Luvofthegame
01-07-2007, 08:07 PM
By Mel Antonen
USA TODAY
January is when baseball teams start marketing with fan fests and caravans, but six weeks before spring training begins, not every team is complete.
Most teams need help in the rotation and bullpen. The Boston Red Sox are looking for a closer via trade, even after reaching agreement with another candidate for the job, Joel Pineiro, a starter with the Seattle Mariners.
The free agent starter list includes lefty Mark Mulder, who was limited to 17 games last season with the St. Louis Cardinals because of a shoulder injury, Cardinals postseason hero Jeff Weaver and Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Tomo Ohka.
The Minnesota Twins want to fill their rotation behind Johan Santana, Carlos Silva and Boof Bonser. "We will try any path — trades, free agency," says Twins general manager Terry Ryan, who recently signed right-hander Sidney Ponson to a minor league contract. "There's some quality out there."
If the Twins don't add an experienced pitcher, Glen Perkins, Scott Baker, Matt Garza and Kevin Slowey will compete for jobs.
"We may have to have young pitchers emerge," Ryan says. "The Marlins did a good job with that last year, but it's not the norm."
•The Cardinals' rotation has Chris Carpenter, Kip Wells and Anthony Reyes, but after that, there are questions. Relievers Adam Wainwright and Braden Looper are candidates, but Wainwright could end up closing, depending on Jason Isringhausen's return from a hip injury.
•With Pedro Martinez injured, the New York Mets have Tom Glavine and Orlando Hernandez leading a rotation of youth and uncertainty. They could fill holes via the trade route and have had discussions with the Oakland Athletics about Joe Blanton and Rich Harden.
•Lefty Ted Lilly signed with the Chicago Cubs, and the Toronto Blue Jays weren't able to fill the hole he created. The Blue Jays will lean on Brandon League to replace free agent Justin Speier in the bullpen, but replacing Lilly, a 15-game winner, isn't going to be easy.
•The Houston Astros lost starter Andy Pettitte to the New York Yankees and added Jason Jennings and Woody Williams. They would like to add another starter. Roger Clemens could be the answer if he returns in mid-June, but he could also end up with the Yankees or Red Sox.
•The Florida Marlins need a center fielder and a closer, and they might work out a trade with the San Francisco Giants to get a former Marlin, Armando Benitez.
USA TODAY
January is when baseball teams start marketing with fan fests and caravans, but six weeks before spring training begins, not every team is complete.
Most teams need help in the rotation and bullpen. The Boston Red Sox are looking for a closer via trade, even after reaching agreement with another candidate for the job, Joel Pineiro, a starter with the Seattle Mariners.
The free agent starter list includes lefty Mark Mulder, who was limited to 17 games last season with the St. Louis Cardinals because of a shoulder injury, Cardinals postseason hero Jeff Weaver and Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Tomo Ohka.
The Minnesota Twins want to fill their rotation behind Johan Santana, Carlos Silva and Boof Bonser. "We will try any path — trades, free agency," says Twins general manager Terry Ryan, who recently signed right-hander Sidney Ponson to a minor league contract. "There's some quality out there."
If the Twins don't add an experienced pitcher, Glen Perkins, Scott Baker, Matt Garza and Kevin Slowey will compete for jobs.
"We may have to have young pitchers emerge," Ryan says. "The Marlins did a good job with that last year, but it's not the norm."
•The Cardinals' rotation has Chris Carpenter, Kip Wells and Anthony Reyes, but after that, there are questions. Relievers Adam Wainwright and Braden Looper are candidates, but Wainwright could end up closing, depending on Jason Isringhausen's return from a hip injury.
•With Pedro Martinez injured, the New York Mets have Tom Glavine and Orlando Hernandez leading a rotation of youth and uncertainty. They could fill holes via the trade route and have had discussions with the Oakland Athletics about Joe Blanton and Rich Harden.
•Lefty Ted Lilly signed with the Chicago Cubs, and the Toronto Blue Jays weren't able to fill the hole he created. The Blue Jays will lean on Brandon League to replace free agent Justin Speier in the bullpen, but replacing Lilly, a 15-game winner, isn't going to be easy.
•The Houston Astros lost starter Andy Pettitte to the New York Yankees and added Jason Jennings and Woody Williams. They would like to add another starter. Roger Clemens could be the answer if he returns in mid-June, but he could also end up with the Yankees or Red Sox.
•The Florida Marlins need a center fielder and a closer, and they might work out a trade with the San Francisco Giants to get a former Marlin, Armando Benitez.