Baseball is a long season. To survive one-hundred and sixty-two games without injury is an accomplishment not many can say they can add to their resume. As such, free agents become vital in keeping the team together with or without “star” athletes. This winter, amid the Santana and Bonds talk, there have been some important signings of note. Lets take a look.
New Shower Buddies
Mark Prior signs a one year deal with the San Diego Padres. Mark Prior’s career has
been riddled with success and injury. His arm was something scouts used to dream about and he was going to be the next great pitcher. Fast-forward past 2003, and the Steve Bartman error, and Prior fans have added: achillies tendon surgery, elbow strain, throwing elbow strain, strained shoulder, strained left oblique, shoulder tendinitis and shoulder surgery to his list of ailments. The possibility of Prior returning to dominating form is questionable. He’s a young guy (27) and I’m sure he’s got something left in the tank.
Carlos Silva signs a four-year deal with the Mariners. A career record of 55-46 with a 4.31 era makes me ask the question, “Why?” Why are MLB managers hell bent on giving guys with inflated era’s and sub-par records huge contracts? Silva never really had a break out season and, at 28, he might be poised to do so in a Mariners’ uniform. I guess you can’t really get much worse when you had Jeff Weaver in your rotation.
Koskue Fukudome signs a four-year contract with the Cubs. Looking at his numbers in Japan, Fukudome doesn’t really stand apart from say a J.D. Drew on a good year. Fukudome’s highest totals came in 2006 when he posted a solid 31 hr’s, 104 rbi’s and hit a sparkling .351. A career .305 hitter, Fukudome will start at right-field for the Cubs, and possibly atop their lineup. The Cubs need base runners when Soriano, Lee and Ramirez get to the plate.
Hiroki Kuroda signs a three-year contract with the Dodgers. Usually when a team signs a 32-year-old pitcher for more than a year it’s considered suicide if the player doesn’t turn out very well. Kuroda might be an exception worth making if his last three years in the Japanese league are any indication. Since 2005, he’s posted 3.17, 1.85 and 3.56 era’s while logging just more than 580 innings. He strikes out a fair amount and doesn’t seem to walk many batters. At three-years, Kuroda might be a very pleasant surprise.
Returning Shower Mates
Mariano Rivera re-signs with the Yankees. I don’t mind the Yankees keeping the most dominant closer on their roster another season, maybe two seasons, but three? The man is 38 years old! It’s time to inject that closer spot with some young blood. Horrible deal for the Yankees, nice one for the Sandman.
Alex Rodriguez re-signs with the Yankees at 10 years - infinity billion dollars. Well $275-million over 10 years might as well be that much right? He is the MVP of the league. He is the MVP of the baseball universe stretching all the way to the neglected Pluto. He isn’t the MVP of the World Series though, ouch.
