitched in the majors each of the last seven seasons, with a career record of 49-45. His best production so far has been his 13 wins in 2012.
In addition, the Orioles made official RHP Ubaldo Jimenez's 4-year, $50-million contract and the Giants avoided arbitration with 1B Brandon Belt by agreeing on a $2.9-million salary for 2014.
-- Another Opening Day starter: LHP Francisco Liriano for the Pirates. I would expect RHP Gerrit Cole to be Pittsburgh's ace by season's end.
-- I've mentioned position battles at second base, but there also are a number of teams looking for a starting third baseman.
Part of the problem is injuries. Brewers 3B Aramis Ramirez, who missed much of last season because of an injured left knee. He underwent surgery in December to remove a non-cancerous polyp from his colon, and he's at least 35 years old. In Toronto, the question is whether 3B Brett Lawrie can avoid injuries such as the strained right oblique muscle that cost him time last year.
There's also 3B/1B Mat Gamel. Once a promising Brewers prospect, he underwent surgery on his right knee in both 2012 and '13. After he injured the knee in the Braves' camp, they have released him.
Rookie 3B Cody Asche is penciled in as the Phillies' starter, with his strongest competition from a more promising but less ready rookie, 3B/1B Maikel Franco. At best, Asche could have average production for his position. This looks like a situation ripe for acquiring a surplus third baseman from another team, or perhaps an overpriced offer to 3B Michael Young to come back out of retirement.
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Basketball. Carmelo Anthony scores 42 points but goes 8 for 12 at the foul line? Or I'd trade a bunch of Ricky Rubio's 17 assists Wednesday and trade them for the four free throws in six attempts. The result is that I'm still trailing in free thrown percentage, but still leading 7-1.

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