No matter how bad Brandon Wood has been for the Angels this season, once again opportunity knocks for the young third baseman:

Perhaps something good will come out of this situation. There’s been enough gloom and doom this season already.

Brandon Wood has to play now, at least until Erick Aybar gets back into the lineup, and in addition Wood has to show his defensive versatility. Perhaps the challenge of playing shortstop will help him relax at the plate. Not much else has seemed to work.

Wood has been absolutely horrific at the plate for the Angels this season and it's realistic to think that if Wood does not perform over the next few weeks, the Angels might be forced to cut their losses with Wood and DFA him. At one time, Wood was the Angels' top prospect, but his inability to make contact and hit for power have turned Wood from a top prospect to a liability at the plate. Wood has not hit at all in the majors this season (or in the minors for that fact), but once again, the opportunity is there for him to show what he can (or can't) do thanks to the injuries to Maicer Izturis and Erick Aybar.

Renyel Pinto's days with the Marlins appear to be over:

Struggles against left-handed hitters ultimately cost Renyel Pinto his job with the Marlins.

The 27-year-old lefty reliever was designated for assignment on Wednesday night after the Marlins lost, 6-3, to the Rangers at Sun Life Stadium.

Tim Wood, a right-handed reliever, was recalled from Triple-A New Orleans.

Pinto came off the disabled list on Sunday after he had been out since May 27 with a left hip strain. The first batter he faced Wednesday was Josh Hamilton, who crushed a home run to center field.

A veteran who opened the year as a situational left-hander, Pinto had a rough time against lefty batters. Left-handers were hitting .364 against him, including Hamilton's blast. He also hit four lefty batters with pitches in 20 relief appearances.

Pinto's numbers this season are quite good on the surface (0-0, 2.70 ERA), but beyond that it's easy to see why the Marlins decided to cut their ties with Pinto. His 9/16 walk to strikeout ratio is certainly concerning, but the statistic that had to trouble the Marlins most was that Pinto could not get left handed hitters out. While Pinto has been lights out this season against right handed hitters, lefties have crushed Pinto to the tune of a .364 batting average. It's hard to survive as a left handed relief pitcher, who cannot get out lefties and makes just over $1 million bucks on the frugal Marlins.

Yesterday, David Lennon of Newsday suggested that the Mets extend the contract of Rod Barajas, who is set to be a free agent after the season. But that idea does not seem to have any legs:

#Mets official said won't be discussed until after season. RT @jameskann: Wait until after season to re-sign Barajas. What's the rush now?

Totally agree with the "Mets official" on this one. While Barajas has been a gift for the Mets this season, there is simply no hurry to get this deal done now. Aside from the fact that Barajas is 35 years old, the Mets cannot be convinced that his bat will stay at his current levels for the entire 2010 campaign. Despite his hot start, Barajas's career stats suggest that his bat is sure to level out and his home run rate and slugging percentage are sure to drop.

If the Mets are going to commit to Barajas after the season, then they will need to seem him continue to handle the pitching staff well and continue to hit enough to warrant a new deal. Right now it just doesn't make sense to commit to Barajas beyond this season.

Interesting  nugget from the great Nick Cafardo:

Prediction: Jacoby Ellsbury will be dealt in the offseason

I can understand where this prediction would come from. Ellsbury has missed most of the season with rib issues and there is no doubt that the Red Sox have missed his presence at the top of the order.

However, does it make sense for the Red Sox to move Ellsbury? Not in my opinion. Sure, Ellsbury will be arbitration eligible for the first time this winter, which guarantees that he will get a raise this winter no matter how much he plays this season. I doubt that the Red Sox would look to move one of their top young players simply because he is set to earn a few million dollars more next winter.

And ask yourself this: will the Red Sox get full value for Ellsbury? I doubt it. Because Ellsbury has missed a majority of the 2010 season, there will inevitably be questions raised about his durability and concerns about his long term health. I'm sure there are teams that would be willing to acquire Ellsbury regardless of his injury history, but the return is sure to be less than what the Red Sox could have gotten for Ellsbury in the past.

If Ellsbury comes back healthy and has a productive second half of the season, then I imagine that the idea of trading Ellsbury this winter will become even more ludicrous. Then again, if the Red Sox can acquire Adrian Gonzalez for Ellsbury and some other pieces, then the idea of trading Ellsbury might become more realistic. But the return HAS TO be big enough for the Red Sox to even consider dealing Ellsbury. Period.

According to David Lennon, the answer is more than likely to be yes:

Possible? It's looking about 80 percent certainty right now. RT @Pump_City: is it possible next year mets nontender Maine???

It was only three years ago that the Mets viewed Maine as a stalwart in the front of their rotation for the foreseeable future, but now Maine's future with the Mets is in doubt. Since 2008, Maine's career with the Mets has been plagued by injuries, inconsistent performance, and a declining strikeout rate. There is even talk that when Maine returns to the Mets this season he will become a relief pitcher, which represents just how far Maine has fallen.

Lennon states that the odds Maine will be non-tendered are roughly 80%. There is always the chance that Maine could turn it around this season ans maybe even crack the starting rotation this season, but unless something dramatic happens, then it makes little sense for the Mets to pay Maine somewhere in the $3-$4 million dollar range for 2011.

After Stephen Strasburg and Mike Stanton made their respective debuts earlier in the week, Carlos Santana will make his tonight for the Indians:

The club recalled switch-hitting catcher Carlos Santana from Triple-A Columbus on Friday before the Indians begin a three-game series against the Washington Nationals, who will give Strasburg his first major league road start in the finale on Sunday.

Santana, regarded as one of the best prospects in the majors, was batting .316 with 13 homers and 51 RBIs in 57 games for the Clippers.

Perhaps the best hitter in Cleveland's entire organization, the Indians kept him in the minor leagues this season to work on his receiving skills and overall defense.

Among the 14 American League teams, Cleveland's offense ranks 10th in batting average (.246), 12th in slugging (.367), 12th in runs scored (236, 4.1 per-game average) and 13th in home runs (38).

"We had challenged Carlos," Indians general manager Mark Shapiro said. "It's clear that his bat had dictated a call-up a while ago. But in the last two or three weeks he has made significant strides in his defensive aspects -- his game calling, leading the staff and his throwing."

Given how poorly the Indians offense has performed this season, Santana will be a welcome addition offensively. This guy can flat out hit and he should be an impact player from the get go for the struggling Indians. Santana's arrival to the majors should be a welcome boost for the Indians and their fans, who have had little to cheer about this season. Kudos to GM Mark Shapiro and the Indians for resisting the urge to promote Santana until they felt that his defense was ready. It would have been easy to promote Santana especially in the wake of losing Grady Sizemore for the season, but the patient approach seems to have been the right approach.

Before spring training, Red Sox SP Josh Beckett was regarded as one of the top free agents on the market this winter. But just before the season began, Beckett and the Red Sox came to terms on a 4 year/$68 million dollar deal. While no one could blame Beckett for agreeing to the deal, some people around baseball believed that Beckett left upwards of $30 million on the table by agreeing to sign with the Red Sox.

Given how poorly Beckett has pitched this season and the fact that he has been on the DL, I'm sure Beckett is thrilled with his contract, yes?

Beckett said the idea of what might have been if he didn't ink that four-year, $68 million contract extension hasn't entered his psyche. That, he explains, is simply not how he operates.

"I haven't really sat down and thought about what if I was in the middle of things. I wasn't like that in the middle of my other contract. I'm not a fisherman when it comes to that stuff," he explained prior to the Red Sox' 11-0 loss to the Indians at Progressive Field. "I'm on this path. I want to help this team win. I want to win this team right now. That's what I have to do every day when I come in, remain positive. How can I make my presence felt without being an idiot. I just have to get my pom poms out and root these guys on.

"When I sign something I'm going to honor it. I'm not one of those guys who says, 'I need this,' or 'I need that.' You know what? I'm happy. I wouldn't have signed if I wasn't."

But by agreeing to the deal when Beckett did, the prospects of worrying about financial ramifications of missing time due to such an injury as the one he currently is fending off aren't on anybody's radar.

Now, people are talking about a pitcher simply trying to get back on the mound and help his team. The words "potential free agent" aren't affixed to any sentences regarding Beckett's current lot in life, and, whether Beckett is cognizant of it or not, jettisons a potential huge distraction for all parties involved.

It's interesting to consider just how much has changed for Beckett since the season began. At one time, he was thought of as a potential $90-$100 million dollar free agent. When he signed the deal with the Red Sox, it was thought of as a very team friendly deal that provided him with a level of security while giving up his free agency. And now, man, it's hard to even imagine that the Red Sox would have given Beckett the 4 year/$68 million dollar deal if they saw how he pitched through the first two months. For their sake, let's hope Beckett's struggles are injury related and nothing further.

If Josh Beckett, in his current form, hit the open market this winter, I'd have a tough time believing that he would come anywhere close to the deal he got a few months back. Even if Beckett came back strong and pitched well for the Sox down the stretch, there's no doubt in my mind that his performance so far this season would scare some teams away. New questions would have been raised: was Beckett's performance directly related to injuries? Is Beckett now an injury risk? And so on and so forth...

Of course, hindsight is 20/20 and right now it looks like Beckett made a stellar decision by agreeing to terms with the Red Sox.

Given how great this past week has been for the Nationals, this development seems to be yet another step in the right direction:

While he is not close to an extension, first baseman Adam Dunn said the Nationals and his agent, Greg Genske, talked while the team was in Houston playing a four-game series against the Astros last week.

According to Dunn, the talks were cordial, but both sides didn't bring up dollar figures. Dunn reiterated that he wants to stay in Washington, where he has become a popular figure because of his power and patience at the plate. Entering Wednesday's action, Dunn was hitting .280 with 11 home runs, 30 RBIs and 30 walks. He added his 12th homer with a two-run shot in the first inning.

"The Nationals know how I feel about this place. I hope that something can be worked out," Dunn said. "Again, I'm not in any hurry. It's probably No. 10 on my list of things to worry about."

Lost in the Stephen Strasburg shuffle comes this: the Nationals are actually playing some good baseball. As of this morning, the Nationals are only two games under .500 and shit a respectable five games back of the first place Braves. Dunn got off to a slow start this season, but his presence in the middle of the lineup has vaulted the Nationals' offense from one of the worst in baseball two years ago to a very respectable level in the National League. With Dunn hitting behind him, Ryan Zimmerman has developed into one of the premier offensive players in the National League and is currently putting together a phenomenal season.

I have said time and time again that while the Nationals love Dunn's offensive ability, Dunn's defense would ultimately determine if the Nationals would give him a contract extension. And while Dunn will never be confused with John Olerud at first, his -2.7 UZR is something that the Nationals can live with as long as Dunn continues to rake.

Interesting article this morning about the Yankees apparent interest in Cliff Lee. With a rotation of Sabathia, Burnett, Pettitte, Vazquez, and now Hughes, you have to wonder if the Yankees have room for Lee. There's no doubt that the Yankees rotation in addition to Cliff Lee would be the best in the league-by far. One can dream, right?

The immediate need for the Yankees is a bat, but if the Mariners are going to shop Lee, the Yankees will be interested because he will be a free agent after the season. Of course, he is making $9 million this season, so even if the deal is made at the July 31 deadline, the Yankees would have to pay him $3 million.

If they were to give up Romine or Montero, the Yankees would need assurances that Lee would sign an extension and not become a free agent.

I had the pleasure of attending Stephen Strasburg's first start in the majors last night. It was a decision made totally on a whim: the Strasburg hype had gotten the best of me. As soon as the Nationals announced that on June 8th Stephen Strasburg would be making his major league debut, I hustled my way over to stubhub and purchased the cheapest three tickets without the slightest care of where I would actually be sitting.

Turns out, the seats that I purchased were for the second to last row in the stadium. But it didn't matter. From the time I sat down roughly thirty minutes before the game started, it was impossible to get up. Everyone in the crowd, myself included, was completely mesmerized by Stephen Strasburg closely following every move he made and every pitch he threw. And that was before the game.

Once the game started, it was easy to see what the hype was all about. Here was a twenty one year old kid consistently throwing between 97-99 MPH with a 89-91 MPH changeup and then to top it all off, a 81-83 MPH curveball-slider hybrid that routinely made hitters look silly throughout the game.

While Strasburg struggled to find the plate initially, the word that comes to mind when watching Strasburg pitch is control. When Strasburg is on, you know that he's in complete control. Hitters have no chance. That was evident in every inning but the fourth where Strasburg proved that he too was a human being and actually gave up a somewhat crowd deflating two run homerun. Aside from the fourth inning, Strasburg was in complete control the entire night harnessing his incredible array of power pitches that looked flat out unhittable from my seat in the second to last row.

Once Strasburg got into his groove and began locating more effectively, his control factor entered a different stratosphere. Strasburg began consistently getting ahead of hitters with his dominant stuff and it seemed like nearly every hitter from the fifth inning to the seventh inning had two strikes against him. Once Strasburg got two strikes on the hitter, Nationals Park went nuts. Everyone knew what to expect and what was coming next even if we had no idea what Strasburg was going to throw. Strike three.

It's incredible to see a rare talent perform at the highest level, but there is something different about watching a power pitcher do it. Not only was Stephen Strasburg's stuff off the charts, but his ability to control the game and completely dominate the opposing team's lineup was something that absolutely electrified the crowd. What makes Strasburg so exciting right now is that when he is on the mound, he is complete control out there. He makes the impossible look possible. Pitchers are not supposed to be throwing 99 MPH in their seventh inning of work. Pitchers are not supposed to be breaking the franchise record for strikeouts in a game after his first major league start.

But that's the beauty of Strasburg-he's not an ordinary pitcher. As I witnessed last night, he's an event.

DId you attend Strasburg's debut last night? Tell us your thoughts about Strasmus!

No matter what they decide, it's clear that a decision might be looming:

Next Monday's off-day for the White Sox, coming on June 14, just might mark an important milestone in A.J. Pierzynski's stellar Major League Baseball career.

---snip---

Pierzynski has become the topic of interest for the past month on the South Side because the free agent after the 2010 season earns 10-and-5 status on this Monday. Having played at least 10 years in the Majors and at least five straight with the same team gives Pierzynski no-trade veto power, but with the White Sox slipping out of contention and Tyler Flowers waiting at Triple-A Charlotte, Pierzynski could be moved before that week runs off the calendar.

Even with this status, though, Pierzynski said Sunday it wouldn't automatically mean he stays in Chicago for the remainder of the 2010 campaign. If the situation makes sense for both sides, Pierzynski would consider consenting to a trade.

"Obviously, if the White Sox aren't where we want to be and a team has a chance for the playoffs and to win the World Series and they come and say, 'Hey, we need a catcher,' it would be hard to say no to that," Pierzynski said. "How would you go about that? That's something [where] my love for Chicago and this organization would be a deciding factor, but it's hard as a player to say no.

There are a number of factors working against the White Sox here when it comes to dealing with Pierzynksi

1. Decline at the plate

Pierzynksi's offense this season has tailed off considerably as he is hitting just .218 with two home runs and a uninspiring .257 OBP. At this stage in his career, Pierzynski does not appear to be much of an upgrade at the dish.

2. Who needs a catcher?

Oddly enough there is not a pressing demand out there for a starting catcher. The team with the most obvious need for a catcher right now is the Rangers, but even they seem content with Matt Treanor and with Jarrod Saltalamacchia waiting in the wings. Because of the struggles of Gerald Laird behind the plate, the Tigers might be another fit for Pierzynksi, but at the same time, they seem committed to seeing what Alex Avila can do. It's an odd year in that most of the teams that are competing for a playoff spot right now all seem to be set behind the plate in some capacity.

3. Tyler Flowers

Entering the season, Flowers was one of the White Sox best prospects, but his performance this season at AAA has been disappointing to say the least. Despite showing impressive power (10 HR), Flowers is only hitting a weak .214 with a whopping 63 strikeouts, which would seem to suggest that the young catcher is in need of more seasoning at AAA.

As strange as it sounds right now, the White Sox seem to be better off holding onto Pierzynski for the foreseeable future in the hopes that either Pierzynski picks up his level of play or that a team develops a pressing need for a catcher. The fact that Pierzynksi's 10/5 rights will kick in by the middle of June will certainly muddle things when it comes to trade talks, but right now there seems to be little chance that the White Sox will be able to get a sizable return for Pierzynski to warrant dealing him. In addition, the White Sox have to hope that Flowers becomes a more consistent hitter at AAA and demonstrates to the organization that he is ready to take over as the team's full time starter.

At worst, the White Sox would be stuck with Pierzynski for the remainder of the season until his contract with the club runs out, which might not be the worst thing for the franchise if Tyler Flowers continues to struggle.

The Mets currently sit three games out of first place in the NL East, which means that the wild trade rumors are just beginning. The first name thrown out by the New York media: Cliff Lee:

This is the time for COO Jeff Wilpon to give general manager Omar Minaya the authority to be aggressive on the trade market and bring the Mets the starting pitcher to join Johan Santana and Mike Pelfrey at the top of the rotation. This is the time for the Mets to make a hard play for Seattle's dominating lefty, Cliff Lee, who is in the final year of his contract and thus will be a rental.

It's about pitching, and it's even more so about pitching in the cavernous ballpark the Mets call home. The Mets have an overall ERA of 3.88, eighth in the 16-team NL. But their ERA at home is 2.74, fourth in the league, and more than a run lower than the 5.18 ERA the staff has posted on the road.

Winning teams identify their strengths and then play to them. Championship teams identify their strengths and build on them. The Mets' strengths lay in the arms of Santana and Pelfrey, and in the dimensions of their home field.

Obtaining Lee, brilliant late last year and in the postseason for the Phillies following a Cy Young winning 2008 for the Indians, would give the Mets the most daunting top of the rotation in the league.

No one is suggesting that the Mets should empty their cupboard of prospects in order to get Lee, who will turn 32 in late August. We are, however, suggesting that management go to whatever lengths necessary short of that to get it done. We are suggesting that the Mets overlook his status as a rental.

There's no doubt that Cliff Lee would be a great fit for the Mets. He would give the Mets exactly what they need-another quality starter besides Santana and Pelfrey who can give them quality innings.

But is this trade actually realistic? Probably not. The reason is that Cliff Lee is not going to come cheap and the Mets minor league system is not exactly loaded with top prospects. If the Mariners are willing to part with Lee, there will certainly be a number of teams lining up to acquire his services and the Mets will have to bypass all those teams to acquire Lee. Further, does anyone actually think the Mets would part with some of the few top prospects they have to acquire Lee for what could be only four months? I doubt it.

Then again, if GM Omar Minaya is concerned solely about his job security and needs to make a big splash, then I could see the Mets GM going all out to acquire Lee. I'm not confident that this move would be best for the franchise no matter how good this move could look for Omar Minaya.

With the Brewers off to a slow start, there are rumblings around baseball regarding the availability of Prince Fielder. Does it make sense for the Brewers to trade Fielder, who will be a free agent after the 2011 season?

According to Michael Hunt, the answer is yes.

In fact, the issue has become less about Fielder and more about the imbalanced mess the Brewers have become since 2008.

With a top-10 offense, they remain burdened for a second consecutive season with one of the game's worst pitching staffs.

Even if Fielder veered wildly from his pace to hit a career-low 27 homers in a full season and somehow challenged Barry Bonds' single-season record, the Brewers still would land at or near the bottom of their division. Pitching matters that much.

Of course, it no longer makes sense, business or otherwise, for the Brewers to imagine a future with Fielder in it. Most of their resources from here must be devoted to pitching. Otherwise, the Brewers have no future.

Even if a down year from Fielder puts him south of Ryan Howard money in the winter of '11 free-agent market, the Brewers are showing they can finish last with him. And that doesn't take into consideration a body type that might disqualify Fielder as a National League player during the course of his next big contract.

Point taken. But according to Peter Barzilai, the Brewers should hold onto Fielder, fearing that the Brewers will not get close to full value for the slugging first baseman:

He is having his worst season since he was a rookie, with nine home runs, a .267 average and .838 OPS. Last year he hit 46 homers with 141 RBI, so at the very least wait until he starts to show that form. Or do you usually sell your stocks at their lowest point?

There doesn't appear to be a market for Fielder. Every team at or near the top of its division is set at first base. The only exception is the Angels, and adding Fielder would create a logjam when Kendry Morales returns from his broken leg in September or next season.

So if you can't get full value for Fielder, keep him through this season and the next. Let him become a free agent, because there is a good chance the Brewers will have leverage in the winter of 2011. The first base market is about to get flooded with Paul Konerko, Derrek Lee and Carlos Pena set to become free agents after this season, and Fielder, Albert Pujols and Adrian Gonzalez eligible after 2011. Big spenders such as the Yankees (Mark Teixeira), Phillies (Ryan Howard), Red Sox (Kevin Youkilis), Angels (Morales) and Dodgers (James Loney) are locked in at first. The Brewers could get Fielder at a reasonable price or sign one of the other free agents.

There is no doubt in my mind that signing Fielder to a $100+ million dollar extension after the 2011 season would not be in the Brewers' best interests given their limited resources. The focus of the Brewers front office right now has to be on doing what is in the Brewers' best interests, both long term and short term. The only reason for the Brewers to trade Fielder is if they get an offer from a team that is good enough to offset the short term costs of dealing the popular Fielder and not fully engaging in long term contract talks with him. Remember that if the Brewers deal Fielder now, they will have to deal with tremendous backlash from their fan base, especially if the package they receive is not viewed as "up to par."

Right now, it does not appear to be in the Brewers' best interests to trade Fielder no matter how badly the team is playing. The combination of Fielder's contract and performance this season would suggest that the Brewers are very unlikely to get the high level offer that they are looking for to replace their first baseman. If the Brewers are blown away with an offer, that's one thing; but Fielder is one of the Brewers top assets and if there is even the slighest doubt that they are not going to get full value for the slugger, then the answer is clear: hold onto Prince.

Does this juicy rumor have legs to it? You be the judge.

Excellent baseball sources are telling us the Angels and the Cubs may be involved in trade talks that could send Derrek Lee to L.A. The Angels lost their starting first baseman, Kendry Morales, last weekend when he broke his leg in a celebration after he hit a walk-off grand slam. Lee was a late scratch from Wednesday's lineup because of tightness in his right hamstring.

It's hard to believe that the Cubs would wave the white flag on the 2010 season this early when they are only 6.5 games out of first place. The team has played very poorly so far (hence they are five games under .500), but it would seem logical to give this team at least another four to five weeks to pull it together. Like many his teammates, Derrek Lee has struggled this season at the plate, but right now does not seem to be the optimal time to cut bait with the fan favorite.

As for the Angels, the acquisition of Derrek Lee would be a home run in my eyes (depending on what they have to give up, of course). The Angels have to plan the rest of the season with the feeling that they will not have Kendry Morales until 2011. If he comes back in September, then the Angels have a good problem on their hands. But if GM Tony Reagins does not feel comfortable with Mike Napoli at first base or if he is looking to add some offensive punch to the lineup, then Lee would seem to make a lot of sense for the Angels. Despite his struggles this season, Lee was one of the best hitters in the National League last season and has 299 lifetime homeruns, which tells you that Lee has been a consistent power threat throughout his career.

I'm skeptical that this deal will go down anytime soon, but it's fascinating to hear that these two sides are talking.

Mike Lowell has accumulated a whopping 67 at bats this season and it sure sounds like he needs to leave Boston:

A Red Sox source ruled out any possibility of Mike Lowell going to the Los Angeles Angels in the wake of first baseman Kendry Morales going down with a broken ankle suffered while celebrating a walk-off grand slam over the weekend.

While the Angels are not a possible destination, it does appear the Red Sox are listening to Lowell's request to try to move him. A baseball source with knowledge of the situation told ESPNBoston.com that there are a number of clubs that have contacted the Red Sox about the possibility of acquiring Lowell, including the Chicago White Sox, Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers.

---snip---

As David Ortiz heated up last month, Lowell told reporters in mid-May he thought it might be best for the team to just release him.

"I literally eat up a roster spot," he said. "I literally do. That's the way it is. ...

"The first baseman [Kevin Youkilis] and the third baseman [Adrian Beltre], they're two Gold Glovers. They never get batted for. I refuse to wish injuries to good players. That's so [expletive] terrible. I want to get playing time on my own.

On one hand, you have to feel bad for Lowell. Here is a guy who has been a starter his whole career and now thanks to injuries and a dip in performance over the past two seasons, he has been relegated to a bench player who hardly plays. But then again, don't feel to badly for the 36 year old Lowell, who is earning a whopping $12.5 million this season. But I digress....

The problem for Lowell is that the teams mentioned to be interested in his services all have a compelling reason not to go after Lowell. The White Sox are struggling and could be sellers shortly; the Rangers have the resurgent Vladimir Guerrero as their DH: and the Mariners have Mike Sweeney...would Lowell provide that much of an upgrade? Not in my opinion.

As tough as this must be for Lowell, it has to be a tough spot for the Red Sox. While the Red Sox want to do what's right for Lowell, the last thing they want to see happen is Lowell thrive for a team that they could face down the road with the playoffs on the line.

Evan Longoria's 6 year/$17.5 million dollar deal (plus three team options) with the Rays is widely considered to be the best contract in baseball today, but the contract the Rockies gave to Ubaldo Jimenez last January has to be in the top ten. Take a look at the numbers:

4 years/$10 million (2009-2012) with team options for 2013 and 2014

2010: $1.25 million

2011: $2.8 million

2012: $4.2 million

2013: $5.75 (club option)

2014: $8 million (club option)

Not only does this deal buy out all of Jimenez's arbitration years except his final one, but it gives the Rockies the opportunity to buy out Jimenez's final year of arbitration and his first free agent season if they so choose. This deal will wind up saving the Rockies millions of dollars down the road including this offseason when Jimenez, who is the front runner to win the NL CY Young award right now, would have been eligible for arbitration. Instead Jimenez is locked in for 2011 at a very team friendly rate of $2.8 million, which is chump change in baseball economics.

To put things in perspective, the Mets are paying Oliver Perez $12 million this season. From 2009-2012, Ublado Jimenez will earn $10 million. Kudos to Dan O'Dowd.

Everybody's favorite phenom has become one of, if not the, major selling points of the Nationals. Just ask Roy Oswalt:

Houston Astros ace Roy Oswalt would be open to waiving his no-trade clause and pitching for the Nationals if they and the Astros agree on a deal, Oswalt said today.

Oswalt, who has requested a trade from the 17-34 Astros, said he would be willing to play "anywhere" he can contend. He cited the Nationals' offensive potential and the ensuing call-up of phenom Stephen Strasburg as reasons for his potential interest in playing in Washington.

"They've been playing well," Oswalt said. "They've got a good offensive club. I saw where they have Strasburg coming up. He should make an immediate impact, especially, because no one's seen him in the league, early. There's always a little adjustment period there."

For a pitcher of Roy Oswalt's caliber to make a statement like that, it shows two things: how well the Nationals have been playing so far this season and how good everyone thinks Stephen Strasburg will be. Sure Oswalt stated that he will play "anywhere," but the Nationals never would have been in the conversation if not for their respectable start and because of some guy named Strasburg. There is no doubt that Oswalt sees a phenom like Strasburg and starts thinking how good the Nationals could be with a Oswalt-Strasburg duo at the top of the rotation.

This quote is much more important than just Roy Oswalt. What this quote suggests is that the Nationals could become a popular destination for free agents in the near future...in large part because of Stephen Strasburg. Think about that for a second: the Nationals, who for years relied on bargain basement players to make out their struggling roster, could now become a desired destination in the very near future.

Here are the facts: the Mets owe Oliver Perez roughly $20 million dollars through the 2011 season. Oliver Perez's ERA over the past two seasons is 6.62. If the Mets did not owe Oliver Perez so much money, than Oliver Perez would be in the minors right now.

But thanks to the egregious contract that the Mets gave Perez, Jolly Ollie can refuse to go the minor leagues, which he has done multiple times. And several Mets are not happy about it. Rightfully so:

A day after watching Oliver Perez implode in a relief appearance against the Brewers, two disgusted Mets players told The Post yesterday it’s time management drew a line in the sand with the putrid lefty.

"You tell him you go to Triple-A or that’s it, you are finished," one Mets player said, well aware that Perez is still owed about $20 million on the three-year contract he signed before the 2009 season.

A second Mets player echoed that line of thinking.

"At some point you have to cut bait," he said. "You owe him a lot of money, but for what?"

David O'Brien reports on the ugly truth for Braves fans: Nate McClouth is a pretty bad baseball player right now:

.737 — Nate McLouth’s on base-plus-slugging percentage since coming to the Braves in a trade on June 3, 2009. That’s 64 points below his career OPS in four-plus seasons with the Pirates, and 116 points below his .853 OPS in 2008 when he made the All-Star team.

McLouth went 1-for-11 with one walk and three strikeouts in his three-game return to Pittsburgh over the weekend, a reminder of just how mediocre the center fielder has been since the Braves got him.

As a Brave, he has hit .240 in 470 at-bats (126 games) w/ 28 doubles, 14 homers, 49 RBI, 68 walks, 107 strikeouts, 14 stolen bases  (in 22 attempts), and a .343 OBP and .394 slugging percentage.

While it's true that McLouth has been a massive disappointment for the Braves, I don't think anyone could bash GM Frank Wren for pulling the trigger on this deal. When the Braves acquired McLouth roughly one year ago, the general consensus was that the Braves had just pulled off a major coup by picking up a young center fielder on the rise with a very team friendly contract.

The good news for the Braves is that even if McLouth fails to put it together, that the Braves are only committed to McLouth through the 2011 season for $6.5 million. McLouth has a $10.65 million dollar team option for 2012 that at this point is highly unlikely to be picked up by the Braves.

Given how badly McLouth has struggled, it looks like the Pirates made the right decision by selling high on McLouth after his stellar 2008 season. But their return on the trade so far has been relatively mediocre: Charlie Morton has been horrible; Gorkys Hernandez has struggled in AA; and the only saving grace for the Pirates has been Jeff Locke, who is actually performing quite will in high A ball. Even from the Pirates perspective, this deal has been far from a homerun.

No matter how badly McLouth is struggling right now, Braves fans should find some solace, maybe, in the fact that this deal seemed to be a steal at the start and does not look like it will have a significant long term impact on the franchise.

In his latest colum, Ken Rosenthal includes this nugget about Adam Dunn's future in Washington:

The Nationals’ negotiations with first baseman Adam Dunn remain on hold, but the two sides figure to agree on a new deal before Dunn hits free agency in November.

The Nats have a good thing going with their 3-4-5 hitters — Ryan Zimmerman, Dunn and Josh Willingham. Each is over .900 in OPS, and each is a team leader.

Entering the season, we all knew that Adam Dunn could hit. Here is a guy who consistently mashed 40+ home runs every season and produced a yearly OBP somewhere in .375-.380 range. His high strikeout rate leaves something to be desired, but given all the other assets he brings to the table, it's easy to see why Dunn has been one of the most productive power hitters in baseball since 2004.

The major flaw with Dunn (outside of his foot speed, of course) has been his defense. Since 2005, Dunn has statistically been one of the worst defensive players in baseball no matter what position he was playing. According to fangraphs, Dunn's lifetime UZR at 1B is -28.2 and an abysmal -71.5. And no, that's not a misprint. In the National League, there's almost no chance that a contending team could compete with 2004-2009 Adam Dunn playing defense everyday. So it's easy to see why the Nationals have been hesitant to give Dunn a long term deal even though he will be a free agent after the season.

The biggest change in Dunn's game this season has been on the defensive side. Now as the Nationals' everyday first baseman, Dunn's UZR is still not very impressive (-1.3), but given his career UZR at the position, Dunn's play at first base has dramatically improved.

And if your the Nationals, you can live with Dunn's play at first base. Even if Dunn remains a slightly below average first baseman, it will still make him much more valuable that he has been in the past as long his offensive production does not suffer.

According to Mark Kiszla, the answer is yes:

Rather than pick up a piece of lumber from the bat rack, Todd Helton should grab some pine on the bench.

Is it baseball blasphemy to suggest the Rockies should sit down the best player in franchise history?

At age 36, he's not Beltin' Helton anymore.

It's difficult to discuss this problem, and the solution will be even harder for manager Jim Tracy to address, but Jason Giambi deserves the lion's share of at-bats and more time at first base than Helton.

The Rockies offense is currently ranked in the middle of the pack in the National League in most categories (HR, OBP, runs, slugging %, batting average) and Helton is the obvious scapegoat for the team's offensive struggles. Helton is only hitting .261 with only one home run and nine RBIs. Despite his impressive .393 OBP, Helton's production has simply not been there for the Rockies this season and there is no question that the Rockies need more production from their first baseman if they are going to compete this season.

With that said, there is no reason for the Rockies to bench Helton in favor of Jason Giambi. In 45 at bats this season, Giambi is hitting only .244 with two home runs and a .379 OBP. Giambi is not exactly tearing the cover off the ball. Furthermore, defense has to be a factor here. Despite his offensive struggles, Helton is still playing a stellar first base and currently has an impressive 9.6 UZR/150. Giambi, on the other hand, has a career UZR/150 of -7.5, which suggests that if the Rockies put Giambi in the lineup everyday, that they would be taking a major hit defensively. There is no question that the Rockies are better off defensively with Helton playing everyday.

It's easy to be frustrated by Helton's sluggish performance thus far, but Todd Helton should absolutely be the starter for the Rockies for the time being.

Could Roy Oswalt be traded to the....Nationals?

The Nationals are looking to improve their rotation and have expressed interest in trading for Astros right-hander Roy Oswalt, according to a baseball source.

The Nats have not confirmed that they have interest in the Astros' ace, and Oswalt's agent, Bob Garber, did not return a phone message Sunday.

If the Astros and Nationals can work out a deal, Oswalt, 32, and right-hander Stephen Strasburg would be a perfect 1-2 combination in the rotation. It's unknown what Houston would want in return for Oswalt.

But Washington has some obstacles when it comes to acquiring Oswalt's services. Although he requested to be dealt, he has a no-trade clause and is in the fourth year of a five-year, $73 million contract that will pay him $15 million in 2010 and $16 million next season.

The Nationals' 22-22 start is very encouraging to see especially in the pre-Strasburg era, but I'm sure many rolled their eyes when they saw this report that the Nationals were after Oswalt. But I think GM Mike Rizzo sees a genuine opportunity here. For a pitcher of Oswalt's caliber normally teams would have to give up top level prospects, which the Nationals should be hesitant to give up. But to acquire Oswalt, the Nationals might not have to give up top prospects if they decide to pick up the tab on Oswalt's salary. Remember that Oswalt is owed a whopping $31 million over the next two years, which would seem to make Oswalt difficult to move.

I imagine that the Astros are looking to acquire some top prospects in return for Oswalt given his stature and popularity in Houston, but if they are looking to dump as much salary as possible, then the Nationals should at least consider picking up the tab. Oswalt would be a great fit in DC, not just because of the impending arrival of Stephen Strasburg, but because he would add even more legitimacy to an organization that is on the upswing.

After struggling mightily early in the season, it looks like Ben Sheets has found his mojo:

Sheets, who missed all of last season while recovering from flexor tendon surgery, is taking more steps toward looking like the guy who was a four-time All-Star. He pitched six scoreless innings in the A's 3-0 victory over the Giants on Sunday, lowering his ERA to 2.52 over his past four starts.

"He's showing everyone now he's got it back," catcher Kurt Suzuki said.

Sheets is making the A's $10 million investment in him look much better these days. Even if a resurgence by Sheets isn't going to keep the A's in contention all season, it could certainly be enough to generate significant trade interest in July. Sheets could join Roy Oswalt -- and possibly Cliff Lee -- in a unusually robust trade market for No. 1 starting pitchers.

Considering how badly Sheets struggled at the beginning of the season, it was pretty easy to question why GM Billy Beane committed such a large percentage of his payroll to a guy, who missed the entire 2009 season. But now that Sheets is throwing the ball well, the Athletics are actually in a position of strength moving forward. As the article states, Sheets could become very attractive trade bait come July if the Athletics fall out of contention. Teams looking to upgrade the top of their rotation could turn to Sheets because he will be a free agent after the season, he will not require the hefty price tag like Roy Oswalt, and the bounty probably will not be as large for Sheets as is will be for Cliff Lee.

Beane will have to continue to evaluate the A's chance this season in order to make the right move with Sheets. As MLBTR noted yesterday, Sheets is currently not going to net the Athletics any draft picks for next season, so if the A's want to get something in return, then the trade route would seem to be the best bet. The Elias rankings can change throughout the course of the season, but that's something for Beane to ponder.

The Nationals have been one of baseball's biggest surprises to date, but this news is quite discouraging:

Jason Marquis underwent surgery Friday to remove bone chips from his elbow and is expected to return to the major leagues in eight weeks, General Manager Mike Rizzo said.

The Nationals signed Marquis during the offseason to a two-year, $15 million contract, and the start to his Nationals tenure was nothing less than a disaster. He went 0-3 with a 20.52 ERA in three starts, but the injury made the Nationals believe his dismal results were because of his health.

Marquis pitched Tuesday in a minor league rehab assignment and the next day felt his elbow "locked up," he said. Tim Kremcheck performed Friday's surgery. Marquis will start rehab immediately, and in four to six weeks he will be able to begin throwing in minor league rehab games.

It's easy to look back at this signing now and criticize GM Mike Rizzo for investing in Jason Marquis, but people need to remember the original intent behind signing Marquis. The Nationals were looking for someone to stabilize their rotation by being a consistent presence in the starting rotation and eating plenty of innings, two criteria which Marquis should have excelled. Looking back at the contract, $15 million might have been a tad excessive, but if Marquis was healthy and productive, then there would be no way that the Nationals or Rizzo would have faced any criticism for the deal.

We'll see what Marquis is able to offer the Nationals in the future, but it will be interesting to see if this deal goes down as one of the bigger mistakes of Mike Rizzo's tenure...even though the intent behind the deal was solid.

Despite his full no trade clause, it appears as though Roy Oswalt is willing to be traded from the Astros:

"When you get to a point where you need to start rebuilding they're going to start with a guy that's got a lot of value," said the righty, "and I understand that if I'm throwing well that they maybe can get two or three guys that can fill holes that they need."

While it's all well and good in theory for the Astros, who are currently in last place in the NL Central, to find a team willing to give up quality prospects in return for Oswalt and the $31 million remaining on his contract ($15 million this season, $16 million next), the reality is that there might not be too many teams willing to do that. Outside of the Red Sox and Yankees, how many teams can actually afford to pay Oswalt $16 million next season? Not many.

What the Astros should be willing to do is this: if they are still out of contention by late June or early July then they absolutely should shop Oswalt. But the goal should not just be to get rid of his contract; instead, the Astros should do whatever possible to maximize the return on their ace. If that means eating a portion of Oswalt's contract in order to get back a better player, than so be it.

The reality is that right now payroll flexibility is not that valuable to the Astros right now. While I'm sure the Astros would love to unload Oswalt's contract, this is a franchise that desperately needs a infusion of talented, young players to begin the process of rebuilding the organization. This franchise needs to build the right way; not through free agency, but through solid draft picks and through a strong minor league system.

Alex Gonzalez: power hitter!?

Out of the blue, Alex Gonzalez is hitting baseballs out of the park.

The former Red Sox shortstop has 10 home runs, tied for second in the majors. He nearly hit in the second inning of Toronto’s 7-6 loss to the Sox last night, but umpires used video replay to confirm the shot off John Lackey was a double.

"It doesn’t surprise me - I can hit some balls, you know?" said Gonzalez, who is at or near the top of almost every offensive category among major league shortstops. "Right now, after a good month, I’ve got to keep it going. It’s not like I’m thinking every time I go up to home plate, I’m going to try to hit a homer. I’m just trying to get my pitch and put a good swing on it.

---snip---

Gonzalez is known strictly as a defensive whiz. Jays manager Cito Gaston pointed out that Gonzalez, a .401 career slugger, hit 23 homers for Florida in 2003, but he also conceded the home run swing did not come up during the winter when Toronto discussed signing the free agent.

"I think when his name comes up, you think of his glove more than anything, but he’s certainly stepped up and given us some offense, too.

It's quite remarkable what Gonzalez has been able to do so far for the Blue Jays, but it's doubtful that Gonzalez will be able to maintain this type of production. Right now, Gonzalez's slugging percentage is almost two hundred points higher that his career average and his ISO, which calculates his isolated power, his again almost two hundred points higher than his career average.

The numbers would suggest that Gonzalez is destined to come back down to Earth this season offensively. Even if he finishes with 15-20 home runs, the Jays should be thrilled.

And while the focus has rested solely on Gonzalez's offensive output, his defense needs to improve. Gaston notes in the article that Gonzalez is known primarily for his glove, but up to this point, Gonzalez's defense has been a disappointment. Before this season, Gonzalez's UZR rating was consistently in positive territory, but this season his UZR has dropped to -8.7. That noticeable drop could suggest that Gonzalez, who is already 33 years old, is declining defensively.

If Gonzalez's offensive numbers drop as expected and his defense continues to decline, then the question will be: where does Gonzalez offer the Blue Jays value? It's easy to be blinded by one hot month at the plate, but Blue Jays management should be concerned about Gonzalez's defense and hope that it improves as the season moves forward.

The 2010 Toronto Blue Jays have been something of a mixed bag. Alex Gonzalez and Vernon Wells have been tremendous. Lyle Overbay and Aaron Hill, well, not so much.

The case of Overbay in particular is important to the Jays this season. Overbay, who is set to become a free agent after the season, has struggled so badly that you have to wonder if he can be an asset to the Blue Jays in the near future. Is it time to pull the plug on Overbay? Not yet:

Over the last week, Gaston has talked about trying to get Randy Ruiz some more plate appearances, either as a first baseman or a DH. Could that be the thin edge of the wedge on the way to moving struggling Lyle Overbay out of the starting lineup?

"When we talked to Overbay in spring training, we told him we were going to give him every chance that we possibly could to have him succeed, knowing that he’s a free agent, knowing that we want him to do something, whether it’s with us or with somebody else," Gaston said. "How long are we going to go with it? I don’t know. We’ll see.

"As along as the team plays well, things can go on a little longer. If we play badly, it’s going to be something you’re going to have to deal with. As long as the team plays well, there’s a lot of things you can get away with.

The problem for the Blue Jays is this: with top prospect Brett Wallace now in their system and seemingly primed to take over for Overbay at some point in the near future at first, the Blue Jays need to be thinking about maximizing the return on Lyle Overbay. Whether that's in the form of a trade in July or a draft pick or two this winter, the Jays need to hope that Overbay turns it around and increases his value around baseball.

While I doubt that Overbay has a long term future with the Blue Jays, there is no doubt in my mind that right now it's in the Blue Jays' best interests to play Overbay. As much as Gaston seems to like Randy Ruiz, there is very little long term benefit of playing him everyday.

There is no doubt that if the Jays struggle and their first baseman is still not hitting, then Lyle Overbay will be one of the team's first playing time casualties.

Now that the phenom has been promoted to AAA, how long will it be until he starts his first game with the Nationals?

2 weeks?

A month?

Several months?

I really doubt that it will take Strasburg several months to get to the majors at this rate, but it all depends on the approach that Nationals GM Mike Rizzo opts to take.

Also, are the Nationals moving Strasburg too quickly? Sure, Strasburg has been dominant so far in the minors, but are the Nationals exercising the right amount of caution in dealing with Strasburg?

And finally, when Strasburg does arrive in DC, will baseball finally be revitalized in the Nation's Capitol?