As they report: The top 20 offseason pitching pickups
Article By smcneal.tsn on 17th February, 2010
You need only check out the pitching staff of every contender to identify the No. 1 trend of the offseason. From Philadelphia to Seattle, from Boston to L.A., the rich got richer in the pitching department.
On the first official day of spring training workouts for pitchers and catchers, here are the top 20 offseason pitching acquisitions:
Roy Halladay joins the NL's best team. 1. Roy Halladay, SP, Phillies. One of the game's best starters ended up in an ideal spot: on the National League's best team, which just so happens to train near his offseason home.
2. Cliff Lee, SP, Mariners. Admittedly shaken when traded by Philadelphia, Lee could have landed in far worse situations than behind one of the game's best starters, Felix Hernandez, on the fastest-rising team in the game.
3. John Lackey, SP, Red Sox. His Angels managed to beat the Red Sox only once in the playoffs, so why not join them? Lackey's arrival gives Boston the American League's best rotation.
4. Billy Wagner, SP, Braves. With 26 strikeouts in 15 2/3 innings after his return from Tommy John surgery last season, Wagner convinced Atlanta he has plenty left at age 38.
5. Javier Vazquez, SP, Yankees. Talk about sweet landings: Vazquez went from fourth in NL Cy Young voting to No. 4 in the World Series champions' rotation.
6. Randy Wolf, SP, Brewers. The Brewers won 80 games with the majors' worst rotation last season. They gave Wolf a three-year, $29.75 million deal to lead the turnaround.
7. Jose Valverde, RP, Tigers. His mistake in turning down the Astros' arbitration offer might have cost him millions, but the Tigers were happy to take advantage. Valverde should be an upgrade over last year's closer, Fernando Rodney.
8. Joel Pineiro, SP, Angels. Don't think adding a No. 3 starter is a big deal? Consider: If Pineiro had ended up someplace else -- such as Seattle -- would the Angels still be favorites...
Read Complete Article at Latest Sporting News Articles for MLB
On the first official day of spring training workouts for pitchers and catchers, here are the top 20 offseason pitching acquisitions:
Roy Halladay joins the NL's best team. 1. Roy Halladay, SP, Phillies. One of the game's best starters ended up in an ideal spot: on the National League's best team, which just so happens to train near his offseason home.
2. Cliff Lee, SP, Mariners. Admittedly shaken when traded by Philadelphia, Lee could have landed in far worse situations than behind one of the game's best starters, Felix Hernandez, on the fastest-rising team in the game.
3. John Lackey, SP, Red Sox. His Angels managed to beat the Red Sox only once in the playoffs, so why not join them? Lackey's arrival gives Boston the American League's best rotation.
4. Billy Wagner, SP, Braves. With 26 strikeouts in 15 2/3 innings after his return from Tommy John surgery last season, Wagner convinced Atlanta he has plenty left at age 38.
5. Javier Vazquez, SP, Yankees. Talk about sweet landings: Vazquez went from fourth in NL Cy Young voting to No. 4 in the World Series champions' rotation.
6. Randy Wolf, SP, Brewers. The Brewers won 80 games with the majors' worst rotation last season. They gave Wolf a three-year, $29.75 million deal to lead the turnaround.
7. Jose Valverde, RP, Tigers. His mistake in turning down the Astros' arbitration offer might have cost him millions, but the Tigers were happy to take advantage. Valverde should be an upgrade over last year's closer, Fernando Rodney.
8. Joel Pineiro, SP, Angels. Don't think adding a No. 3 starter is a big deal? Consider: If Pineiro had ended up someplace else -- such as Seattle -- would the Angels still be favorites...
Read Complete Article at Latest Sporting News Articles for MLB
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