Power Ranking #1

Ranked by W-L first, then runs differential.

1. Montreal, 16-6 - 49 HR's and 147 runs lead majors
2. Philadelphia, 15-7 (+54) - good pitching + good hitting = good record
3. Cincinnati, 15-7 (+24) - Carpenter on pace for 110 dingers
4. Tampa Bay, 15-7 (+19) - 5-0 in 1-run's and extra's
5. Boston, 14-8 (+27) - Erik Monroe: 3-0, 0.00 ERA, .367 OPS-against
6. San Francisco, 14-8 (+23) - no 1-game win or loss streaks yet (kinda weird)
7. New York Mets, 14-8 (+15) - they got some real good pitchin' goin' on
8. Anaheim, 13-9 (+31) - lead AL with 136 runs
9. Texas, 13-9 (+22) - lost first 2 series; 11-4 since
10. Detroit, 13-9 (+15) - Graves returning to rookie-year form is good news

Top IFA Signing Bonuses

The Javier Valdes record signing sparked some curiosity about who's gotten the top bonuses and where they are now. Thanks to geneseo98 for compiling this.

#1 $28.6MM - Javier Valdes, RF (Dominican Republic), Season 9. Signed by Oakland, currently in Low A.

#2 $27.8MM - Vic Gonzalez, 1B (Dominican Republic), Season 7. Signed by Tampa Bay, currently in AAA.

#3 $23.0MM - Jolbert Lopez, 2B (Dominican Republic), Season 9. Signed by Washington, D.C., currently in AAA.

#4 $22.0MM - Dennys Martin, 3B (Japan), Season 3. Signed by Chicago Cubs; in his 6th ML season, has 3 All-Star appearances and 2 Silver Sluggers.

#5 $21.9MM - Lorenzo Manto, 2B (Dominican Republic), Season 6. Signed by Kansas City, reached ML in Season 8 and won AL ROY.

#6 $20.0MM - Alejandro Vazquez, SP (Dominican Republic), Season 1. Signed by Atlanta; currently in 9th ML season, has 2 All-Star apeparances and 1 Gold Glove.

#7 $18.3MM - Manuel Martin, 2B (Mexico), Season 3. Signed by Baltimore, traded to Boston in Season 4, now in 3rd ML season.

#8 $17.5MM - Luis Duran, SP (Dominican Republic), Season 3. Signed by St. Louis, now in 6th ML season.

#9T $17.0MM - Dicky Martin, SP (Japan), Season 8. Signed by Chicago White Sox, currently in High A.

#9T $17.0MM - Willie Jose, 3B (Dominican Republic), Season 1. Signed by Florida, traded to San Diego in Season 2, traded to Portland in Season 5, signed to a FA contract by San Diego in Season 8, traded to Montreal in Season 9. Currently in 7th ML season.

#11 $16.8MM - Ching-Lung Chang, LF (Japan), Season 8. Signed by Tampa Bay, currently in 2nd ML season.

#12 $16.5MM - Enrique Cordero, RP (Dominican Republic), Season 4. Signed by Oakland, currently in 2nd ML season.

#13 $15.9MM - Santos Lorenzo, SP (Cuba), Season 6. Signed by Tampa Bay, currently in AAA.

#14 $15.5MM - Max Ferrer, SP (Costa Rica), Season 3. Signed by San Francisco; currently in 4th ML season, has 1 Gold Glove.

#15 $15.3MM - Hector Bennett, 2B (Dominican Republic), Season 5. Signed by Oakland, currently in AAA.

#16 $15.2MM - Sun Wanatabe, SP (Japan), Season 7. Signed by Kansas City, currently in AAA.

#17T $15.0MM - Paul Shin, SP (Japan), Season 8. Signed by Detroit, currently in AAA.

#17T $15.0MM - Damian Chen, SS (Korea), Season 6. Signed by Cleveland, currently in 2nd ML season.

#17T $15.0MM - Juan Miro, LF (Dominican Republic), Season 4. Signed by Boston, currently in 3rd ML season.

AL South Season 9 Preview

It was a good year for the AL South in Season 8, with Texas taking the crown and Charlotte getting to the division round as a wildcard. Kansas City and Tampa Bay advanced their rebuilding efforts with major international free agent signings, and the Royals' Lorenzo Manto took the AL Rookie of the Year.

OFFENSE

Texas led the league with 993 runs scored last year and brings back largely the same lineup. All-Star and Silver Slugger CF Juan Marrero (.288/45/110) leads the balanced attack (9 players with 20+ HR's), with SS Ismael Lopez (.259/31/106) and C/DH Chris Mullens (.317/39/99) in supporting run-production roles. RF Jason Walls (.354 OBP) and the 1B platoon of Wolf Douglas (.393 OBP) and Brett Ross (.383 OBP) are the primary table-setters. It looks like 2 rookies will make the opening-day roster: Jerry Wilkinson (.252/34/89 at AAA) takes over at 3B for the traded Jerry Kaline, and Chris Grimsley (.280/37/95 at AAA) will get some AB's at DH. There are no holes in this lineup; 1000 runs is possible this year.

Charlotte dropped to 835 runs last year (from 936 in their division-winning Season 7), so they're looking for some punch. The first boost will come from the return of 2-time MVP Earl Jorgenson, who missed most of last year. Early reports say he's swinging the bat as well as ever but not running like he used to. RF Jose Mondesi had his lowest HR total (37) since Season 2, and could be another pick-me-up. And B.C. Javier could easily snap back from a .255 effort. 3B Adam Martin's power is slipping away, but he should still post solid numbers. C Frankie Spahn swings at everything...the good news is it goes a long way when he connects.

Kansas City scored 853 runs last year, good for 4th in the AL. The Royals' offense begins but does not end with super-sophomores Lorenzo Manto (.317/30/109) and Hersh Taylor (.280/47/115). Season 7 ROY Emil Pichardo "slumped" to .289/22/77 last year; a return to his rookie form would give KC a deadly trio of 3 of the league's best young hitters. They're counting on 2 more rookies for big contributions: CF Wilt Benes has a razor-sharp batting eye and handles RHP - the jury's out on how he'll do with lefties; C Harry James looks like a nice hitter...the question is where he'll play. The word around Spring Training is he'll takeover as the full-time DH early on.

Tampa Bay was dead last in runs last season but will turn over two-thirds of the lineup. Joseph Ishii and Izzy Jones (obtained for prospects), move in at CF and 3B. RF Cristobal Marquez signed a rich FA deal. They've already promoted SS Mariano Mateo and 1B Yonder Manto and handed them starting jobs; we can expect to see Season 7 mega-IFA Vic Gonzalez and LF/RF Geraldo Roque by the 20-game mark. This won't be one of the top offenses in the league...it may not even reach the top half...but it will be much improved.

PITCHING

Texas posted the AL's 3rd-best ERA last year (4.25) but looks to improve. The rotation stays intact, with headliner Sherry Pierre poised for a Cy Young run one of these years (yes, even in Ameriquest Field). The long relief corps is entirely rebuilt with rookies Branch Crosby and Jose Pizzaro, plus FA Ajax Patel. Patrick Michaels comes over from the Yankees as the main setup man to Gene Robinson, who established himself as a reliable closer last season. There are a few question marks in the pen...rumors have the Rangers shopping around for another setup man.

Charlotte's pitching was right behind Texas' last year at 4.26. Warren Justice and Hick Hernandez lead the workmanlike rotation; 2nd-year man Chipper O'Conner got 10 starts last season and could join the rotation full-time. Eugene O'Neill headed the closer committee last year with a fine 11-save, 1.89 ERA effort. With team ERA's of 4.24 and 4.26 the last 2 seasons and virtually same personnel, this group should be very predictable; which means they'll in all likelihood throw lights out or suck.

Kansas City posted a 5.17 ERA last year and needs some arms to go with all those bats. Damaso Palacios seems most likely to step up - he had a nice sophomore season (15-12, 3.72) but control problems and/or gopher balls have limited his effectiveness since. In the pen, Raymond Karsay posted a 3.24 ERA in 75 innings, but with a career mark of 4.88, I wouldn't count on a repeat. The good news resides in AAA on the arms of Armando Taveras (Season 7 #2 overall) and Sun Wanatabe (big-ticket Season 7 IFA) - both could use more development but could get the call if KC's bats put them in the race.

Tampa Bay put up a pretty good 4.25 ERA last year (4th), largely due to lefty SP's Stuart Wilson (13-11.3.69) and Blaine Lowry (11-13, 4.03), plus some good efforts by anonymous guys. There will be less anonymity this year: much-ballyhooed SP prospect Santos Lorenzo will debut around game 20, as will his IFA counterpart Javy Johnson. FA Karim Wallace was signed to a 5-year deal to steady the pen. The Rays also recently traded for promising-but-underachieving RP Houston Webb; he's put up sparkling numbers in Spring Training and could earn a setup role.

PREDICTIONS

1. Texas 104-58
2. Charlotte 92-70
3. Kansas City 85-77
4. Tampa Bay 82-80

ROY Watch: Tampa Bay's Santos Lorenzo and Vic Gonazalez; KC's Harry James
MVP Watch: Texas' CF Juan Marrero, Charlotte's 2B Earl Jorgenson, KC's Lorenzo Manto and Hersh Taylor
Cy Young Watch: Texas' Sherry Pierre

Twins Get Seanz' Replacement

In the last A/B signing before Spring Training, Minnesota got its successor to the ballyhooed Jolbert Saenz, the well-traveled Dickie Hodges (2 years, $4.9MM). Hodges has had stints in Cincinnati (2), Kansas City and Baltimore during his 8-year Kinsella career, racking up a .266 career BA with 106 HR's. He also won a Gold Glove for his work with the Reds in Season 6 (which is, interestingly, 1 more Player Award than his predecessor won).

Hodges is a mild plus offensively for a C, at least against lefties. He's a capable, if not superlative pitch-caller and has a better-than adequate throwing arm. His most remarkable trait, though, is his iron-man durability - he's very capable of catching all 162 games without tiring (a feat he has pulled off 3 times). For the price, the Twins have made a great deal. Grade: A

Cubbies sign Saenz For Record (we think) Bucks

With free agency winding down, the Chicago Cubs prevailed in the frenzied bidding for Jolbert Saenz and signed the former Twins backstop to a 5-year, $85MM deal.

Saenz had been in the Twins organization for all 8 Kinsella seasons, coming to the majors in Season 3 and hitting .301 with 103 HR's over 6 seasons. He also set career highs with a .307 average, 24 HR's and 80 RBI last year.

Never the object of major publicity or attention during his years in the northland, Saenz found a bulls-eye materializing on his chest when Expos GM huskypride attempted to scare everyone off a targeted player (implying a max bid), and speculation centered on Saenz. The target's even brighter now that the ultimate judgement of Saenz and his contract depend on a Cubs World Series win sometime in the next 5 years.

Very good player, maybe the best in this free-agent class, but a risky contract. Grade A if the Cubs win a Series during the contract, Grade F if they don't.

In other late free-agency news:

Phillies: Alexander Myers, LF - 2 years, $8.2MM (mutual option). Lifetime .315 hitter can still get on base, but his days of 20+ HR's are probably over. Philly's collecting quite a surplus of LF's, making us think a trade for something they couldn't find in FA (3B?) is afoot. Grade: A

Astros: Derrick Russ, 3B - 5 years, $35MM. Steady hot cornerman compiled a .276 BA and 147 HR's, plus a Silver Slugger (Season 3) and an All-Star Game (Season 8) in his 7 years with the Expos. 5-year contracts for 31 year-old hitters always come with ratings decline concerns, particularly in the power and durability departments, where Russ has already seen a little erosion. All in all, though, solid player for a a decent price. Grade: B

Padres: Kerry Dispenza, RP - 2 years, $5.1MM ($4.5MM bonused this year). Love this signing for a couple of reasons. First, he's really a good fit for San Diego - Dispenza's the poster boy for ballpark effects (5+ ERA with Texas, 2.87 with Portland last year). He has the kind of OK-to-pretty good ratings that can play well in Petco. Second, the big bonus and minimum salary could make him very attractive trade bait come deadline-time, either this year or next. Grade: Best oddball, quirky, savvy signing of the year

Tigers: William Ryan, 3B - 3 years, $11.3MM. Cracked 43 dingers and made the All-Star Team for Cincy last year, but Great American is +2, +2 for HR's and Comerica is -2, -2. It's a big difference and will almost certainly suppress his power numbers. He's a good defender at 3B, and it's a small price for a full-player...just be ready for disappointing production. Grade: C+