Some of the Top Free Agent Signings During the MLB Winter 2010 Break
As baseball fans patiently await the beginning of a new season, we're still in a position where we've witnessed some notable free agent signings since the conclusion of the previous year of baseball. Cards have been shuffled and some teams have new and improved rosters as a result.
A few smart signings can seriously increase a team's chances to contend. Look no further than the New York Yankees last season, as many credit their success to the free agents they signed.
The team looked nothing like its former self after adding Mark Teixeira and Nick Swisher to its batting lineup and CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett to its pitching rotation. This gave the Yanks a powerhouse roster that no team could compete with.
Many are wondering if any team will pull off what New York was able to accomplish last year. After looking at some of the major free agent transactions we've witnessed thus far, we'll probably have a better idea.
Acknowledging the need to compete with the Yankees in 2010, the Red Sox knew that they had to make a move. They couldn't have done much better than signing John Lackey, the biggest pitcher in the free agent pool.
Lackey has a dangerous mix of power and finesse, and has the endurance to last into the late innings of baseball games. This will be particularly valuable once the later parts of the season roll around.
One may be surprised by the fact that a competitive team like the Angels somehow let Lackey go. While this is obviously an unfortunate blow to the franchise, all is not lost. Having signed Hideki Matsui, the balance of power slightly shifts away from the Yankees and in favor of the Angels. The man who many credit with having won the World Series for New York will now be playing in Los Angeles.
The Yankees will certainly miss the reliable bat and arm that Matsui brings to the table and the Angels stand to gain from this signing. An already deep batting order will be all the more dangerous with this newly added piece.
Questions and Answers
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