Baseball: Covering the Bases

Joe Mauer staying a Twin for a long, long time

Breaking news from AP: Joe Mauer, the reigning American League MVP and three-time batting champion, has agreed to an eight-year, $184 million extension that will keep him with the Twins through at least 2018.

I figured he'd join Alex Rodriguez as the lone members of the $200 million club, but he settled for the third-richest contract in the game -- behind A-Rod ($275M/10 years) and Derek Jeter ($189M/10 years). Not shabby.

Mauer, 26, was due to become a free agent at season's end, but let's best honest. That was never going to happen. He is a St. Paul native and the face of a franchise that didn't build a new ballpark or compile a club-record payroll ($96 million and counting) to let him walk to the Yankees next November.

Mauer was the top overall pick by the Twins in 2001, and has hit .327 in five-plus seasons. Last year, he set career highs with 28 home runs and 96 RBIs while hitting .365 to win his third batting championship in four years. Before him, no AL catcher ever had won a batting title.

The signing, which includes a full no-trade clause, shifts the focus to the Cardinals, who, no doubt, are trying to lock up Albert Pujols long term. The slugging first baseman is eligible for free agency after 2011.

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Rangers made right call in keeping Ron Washington ...

The first thought that came to mind when I heard Ron Washington tested positive for cocaine in a randomly issued Major League Baseball drug test: Major League Baseball tests managers?!?

Second thought: Has Ozzie Guileen been tested?

I kid, I kid.

I'm being serious, though, when I say the Rangers made the right move keeping Washington.

First, the fourth-year Rangers manager handled this about as well as you can. While I do have a hard time believing he woke up one day, nearly six decades into life, and decided to give cocaine a whirl for the first time, he at least was proactive about fessing up. Washington chose to tell his employer and MLB he had used cocaine even before knowing if the test would come back positive (it did) -- rather than take the popular route and wait till the test came back, then swear it must've been a false positive. He also offered to resign.

The Rangers, we're assuming after long and emotional internal dialogue, decided to keep him, and Washington, 57, who played 10 years in the major leagues, mostly as a middle infielder, quickly entered a drug-treatment program -- a program that tests three times a week. He has since completed the requirements, yet has volunteered to continue being tested.

Another standup move, and one the Rangers brass -- led by general manager Jon Daniels, team president/Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan and outgoing owner Tom Hicks -- certainly appreciates.

But Washington's honesty and humility, while a nice touch, might not have been what saved his job. Rather, had they canned him, the Rangers would've come off looking ridiculously hypocritcal. This is the same team, after all, that traded for slugger Josh Hamilton -- his lengthy drug and booze history, be damned -- then stood squarely behind him last summer when he admitted he had fallen off the wagon the previous winter.

Hamilton, like Washington, was upfront with the team and MLB after he had messed up, too.

It's probably their honesty that's kept both employed by the Rangers. Well, plus they're key pieces -- Hamilton is the prized slugger who the team needs to get back to his 32-homer, 130-RBI ways; Washington is the man who's improved his record every year on the job and should have the club competing for an American League West championship this summer (92 wins is Ryan's expectation) after an impressive 87 wins last year.

Still, Washington and Hamilton remain on short leashes, to be certain. Hicks issued a "zero-tolerance" statement about Washington, who's only under contract through this season -- the incident surely played a role in him not receiving an extension last summer -- and Daniels said of Hamilton last August, "I'd hesitate to say it's something we're going to put this behind us."

Hardly votes of confidence, to be sure. Should either screw up again, cutting ties is the likely course of action -- and, in either case, it'd be the justified course, too.

I'd be stunned if it comes to that. Of course, I was stunned that it's come to this, too.

In more Washington news:
* The Rangers denied they were blackmailed by a former employee who knew of the "situation."
* Washington also admitted using marijuana and amphetamines during his playing days.

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Say what, Harold Reynolds?

I just watched part of MLB Network's spring preview of the Tigers, specifically its take on the top nine plays in franchise history. The list was pretty fair, chock full of remember-where-you-were-when moments. Enough, amazingly, to make analyst Harold Reynolds say:

"I think the one thing you take away from this is how great a franchise the Tigers are."

That's funny. If memory serves, that's the same blowhard who, a decade ago, actually had the nerve to suggest Major League Baseball contract the historic Tigers instead of the targeted Twins. It's been awfully hard to take him serious ever since.

Anyway, MLB Network's list was solid. Without giving too much away, I would've also considered Willie Horton's throw home to get Lou Brock in Game 5 of the 1968 World Series, Frank Tanana's six-hit shutout of the Blue Jays to clinch the AL East on the last day of the 1987 season, and Cecil Fielder's 50th and 51st home runs in the 1990 season finale (because, back then, 50 homers was a holy-smokes deal).

For those who missed it, here's the entire top nine.

How'll each Tiger fare in 2010? Here's Bill James' guess.

Every year, Bill James and his staff of researchers publish "The Bill James Handbook," which serves as a nice refresher of the just-completed season as well as a preview of the upcoming season. And included in each is statistcal projections for just about every major leaguer.

So I thought I'd share what he thinks of this year's Tigers (keep in mind, though, that these were published before any offseason moves, including the big December trade and the signing of Johnny Damon, above):

THE HITTERS
Alex Avila, C (57 G) -- 7 HRs, 29 RBIs, .256/.352 OBP/.446 SLG
Miguel Cabrera, 1B (160 G) -- 36 HRs, 124 RBIs, .318/.394 OBP/.569 SLG
* Johnny Damon, OF (149 G) -- 17 HRs, 70 RBIs, .278/.355 OBP/.430 SLG
* Robinzon Diaz, C (54 G) -- 2 HRs, 16 RBIs, .273/.307 OBP/.364 SLG
Adam Everett, SS (97 G) -- 3 HRs, 28 RBIs, .235/.293 OBP/.327 SLG
Carlos Guillen, OF/DH (123 G) -- 13 HRs, 63 RBIs, .279/.361 OBP/.439 SLG
Brandon Inge, 3B (150 G) -- 20 HRs, 71 RBIs, .225/.307 OBP/.390 SLG
* Austin Jackson, CF (97 G) -- 4 HRs, 37 RBIs, .294/.356 OBP/.411 SLG
Gerald Laird, C (124 G) -- 8 HRs, 48 RBIs, .250/.315 OBP/.369 SLG
Magglio Ordonez, RF (141 G) -- 17 HRs, 84 RBIs, .311/.376 OBP/.476 SLG
Ryan Raburn, OF/IF (133 G) -- 22 HRs, 73 RBIs, .276/.348 OBP/.497 SLG
Ramon Santiago, IF (106 G) -- 6 HRs, 33 RBIs, .242/.302 OBP/.348 SLG
Clete Thomas, OF (85 G) -- 5 HRs, 26 RBIs, .260/.341 OBP/.405 SLG

THE PITCHERS
Jeremy Bonderman (30 GS) -- 9-11, 4.43 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 149 SOs/63 BBs in 185 IP
Eddie Bonine (12 G/6 GS) -- 2-3, 4.88 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 24 SOs/10 BBs in 48 IP
* Phil Coke (70 G) -- 4-3, 3.86 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 52 SOs/20 BBs in 56 IP
Armando Galarraga (27 G/19 GS) -- 6-7, 4.62 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 86 SOs/47 BBs in 117 IP
Zach Miner (57 G/4 GS) -- 5-6, 4.63 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, 65 SOs/47 BBs in 101 IP
Rick Porcello (34 GS) -- 10-11, 4.25 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 105 SOs/59 BBs in 195 IP
Nate Robertson (23 G/19 GS) -- 5-7, 4.89 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, 70 SOs/37 BBs in 103 IP
* Max Scherzer (30 GS) -- 11-9, 3.80 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 194 SOs/74 BBs in 180 IP
Bobby Seay (64 G) -- 3-2, 3.75 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 40 SOs/18 BBs in 48 IP
* Jose Valverde (32 G) -- 38 saves, 4-4, 3.22 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 78 SOs/27 BBs in 67 IP
Justin Verlander (35 GS) -- 15-11, 3.64 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 215 SOs/76 BBs in 235 IP
Joel Zumaya (32 G) -- 2-2, 3.75 ERA, 1.42 WHIP 39 SOs/21 BBs in 36 IP

* Stats were projected before becoming a Tiger.
Note: There was no 2010 projection for P Alfredo Figaro, IF/OF Don Kelly, RP Fu-Te Ni, RP Ryan Perry, RP Daniel Schlereth, 2B Scott Sizemore, RP Brad Thomas or SP Dontrelle Willis

THE EX-TIGERS
Curtis Granderson, CF, Yankees (157 G) -- 27 HRs, 76 RBIs, .275/.353 OBP/.491 SLG
Aubrey Huff, 1B, Giants (148 G) -- 20 HRs, 79 RBIs, .267/.334 OBP/.445 SLG
Edwin Jackson, SP, Diamondbacks (33 GS) -- 10-14, 4.75 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 155 SOs/95 BBs in 218 IP
Brandon Lyon, RP, Astros (68 G) -- 5-4, 3.73 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 52 SOs/26 BBs in 82 IP
Fernando Rodney, RP, Angels (79 G) -- 5-5, 4.02 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 81 SOs/45 BBs in 85 IP
Marcus Thames, DH/OF, Yankees (94 G) -- 15 HRs, 40 RBIs, .242/.312 OBP/.473 SLG
Jarrod Washburn, SP, unsigned (25 GS) -- 8-8, 4.09, 1.32 WHIP, 86 SOs/45 BBs in 152 IP

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Category: Spring training previews

Tigers-Nationals today ... Get to know the foe!

Here's the final installment of the spring 30 in "30" series. Hope you enjoyed it or, at the very least, learned a little something along the way. Just 28 days till Opening Day!

WASHINGTON NATIONALS

Manager: Jim Riggleman, 2nd season (33-42 in Washington, 555-694 overall)
2009 record: 59-103, 34 games back in NL East
2009 hitting leaders: HRs -- Adam Dunn, 38; RBIs -- Ryan Zimmerman, 106; Average -- Nick Johnson, .295
2009 pitching leaders: Wins -- John Lannan, 9; Strikeouts -- Jordan Zimmerman, 92; ERA -- Tyler Clippard, 2.69; Saves -- Mike MacDougal, 20 in 21 chances

2009 payroll/projected 2010 payroll: $60.3 million/$68 million
Offseason losses: C Josh Bard (Mariners), SP Marco Estrada (Brewers), OF Jamie Hoffman (traded to Yankees), RF Austin Kearns (Indians), RP Mike MacDougal (Marlins), RP Saul Rivera (Baseball Cube), RP Zach Segovia (released)
Offseason additions: SP Miguel Batista (Mariners, 1 year, minor league), RP Brian Bruney (traded from Yankees), IF Eric Bruntlett (Nationals, 1 year, minor league), RP Matt Capps (Pirates, 1 year, $3.5 million), LF Chris Duncan (Cardinals, 1 year, minor league), RP Eddie Guardado (Rangers, 1 year, minor league), 2B Adam Kennedy (Athletics, 1 year, $1.25 million), SP Jason Marquis (Rockies, 2 years, $15 million), (LF Kevin Mench (DNP in 2009, 1 year, minor league), CF Jerry Owens (White Sox, 1 year, minor league), RP Joel Peralta (Rockies, 1 year, minor league), C Pudge Rodriguez (Rangers, 2 years, $6 million), RP Doug Slaten (waivers from Diamondbacks), RP Ryan Speier (Rockies, 1 year, minor league), OF Willy Taveras (Reds, 1 year, minor league), RP Tyler Walker (Phillies, 1 year, $650,000), SP Chien-Ming Wang (Yankees, 1 year, $2 million), 1B Jose Whitesell (Diamondbacks, 1 year, minor league)
Remaining free agents: SP Livan Hernandez, 1B Dmitri Young

Projected starting lineup (2009 statistics)
1. CF Nyjer Morgan (3 HRs, 39 RBIs, .307/.369 OBP/.388 SLG, 40 BBs/74 SOs)
2. SS Cristian Guzman (6 HRs, 52 RBIs, .284/.306 OBP/.390 SLG, 16 BBs/75 SOs)
3. 3B Ryan Zimmerman (33 HRs, 106 RBIs, .292/.364 OBP/.525 SLG, 72 BBs/119 SOs)
4. 1B Adam Dunn (38 HRs, 105 RBIs, .267/.398 OBP/.529 SLG, 116 BBs/177 SOs)
5. LF Josh Willingham (24 HRs, 61 RBIs, .260/.367 OBP/.496 SLG, 61 BBs/104 SOs)
6. RF Elijah Dukes (8 HRs, 58 RBIs, .250/.337 OBP/.393 SLG, 46 BBs/74 SOs)
7. C Pudge Rodriguez (10 HRs, 47 RBIs, .249/.280 OBP/.384 SLG, 18 BBs/92 SOs)
8. 2B Adam Kennedy (11 HRs, 63 RBIs, .289/.348 OBP/.410 SLG, 45 BBs/86 SOs)

Projected starting rotation (2009 statistics)
1. RH Jason Marquis (15-13, 4.04 ERA/1.380 WHIP, 115 SOs/80 BBs in 216 IP)
2. LH John Lannan (9-13, 3.88 ERA/1.347 WHIP, 89 SOs/68 BBs in 206.1 IP)
3. RH Craig Stammen (4-7, 5.11 ERA/1.287 WHIP, 48 SOs/24 BBs in 105.2 IP)
4. RH Stephen Strasburg (No professional experience)
5. LH Scott Olsen (2-4, 6.03 ERA/1.723 WHIP, 42 SOs/25 BBs in 62.2 IP)
Closer. RH Matt Capps (4-8, 5.80 ERA/1.656 WHIP, 46 SOs/17 BBs in 54.1 IP, 27 saves/32 chances)

Whatever happened to ...: Pudge Rodriguez, C. It's amazing Scott Boras couldn't find Felipe Lopez a gig, considering what he was able to do here. Rodriguez got two years and $6 million from the Nationals -- one year and $4.5 million more than he got last winter from the Astros, and this time around he had no great World Baseball Classic performance to provide hope he'll start hitting again. Last year, he posted the worst average of his career (.249) and his worst on-base percentage (.280) since he was an 18-year-old rookie with the Rangers. And that wasn't much of a fluke, either, when you consider the last three years he's hit .269 with a .297 OBP, 30 and 39 points, respectively, below his career marks. Not that it's much of a surprise, really. Rodriguez is 38, and catchers typically break down with age. Consider what other Hall of Fame catchers were doing at 38: Gary Carter hit .218 in his 19th and final season, and Johnny Bench had been retired for two years. (Of course, there are exceptions: The other Pudge, Carlton Fisk, was fresh off a 37-homer, 107-RBI season with the White Sox and would play another eight years.) The Nationals have a decent lineup, though, so they didn't hire Rodriguez for his offense. They simply wanted depth at the position, considering their catcher of the future, Jesus Flores, had shoulder surgery last September, and the rehab hasn't been easy -- he still hasn't swung a bat this spring, and is almost certain to start the year on the DL. That means Rodriguez is the starter for now, and perhaps for quite awhile. And while he started getting lazy on balls in the dirt a couple years back with the Tigers, he remains above-average defensively. And his arm, while not what it was, still has plenty of life. He threw out 35 percent of base stealers in 2009, his best showing since helping lead the Tigers to the World Series in 2006. (So here's betting their caught stealing number goes up, as does the passed balls.) The big question, though: What kind of influence will he have on the Nationals pitching staff, particularly a starting rotation so young and green after Jason Marquis? His reputation isn't exactly as a take-them-under-his-wing kind of guy -- I recall a screaming match near the mound, for all to see, between him and Nate Robertson early in Rodriguez's Tigers tenure -- but the club needs leadership from him. Leadership is a funny thing. It's easy to be an upbeat leader when things are going well, but it's far more daunting a task when things aren't -- and in D.C., well, there's bound to be heaps of losses once again. I have doubts whether Pudge, playing for his fifth team in three years, can handle that, but he better if he doesn't want this to be the final contract of his storied career -- and risk coming up shy of 3,000 hits (he's 289 short). For what it's worth, Rodriguez is saying all the right things. What'd you expect? "I'm here to contribute," he told reporters last month. "I'm here to help, to make a difference."

Get ready to meet ... Stephen Strasburg, SP. The No. 1 overall pick in last summer's draft, his story is well told. And the right-hander's debut is gonna be a circus -- today against the Tigers. (Here's my recent blog post about that -- no sense in repeating myself.) Detroit plays witness to the 21-year-old's first audition in his highly publicized bid to skip the minor leagues entirely and head directly for Washington's rotation. If I had to wager a guess right now, I'd say he heads north with the Nationals. But if he doesn't, don't be at all stunned if he makes his major league debut by May 1.

Analysis: It's hard to rag on their offseason, because, for a team that has 205 losses the last two years -- and hasn't had a winning season since moving from Montreal to Washington in 2005 -- at least they're not sitting on their hands. Adam Kennedy was a solid addition, and a fine consolation prize after Orlando Hudson turned down their incentive-laden offer to sign with the Twins for one-year at $5 million guaranteed. Kennedy is coming off on the best seasons in his 11-year career, and provides infield depth -- he'll start at second, but can play third base, too, if Ryan Zimmerman runs into injuries, and he can play first and outfield in a pinch. The rotation got a boost, too, with Jason Marquis, though they paid him too handsomely for a fellow who followed his first All-Star appearance with a dud of a final month (2-5, 6.05 ERA) that got him left out of the Rockies' postseason rotation. A wiser signing might've been fellow right-handed starter Chien-Ming Wang, who was picked up on the cheap because he's been hurt the past two years --since suffering that freak foot injury running the bases in 2008. But everybody knows the talent is there -- he won 38 games for the Yankees in 2006 and '07 -- and he has the potential to turn the Nationals' low-risk investment into gold. While their starting pitching was quite bad last year, the bullpen was even worse -- last April, they actually blew three consecutive ninth-innings in getting swept by the Marlins. That might not happen again in baseball history -- and it definitely won't happen in D.C. in 2010, after general manager Mike Rizzo made stocking the relief corps a chief offseason priority. Eddie Guardado was the most notable addition, cuz he's a familiar name. The left-hander hasn't been great the last few years -- a far cry from when he was "Everyday Eddie" in Minnesota -- but he actually was tough on right-handers (.228) last year with the Rangers, and he had a 2.21 ERA away from the hitter-happy Ballpark in Arlington. So there's some hope he can help stabilize the bullpen. Right-hander Brian Bruney is a better bet to help, after being traded from the Yankees in December. He's a big, 6-foot-3, 235-pound hard thrower who was hit pretty last year -- 3.92 ERA, but 1.513 WHIP -- and spent time on the DL (elbow) in '09, but he has shown flashes of greatness in his six-year career. Two years ago in New York, he had a 1.83 ERA, 0.990 WHIP and 33 strikeouts in 34.1 innings setting up Mariano Rivera. Tyler Walker, a former second-round pick, was another solid pickup, the right-hander coming off a fine season (3.06 ERA, 1.132 ERA) with the National League-champion Phillies. And the Nationals have a new closer, too: Buh-bye Mike MacDougal, hello Matt Capps -- one non-tender for another. It's really a rather underwhelming swap, with no big change there. That is, unless Capps again becomes the reliever he was from 2006-08, when he had a 3.04 ERA and 1.055 WHIP. Two years ago, he was great; last year, he was awful. Obviously, none of those four guys are guarantees to be studs in 2010, but if even one pans out -- and I suspect at least two will nicely complement the bright holdovers (Tyler Clippard, most notably) -- it's not a stretch to believe the revamped 'pen will be good for an eight- to 10-loss reduction.

Still on the to-do list: Nothing left to accomplish, isn't that right GM Mike Rizzo? Uhhh, not exactly. "You are never done," he said in a lengthy Q&A with MLB.com earlier this month. "I talk to 10 general managers per day, just trying to cultivate some ideas that they may have about trades. We are always looking to improve the club in any way we can -- waiver claims, trades, free-agent signings. We are going to keep our eyes open and see if something happens in spring training." Health is the big reason Rizzo continues to work the phones, three shoulder surgeries in particular. Wang had surgery last July and certainly won't be ready by Opening Day -- he just arrived at camp, and May seems to be a more realistic target for his return to the major leagues. Scott Olsen, the Kalamazoo native acquired in a November 2008 trade with the Marlins, made just 11 starts in 2009 before undergoing season-ending surgery in July. He's already made a spring-training appearance, though -- and, while he got hammered by his former team, he was encouraged by the pain-free outing and he should be the guy that, if all goes well, occupies the fifth spot in the rotation. The other big health question is shortstop Cristian Guzman, who had surgery after the season. The big question is whether is shoulder is strong enough to make the throw from short. The Nationals had tentatively slotted him into second base in 2010, anyway, even before the surgery -- but that all changed when Rizzo signed Adam Kennedy to play second. Guzman, a big key to the team because of his bat (.305 the last three years) has said he is pain free, though admitted his arm is "weak." He made his spring shortstop debut Monday, but didn't get many chances to test out the throw. If he's not ready for Opening Day, the Nationals could turn to Ian Desmond, their third-round pick in 2004 who hit .280 in 21 games in the majors last year. Washington is high on Desmond -- the pre-Kennedy was for him to play short and Guzman second -- and there are theories that Rizzo will even look to move Guzman. But the $8 million he is due this year won't be easy to unload, especially because of the defensive concerns. Plus, as good as he handle the bat, he walked two fewer times than Pudge Rodriguez last year (16-18). And that's almost impossible. The Nationals also could stand improvement in the outfield, too, and while the bullpen is improved, it still could use some help. So, no doubt, Rizzo will keep an eye on other teams' spring surprises -- injuries, specifically -- to see if there's a fit for a trade. "There is a change in the market every day," Rizzo told MLB.com. "A player gets hurt, it may open up a trade possibility. A free-agent signing by another club may create a surplus at that position for them and there may be a need for you. Each move has a counteraction and ripple effect within the industry. That's why you could never be done or satisfied." One issue certainly on Rizzo's to-do list, though, is working out an extension for Adam Dunn. He's in the back half of a two-year, $20 million deal, and Rizzo acknowledged the club has opened the line of communication for extension talks. The general manager's moves and desire to do more much have done nothing to hinder that process.

Diamond digit: 4 -- Consecutive seasons of exactly 40 home runs for first baseman/outfielder Adam Dunn from 2005-08, before he snapped the streak by hitting just 38 in 2009. Useless stats alert: He has accounted for 8 percent of the 50 exactly-40-homer seasons in major league history. And the previous record of consecutive exactly-40-homer seasons was two, accomplished three times -- Carl Yastrzemski (1969-70), Frank Thomas (1995-96) and Vinny Castilla (1996-97)

He said it: "The previous year, I didn't feel good about the way I left Seattle. I felt like I left some things undone there. I wanted to get back there and get it right, whereas this one I felt like, 'You know what, we did everything we could do. Now it's somebody else's decision, and I can live with myself.' I didn't live with myself too good the previous one." -- Jim Riggelman, Nationals manager, who's held the interim tag twice the last two years. He was 36-54 after taking over for John McLaren in Seattle in '08, and was passed over for the full-time job (Don Wakamatsu). He kept the Nationals gig this winter, after they were 33-42 under him in '09, compared to 26-61 under Manny Acta.

Offseason grade/early projection: B+/5th place in NL East

Today's spring training game: 1:05 p.m. today, vs. Tigers
Regular-season opener: 1:05 p.m. April 5, vs. Phillies
Best source for news: Washington Post

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Tigers on the TV!

MLB Network is ready to get knee-deep in Tigers, who'll be the first club featured in "30 Clubs in 30 Days." The special airs at 5 p.m. Wednesday for those of you lucky enough to have the second-year network in your cable package -- that's Comcast (279), DirecTV (213) and Sky Angel (325, whatever that is) for us Metro Detroit folk.

Scheduled to be included in the hour-long presentation:
* A look at the offense, defense, fantasy statistics and farm system;
* A recap of the 2009 season (this part is not required viewing);
* Highlights of the best moments in club history;
* An all-time homegrown roster by position; and
* A "Prime 9" ranking of the best plays in club history.

It should be entertaining and informative. Jason Beck reported Hall of Famer journalist Peter Gammons, who in December left ESPN for MLB Network, has been hanging around camp, so he'll likely anchor the report. Hopefully MLB Network puts this online later in the week for us who still don't get the network.

In any event, it'll certainly be more comprehensive than ESPN's spring profile of the Tigers -- a watered-down report because it aired on a rare day when there was no "Baseball Tonight" to provide deep analysis.

The Tigers also will have four spring games shown on MLB Network, all in the span of a week: vs. Toronto (March 15), at Philadelphia (March 16), vs. Houston (March 18) and vs. Philadelphia (March 20). In all, 78 games will be televised by the network, starting with Braves-Mets earlier today.

Stephen Strasburg to debut against Tigers

Stephen Strasburg, one of the most-hyped prospects in baseball history, will make his spring-training debut a week from today.

And the Tigers will get the first look.

Strasburg, the right-hander out of San Diego State who was drafted No. 1 overall last June, will start March 9, when Washington hosts Detroit in Viera, Fla., for a 1:05 p.m. game.

It'll be interesting to see what kind of lineup he will face in his debut. Viera is nearly a two-hour bus ride from Tigertown in Lakeland, Fla., and stars some times aren't asked to make long trips during spring training. Miguel Cabrera, Magglio Ordonez and Carlos Guillen all were in the lineup when the Tigers visited the Nationals early last spring, but perhaps only because they were about to leave the Tigers to join Team Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic. In a game in Viera late last March, meanwhile, none of those three played; the only Tigers starting position players in that game were Gerald Laird and Adam Everett. In two games in Viera in 2008, though, there were plenty of Tigers stars in action.

Strasburg, 21, whose fastball often is clocked at better than 100 mph, is attempting to make the Nationals' roster without spending a day in the minor leagues. ESPN analyst Keith Law recently ranked Strasburg the No. 2 prospect in all of baseball, saying he is "the best stating pitcher in the Washington organization right now."

Former Tigers catcher Pudge Rodriguez certainly has been impressed. Rodriguez, who signed a two-year, $6 million deal and could be the Nationals Opening Day catcher as Jesus Flores continues recovering from shoulder surgery, caught Strasburg in a bullpen session for the fist time a week ago and called the pitcher "pretty amazing."

"He worked great," Rodriguez told MLB.com. "He has a good fastball, good stuff. He has a good breaking ball and changeup. The kid is pretty amazing. ... As far as control, it's very good."

High praise, indeed, from a future Hall of Famer. And Washington manager Jim Riggleman called that bullpen session "off-the-charts good."

Still, Riggleman has hinted Strasburg will begin 2010 in the minor leagues. General manager Mike Rizzo, however, has repeatedly said his top prospect won't begin his professional career in the minors just because that's the popular move with young players -- if the club feels he's ready, in other words, he'll be a major leaguer.

Strasburg did play in the Arizona Fall League, making five starts. He was 4-1 with a 4.26 ERA, striking out 23 in 19 innings. Opponents hit just .217 against him. He was shut down, though, because of a twisted left knee suffered shagging fly balls. The injury understandably made fans and club executives nervous right away, but it never was considered serious.

And when he took the bullpen mound for the first time this spring, the hype was huge. Coaches, media and fans were present in massive numbers Feb. 21, just to see him throw 37 practice pitches in nine minutes. If that seems excessive attention, just consider this: He is viewed by many as the potential savior of a franchise that has yet to have a winning record since moving to the nation's capital. The last two years, the Nationals have lost 205 games.

So, of course, they didn't shy away from taking Strasburg at No. 1 last June, even though they knew it would cost them dearly. He signed for a four-year deal worth $15.1 million, the most guaranteed money ever given a draft pick -- beating the $10.5 million the Cubs gave Mark Prior, out of USC, in 2001. (The $7.3 million the Tigers gave Rick Porcello in 2007 remains a record for a high-schooler.) Strasburg was viewed by some as the best collegiate pitcher ever, once striking out 23 in a single game; he also pitched for Team USA in the Beijing Olympics.

Next Tuesday's 1:05 p.m. game isn't scheduled to be televised in the Detroit area, though it wouldn't be a surprise if ESPN or MLB Network picks it up or, at least, airs extensive highlights. Strasburg is expected to pitch two innings.

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Category: Spring training previews

30 in "30," eh? Toronto Blue Jays

TORONTO BLUE JAYS

Manager: Cito Gaston, 3rd season (126-124 in second stint in Atlanta, 809-760 overall)
2009 record: 75-87, 28 games back in AL East
2009 hitting leaders: HRs -- Aaron Hill, 36; RBIs -- Adam Lind, 114; Average -- Lind, .305
2009 pitching leaders: Wins -- Roy Halladay, 17; Strikeouts -- Halladay, 208; ERA -- Jason Frasor, 2.50; Saves -- Frasor, 11 in 14 chances

2009 payroll/projected 2010 payroll: $80.5 million/$65 million
Offseason losses: SS Brian Bocock (Phillies), RF Johermyn Chavez (Mariners), SP Roy Halladay (Phillies), 2B Joe Inglett (Rangers), RP Brandon League (Mariners), 1B Kevin Millar (Cubs), SS Marco Scutaro (Red Sox), OF Michael Taylor (Athletics)
Offseason additions: SP Lance Broadway (Mets, 1 year, minor league), C John Buck (Royals, 1 year, $2 million), P Willie Collazo (Marlins, 1 year, minor league), C Travis d'Arnaud (traded from Phillies), SP Kyle Drabek (traded from Phillies), RP Dana Eveland (traded from Athletics), CF Joey Gathright (Red Sox, 1 year, minor league), SS Alex Gonzalez (Red Sox, 1 year, $2.75 million), RP Kevin Gregg (Cubs, 1 year, $2.75 million), RP Sean Henn (waivers from Orioles), SP Shawn Hill (Padres, 1 year, minor league), 2B Jarrett Hoffpauir (waivers from Cardinals), LF Chris Lubanski (Royals, 1 year, minor league), SS Mike McCoy (waivers from Rockies), C Jose Molina (Yankees, 1 year, $400,000), P Brandon Morrow (traded from Mariners), OF Jeremy Reed (Mets, 1 year, minor league), RP Steven Register (Phillies, 1 year, minor league), RP Merkin Valdez (traded from Giants), 1B Brett Wallace (traded from Athletics), RP Zechry Zinicola (waivers from Nationals)
Remaining free agents: C Rod Barajas

Projected starting lineup (2009 statistics)
1. RF Jose Bautista (13 HRs, 40 RBIs, .235/.349 OBP/.408 SLG, 56 BBs/85 SOs)
2. CF Vernon Wells (15 HR, 66 RBIs, .260/.311 OBP/.400 SLG, 48 BBs/86 SOs)
3. 2B Aaron Hill (36 HRs, 108 RBIs, .286/.330 OBP/.499 SLG, 42 BBs/79 SOs)
4. DH Adam Lind (35 HRs, 114 RBIs, .305/.370 OBP/.562 SLG, 58 BBs/110 SOs)
5. 3B Edwin Encarnacion (13 HRs, 39 RBIs, .225/.320 OBP/.410 SLG, 37 BBs/67 SOs)
6. 1B Lyle Overbay (16 HRs, 64 RBIs, .265/.372 OBP/.466 SLG, 74 BBs/95 SOs)
7. C John Buck (8 HRs, 36 RBIs, .247/.299 OBP/.484 SLG, 13 BBs/55 SOs)
8. LF Travis Snider (9 HRs, 29 RBIs, .241/.328 OBP/.419 SLG, 29 BBs/78 SOs)
9. SS Alex Gonzalez (8 HRs, 41 RBIs, .238/.279 OBP/.355 SLG, 20 BBs/65 SOs)

Projected starting rotation (2009 statistics)
1. LF Ricky Romero (13-9, 4.30 ERA/1.522 WHIP, 141 SOs/79 BBs in 178 IP)
2. RH Shaun Marcum (DNP in 2009; 2008 stats: 9-7, 3.39 ERA/1.163 WHIP, 123 SOs/50 BBs in 151.1 IP)
3. RH Dustin McGowan (DNP in 2009; 2008 stats: 6-7, 4.37 ERA/1.374 WHIP, 85 SOs/38 BBs in 111.1 IP)
4. RH Brandon Morrow (2-4, 4.39 ERA/1.579 WHIP, 63 SOs/44 BBs in 69.2 IP)
5. LH Brian Tallet (7-9, 5.32 ERA/1.500 WHIP, 120 SOs/72 BBs in 160.2 IP)
Closer. RH Kevin Gregg (5-6, 4.72 ERA/1.311 WHIP, 71 SOs/30 BBs in 68.2 IP, 23 saves/30 chances)

Whatever happened to ...: Kevin Gregg, RP. There's the theory that he had an awful year in 2009, but if you look closer at the numbers, it wasn't a whole lot worse than the previous year with the Marlins. Gregg, 31, a right-hander, had the exact same workload in 2008 and '09 -- 72 games, 68.2 innings -- but had 13 more strikeouts, seven fewer walks and two fewer blown saves last season with the Cubs. The WHIP wasn't far off, either, but the ERA was more than a run fatter in 2009. Why? Well, maybe his control was a little too good for a closer. Too many of those pitches found hitters' happy zones -- he allowed 13 home runs last season, when he split the closer's role with Carlos Marmol, compared to just 10 total the previous two years as the Marlins full-time closer. Gregg really broke down in the second half last season, too, with a 6.75 RA as he averaged a walk every other inning, but he attributed some of that to fatigue -- he was coming off offseason left knee surgery, and he says he's all good now. So, he'll compete for the Blue Jays closer job, which has been up for grabs since they finally gave up on the B.J. Ryan debacle last summer. Former Tigers prospect Jason Frasor (1.023 WHIP) did a respectable job in his 18 save situations last season, and left-hander Scott Downs -- who has a 2.26 ERA and 1.203 WHIP the last three seasons with the Blue Jays -- saved nine games a year ago, with only the occasional hiccup. In other words, there's enough in the back end of the Toronto bullpen that Gregg doesn't get the gig automatically. "If Kevin Gregg wins that job in spring training," said new GM Alex Anthopoulos, "and he ends up getting the eighth-inning role or the seventh-inning role, that isn't a bid thing either." Gregg gets $2.75 million this year, and the club holds a $4.5 million option for 2011 or an $8.75 million option for 2011-12. It was a decent signing in that regard, because the contract could make him an appealing trade target; or, if he shines in '10, they decline the options and then offer salary arbitration, they could be in line for draft-pick compensation -- after all, he was a Type A free agent this offseason. The Blue Jays didn't have to part with a pick (second round, in their case), though, as the Cubs didn't offer arbitration.

Get ready to meet ... Brad Mills, SP. Could this be his year? Last spring, he was the Blue Jays' final cut -- a poor outing forcing the club to take Scott Richmond north, instead, as the No. 5 starter. This spring, there's plenty of opportunity to join the rotation. Mills, who turns 25 on Friday, was 13-5 with a 1.95 ERA in 27 starts over three rungs of the minor league ladder -- including Class A Lansing -- in 2008, hence the long look last spring. After missing the club, he headed for his first work at Triple A, where he had a 4.06 ERA and 1.399 WHIP in 14 starts. Not great, but not terrible, either, considering the Pacific Coast League in which he was pitching has long been known as a hitter's paradise (the PCL's slugging percentage from 2007-09 was .433, highest in any minor league -- even higher than the AL and NL, too -- according to Hardball Times). His introduction to the major leagues wasn't nearly as kind, though. He made two starts for the Blue Jays last season -- and was pummeled in both. To be fair, both came against the defending World Series champion Phillies, but Mills allowed 14 hits, 12 runs and four homers in a mere 7.2 innings. If there's a bright spot, he did strike out nine in this 7.2 innings. He also immediately followed up the second major league clunker with a gem in Triple A -- seven strikeouts and two hits in eight scoreless innings -- to earn him another start with the Blue Jays in early July, but that got nixed after he complained of bruised ribs. The injury forced him to miss the rest of the season. Now Mills, a fourth-round pick in 2007 out of the University of Arizona, is back in the mix for a spot in the rotation -- a rotation that has plenty of question marks after the offseason departure of Roy Halladay. Only Ricky Romero, who might've been a rookie of the year candidate had he not missed most of April and May with an oblique injury, is a lock. Shaun Marcum and Dustin McGowan, who both sat out all of last season recovering from shoulder surgery, and Brandon Morrow, who came over from the Mariners, are favorites to earn spots, too. There are no fewer than eight candidates, Mills included, to round out the staff.

Analysis: Well, they were carrying an A+ early in their offseason, after canning general manager J.P. Ricciardi. The Blue Jays never were a serious threat in the AL East on his watch -- he took over in 2001 -- and among the bloated contracts on his resume: $126 million for Vernon Wells, $64 million for Alex Rios, $47 million for B.J. Ryan, $18 million for Frank Thomas and $17 million for Corey Koskie. Of those five, four didn't even finish their contracts with the Blue Jays before being traded or released -- and Toronto is just praying somebody makes any fair offer for Wells. Throw in his big mouth -- remember the Adam Dunn comments? -- and his inability to trade Roy Halladay last season, and, yeah, it was time to move on. His replacement was Alex Anthopoulos, who was promoted from assistant general manager. A 32-year-old economics whiz, it took Anthopoulos a little over two months to do what Ricciardi couldn't get done all last season: Trade Halladay. Certainly, it was a task made easier when the Blue Jays stopped asking for the moon and stars in return -- a wise concession, considering the moon and stars can't hit or throw the curveball. The Blue Jays actually got a nice haul, with all three players in return -- outfielder Michael Taylor (No. 24), pitcher Kyle Drabek (40) and catcher Travis d'Arnaud (99) -- ranked among ESPN prospect genius Keith Law's latest top 100 tome. The Jays quickly spun Taylor to the Athletics for first baseman Brett Wallace, who's ranked No. 20, in Law's estimation. The Blue Jays once drafted Wallace, as a high-schooler in the 42nd round of the 2005 draft, but he chose to head to Arizona State instead. It paid off, as he was taken by the Cardinals at No. 13 overall in 2008 -- picking up a tidy $1.84 million signing bonus for his signature. Traded to the Athletics last summer in the Matt Holliday deal, and now with the Blue Jays, the left-handed slugger should be the quickest prize from the Halladay Heist to make an impact at the major league level, perhaps even making the club out of spring training. Wallace, 23, hit .293 in 138 minor league games last season, with 20 homers, 63 RBIs and a .367 OBP. Drabek, the son of ex-major league pitcher Doug Drabek, is a better bet for early or mid-2011, and perhaps d'Arnaud late 2011 or early 2012. There was one other trade of note. They grabbed pitcher Brandon Morrow from the Mariners for reliever Brandon League, a solid major leaguer coming of a career high in appearances. But he's had injuries, too, and Morrow, the fifth overall pick in 2006, would seem to have the better upside -- assuming anybody ever cures him of Joba Chamberlain Syndrome (is he a starter or a reliever?). The Blue Jays say starter, meaning he'll spend the spring vying for one of the open rotation gigs -- with the likes of Brett Cecil, Casey Janssen, Brad Mills, David Purcey, Robert Ray, Scott Richmond, Marc Rzepczynksi and Brian Tallet. Anyway, by my count, that's three significant trades in his first three months on the job. So, is that how it's gonna be? Trade, trade, trade? "That's the beauty of Blackberries," Anthopoulos told MLB.com. "I've already warned my fiancée that if things come up, I'm certainly going to be available." Those comments came in December. That's actually his wife now. Apparently, he put the Blackberry down long enough to say "I do" in January.

Still on the to-do list: They made major strides offensively in 2009, finishing eighth in the major leagues in runs (798) after finishing 21st the year before (714). They still wouldn't mind adding some more firepower to the lineup, though, and there are reports they are heavily pursuing first baseman Jose Julio Ruiz, a Cuban defector who some scouts believe is ready to play in the major leagues immediately. The 25-year-old left-handed hitter starred in the Cuban National Series, posting averages of .357, .323, .341 and .305 the last four seasons, according to Baseball-Reference.com, before defecting last spring. He's also got more speed than you'd expect from a first baseman. The Blue Jays reportedly held a private workout for Ruiz last week, according to MLB.com, and he could be the club's first baseman of the future (no offense to Lyle Overbay). Toronto general manager Alex Anthopoulos also is apparently in on the sweepstakes for another Cuban headliner -- shortstop Adeiny Hechevarria, who might be 19, might be 21, but most definitely is very, very good. He's probably a longer shot to end up with the Blue Jays, simply because the interest in him seems to be more widespread among major league clubs. And if he signed in Toronto, he wouldn't be an immediate impact type of player, anyway, like Ruiz might be. But then again, the Blue Jays aren't exactly knocking down the door of the American League East's Big Three just yet, so they are able to exercise patience (what's a few more years?). Perhaps that's why it appears the Blue Jays, under their first-year GM, are shifting their focus toward international scouting -- they were in on the bidding for lefty Aroldis Chapman, too, before he signed with the Reds. (The Jays' perceived increased interest in foreign talent recently prompted a reporter to quip to Anthopoulos, after he returned from a scouting trip, "Did you bring back any Cubans" -- a Seinfeld reference; a miscommunication nets Kramer real people, rather than cigars.) There also seems to be increased focus and funds for the draft, as the GM has come out recently and insisted the club won't ever again be scared off by gigantic signing bonuses the elite prospects are demanding these days. "We're not going to go into the draft shying away from certain players because they're too expensive," Anthopoulos told MLB.com. "If we feel the value is there, and we put the right value on those players, we'll have the money to go sign the players." Focusing on international scouting and drafting -- combined with their place, the Orioles' fellow have-not in the East -- means they're not likely to do a whole out of free-agent signing this spring, or in the next few years, for that matter. Trades are much more likely, with very few position players untouchable outside Adam Lind, above, and Aaron Hill.

Diamond digit: 3.65/133 -- ERA/strikeouts for Brandon Morrow in 118.1 career innings as a reliever, compared to 4.42/71 in 79.1 innings as a starter. The 25-year-old right-hander, drafted fifth overall in 2006, came over in a one-for-two deal for right-handed reliever Brandon League and minor league outfielder Johermyn Chavez.

He said it: "It's really important mentally. The back and forth in Seattle starts to wear on you a little bit, and it's nice that you've got a position and that's what you're working towards." -- Brandon Morrow, Blue Jays pitcher, talking to MLB.com about being bounced back and forth between the bullpen and rotation the last two years with the Mariners. The Blue Jays, however, plan to use him in the starting rotation.

Offseason grade/early projection: B-/5th place in AL East

Spring training opener: 1:05 p.m. March 3, home vs. Tigers
Regular-season opener: 2:05 p.m. April 5, at Rangers
Best source for news: The Globe and Mail and Toronto Star

Photo by Getty Images

Tigers giveaways!

The Tigers announced the highlights of their promotion schedule earlier this week, and the biggest hit is sure to be "Get A Man In From Third With Less Than Two Outs Night" -- cuz, as we found out last year, that only comes around once a year.

I kid, I kid. Clearly, that's not actually a promotion, just a lame attempt at humor ... though not as lame as the Tigers attempting to get a man in from third with less than two outs. (There I go again!)

Anyway, here are the actual goodies you'll eventually be putting on eBay:

Saturday, April 10: 2010 magnet schedule, which will never make it on a single fridge -- they'll be tossed out once fans get a look at the three NL foes set to visit. Pirates. Nationals. Diamondbacks. And suddenly 18 games against the Royals doesn't seem like enough, right? (First 10,000 fans.)

Friday, April 30: Justin Verlander "K-Counter" Bobblehead -- the K, I guess, standing for every thousand dollars he earns for every breath of air he takes. (First 10,000 fans.)

Monday, May 10: Tigers breast cancer awareness lapel pin, a welcome addition to the giveaway roster. (First 10,000 fans 18 and older.)

Sunday, May 16: Brandon Inge replica glove, which will turn gold one of these days. (All kids 14 and younger.)

Friday, May 28: 1935 world champions 75th anniversary hat, which, let's hope, won't cause the ruckus and flying elbows that surfaced during last year's '84 replica jersey night. (First 10,000 fans.)

Sunday, June 20: Charlie Brown Bobblehead, to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the "Peanuts" comic strip. This also will be the perfect day for Tigers fans to chant "Good grief" after Curtis Granderson, we will learn on our Blackberrys, just hit his 29th home run of the season for the Yankees. (All kids 14 and younger.)

Saturday, Aug. 21: Miguel Cabrera Tigers hat -- don't fear if it comes a little weathered; it still should be the most valuable cap in your collection. (First 10,000 fans.)

Sunday, Aug. 22: Paws photo frame, perfect for treasuring those rare, caught-on-camera moments, like when the Tigers get a man home from third with less than two outs. (All kids 14 and younger.)

Friday, Sept. 24: Tigers camouflage hat, perfect for those not wanting to be seen at the ballpark -- like anybody playing hooky from work, or anybody wearing a Gerald Laird jersey. (First 10,000 fans.)

Other nights of note: Sunday, April 11 -- Kids Opening Day (kids 14 and younger receive a foam paw); Saturday, June 12 -- 16th annual Negro Leagues Tribute Game (first 10,000 fans receive a Detroit Stars hat); Friday, June 18 -- '80s Night; Friday, July 2 -- Country Night; Friday, July 9 -- Elvis Night; Thursday, July 22 -- Christmas in July; Friday, Aug. 6 -- Parrothead Night; Saturday, Aug. 21 -- Fifth annual ¡Fiesta Tigres! Celebration; Sunday, Aug .22 -- On-field photo day; Friday, Sept. 24-Sunday, Sept. 6 -- Fan appreciation weekend.

And per usual, most Friday and Saturday home games will be followed by fireworks -- an awesome display, one I enjoy every time I see it -- and Sundays, again, are kids days, with all children 14 and younger receiving a promotional item as well as free rides on the carousel and ferris wheel, among other activities.

Tigers single-game tickets go on sale Saturday, March 6.

Speeeeeeaking of giveaways ... I plan to have a few of my own for the following at "Covering the Bases" on Facebook. Become a fan, and you will be eligible for baseball-themed prizes throughout the upcoming season.

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Category: Spring training previews

30 in 30ish: Texas Rangers

TEXAS RANGERS

Manager: Ron Washington, 4th season (241-245)
2009 record: 87-75, 10 games back in AL West
2009 hitting leaders: HRs -- Nelson Cruz, 33; RBIs -- Marlon Byrd, 89; Average -- Michael Young, .322
2009 pitching leaders: Wins -- Scott Feldman, 17; Strikeouts -- Kevin Millwood, 123; ERA -- Darren O'Day, 1.94; Saves -- Frank Francisco, 25 in 29 chances

2009 payroll/projected 2010 payroll: $68.2 million/$65 million
Offseason losses: RP Joaquin Benoit (Rays), OF Marlon Byrd (Cubs), RF Johermyn Chavez (Mariners), RF Greg Golson (Yankees), RP Eddie Guardado (Nationals), 2B Joe Inglett (Brewers), CF Andruw Jones (White Sox), SP Kevin Millwood (Orioles), C Pudge Rodriguez (Nationals), SS Omar Vizquel (White Sox)
Offseason additions: IF Wes Bankston (Reds, 1 year, minor league), 3B Matt Brown (Angels, 1 year, minor league), LF Endy Chavez (Mariners, 1 year, minor league), RP Geoff Geary (Astros, 1 year, minor league), RF Vladimir Guerrero (Angels, 1 year, $5 million), C Toby Hall (White Sox, 1 year, minor league), SP Rich Harden (Cubs, 1 year, $7.5 million), 1B Mitch Hilligoss (traded from Yankees), SP Colby Lewis (Japan, 2 year, $5 million), SS Jesus Merchan (Indians, 1 year, minor league), RP Darren Oliver (Angels, 1 year, $3.5 million), SS Rainer Olmedo (Rays, 1 year, minor league), OF Jorge Padilla (Nationals, 1 year, minor league), RP Clay Rapada (traded from Tigers), RP Chris Ray (traded from Orioles)
Remaining free agents: 1B Hank Blalock

Projected starting lineup (2009 statistics)
1. CF Julio Borbon (4 HRs, 20 RBIs, .312/.376 OBP/.414 SLG, 15 BBs/28 SOs)
2. 3B Michael Young (22 HR, 68 RBIs, .322/.374 OBP/.518 SLG, 47 BBs/90 SOs)
3. LF Josh Hamilton (10 HRs, 54 RBIs, .268/.315 OBP/.426 SLG, 24 BBs/79 SOs)
4. DH Vladimir Guerrero (15 HRs, 50 RBIs, .295/.334 OBP/.460 SLG, 19 BBs/56 SOs)
5. 2B Ian Kinsler (31 HRs, 86 RBIs, .253/.327 OBP/.488 SLG, 59 BBs/77 SOs)
6. RF Nelson Cruz (33 HRs, 76 RBIs, .260/.332 OBP/.524 SLG, 49 BBs/118 SOs)
7. 1B Chris Davis (21 HRs, 59 RBIs, .238/.284 OBP/.442 SLG, 24 BBs/150 SOs)
8. C Jarrod Saltalamacchia (9 HRs, 34 RBIs, .233/.290 OBP/.371 SLG, 22 BBs/97 SOs)
9. SS Elvis Andrus (6 HRs, 40 RBIs, .267/.329 OBP/.373 SLG, 40 BBs/77 SOs)

Projected starting rotation (2009 statistics)
1. RH Scott Feldman (17-8, 4.08 ERA/1.281 WHIP, 113 SOs/65 BBs in 189.2 IP)
2. RH Rich Harden (9-9, 4.09 ERA/1.340 WHIP, 171 SOs/67 BBs in 141 IP)
3. RH Colby Lewis (DNP in majors in 2009; Japan stats: 11-9, 2.96 ERA/0.992 WHIP, 186 SOs/19 BBs in 176.1 IP)
4. RH Tommy Hunter (9-6, 4.10 ERA/1.304 WHIP, 64 SOs/33 BBs in 112 IP)
5. LH Matt Harrison (4-5, 6.11 ERA/1.642 WHIP, 34 SOs/23 BBs in 63.1 IP)
Closer. RH Frank Francisco (2-3, 3.83 ERA/1.115 WHIP, 57 SOs/15 BBs in 49.1 IP, 25 saves/29 chances)

Whatever happened to ...: Josh Hamilton, LF. Two years ago, he was the poster boy for perseverance, coming all the way back from years of drug abuse to hit .304 with 32 homers and 130 RBIs -- with an All-Star Game appearance and a Natural-like, goosebump-triggering performance in the Home Run Derby -- in his first full season in the major leagues. It was what everybody expected from a former No. 1 overall pick, just not nine whole years after he was drafted No. 1 overall. Hamilton, 28, had a much rougher go of it in 2009, when injuries and scandal caught up with him again. He suffered a strained left hamstring in spring training, went on the DL in April with a strained rib cage muscle, missed a bunch of time in May with a strained groin, then went back on the DL in June for abdominal surgery that forced him out for more than a month. Then he played in just five games in September because of a pinched nerve in his back. In all, he played in just 89 games and saw dropoffs -- which, in part, can also be attributed to altering a swing that worked so well a year earlier -- of 22 homers, 76 RBIs, 36 points in batting average and 56 points in on-base percentage. To make matters worse, pictures surfaced last August of Hamilton -- supposedly sober since late 2005 -- engaging in a night of debauchery at a bar the previous January. Hamilton, to his credit, wasted no time in coming out and admitting the pics were legit, that he had relapsed that winter night in Arizona. So, in more ways than one, 2009 was a year to forget. Now, he'd like 2010 to be a year to remember. He arrived at spring training five days early, and pronounced, in comments reported by ESPN.com: "I'm back to my old self. ... I'm mentally having fun, realizing that I'm fortunate to be here from where I was to where I am now." That attitude is good news for the Rangers, who -- partly because of Hamilton's troubles -- had a rare down year offensively last season. "We know what Hamilton brings to the table," Rangers manager Ron Washington told reporters recently. "We'd certainly like to have him back and healthy and performing the way he can perform." The season isn't off to a good start, however. Hamilton already has suffered a left (throwing) shoulder injury, taking a spill during fielding drills, though X-rays were negative and it's officially being called a bruise. As we know, Hamilton has come back from far worse.

Get ready to meet ... Julio Borbon, CF. Hopes are so high for him that, despite just 46 games of major league experience, he has been named the club's starting center fielder and leadoff hitter. "There is a lot about the kid that we won't know about until we get on the field," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "But this organization is willing to go down that path because we think he's ready to help us win." The No. 35 overall pick in 2007, Borbon, 24, is a .310 hitter with a .360 on-base percentage in parts of three minor league seasons, and the left-handed batter certainly didn't get swallowed up by the spotlight of the major leagues last season. His biggest asset by far, we'll learn soon enough, is his speed. He had 53 stolen bases between high Class A and Double A two years ago, and stole 44 between Triple A and the majors '09. This season, Rangers base-running coach (and ex-Tiger) Gary Pettis said he'd be disappointed if Borbon didn't steal 30. To which Borbon responded, through the Dallas Morning News, "He ought to be disappointed if I don't get to 50." Doing so, by the way, would threaten the Rangers' single-season record of 52, set by Bump Willis in 1978. Only five Rangers ever have even topped 40, and Borbon is a candidate to do that year in and year out. On defense, he also has star potential -- not because of his arm, which isn't strong (not unusual for a center fielder) but simply because he can run balls down. He has room to mature there, though, especially in decision making -- like throwing to the right base, and deciding whether to lay out for a ball depending on the situation (Ryan Raburn might want to learn this, too). But the Rangers are so comfortable with his potential, they let center fielders Marlon Byrd and Andruw Jones walk as free agents. They also would rather have Borbon in center because of his range, thus moving Josh Hamilton -- a Gold Glove-caliber center fielder in his own right -- over to left, which will spare a body that suffered no fewer than five injuries last year. The setup, along with big-armed Nelson Cruz in right field, gives the Rangers a much-improved outfield defense. David Murphy is the swing man and can play all three positions, though he's best in left. And if Borbon can't yet cut it, he'll slide into left and Hamilton will shift back to center.

Analysis: For a ballclub with a "For Sale" sign out front, it could've been a worse winter. Often, clubs getting sold cut and cut until the books are in such order, they won't freak out any potential buyers. But the Rangers remained mildly aggressive, landing two big names -- starting pitcher Rich Harden and DH/right fielder Vladimir Guerrero. I like the latter move best. Guerrero, no doubt, has many analysts believing his career is coming to a quick conclusion. After all, he was limited to 100 games last year because of a torn chest muscle and a strained left knee. His power and run production were down, too, and he hit below .300 for the first time since his nine-game introduction to the major leagues with the Expos in 1996. But if he's gonna be rejuvenated, Texas is a good place to start. There has been no friendlier ballpark than The Ballpark for Guerrero, who has hit .394 (.471 OBP) with 14 homers and 33 RBIs in 50 games in Arlington. If healthy, I wouldn't be surprised if he is a comeback player of the year candidate (if one can be eligible having hit .295 a year earlier). As for Harden, well, I am more skeptical about this working. No doubt he has gobs more talent than the guy he's replacing, but Kevin Millwood -- shipped to the Orioles in early December -- has one thing going for him: Reliability. He's almost always good for 30-plus starts a year, while all Harden is good for every year is a trip to the disabled list. Of course, if the Rangers get lucky and he stays healthy, it's a big addition for a pitching staff loaded with potential. Also joining that staff is right-hander Colby Lewis, a former first-round pick who was one of the game's top prospects early last decade. Lewis spent his first six years in pro ball with the Rangers -- and made two relief appearances for the 2006 Tigers -- but has been in Japan the last two years. And he's been absolutely dominating, striking out more than a batter an inning, with a K-to-walk ratio of nearly 8-1, in 54 starts in 2008-09. This might just be a steal. If there was a big knock on their offseason, it was the raw deal for longtime and highly acclaimed hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo. He was offered just a one-year extension, which he shot down and later signed with the Cubs for three years, $2.42 million. Texas' lowball offer was a slap in the face for a guy who, in 15 years as Rangers hitting coach, boasted an offense that almost always was the cat's meow. It slipped in '09, though, so he's gone, replaced by former Rockies manager and Big Rapids native Clint Hurdle.

Still on the to-do list: Michael Young and Ian Kinsler, above, both were banged up at times in '09, so if there's an area they'd still like to shore up, it's infield depth. They tried multiple times to add insurance this offseason. During the winter meetings, they had a tentative deal in place to acquire third baseman Mike Lowell from the Red Sox, but they nixed the transaction because of concerns over his surgically repaired thumb -- and apparently not because of reports out of the Dominican that he is actually 103 years old (I kid, I kid, but c'mon, dude looks old!). Too bad for Texas, as Lowell would've helped boost an offense that lost Marlon Byrd and is likely to let Hank Blalock walk. With the Lowell deal falling through, the Rangers turned to Khalil Greene, who can play short and third. They signed him to a one-year, $750,000 contract, but that was voided earlier this week after Greene -- the former first-round pick who struggles with social anxiety disorder, a diagnosis that actually landed the one-time future star on the disabled list in 2009 -- announced he would not report for spring training. So Texas is back exploring what affordable options might still be available on the free-agent market. Reportedly, general manager Jon Daniels reached out recently to Felipe Lopez, who can play second, short and third, but he's probably still unemployed because he won't come cheap. It's more likely they're now going to give Joaquin Arias every chance to win the backup gig. The 25-year-old speedster joined Alfonso Soriano in the trade that sent Alex Rodriguez to the Yankees before the 2004 season. According to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News, Arias, who like Lopez can play all infield positions except for first base, dealt with shoulder injuries in 2007 and '08, then left a poor impression with the Rangers during a brief callup last season. But he's out of options, so they're going to give him one long look to see if he's a fit. They also have signed former Angels versatile infielder Matt Brown, who has been an impressive slugger in the minors but has done nothing in brief MLB cameos. He could be an option, too. But if not, the club might look to swing a trade late in camp, once teams get a better idea of their immediate needs based on injuries.

Diamond digit: 7 -- Trips to the disabled list in Rich Harden's seven-year major league career, for a strained left oblique (2005), sprained elbow ligament (2006), strained back (2006 and 2009) and a strained shoulder (twice in 2007, once in 2008). Only once has he topped 30 starts, in 2004 with the Athletics.

He said it: "I still think I'm a rookie." -- Elvis Andrus, Rangers shortstop, talking to ESPNDallas.com about his desire to keep improving, particularly defensively. In 2009, Andrus, 21, had the third-most errors (22) among major league shortstops, but still impressed enough to finish second in the AL rookie of the year voting.

Offseason grade/early projection: C/3rd place in AL West

Spring training opener: 3:05 p.m. March 4, away vs. Royals
Regular-season opener: 1:05 p.m. April 5, vs. Blue Jays
Best source for news: Dallas Morning News

Photo by Getty Images