Consider the Rays' latest moves as positives

The Rays are having a good week.
They signed RHP Grant Balfour for $12 million to be their closer for the next two years.
That might sound familiar, because he has pitched for Tampa Bay before, but in a setup role. For the last three years, he was a closer -- with the Athletics.
Balfour almost had a contract this year with the Orioles, but he failed his physical. That fact and his age (36) could make the Rays' move a bit iffy. However, if you read these posts, you'll quickly learn how much respect I have for the Tampa Bay and Oakland organizations and their decision-making ability. Even more than I have for the Rangers' and ascending Pirates' organizations.
That respect is a reason why I also like the trade the Rays made with the Padres. Tampa Bay sent a couple of viable relievers, LHP Alex Torres and RHP Jesse Hahn, to San Diego for five players who haven't yet or haven't had a chance to prove their major league readiness.
The key player going to the Rays is 3B/2B Logan Forsythe. I saw him play at the University of Arkansas and in the Texas League. You may wonder why, with 3B Evan Longoria already on Tampa Bay's roster, the team would need Forsythe. But have you noticed Longoria's amount of time on the disabled list? And even if he could play every game this year, Forsythe would be around to play some second base, freeing 2B/OF Ben Zobrist (for whom I also have a ridiculous amount of respect) to spend more time in the outfield. That would add even more versatility to a pretty versatile team.
There also could be strength in the numbers of trading two players for five. Four of the five new players going to the Rays organization can be considered at best prospects. We know that not every prospect actually becomes successful in the majors. But what if two of the four among RHPs Brad Boxberger, Matt Lollis and Matt Andriese and 2B Maxx Tissenbaum turn out to be serviceable major leaguers? Or if even one becomes a contributor?
The only player among those four that I have seen much is Lollis, and he wasn't really impressive out of Double-A San Antonio's bullpen. Tissenbaum appears to be on a career track similar to ... Logan Forsythe's.
Which reminds me that the Giants avoided arbitration by agreeing to a two-year deal with 3B/SS Joaquin Arias. I'd rather have Logan Forsythe.
Another former Rays right-hander, Matt Garza, reportedly is close to a four-year, $52-million contract with the Brewers, who apparently didn't observe his work down the stretch with the 2013 Rangers.
The big signing, of course, was RHP Masahiro Tanaka's seven-year, $155-million contract with the Yankees. Again, if you've been reading this blog, you'll know this surprises me only in that he'll be making more than $20 million per season.
If you're really Jonesing for signings, you might even be interested in the fact that two righties found lacking as closers have new minor-league contracts, Jon Rauch with the Royals and David Aardsma with the Indians.
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Basketball. Thursday night, I got 31 points but just six rebounds from Chris Bosh, and very little from Mo Williams. I'm still ahead 7-1 this week, trailing only in field goal percentage.
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Hockey. In the Stars' 7-1 win over the Maple Leafs, even Brenden Dillon from my team picked up one of those good stats that I no longer talk about. I dropped half a point when the next-lowest team in goalie wins moved into a tie. Antti Raanta played in goal for me for the first time, but lost 2-1 to Minnesota. The worst part was that his save percentage was below .900. That's one stat where I could pick up a point or two in the standings by improving by a .001 or .002.

Giants sign 2 veteran pitchers

There's still time for major league teams to sign potentially helpful free agents. The Giants have done just that, signing RHPs Todd Wellemeyer and Guillermo Mota. Wellemeyer had a good season as a starter for the Cardinals in 2008, but pretty much hurt them last season. Mota's career as a reliever has gone south during his time with the Dodgers.

So Wellemeyer seems like the better bet to help San Francisco in a starting or bullpen role. Mota has more talent, but is older and more damaged goods.

Injuries: The Athletics can't be very happy about the first day of workouts for their pitchers. First, they found out that oft-injured RHP Justin Duchscherer couldn't take part because of an irritated sacroiliac joint in his back. Then, 10 minutes into the workout they had to move inside because of rain.

In Arizona? Yes, it has rained the last two days in the desert. The Mariners also had to call off a planned series of pitchers' fielding practice drills. So if Seattle loses a game or two this year because a pitcher doesn't get over to cover first base in time, remember that the game was lost on February 21.

But hey! There was some good news for Oakland. RHP Ben Sheets actually threw today, and as far as we know without being injured again.

OOO The Blue Jays placed RHP Dirk Hayhurst on the 60-day disabled list. He underwent surgery two weeks ago to repair a frayed labrum in his shoulder, and is expected to miss 4-6 months.

OOO Cardinals 1B Albert Pujols said he won't need Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. He underwent an operation in October to remove bone chips from the joint. Expect opposing runners to take chances for an extra base against Pujols unless he shows he can throw somebody out.

OOO Another first baseman, free agent Carlos Delgado underwent surgery by Dr. Marc Phillippon, who worked on Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez a year ago. Dr. Phillippon performed microfracture surgery on Delgado's right hip and reconstructive surgery on the labrum. It saddens me to write that one of baseball's good guys may be finished.

An Opening Day starter already:

Diamondbacks manager A.J. Hinch said RHP Dan Haren will be Arizona's Opening Day starting pitcher. The current plan is to have RHP Edwin Jackson start the second game and RHP Brandon Webb making his first appearance since the 2009 opener in game three. We expect that will change if Webb is physically able to pitch, with him moving ahead of Jackson -- way ahead of a pitcher we expect to be a major disappointment.

Lining up:

With CF Carlos Beltran expected to miss most or all of April following knee surgery, Mets manager Jerry Manuel is giving serious thought to opening the season with SS Jose Reyes batting third and OF Angel Pagan leading off. Pagan will battle Gary Matthews for the starting job in center field, and would be likely to play left field if Matthews wins that competition.

Rays manager Joe Maddon said his starting lineup will begin with SS Jason Bartlett, LF Carl Crawford, Ben Zobrist at second base or in right field, 3B Evan Longoria and 1B Carlos Pena.

Hot and Not -- Zobrist on a tear

The players listed here were the major league statistical leaders during the All-Star week. Batting averages are based on 12 at-bats, and ERA and WHIP on seven innings pitched. In most cases, we eliminate batters with an average lower than .280 and pitchers with ERAs above 4.00 from the Hot list. Keep in mind players’ career performance and current-season totals even more than current trends in deciding on whether to keep those players in your lineup.

Hot

Pos. Name, Team H-AB Avg. HR-RBI SB

3B Edwin Encarnacion, Reds 7-12 .583 2-6 0
C Miguel Montero, D-backs 7-12 .583 2-3 0
OF Garret Anderson, Braves 7-13 .538 1-2 0
2B Orlando Hudson, Dodgers 7-13 .538 0-1 0
OF Nyjer Morgan, Nationals 9-17 .529 0-1 4
SS Yunel Escobar, Braves 7-14 .500 2-8 0
OF Kosuke Fukudome, Cubs 6-12 .500 0-1 0
C Jason Kendall, Brewers 6-12 .500 0-1 0
3B Mark Reynolds, D-backs 6-13 .462 0-0 1
2B/OF Ben Zobrist, Rays 6-13 .462 0-0 0

This is Zobrist’s second consecutive week among the majors’ leaders in batting average. Fukudome was on the Not list a week earlier.

Home runs – Encarnacion, Escobar, Montero, Brewers 1B Prince Fielder, Mariners OF Franklin Gutierrez, Phillies OF Raul Ibanez, Angels 1B Kendry Morales, Cardinals 1B Albert Pujols, Cubs OF Alfonso Soriano, Yankees 1B Mark Teixeira and White Sox DH Jim Thome 2.

RBI – Escobar 8; Thome 7; Encarnacion 6; Fielder, Gutierrez, Ibanez, Soriano and Angels 2B/SS Erick Aybar 5.

Stolen bases – Morgan 4; Gutierrez, Astros OF Michael Bourn, Rays OF Carl Crawford, Rockies OF Carlos Gonzalez and Brewers OF Corey Hart 2.

Runs – Fielder, Dodgers OF Matt Kemp and Braves C Brian McCann 5; Crawford, Escobar, Morales, Morgan, Angels 3B Chone Figgins, Braves 3B Chipper Jones and Orioles 3B Melvin Mora and 2B Brian Roberts 4. This is Fielder’s second consecutive week on the Runs Hot list.

Throws Pitcher, Team IP ERA W-L WHIP SO/BB

RHP John Lackey, Angels 9.0 0.00 1-0 0.44 6:1
RHP Chris Carpenter, Cardinals 8.0 0.00 1-0 1.00 7:1
LHP Brett Anderson, Athletics 8.0 0.00 0-0 0.25 6:0
LHP Paul Maholm, Pirates 8.0 0.00 0-0 0.50 7:0
LHP Jamie Moyer, Phillies 7.0 0.00 1-0 0.29 4:1
LHP Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers 7.0 0.00 1-0 0.43 5:1
RHP Charlie Morton, Pirates 7.0 0.00 1-0 0.71 6:2
LHP J.A. Happ, Phillies 7.0 0.00 1-0 0.86 4:1
LHP Johan Santana, Mets 7.0 0.00 1-0 1.00 5:2
RHP Bronson Arroyo, Reds 7.0 0.00 1-0 1.14 7:1
LHP C.C. Sabathia, Yankees 7.0 0.00 1-0 1.14 4:3

Saves – Rays LHP J.P. Howell and Yankees RHP Mariano Rivera 3-for-3.

WHIP – Howell 0.00; Anderson 0.25; Twins RHP Bobby Keppel 0.27; Moyer 0.29; Giants RHP Bobby Wilson 0.33.

Strikeout/walk ratio (8 Ks, at least a 2.5:1 ratio) – Royals RHP Luke Hochevar 9:0; Yankees RHP Phil Hughes 8:0; Giants RHP Tim Lincecum 10:1; Mariners RHP Felix Hernandez 8:1; Twins RHP Scott Baker, Giants RHP Matt Cain and D-backs RHP Dan Haren 8:2; Yankees RHP Joba Chamberlain and Cardinals RHP Adam Wainwright 8:3; Rockies RHP Ubaldo Jimenez 10:4.

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Not

The week’s hitless wonders were Braves OF Nate McLouth 0-for-16; Nationals OF Josh Willingham 0-for-13; Giants OF Aaron Rowand, Blue Jays 2B Aaron Hill and Red Sox OF J.D. Drew 0-for-12; Mets OF Jeremy Reed 0-for-11; Marlins OF Jeremy Hermida 0-for-10.

Pos. Player, Team H-AB Avg. HR-RBI SB

C Kurt Suzuki, Athletics 1-16 .063 0-1 0
OF/1B Daniel Murphy, Mets 1-14 .071 0-1 1
OF Justin Upton, D-backs 1-13 .077 0-0 0
C Joe Mauer, Twins 1-13 .077 0-0 0
1B/3B Hank Blalock, Rangers 1-13 .077 0-0 0
OF Denard Span, Twins 1-13 .077 0-1 0
OF Colby Rasmus, Cardinals 1-12 .083 0-0 0
OF Gerardo Parra, D-backs 1-12 .083 0-0 0
1B Adam LaRoche, Pirates 1-12 .083 0-0 0
2B/3B Jeff Keppinger, Astros 1-12 .083 0-0 0
C Eliezer Alfonzo, Padres 1-12 .083 0-0 0

Parra was on the batting average Hot list last week.

Walk/strikeout ratio (six or more strikeouts) – Upton 0:7; Alfonzo 0:6; Indians OF Shin-soo Choo 1:7; Rays OF Pat Burrell 1:6; Phillies OF Jayson Werth 2:7; Rays 1B Carlos Pena 3:6; Nationals OF Adam Dunn 5:6.

Caught stealing – Reds OF Willy Taveras 1-for-3; Nationals OF Nyjer Morgan 4-for-6.

Throws Pitcher, Team IP ERA W-L WHIP SO/BB

RHP Mike Pelfrey, Mets 4.1 18.69 0-1 2.31 3:1
RHP Jason Berken, Orioles 4.1 12.46 0-1 2.08 3:2
RHP Homer Bailey, Reds 5.1 11.81 0-1 1.88 3:4
RHP James Shields, Rays 5.1 11.81 0-0 2.25 3:1
RHP Josh Geer, Padres 4.0 11.25 0-1 2.75 2:4
LHP Dallas Braden, Athletics 5.0 10.80 0-1 2.20 2:1
RHP Brad Penny, Red Sox 5.0 10.80 0-1 1.80 3:1
LHP Ricky Romero, Blue Jays 4.1 8.31 0-1 2.31 8:5
RHP Jose Contreras, White Sox 4.1 8.31 0-1 2.08 1:4
RHP Randy Wells, Cubs 5.0 7.20 1-0 1.60 1:1

Losses – Royals RHP Juan Cruz 2.

Blown saves – Cruz 0-for-2.