Major League Baseball News

For the last decade, the Florida Marlins organization has been all but loyal to its young bright stars. However, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. On Wednesday, Hanley Ramirez and the Florida Marlins came to terms on a 6 year deal worth $70 million. Ramirez looks to be staying in Florida to help keep the Fish winning. Off to a great start, the Marlins must believe Hanley Ramirez is responsible for much of their early success. Moving from lead off batter to 3rd on command, Ramirez has amassed 9 Home Runs and 13 Stolen Bases while batting .330 through the first month and a half of the season.

Ramirez would have been eligible for arbitration at the end of the season, a reality that the Marlins were not ready to face. With Ryan Howard settling for a record $10 million, experts estimate Hanley could have been worth $12 after the hearings, which is right around the price the Marlins locked up arguably the best player in baseball for the next 6 years. Ramirez is the first player in MLB history to bat .300 and steal 50 bases in his first 2 seasons. He also showed signs of developing power, hitting 29 Home Runs last year as the lead off batter.

Hanley also won the NL Rookie of the Year in ‘06, and is on pace to become only the 4th player in MLB history to hit 40 Home Runs and swipe 40 stolen bases. The others are Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, and Jose Canseco. Look for the Marlins to only get better by the minute as Hanley Ramirez becomes one of the greatest baseball players to ever play the game.

In the off season, the Detroit Tigers made a big move sending Maybin and Andrew Miller to the Marlins for 3B Miguel Cabrera and SP Dontrelle Willis. Today, Miguel Cabrera and his fellow teammates celebrate a very special easter Sunday.

The Tigers and Miguel Cabrera have agreed to terms on an 8 year, $152.3 million contract. The contract includes the initial $11.3 million 1-year deal for 2008, adding an additional $141 million over the following 7 years ending in 2015.

After tearing up spring training and even homering in his first at-bat, this Detroit Tigers baseball club felt the pressure to sign Miguel to show him that he is in their immediate plans as well as future. In 2007, Cabrera batted .320 with 34 HRs and 119 RBIs in the NL as a Florida Marlin. He will be moving back from OF to 3B, starting at the hot corner for the Tigers in ‘08.

On Thursday, closer Jonathan Papelbon and the Boston Red Sox agreed to terms for a new contract worth $775,000. Papelbon was the last Red Sox 40 man player not under contract yet. When asked about his new contract, Papelbon explained that he felt “a certain obligation not only to [himself] and [his] family to make the money that [he] deserves but for the game of baseball.”

Last year, Jonathan Pabelbon earned just over $425K, making his new contract nearly a double raise. He will soon see another raise, being eligible for arbitration trials next year. Experts expect Papelbon’s looming contract to include a hefty multi-million dollar salary. He finished the ‘07 season with a 1.85 ERA, converting 37 of 40 save opportunities to saves.

Apparently Juan Gone ain’t so ‘gone’ yet, or is he? Today with Johan Santana debuting in his first start since being acquired by the Mets, there were two runners on. Juan Gonzalez zoned in and crushed a Santana delivery for a 3-run Home Run. Albert Pujols also homered later in the game off Sanchez. May your health be with you both for the rest of the season.

Fantasy Spin: This is great news for Cardinals fans, Pujols fans, and Juan Gone fans. Be confident about Phat Albert and keep an eye on unranked Juan Gonzalez. Don’t forget he won two MVPs in the AL already. As for Santana, Juan Gone hitting a Home Run tells us nothing bad about Johan, yet.

Minnesota Twins starting lefty Fransisco Liriano has been given the green light to return to the United States and report to spring training, sources confirmed on Monday. Liriano was held up and had to pass an alcohol assessment before entering the country again.

“I obtained the visa, and I will go away tomorrow for training,” Liriano said in an interview with the AP. Liriano went 12-3 in 2006 for the Twins with a 2.16 ERA before a season-ending elbow injury that forced Liriano out of the ‘07 season.

Fantasy Spin: Before today, Liriano wasn’t even at spring. Now, you can count on Liriano being ready to test out his arm in the regular season. Put Fransisco Liriano high on your sleeper list and make sure to include him in the top 100.

Philadelphia Phillies closer Brad Lidge will most likely miss the season opener due to arthroscopic surgery on his right knee. Lidge had the knee operated on in October to remove torn cartilage. Lidge injured the knee last year by catching a cleat from his spikes in the ground.

Fantasy Spin: The Phillies will go with RP Tom Gordon to close out ball games early in the season if Lidge isn’t good to go. Make sure you don’t get handcuffed should Lidge miss more time.

Ryan Howard isn’t the only Ryan trying to cash in on his early MLB success for the first time. With arbitration hearings ruling in favor of Howard for $10 million just this week, the Brewers are aware that California born Ryan Braun could be eligible for the same treatment in 2009.

When asked about a potential long term deal similar to the NL’s Tulowitzki, Braun appeared very interested. “It’s certainly something I am open to, but I honestly haven’t thought about it too much yet,” Braun replied. “I’m definitely not opposed to considering whatever they have to say.”

Tulowitzki and the Colorado Rockies agreed just recently to a 6-year, $31 million deal with a potential $15 million option for the 7th year. Many consider this deal to be a preview of the type of deal Braun and agent Nez Balelo might be able to negotiate with the Brewers. Braun will start in the outfield this year, a move prompted by a series of errors at 3B last year. Braun set an MLB record for rookies with a .634 slugging percentage, while batting .324 with 34 HRs, 97 RBIs and 15 SBs in only 113 games.

Vladimir Guerrero fathead

Ryan Howard fathead

Prince Fielder fathead