2010 MLB: National League Free Agency Tracker

2010 Major League Baseball Free Agent Look/Breakdown

Check in with Capperspicks.com all MLB Betting season for the best baseball betting and gambling tips all season long. Here we go with a recap/review of the the BIG offseason moves in Major League Baseball for the 2009/2010 season.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

NL EAST

Atlanta Braves

The shining beacon of consistency in the 1990s-early 2000s has some adjustments to make to once again reach supremacy. Gone is starting pitcher Javier Vazquez, who was coming off a career season and departed for greener pastures (pun intended) in New York. 2010 will also mark the final season for iconic skipper Bobby Cox; he hopes to go out with a bang with the addition of bats like 1B/3B Troy Glaus and OF Melky Cabrera. The pitching rotation is youth contrasted with elder statesmen, but if things come together the Braves could surely be in the hunt.

Florida Marlins

Inking ace hurler Josh Johnson to a contract extension was a big statement for this franchise. There are some good young pitchers in south Florida and young hitting nucleus led by superstar SS Hanley Ramirez. Outfielder Chris Coghlan really emerged last season, hitting .321 in 2009, and with supporting pieces like powerful 2B Dan Uggla and uber-athlete CF Cameron Maybin, there’s no reason to think the Marlins won’t compete in the NL East in 2010. Best yet, their line-up returns almost wholly intact.

New York Mets

Perennially “the other team in the Big Apple”, the Mets made perhaps the largest offseason splash in free agency, signing OF Jason Bay for four years and $65 million. The Mets really need to turn some of these recent late-season collapses into something constructive; they’re hoping the additions of Bay and fellow OF Gary Matthews can help right the ship (or ‘Wright’ the ship, if cornerstone 3B David Wright is healthy all season). It’s time New York plays up to its talent.

Philadelphia Phillies

In new starting pitcher Roy Halladay, last year’s NLCS champs have a front-line starter for several seasons. There wasn’t much to tinker in a line-up that performed so admirably in the postseason; though the Phils did turf 2009 3B Pedro Feliz in favor of former Detroit Tiger Placido Polanco. Joe Blanton, emerging star J.A. Happ and the ageless Jamie Moyer bring up the back of the rotation, and if second starter Cole Hamels can pitch well all season, Philly is going to favored yet again.

Washington Nationals

With the NBA’s Wizards and the NFL’s Redskins in town, it’s about time something go right in the nation’s capital not named Alex Ovechkin. Unfortunately, the baseball gods may not be too kind to the Nats once again this season. Veteran backstop Ivan Rodriguez was acquired, but he’ll have to play like the Pudge of old if Washington has any chance of even making a squeak in this division.

NL CENTRAL

Chicago Cubs

Everyone’s lovable losers enter 2010 with largely the same line-up as last season. Marlon Byrd comes over from Texas to patrol centerfield and OF Xavier Nady was added for depth. Can young, former two-sport star Jeff Samardzija claw his way into the starting rotation? That will be an interesting storyline. The gradually emerging OF Sam Fuld could see some more playing time as well. In OF Alfonso Soriano, 1B Derrek Lee and 3B Aramis Ramirez, the Cubbies’ usual suspects will be at it again.

Cincinnati Reds

The Reds will squeeze a full season out of steady local veteran 3B Scott Rolen (moved from Toronto mid-way through last season) and SS Orlando Cabrera comes over from the Twin Cities. A full, healthy season out of electric pitcher Edinson Volquez will certainly help Cincy’s prospects in the division. The Reds have done a good job of developing home-grown bats, they just need to take the next step in 2010.

Houston Astros

The ’Stros wish to celebrate their 45^th anniversary with something other than mediocrity. Three-bagger Pedro Feliz migrates down from Philadelphia, as does pitcher Brett Myers. Aging slugger Miguel Tejada is gone and a theme in Houston is that younger players like SS Tommy Manzella, C J.R. Towles and CF Michael Bourn have to step up in order to see some marked improvement.

Milwaukee Brewers

The Brew Crew has been making strong showings out of their small-market capabilities in past seasons; their usual hometown crew must continue to make Wisconsin natives guzzle brew. One exception is youthful, cannon-armed CF Carlos Gomez, who makes the short trip from Minnesota to play in the National League. On the mound, veteran Randy Wolf was pilfered from the Dodgers to help shore up the rotation behind Yovani Gollardo.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Having been largely useless since 1992 (the Barry Bonds days, pre-giganticism) the Pirates are looking more and more like the Los Angeles Clippers of baseball. They continually wheel and deal, picking up prospects – it’s just that none of them seem to be any good. Centerfielder Andrew McCutchen is a nice young piece, but this is a very young club that’s going to see plenty of teething problems in 2010, as per usual.

St. Louis Cardinals

There’s been plenty of good baseball in St. Lou for some time now, and it’s all centered around 1B Albert Pujols, the best Major Leaguer in the past decade. Pitching-wise, the top two of Adam Wainwright and Chris Carpenter is fantastic, closer Ryan Franklin is as strong as you’d want, and Prince Albert swats a lot. Outfielder Matt Holliday buttresses Pujols in the batting order. The Cards will be in thick of things.

NL WEST

Arizona Diamondbacks

It’s safe to say there’s been booms and busts in the development of D-backs. On one hand, SS Stephen Drew and 1B/OF Conor Jackson haven’t really been up to snuff. On another, 3B Mark Reynolds is one of the best power hitters in baseball – a young Adam Dunn. Kelly Johnson comes over from the Braves to shore up the spot vacated by Orlando Hudson.

Colorado Rockies

The Rockies have had some magical runs the past few seasons, but is the magic due to run out? First baseman Todd Helton, formerly a complete masterful player, offers little now other than defense and plate discipline. Colorado has a pair of young outfielders – CF Dexter Fowler and LF Carlos Gonzalez – who are on the rise. Gonzalez, in particular, looked incredible in the 2009 playoffs. If Colorado’s pitching is steady enough, they’ll compete – but the Dodgers and Giants are a lot better too.

Los Angeles Dodgers

L.A. finally won a playoff series last season, and they looked in fine form doing it. A great young nucleus of 1B James Loney, P Clayton Kershaw and OFs Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier means the Dodgers aren’t going anywhere. Throw in a great bullpen and resident clown Manny Ramirez, and the end result is a team no one wants to face in the regular season or beyond.

San Diego Padres

The laid-back SoCal faithful must be getting restless. First baseman Adrian Gonzalez is outstanding, but after that the Friars are unheralded. Hulking pitcher Jon Garland comes over from division rival ’Zona. By and large, San Diego must scrap together wins with, well, scrappy 2B David Eckstein and a collection of youngsters.

San Francisco Giants

San Fran is looking more and more legit. The Giants have had strong pitching for a while now, but finally some hitters are also emerging. Third baseman Pablo Sandoval can mash – he put up 25 HR and 90 RBI in 2009 – and SF also grabbed reliable veteran Mark DeRosa from Cleveland. Yet another nice acquisition is 1B Aubrey Huff, who comes over from Baltimore. With some bats and its super-imposing pitching rotation, San Francisco will challenge for the division crown this season.

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