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30 MLB Team Power Rankings: Week 7 – May 2014

The Mariners are 10 – 4 in their last 14 games – without receiving any outstanding play from one particular player. They are the biggest jumpers in this weeks rankings, going from #20 – #15. The club concludes a series vs the Kansas City Royals, before they welcome the Tampa Rays next into Safeco Field.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
We are almost at the quarter pole for action in the MLB.
The biggest mover and shakers this week were the Seattle Mariners, followed by Baltimore Orioles. LA Angels and San Francisco Giants.
Plummeting in the other directions were led by the Phils, who we dropped from 17th to 24th.
The Yankees, Nationals, Dodgers and Rangers all lost 4 places in the rankings based on sub-par weeks.
The AL New York franchise is about 1 bad week from free-falling to the AL East. Right now the team has received buoyancy because of ace Masahiro Tanaka being 5 – 0.
Brian McCann and Carlos Beltran are having a tough time finding their rhythm with the Bronx Bombers.
I believe the Dodgers will rectify their situation shortly and take off.
Washington is barely over .500 even though most of their players are playing to their capabilities.
The Royals offense is destroying their team morale, as is the Mets having a tough time with the Relief Core, and their Pitchers are still battling .000 for the year like you and me.
Oakland is still leading the MLB in wins since the start of the 2012 year.
The Red Sox are one of the most likely teams to climb the standings in the next few weeks.
With the Cards not playing well, keep in mind, 18 of the next 21 games reside in Busch Stadium for them. It is time to make some headway.
The AL has fashioned a 18 – 8 mark in Interleague this week to apply a 34 – 33 overall lead on the NL now.
The Rockies are blasting every baseball into orbit right now. These guys are hitting as well at home as the Pre-Humidor ERA. Read the rest of this entry
Odds To Win The 2014 MLB World Series – Updated For Week 6

Yes the Rays are playing terrible baseball at 15 – 21, but they are only 4 games behind the playoff bar. They always start off the year slow – and the exponentially become better as the year wears on. When Alex Cobb comes back – they have the best Starting Rotation in the AL East, and I think they are most capable of making a run at a playoff berth. At +3300, Tied for 14th longest odd, I am placing them the best value on the board, given their pedigree for strong second half’s.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
My best value picks last week I was 3 – 2, 1. The Royals dropped from +3500 – +5000, 2. Reds went from +5000 – +4000, TB went from +2500 – +3300, as the Orioles went from +5000 – 4500, and the Cards went from +1100 – +1000.
I still believe the Royals will turn around their season – and may beat the AL teams cannibalizing each other for a Wild Card Stretch. They went 47 – 34 down the pike, and may just be a better 2nd half club.
The Orioles at +700 for the AL East is a better wager than the +4500 right now, as i don’t believe they have the tools to win the World Series, but they could eek out the Division.
The Reds are hanging in despite injury, and I think the Brewers will fall back, so it is just the Cards to contend with in the long run, and Cincy is just 1 Game behind those guys. +4000 is still a great value.
The Rays are totally struggling as we speak at 15 – 21, however they are just 4 games behind the playoff bar, and should be receiving Alex Cobb back shortly.
Out of all of the AL East teams, they are probably best suited for a 20 – 5 stretch with their pitching. They will be the best odd this week.
Worst Odds on the Board I was right in my assessment on 2, broke even on the other 2 – and neglected to think the Jays would move up, but they did from +3000 – +2800. SF and Oak were the draws both keeping their previous odd.
The #1 worst odd pick of last week was Boston, and they dropped from +1200 +1400.
My 2nd worst odd was Cleveland at +5500 – and they skyrocketed down the road all the way to +8000.
So for the week, I fashioned a 5 – 3 – 2 overall record for value plays. Keep reading at the end of this post too see my picks this week. Read the rest of this entry
Odds To Win The 2014 MLB World Series – Updated For Week 5

Kansas City is the latest best bet on the board for bang for the buck. I have fared well picking good weeks recently for the Tigers, Reds and Rockies, so lets see if we can keep this up. The Royals are 14 – 12 – and 1.5 GB the Tigers heading into play today. At +3500 to win the Fall Classic, there is value there.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
Last Weeks best bet on the board that we slated was the Colorado Rockies at +6600. With a strong week, and 5 HRs in the last week plus, Troy Tulowitzki has elevated the Rox to near the top of the NL West.
This week, they jumped all the way to +3500, marking the second time in as many weeks, our best bet almost cut their odd in half. We also said the Yankees were a good play at +1600, and they vaulted up to +1200 again,
The Royals have gone 5 – 5 in their last 10 games, and have receded from +3300 – +3500, however this will be one of my top plays this week. These guys are 14 – 12 now, and haven’t even played to potential.
My #4 and #5 picks for best bets had struggles this week. Texas went from +1600 – +1800, which isn’t a massive fall, and the Reds went from +4000 – +5000. Again, I question the logic of placing these guys so far back. Read the rest of this entry
MLB Odds To Win Both Of The AL And NL Pennants In 2014: 5 Best Value Plays

With injuries to the Pitching Staff mounting fast for the Rays, and now with them not paying out such a great odd, the value pendulum has swung back to pick either the Yankees at +900 or the Red Sox at +750 for the AL Pennant. The Yankees just took 3 out of 4 from the Red Sox, have a better offense in this year’s lineup, and have decent pitching. Boston is the reigning champs – and will be part of the race before all is said and done. Factor in major injuries to Texas, Oakland and the LA Angels early, and a horrid Tigers Bullpen so far, and these two rivals have the best value on the board.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
The Rays are finally listed where they should be on the betting board.
3 teams start play today tied in the AL East in the Rays, Yankees and Jays. Baltimore has struggled along with Boston.
I think it is way too early to shovel dirt on the Red Sox season. While I think they may not take down another pennant, they are my 2nd favorite play in the AL Pennant Odd list for return.
The Yankees are my favorite odds pick right now with a +900 mark.
Yes they have injuries to old guys are their team, but the guys in the lineup can mash right now, and particularly at Yankee Stadium. Read the rest of this entry
30 MLB Team Power Rankings: Week 3 MLB Baseball 2014
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
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A little rant before the power rankings this week
Well, another 7 days has passed in baseball for this year.
There are no more home openers, attendance is down, fans are scattering about their Easter business and the NFL Draft is around to swing its mighty sword on the sports landscape. Read the rest of this entry
Odds To Win The 2014 World Series – Updated For Week 2

Milwaukee just pulverized the Red Sox and Phillies in a 6 – 0 road trip – that featured a great offensive output from the lineup. Braun is hitting, Gomez is looking to back up his 2013 campaign. Jean Segura has not slowed down. Mark Reynolds looks decent for some power at 1B, and Jonathan Lucroy and Aramis Ramirez have added torque as well. The Pitching is performing well. The Brew Crew hosts a pivotal weekend series against Division Rival Pittsburgh starting tonight in Miller Park. They moved the most up the charts this week – but are still full value for a World Series odd this week nonetheless
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
The have and the have not’ s have started to dictate their positions in the game of baseball.
The Milwaukee Brewers, Colorado Rockies, Atlanta Braves and San Francisco Giants were the biggest movers and shakers up the leaderboard.
On the other side of the coin, bettors have lost faith in the Orioles, Reds, Angels, Phillies and Diamondbacks.
At the end of the article, there will be the top 5 best and worst odds to wager on this week Read the rest of this entry
30 MLB Team Power Rankings: April

The Tigers fought off a tough KC club in the 1st series and now have battled their own bullpen and injury woes against the Orioles – to be the only unbeaten team left in the MLB a. Add that to one of the weaker divisions, and you see the #1 ranked team in our list this week.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
Well, we have seen one week come and go. It is important to realize that only about 3% of the entire season has gone by.
People tend to panic when their team isn’t doing so well, and some fanbases are ready to project their club as a playoff contender.
While it is still a good idea never to bury yourself with a bad first few week or 2, as long as you are hovering around the .500 clip, you should be fine.
How we do these rankings at the MLB Reports is based on 1 thing. The chances of the club winning the World Series.
After all, that is why we have 45 days of Spring Training, 186 days in the regular season, and another 30 or so in the playoffs.
Some teams will have their number predicated on the strength of their divisions are not.
Nearly 47% of any teams schedule is within their own division. So the AL East and NL West would be tough divisions.
The NL East and AL Central have 2 playoff contenders in each division, while 3 teams may be easier opponents. Read the rest of this entry
Odds To Win The 2014 World Series As Of Right Now: Many Changes After 1 Series

I still don’t get why they are the current AL favorite over Detroit. Despite that fact, Boston won their opening series – while all of the 4 other teams have tied or losing records through their 1st series. i don’t think a slight drop was warranted – especially when you consider only the Tigers and Mariners have a better record than the Red Sox right now. They are tied with the Indians, Rangers, Astros and White Sox for their 2 – 1 record.
Odds To Win The 2014 World Series
1. LA Dodgers +600
2. Washington Nationals +750
3. Boston Red Sox +900 (Down from +850)
I am not sure why this club has moved down as they took 2 out of 3 versus the Orioles, and the Yankees are 1 – 2, while Tampa and Toronto split a series.
T4. St. Louis Cardinals +1000
T4. Detroit Tigers +1000 Read the rest of this entry
Milwaukee Brewers State Of The Union For 2014

The Milwaukee Brewers had a modest 2013 season, yielding a 74 – 88 record. They finished 23 games back in the NL Central (ahead of only the Chicago Cubs) which saw three of its five teams reach the playoffs. The farm system cupboards are bare, with not one single top 50 prospect in it’s ranks. A rebuild is necessary but general manager Doug Melvin seems more in tune with adding free agents instead of using home grown youth (Although they do have a few on their current roster). The Brewers are picking a respectable 12th in this years Major League draft, and every effort must be make to start making those picks count, or the club may find themselves on the outside looking in while division opponents Cincinnati and Pittsburgh regularly see post season play.
Milwaukee Brewers State of the Union: A Long Road Ahead
By Robert Villarreal (MLB Reports Columnist): Follow @RobMVillarreal
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
As recently as 2011, the Brewers held the National League Central Division title.
Historically the fans are still biding their time though, having not seen a pennant since the Brewers were in the American League and won it in 1982.
Milwaukee’s own Robin Yount won the AL MVP that year, but the Brewers inevitably lost out in the World Series to the St. Louis Cardinals.
Besides a 2008 Wild Card birth – and a 2011 NLCS appearance – it’s been a rough ride for this ball club for the last 32 years.
Milwaukee Brewers 2013 Highlights
The Rest Of The Best Free Agents Are Now Up For Auction: Some Deals Already Done

Grant Balfour has recently been throwing verbal jabs to the Orioles on XM Radio concerning the club bowing out of his 2 YRs/$15 MIL deal – and justifiably so. The Orioles lost credibility around the league for this bow out maneuver. Now Balfour will look to administer some payback to the O’s 19 times a year for the 2014 and 2015 campaings. The Aussie just signed a 2 Year Deal – to return to the Rays for $12 MIL.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
It was a tough time being an MLB fan the last 3 or 4 weeks – waiting for the Masahiro Tanaka deal to get done.
As of today, we are about 18 days away from Pitchers and Catchers to report.
With the logjam now being freed up with the Japanese superstar being inked to a deal with New York, a bevy of transactions have already occurred.
Grant Balfour is all set to sign a 2 YR deal worth $12 MIL, and will be ready to stick it to the Baltimore Orioles 19 times a year for the next 2 campaigns. Read the rest of this entry
New York Yankees Payroll In 2014 Is Now $197 MIL (AAV) With Tanaka Added
2014 Contracts in MIL Annual Average Vakue – AKA AAV (Age) – Running $ Total
1. 1B Mark Teixeira – 23.0 (32) 23.0
2. SP CC Sabathia – 22.8 (32) 45.8
NEW: SP Masahiro Tanaka – 22.1 (25) 67.9
3. CF Jacoby Ellsbury – 21.9 (30) 89.6
4. C Brian McCann – 17.0 (29) 106.6
5. SP Hiroki Kuroda – 16.5 (37) 123.1
6. LF/DH Carlos Beltran – 15.0 (36) 138.6
7. SS Derek Jeter – 12.0 (40) 150.6 Read the rest of this entry
New York Yankees Projected Payroll In 2014 With A-Rod Relief
By Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024
Follow MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
2014 Contracts in MIL Annual Average Vakue – AKA AAV (Age)
1. 1B Mark Teixeira – 23.0 (32)
2. SP CC Sabathia – 22.8 (32)
3. CF Jacoby Ellsbury – 21.9 (30)
4. C Brian McCann – 17.0 (29)
5. SP Hiroki Kuroda – 16.5 (37)
6. LF/DH Carlos Beltran – 15.0 (36)
7. SS Derek Jeter – 12.0 (40) Read the rest of this entry
Texas Rangers Payroll in 2014 + Contracts Going Forward Part 1

Darvish has provided Texas with ace-like material ever since coming over from Japan. At his current $10 MIL a year salary, this gives the club a bunch of financial freedom to sign other long term deals. Darvish finished 2nd in AL CY Young Voting with a 13 – 9 record, a 2.83 ERA and a league leading 277 SO in his 209.2 IP worth of work in 2013. Darvish’s high posting bid was not part of his salary prior to 2012, or converted towards the total team payroll. Texas is lucky his yearly hit is so low – as the team already has $116 MIL towards the Luxury Tax Threshold before Arbitration Players are paid in the next couple of weeks. The Rangers could still potentially sign more guys to raise this figure even more.
By Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024 & Jeff Kleiner (Org. Depth Chart/Payroll Expert) Follow @prosportsroster
Follow MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
This is part 1 of our 2 part payroll piece we will do for each club. The Rangers are entering with the heavy payroll clubs in the game of MLB.
Their salaries after Arbitration Eligibles are paid, could range anywhere from $125 – $140 MIL, and even higher if they are able to land another Free Agent Pitcher or hitter.
They have spoken loud with the checkbook. With 370 wins over the last 4 seasons, and 4 straight 90+ win campaigns, the Rangers are hoping to cash in with the 2014 squad.
For all of the Rosters, Depth Charts, State of the Unions and Salaries Posts that we do, please visit our dedicated page link here.
Yu Darvish Highlights Mature Lyrics So parental guidance is advised

By the time this offseason ends, the Rangers may have acquired the two best players for it. Placing Choo at the top of the lineup – as the OBP machine that he ends, followed by Adrian Beltre hitting 3rd – and Prince Fielder 4th, all of a sudden the Texas Rangers are looking like their vintage “offensive” selves. Based on this, go and pick up their World Series ODD win at +1100 (3rd favorite in the AL) anywhere you can as they should be the favorite. Choo signed for a 7 Year Deal worth $130 MIL this winter. It is an annual average contract of $18.43 MIL, but the man will only pocket $14 MIL for his services in 2014 and 2015 as well..
Texas Rangers Payroll in 2014 – 2016
| POS | Name | LG | XP | AGE | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 |
| SP1- | Yu Darvish | ML | 0 | x | $10,000,000 | $10,000,000 | $10,000,000 |
| SP2- | Derek Holland | ML | 3 | 27 | $5,400,000 | $7,400,000 | $10,000,000 |
| SP3- | Matt Garza | ML | 3 | 30 | FA | ||
| SP4- | Martin Perez | ML | 3 | 22 | $750,000 | $1,000,000 | $2,900,000 |
| SP5- | Matt Harrison | ML | 6 | 28 | $8,000,000 | $13,000,000 | $13,200,000 |
| SP6- | Nicholas Tepesch | ML | 0 | 25 | NON-ARB2 | NON-ARB3 | ARB1 |
| SPS- | Alexi Ogando | ML | 6 | 30 | ARB1 | ARB2 | ARB3 |
| RHMR- | |||||||
| LHMR- | Michael Kirkman | ML | 5 | 27 | NON-ARB3 | ARB1 | ARB2 |
| RHSU- | Jason Frasor | ML | 5 | 36 | $1,750,000 | FA | |
| RHSU- | Tanner Scheppers | ML | 1 | 26 | NON-ARB2 | NON-ARB3 | ARB1 |
| RHSU- | Chaz Roe | ML | 6 | 27 | NON-ARB1 | NON-ARB2 | NON-ARB3 |
| RHSU- | Shawn Tolleson | ML | 1 | 25 | NON-ARB3 | ARB1 | ARB2 |
| LHSU- | Robert Ross | ML | 2 | 24 | NON-ARB3 | ARB1 | ARB2 |
| LHSU- | Joseph Ortiz | ML | 3 | 23 | NON-ARB1 | NON-ARB2 | NON-ARB3 |
| CL- | Cory Burns | ML | 2 | 26 | NON-ARB1 | NON-ARB2 | NON-ARB3 |
| CL- | Joakim Soria | ML | 3 | 30 | $5,500,000 | $7,000,000 | |
| CL- | Neftali Feliz | ML | 5 | 25 | ARB2 | ARB3 | FA |
| 13 | $21,400,000 | $28,400,000 | $26,100,000 | ||||
| POSITION PLAYERS | LEV | MiL | AGE | 2014 SALARY | 2015 SALARY | 2016 SALARY | |
| C- | Geovany Soto | ML | 7 | 30 | $3,050,000 | FA | |
| 1B- | Prince Fielder | ML | 3 | 29 | $24,000,000 | $24,000,000 | $24,000,000 |
| 2B- | Jurickson Profar | ML | 1 | 20 | NON-ARB2 | NON-ARB3 | ARB1 |
| SS- | Elvis Andrus | ML | 4 | 25 | $6,750,000 | $15,250,000 | $15,250,000 |
| 3B- | Adrian Beltre | ML | 4 | 34 | $17,000,000 | $18,000,000 | $16,000,000 |
| LF- | Mitchell Moreland | ML | 4 | 28 | ARB1 | ARB2 | ARB3 |
| CF- | Shin-Soo Choo | ML | 7 | 31 | $14,000,000 | $14,000,000 | $20,000,000 |
| RF- | Alex Rios | ML | 5 | 32 | $13,000,000 | $13,500,000 | |
| DH- | Lance Berkman | ML | 4 | 37 | FA | ||
| C- | J.P. Arencibia | ML | 4 | 27 | $1,800,000 | ARB2 | ARB3 |
| C- | Robinson Chirinos | ML | 10 | 29 | NON-ARB2 | NON-ARB3 | ARB1 |
| 1B- | |||||||
| 3B- | |||||||
| UTL- | |||||||
| UTL- | |||||||
| OF- | Leonys Martin | ML | 0 | 25 | NON-ARB2 | NON-ARB3 | ARB1 |
| OF- | Engel Beltre | ML | 4 | 24 | NON-ARB1 | NON-ARB2 | NON-ARB3 |
| OF- | Nelson Cruz | ML | 11 | 33 | FA | ||
| OF- | Michael Choice | ML | 1 | 24 | NON-ARB1 | NON-ARB2 | NON-ARB3 |
| 10 | $79,600,000 | $84,750,000 | $75,250,000 |

Prince Fielder was signed to a 9 YR/$214 MIL contract before the start of the 2012 season. He is not Slugging as much as his Brewers days, however his OBP is just slightly lower in the regular season. Fielder has a chance to have a Hall of Fame Career. If he can bring a World Series to Texas, he will enhance his chances. The Big man has to step up in 2014, or the team may fail to capitalize on the World Series Caliber team they have built over the last half a dozen years. After a few years with Detroit, that club will be on the hook to the big man for $76 MIL out of the deal, leaving Texas to pay $138 MIL over the 7 seasons he is signed with the club.
Note From Chuck Booth:
You guys are all in for a treat. Jeff Kleiner has developed a site (prosportsrosters.com) that covers all organizational affiliates in the Minors for all of the Major League Baseball Clubs.
We are going to combine efforts to bring you the best look at salaries, current 25 Man Player Rosters and Depth Charts for all 30 teams.
Jeff is going to provide the documents in form of spreadsheets and I am going to accompany the posts with deep analysis of what the numbers tell us from my perspective.
If you can’t wait for all of my assessments for each club, go and visit Jeff’s website over at http://www.prosportsrosters.com.
In Speaking with Jeff, he is one of the more passionate fans I have come across towards the game of baseball. He spends enough time in updating his MLB Facts for it to be a Full-Time Job.
Jeff updates this page below on a daily basis. After you click on it….Bookmark it. There is a 3 year salary forecast and stats not listed here on this page. Jeff updates these pages daily and these changes include any Roster moves!
Authors for this post:
Jeff Kleiner: “I have been a sports fan since the first Baseball game I went to at Comisky Park in Chicago in 1959, when baseball for me turned from black and white to color.
I have attended or watched thousands of games, always paying attention to statistics, rosters and salaries of all professional sports.
Luckily I had the advantage of watching WGN TV and seeing hundreds of games in the 60’s. Collecting Baseball Cards and then later dealing them gave me an extra sense of the sport, both good and bad.”
For all of your Salaries, Roster and Depth Charts for all 4 Major Sports (entire organization – Minors and Majors) click here or Follow Me on twitter Follow @prosportsroster
Chuck Booth – Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner and author of the Fastest 30 Ballgames: To learn more about my “The Fastest 30 Ballgames Book” and how to purchase it, click here .
You can also follow my Guinness Book of World Record Successful Bid to see all 30 MLB Park in 23 Days – click here.
I am happy to be part of such an awesome Magazine-Style Baseball Website and am looking forward to talking to all of the fans of the MLB.
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The O’s Have Continuously Dropped The Ball This Winter – The Latest Is The Grant Balfour Fiasco:

Grant Balfour has been throwing verbal jabs to the Orioles on XM Radio concerning the club bowing out of his 2 YRs/$15 MIL deal – and justifiably so. The Orioles are losing credibility around the league for this bow out maneuver. So, good luck on signing a Free Agent Pitcher in the future. The O’s are also reeling on the Free Agency Market, having not signed anyone of real value, while Brian Roberts, Scott Feldman and Nate McLouth have left the city. 2013 saw the club win 85 games, and that was part of a superhuman effort from Chris Davis. The team is completely missing the ball in their chance to rundown a World Series Title by playing conservatively with their money.
Hunter Stokes (Chief Writer): Follow @stokes_hunter21
Follow The MLB Reports On Twiter Follow @mlbreports
‘Stoking The Fire’ – Week 10
The Orioles have continued to stumble along in the offseason – meanwhile pissing off their fanbase. The latest Grant Balfour fiasco is going to set the franchise back.
it is not just the future Free Agent players that will think twice about setting foot in Maryland for the sake of landing a deal, but this kind of move could definitely deflate attendance next campaign.
Up until the Buck Showalter era, this kind of move was vindictive of the 1999 – 2009 regime of the Baltimore brass.
Grant Balfour Deal with the O’s Negated.
The Yankees Might As Well Wait Another Year For The Luxury Tax Threshold ‘Reset’

With Derek Jeter and Hiroki Kuroda coming back for one more year, plus the uncertainty of the A-ROD suspension, why not push back the reset of the Luxury Tax Threshold, since you still have a chance to do this in 2015? By then, all of your older players will be another year older, and #13 will be back to wreak havoc on your financial flexibility for years?
By Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024
Follow MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
Our Lead Writer Paul Sullivan (feel free to call him Sully) is right about Brian Cashman….The guy should be fired for his ineptness of stockpiling the Minor League System since taking over the reigns in 2006.
If you are not subscribing to Sully’s podcast daily (about 20 minutes), please do so here. He talks complete sense for an objective perspective.
I will also denote that I am a Yankees fan. I was one of the 1st to destroy the clubs winter last year, when they never addressed their Catching situation, and said they should do some more moves to bolster the club.
Not that Cashman listened to me at all, but he grabbed 3 players I said he should (1 reluctant player he never wanted – (good one Cash) was Alfonso Soriano).
The other 2 players he picked up were Vernon Wells and Mark Reynolds.
Yankees win the 2009 World Series
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – December 14, 2013
New York Yankees Payroll In 2014 + Contracts Going Forward: Updated For The Beltran Deal

He will also make $30 MIL left in marketing bonuses should he hit escalating marketing bonuses from HRs 661 through 763. At this rate, maybe he will never collect on all of those. The base is ridiculous enough at $86 MIL over the next 4 years. The insurance paid on his ailing hip injury will not make a huge enough dent for Yankees Fans. He is the ALL-Time Active Leader for HRs , RBI and XBH At best he may turn back to a .250/.310/700 with around 50 RBI a year from 2015 – 2017. Hardly worthy of a $22.8 MIL average salary from 2014 – 2017.
By Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024
Follow MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
With news breaking today that Robinson Cano has signed with Seattle, this has freed up the Yankees to pursue other players at the Winter Meetings – and for the rest of the offseason..
Based on the team payroll (with the A-Rod suspension being counted), the club is right around $174 MIL – $176 MIL right now for about 20 MLB Players signed – and another 5 guys that are on entry – level deals.
If A-Rod’s suspension sticks for the whole 2014 year, the club would then drop down to the $149 – $151 MIL range, which would free up the club to sign some more players.
Maybe the Yankees won’t have any choice but to hope for that very result. They still need 1 – 2 Starting Pitchers, and a relief pitcher would also be nice.
Read the end of this article – for potential candidates they could eyeball.
CC Sabathia Highlights
The Braves Will Be Paying The B.J. Upton Deal For Years – Not Just Money Either!

The Brothers Upton both were acquired last year’s offseason by the Atlanta Braves. This was a risk for the organization, and while Justin played extremely well in condensed pockets, B.J. Upton is quickly establishing himself as one of the worst contracts ever signed in Major League Baseball history, a .184/.268/.557 – with 9 HRs and 26 RBI is simply abysmal. The Braves brass should have sent him to the Winter Leagues, to correct his problems. The younger brother is still on the hook for 4 more years – and $60 MIL. Not only is the franchise jaded towards signing another Free Agent this winter to a similar deal, they have lost their 2 longest tenured players in Brian McCann and Tim Hudson.
By Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024
Follow MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports
It is a not a shock the Braves are shying away from the Free Agency thus far in the winter. After all, the franchise spent the most they ever had for B.J. Upton last offseason, only to have been served a train wreck in 2013.
Honestly, besides the 1st month, and a torrid stretch in August, Justin Upton wasn’t far off the power production of his older brother in the other 4 months of play.
If it weren’t for the Chris Johnson add in that deal (Braves savior), plus his subsequent Batting Average race for the NL lead, this would be an even graver subject.
The last line was not an indictment on the Braves and D’Backs trade, rather just that Johnson helped make up for the lack of production from B.J. Upton.
We all know overall Justin Upton made the same numbers as were likely projected. That trade is yet to be determined, but adding Johnson was a nice little move.
B.J. Upton – rare good game in 2013












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