Texas Rangers Trade For Cliff Lee

Baseball Tonight Breaks Down The Cliff Lee trade.

Wow! The Texas Rangers just pulled off one heck of a trade. I know that giving up Justin Smoak hurt a bit, but if this team can get past the Yankees this October, Cliff Lee will be the reason why.

This move is equivalent to when the Cubs traded for Rick Sutcliffe. He would go on to dominate the National League, winning the Cy Young Award.

The Rangers are gunning it for a shot at a World Series Championship. This is what teams that want to change their losing ways do.

Cubs Trade Away Milton Bradley

The Milton Bradley era is over in Chicago.

Bradley was traded to Seattle for Mariners pitcher Carlos Silva.

Silva is 60-64 with a 4.72 ERA in 295 appearances.

The assumed Bradley for Pat Burrell Swap didn't happen, but the Cubs apparently just wanted to dump Bradley's salary and his headaches for anybody, including a mediocre pitcher in Carlos Silva.

MLB Highlights 4-15-09

Athletics vs Red Sox 4-15-09


Padres vs Mets 4-15-09


Yankees Vs Rays 4-15-09


Orioles Vs Rangers 4-15-09


Angels Vs Mariners 4-15-09


Giants Vs Dodgers 4-15-09


Cardinals Vs Diamondbacks 4-15-09


Chicago White Sox vs Tigers 4-15-09


Blue Jays vs Twins 4-15-09


Marlins Vs Braves 4-15-09


Rockies vs Cubs 4-15-09


Astros Vs Pirates 4-15-09


Brewers Vs Reds 4-15-09


Indians Vs Royals 4-15-09

2009 MLB Preview: AL West

The 2008 AL West was simply: The Los Angeles versus everyone else. The Halos blew the rest of the AL West away, as nobody else even finished above .500.

What's in store for 2009? Let's take a look.

LOS ANGELES ANGELS
The Los Angels Angels blew out the rest of the AL West in 2008, thanks to star players like Mark Teixiera, and Francisco Rodriguez, who ended up shattering the record for saves in a single season. Both players are now in New York. However, like every good team must do, the Angels have "replaced" those players. Offensively, the Angels signed Bobby Abreu to a one year contract, and Brian Fuentes is the Angels new closer, coming over from the Colorado Rockies.


TEXAS RANGERS
There is optimism for the Rangers this season.They snared pitching coach Mike Maddux from the Milwaukee Brewers. In the offseason, The Rangers asked Michael Young to move from Shortstop to Third base so the Rangers could bring Phenom shortstop Elvis Andrus to the Rangers. He obliged. The Rangers have Ian Kinsler at Second Base. Can he stay healthy for a full season? Chris Davis will play first base rhis season. Rangers fans are excited to see what he can do for a full season. Josh Hamilton will continue to Crush the ball this season. Perhaps the biggest surprise to come out of Rangers Camp was the news that Texas had released Frank Catallanatto, replacing him with Andruw Jones.

Perhaps this Rangers club is getting ready for 2010, as players like Derek Holland and Nefetali Feliz continue to impress scouts with their Radar gun readings, and Justin Smoak could really crush the ball. Expect him to come up Mid-season, depending on how the Rangers are faring in the division.


OAKLAND ATHLETICS
For the other AL West teams, Old is new again. Jason Giambi returnd to the Bay Area after a few years in The Bronx. Matt Holliday joins the Atletics after coming over from Colorado. Don't expect his numbers to increase now that he has left Coors Field. The brightest spot in the Athletics rotation is Sean Gallagher.

SEATTLE MARINERS
More proof that old is new again in Seattle. Ken Griffey Jr is back with the Mariners after spending time with the Reds and White Sox. The Mariners rotation is Aced by "King Felix" Felix Hernandez. Erik Bedard will look to bounce back after a mediocre last season.

My Division Projections
1. LOS ANGELES ANGELS
The Angels may have lost Texiera and K-Rod, but Abreu and Fuentes make the Angels this division's best team again.
2. Texas Rangers
Elvis Andrus will shine in his debut season. Kevin Millwood and Vicente Padilla will have to pitch well for Texas to hang around this season.
3.Oakland Athletics
Jason Giambi is back, but the Athletics still have too many questionmarks to be competitive.
4.Seattle Mariners
They are just hoping that Ken Griffey Jr will cause them to sell extra tickets.

In our next MLB Preview, we will look at the NL Central. Will Milton Bradley help the Cubs? Can St. Louis depend on someone other than Alber Pujols? Are the Astros too old to be competitve? Find out in the next MLB Preview.

Aaron Heilman Traded To Cubs

Aaron Heilman was about to get a fresh start in Seattle.

He is now packing his packs and heading to Chicago.

Heilman was traded from Seattle to the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday, seven weeks after the Mets shipped him to the Mariners as part of a three-team swap. Chicago gave up utility infielder Ronny Cedeno and left-hander Garrett Olson, who had just been acquired in a trade with Baltimore.

The Cubs will give Heilman a chance to become their fifth starter but he could land in the bullpen, where he’s been used exclusively the last three seasons. A year ago, when the Mets had their second straight late-season swoon, Heilman went 3-8 with a 5.21 ERA and three saves in 78 games.

He blew five of eight save chances and heard steady boos from the disenchanted fans at Shea Stadium.

The 30-year-old Heilman grew up a Cubs fan in Indiana and graduated from Notre Dame. He said he mostly enjoyed his six seasons with the Mets.

Ronny Cedeno could compete for the second base job with the Mariners.

This could be a good move by the Cubs. They have a man who could be either the fifth starter or in the bullpen.

The trade for Heilman means that Jake Peavy will no doubt stay in San Diego.

I was looking forward to seeing what Garett Olson brought with him, but Seattle now has a promising roataion.

J.J. Putz To Set Up for K-Rod

The bullpen may not be the Mets Achilles Heel anymore.

Just after the Mets signed their closer in Francisco Rodriguez, they traded for J.J Putz from the Seattle Mariners.

This was part of a three team, twelve player deal.

New York shipped reliever Aaron Heilman, outfielder Endy Chavez, left hander Jason Vargas and three minor leaguers to the Mariners for Putz, center fielder Jeremy Reed and reliever Sean Green.

Outfielder Franklin Gutierrez was sent from the Indians to Seattle. Cleveland got reliever Joe Smith from the Mets and 23-year-old second baseman Luis Valbuena from Seattle.

J.J Putz will pitch the eighth inning for the Mets, setting up for K-Rod in the ninth.

Safeco Field To Have No Peanuts And Cracker Jack for Two Days

Any Baseball Fan can sing the lyrics to take me out to the ballgame, but for two days at Seattle's SafeCo Field, there will not be two staples of the song (and America's Pasttime) at the ballpark.

On August 5th and September 9th, Two sections of Safeco field will not sell Peanuts and Cracker Jack so that people with food allergies can enjoy Mariners Baseball without worry.

They are believed to be the first Major League team to have such days.

MLB Preview: AL West

Can Jarrod Saltalamacchia help Texas win the AL West?

The Los Angeles Angels Of Anaheim have the longest team name in The History Of Baseball. Jarrod Saltalamacchia has the longest player name in The History Of Baseball. The Mariners have a Young Ace in Felix Hernandez, and Oakland, in a rebuilding state, has lots of Young Players.

LOS ANGELES ANGELS OF ANAHEIM
The Angels have a Track Record of Success. They won The 2002 World Series against Dusty Baker's San Francisco Giants from the NL West. These Angels had Troy Glaus (2002 World Series MVP Now With The St. Louis Cardinals) and David Eckstein (2006 World Series MVP with The Cardinals, Now With The Toronto Blue Jays) and won the World Series. The 2008 Angels have Garret Anderson, Vladamir Guererro, who will torch the NL West. Add to that the newest Angel In The Outfield,Torii Hunter. The Angels Rotation is also set. They May Not Have Bartolo Colon anymore, but they do have John Lackey, Jared Weaver, and Jon Garland. Garland,acquired from the White Sox for Shortstop Orlando Cabrera, should have more wins and a lower ERA, considering he is no longer in the competitive AL Central.

SEATTLE MARINERS
The Seattle Mariners have a great one, two punch in the rotation in "King Felix" Felix Hernandez and Erik Bedard. Bedard, acquired from the Baltimore Orioles for Outfielder Adam Jones. Offensively, Ichiro Suzuki will carry Seattle from the Lead Off Spot. Richie Sexon, if healthy, will hit a lot of homeruns and provide stability at First Base. If Sexon isn't healthy, expect Brad Wilkerson, Former Expo and Ranger, to see time at First Base. The Loss of Jose Vidro and Adam Jones leaves a hole in the outfield that may be replaced by Wilkerson.

TEXAS RANGERS
You've Heard of a Quarterback Controversy, but have you ever heard of a Catcher Controversy? Both Gerald Laird and Jarrod Saltalamacchia are vying for the starting Catcher position. Texas has never had a catcher like Jarrod Saltalamacchia. Jarrod is a Switch Hitting Catcher Who's Capable Of Hitting 25-30 Homeruns, which is unheard of for a catcher! If The Season Started Today, Jarrod would win the starting job, meaning Gerald Laird would have to play another position (Like First Base, where the Rangers have little depth), he would be traded.

Pitching Wise, Kevin Milwood and Vicente Padilla form an adequate 1-2 punch in the rotation. Brandon McCarthy, the former White Sox Ace of the Future, forms a solid number three. Kason Gabbard, acquired from Boston for Eric Gagne, forms a good number four in his first full season in the rotation. Kameron Loe will vie for the final rotation spot.

Offensively, Texas is hoping Josh Hamilton keeps up with the sucess he had in Cincinatti. Texas was hoping for more offense in Right Field, which is why Sammy Sosa was not re-signed. Hamilton could reach the thirty homer plateau this season.

OAKLAND ATHLETICS
The Athletics are young, trading away Ace Dan Haren to the Diamondbacks in the hope that Rich Harden can be an Ace. Rob Bowen will mature behind the plate, and Ryan Sweeney will play hard out in right field.

Oakland will through growing pains, but General Manager Billy Beane is getting ready for the future.

MY PROJECTED ORDER:
LOS ANGELES
SEATTLE
TEXAS
OAKLAND

That Concludes this MLB Preview. In Our Next MLB Preview, we will head back to the National League, analyzing the National League West. Can Joe Torre bring Chavez Ravine the Same Sucess he had in The Bronx? Can Matt Holliday and Troy Tulowitski carry Colorado to the NL Pennant Again? Will San Francisco Lose 100 Games without Barry Bonds? Find Out in the next MLB Preview.

Mike Hargrove Resigns as Mariners Manager

Mie Hargrove has resgned as Manager of the Seattle Mariners. This stunning announcement came hours before the Mariners play the Toronto Blue Jays. Even though the Mariners are the hottest team in baseball, Hargrove says his passion has begun to fade. in 1995 and 1997, Hargrove lead the Cleveland Indians to a World Series apperance. Hargrove resigned in the middle of his third season with the Mariners.