THE initial thrust of the offseason was good for, well, initials. If you were a J.J., a K-Rod, an A.J. or, especially, a CC, then you were lettermen who defied the economic downturn.
J.J. Putz went from last place in Seattle to contention with the Mets as the setup man for Francisco Rodriguez, who will try to show New York is big enough for both K-Rod and A-Rod. A.J. Burnett and CC Sabathia agreed to contracts worth $243 million to wear the most famous initials in the sport on their caps, the interlocking NY.
In general, though, most AL and NL teams were hesitant to act ASAP when it came to heading to their ATM. Many organizations’ plans were quickly DOA because of the economy, and few agents were LOL about an offseason when it did not take a PhD to surmise that clubs were more comfortable turning to their own AAA options rather than even Type-A free agents such as Manny Ramirez, Adam Dunn, Bobby Abreu and Orlando Hudson.
FYI, pitchers and catchers end their R&R to report beginning this week, even with all those free agents still free. So Hardball figured it would give you its annual A-B-Cs for the Grapefruit and Cactus seasons with this spring training primer:
FIVE POSITION CHANGES
1. Michael Young, Rangers
He moved from second to short after Alex Rodriguez was traded to the Yanks, won a Gold Glove last year and now – against his wishes – is being moved to third to accommodate prospect Elvis Andrus. If he didn’t have five years at $60 million-plus left, he most likely would be moving out of town.
2. Alexei Ramirez, White Sox
The AL Rookie of the Year runner-up moves to short, replacing Orlando Cabrera and creating a second base free-for-all among front-runner Chris Getz, Brent Lillibridge, Jayson Nix and, perhaps, another Cuban import like Ramirez, 19-year-old Dayan Viciedo, who has been impressing White Sox coach Joey Cora in workouts in Miami.
3. Kosuke Fukudome, Cubs
He made Lou Piniella’s doghouse as a rookie right fielder last year, and will try to escape in his sophomore season as a center fielder to accommodate Milton Bradley in right.
4. Brandon Inge, Tigers
Returns full-time to third base, which means Carlos Guillen and his fragile body heads to left field. Another jack-of-all-trades like Inge, Kansas City’s Mark Teahen, is about to try second base, as well.
5. Heath Bell, Padres
Bell is representative of a sport-wide sea change in the closing ranks as he graduates from setup man to close in place of all-time saves leader Trevor Hoffman, now a Brewer. On a team with World Series aspirations, the Cubs, Carlos Marmol is going to be asked to make the same move to replace Kerry Wood, now with Cleveland. At least seven other teams will have someone begin his first full season as a closer, including the Dodgers (Jonathan Broxton), A’s (Brad Ziegler or Joey Devine) and Florida (Matt Lindstrom).
New York Edition: Daniel Murphy and Fernando Tatis, infielders by trade, must prove they can hold down left field in a strong enough fashion to ward off this consistent thought: “Why didn’t the Mets get Manny Ramirez?”
FIVE INJURY RETURNS
1. David Ortiz, Red Sox
There is a Mass General feel to this team. With good health, the Red Sox can be a powerhouse. If Ortiz (wrist), who says he is sound enough to play in the WBC, and Mike Lowell (hip), who already is swinging a bat, are healthy, Boston’s offense will flourish. But the Red Sox also made low-cost, potentially high-impact signings of the fragile John Smoltz, Brad Penny, Takashi Saito and Rocco Baldelli. If one or two return positively, Boston might be the World Series favorite.
2. Travis Hafner, Indians
As recently as two years ago, Hafner was doing a pretty fair imitation of Big Papi. But shoulder woes that led to surgery last year diminished his power. The Indians think he is back. The highest-paid Indian is vital to make the offense fierce.
3. Chris Carpenter, Cardinals
Limited to 211⁄3 innings the past two years because of a variety of arm problems. Will he be a starter, a reliever or a bystander again? The answer only could determine the Cards’ NL Central chances.
4. Jeremy Bonderman, Tigers
He threw off the mound on Monday for the first time since shoulder surgery ended his 2008 season. Joel Zumaya, derailed the past two seasons by mainly shoulder maladies, also promises to be ready for Opening Day. Detroit was a huge disappointment last year because its pitching fell apart. Bonderman and Zumaya are essential to that group rising again.
5. Chase Utley, Phillies
He had offseason hip surgery, but has been rehabbing regularly at Citizens Bank Park, and might be ready for Opening Day. If not, Marcus Giles is trying to regenerate his career in Philadelphia.
New York Edition: Every time Jorge Posada even rubs his surgically repaired right shoulder, there will be apprehension. The Yanks saw what life without their fiery switch-hitting catcher looked like last year, and it wasn’t pretty.
FIVE POSITIONAL BATTLES
1. Cubs’ fifth starter
Jake Peavy never showed up to complete a five-star rotation; he still might, however. Until then, Aaron Heilman is going to get his wish to try to win a rotation spot as he battles fellow front-runner Sean Marshall plus Jeff Samardzija and Chad Gaudin.
2. Phillies’ fifth starter
Carlos Carrasco is the talented kid who is going to try to outdo Adam Eaton, J.A. Happ, Kyle Kendrick and Chan Ho Park.
3. Twins’ outfield/DH
It is five men for four spots: Michael Cuddyer, Carlos Gomez, Jason Kubel, Denard Span and Delmon Young. Span can play center, which means Gomez – a year after being key to the Johan Santana trade – could end up at Triple-A.
4. Cardinals closer
St. Louis led the majors with 31 blown saves last year, but just nine came after the break as Tony La Russa began entrusting a group of kids in the late game. Two of those kids – Chris Perez and Jason Motte – are now in line to battle for the ninth-inning role.
5. Angels’ third base
Angels management would love Brandon Wood to prove capable (fewer strikeouts, positive defense) to unseat Chone Figgins at third. It is not just because Wood is a homegrown youngster. But with Mark Teixeira having fled, the Angels badly need Wood and/or projected first baseman Kendry Morales to help share some of the run-production burden with Vlad Guerrero.
New York Edition: Melky Cabrera vs. Brett Gardner. It is not exactly Godzilla vs. King Kong. The Yanks want defense, energy and a level of offensive competence in the ninth spot in the lineup. If they don’t see it in spring, they might have to get the Brewers (Mike Cameron) or the Cardinals (Ankiel) on speed dial.
FIVE YOUNGSTERS TO WATCH
1. Matt Wieters, Orioles
Arguably the majors’ best prospect is expected up to The Show early in the season with the hope he will move behind the plate and join outfielders Adam Jones and Nick Markakis as the cornerstones of a baseball revival in Baltimore.
2. Colby Rasmus, Cardinals
St. Louis officials want him to emerge as the everyday center fielder to begin the season. That would make Rick Ankiel even more expendable. Are you listening, Yankees?
3. Trevor Cahill, A’s
Oakland has a brew of young starters trying to become the next version of Tim Hudson/Mark Mulder/Barry Zito. Cahill, Brett Anderson and Vin Mazzaro lead this wave.
4. Gaby Sanchez, Marlins
Manager Fredi Gonzalez believes Sanchez is ready to play first base right now, which is important as Florida tries to improve its atrocious defense. If Sanchez can hit, that would keep Jorge Cantu at third.
5. Tommy Hanson, Braves
Atlanta added three veteran starters with Derek Lowe, Javier Vazquez and Kenshin Kawakami. But the best chance to have a true heir to Maddux/Smoltz/Glavine is this 22-year-old who wowed scouts in the Arizona Fall League.
New York Edition: Fernando Martinez. Carlos Delgado is a free agent after this season, and the one way the Mets could move toward a cheap alternative for the middle of the lineup is if Martinez, 20, begins to fully match his hype and finally stays healthy (he had to be shut down from the Caribbean Series last week due to a strained right elbow).
