Grant Balfour Not An Oriole

The deal between Grant Balfour and the Baltimore Orioles has fallen through. After receiving the results from Balfour's physical the Orioles backed out of the deal. After input from two other doctors, the diagnosis is that there is nothing physically wrong with Balfour. The problem the Orioles are concerned about is the X-Ray of his right shoulder. Balfour is going to bring up the problem with the players union and file grievance against the Orioles.

The market for Balfour is back in business as he will not be signing with the Baltimore Orioles. The Yankees, Rays, Rangers, and White Sox all have been reported to have interest in the 36 year old closer from down under. He will be pitching in 2014, the question is: Where?

Relievers On the Move

Several relievers have been signed or traded in the past few days. Relievers have become a very important part of the game. In the 7th, 8th, and 9th innings relievers are depended on to get outs especially in close games.

John Axford signed a one year $4.5 Million contract that contains about $2 Million in incentives with the Cleveland Indians. Axford made his name in Milwaukee, but after one and a half inefficient seasons he was traded to the Cardinals. Axford has a 3.50 ERA with 81 saves from 2011-2013 with all the saves coming in the first 2 years. If the Indians do not re-sign Chris Perez, John Axford, or 'Tom Sawyer,' will be closing games in Cleveland.

The Blunder From Down Under

Grant Balfour will be changing coasts after signing a 2 year $15 Million contract with the Baltimore Orioles. Coincidentally the Orioles traded their previous closer, Jim Johnson, to the Oakland Athletics, Balfour's previous team.  Balfour will be 36 in 2014, but he has been showing strong in the past few years of his contract. He holds  a 2.47 ERA over the past 4 years of his career with 62 saves coming in 2012 and 2013. Balfour is a cheaper alternative to Jim Johnson and will get his job done just as well.

The Diamondbacks continued their special area of work, trades, and found Addison Reed in their bullpen. The White Sox receive third base prospect Matt Davidson who had a productive season in AAA. Reed will be just 25 in 2013 and has already accumulated 69 saves to the beat of a 4.17 ERA, but a 3.79 ERA. I think Reed will find more success as he ages, and with 4 years of team control, this was a good deal for the Dbacks.

Joba Chamberlain has not found much of any success out of the bullpen the past 2 seasons, and after having Tommy John surgery, I don't expect him to find anymore success. The Detroit Tigers did sign Joba to a 1 year $2.5 Million contract, but he will probably be no where near the 8th or 9th innings.

Boone Logan was an effective cog in the Yankees' bullpen from 2010-2013 facing lefties and getting out of jams. Logan's strength was he can get out lefties well, but he can also get out his share of right handed hitters. In his time in New York, the now 29 year old hard throwing lefty had a 3.38 ERA and a 10.3 K/9 rate. Logan will be pitching for the Colorado Rockies for the next 3 seasons and earning a total of $16.5 Million.

The Dodgers found their own left handed reliever in the form of JP Howell who has found success in the past two seasons. For 2 years and guaranteed $11.25 Million Howell will bring his 2.48 ERA over the past two seasons to Los Angeles. He will join a bullpen with Brian Wilson, Kenley Jenson, and Paco Rodriguez. I do not think LA is done adding to their bullpen.

In the wake of Boone Logan signing with the Rockies the Yankees signed basically the older version of Boone Logan, Matt Thornton. He will pitch in New York on a 2 year $7 Million. In the same time that Boone Logan was with the Yankees Thornton was with the Chicago White Sox before being traded to the Boston Red Sox in 2013. From 2010-2013 the hard throwing left pitched to a 3.27 ERA with his ERA gradually rising each year. He does not get as many strikeouts as Logan, but he will likely be a nice addition to the Yankees' thin bullpen.

The Other California Teams

The Oakland Athletics and the San Diego Padres are often forgotten when you think of California baseball. The Athletics surprised everyone when they won the AL West in 2012 and the Padres did just as they were expected to do, poorly. Both teams are looking to do well in 2013, but one may fare better than the other: Take a guess on which one.

The Padres have a pretty good offense especially playing in the cavern of Petco Park. They are led by Chase Headley who won the silver slugger award for NL third baseman. Also Carlos Quentin is in the outfield slugging as always.

1. R. Maybin CF  85 OPS+
2. R. Forsyth 2B   106 OPS+
3. S. Headley 3B  144 OPS+
4. R. Quentin LF   145 OPS+
5. L. Alonso 1B    109 OPS+
6. R. Guzman LF  106 OPS+
7. L. Baker C        68 OPS+
8. R. Cabrera SS   84 OPS+

The pitching rotation for the Padres is led by Edison Volquez who had a 4.14 ERA over 184 innings. He is a bright spot in the Padres rotation. Freddy Garcia was signed by the Padres to a minor league deal. I expect he will get the 5th spot in the rotation.

1. R. Edison Volquez 4.14 ERA
2. L. Cory Luebke 3.29 ERA in 2011
3. L. Clayton Richard 3.99 ERA
4. R. Jason Marquis 5.22 ERA
5. R. Freddy Garcia 5.20 ERA

People suspected that the Padres' bullpen wouldn't be so good when Heath Bell left and signed with the Miami, but they actually performed very well. One of my favorite names in baseball, Huston Street is the closer and had a 1.85 ERA in 2012. Every season Luke Gregerson's ERA gets lower and lower and in 2012 his ERA dropped to 2.39, and lefty Joe Thatcher had some success after coming off injury.

I project 78 wins for the Padres in 2013

The Oakland Athletics have a team of people we never heard of, until 2012. Every player on that team did well and impressed a lot of people who doubted them, but the true star on the A's is Billy Beane. I'm not sure if he knew something about Josh Reddick, Yoennis Cespedes, and Coco Crisp or if he got lucky. Either way there are more new players on the A's in 2013 and they are looking to win.

1. S. Crisp CF        105 OPS+
2. R. Nakajima SS .833 OPS in Japan
3. L. Reddick RF    110 OPS+
4. R. Cespedes LF 137 OPS+
5. L. Moss 1B        160 OPS+
6. R. Norris C         73 OPS+
7. L. Smith DH        109 OPS+
8. S. Lowrie 3B        108 OPS+
9. S Weeks 2B          71 OPS+

The Athletics have a pitching rotation of young pitchers who all were successful in 2013. They each pitched well and shocked many by how well they handled the pressure down the stretch. They aren't household names by they are pretty damn good. A perfect addition for their team would be Kyle Lohse, but he may be too expensive.

1. R. Jarrod Parker   3.47 ERA
2. L. Brett Anderson 3.57 ERA 2011-2012
3. R. AJ Griffin          3.06 ERA
4. L. Tommy Milone  3.74 ERA
5. L. Travis Blackley  4.10 ERA

A new trend in Oakland began in 2012, that is Balfour Rage. When Australian born Grant Balfour entered games to the sounds of Metallica's song "One" the fans would go crazy. I've never seen a crowed become energized so quickly, but Balfour will be out for the beginning of the season. Ryan Cook and his 2.09 ERA will probably take over as closer until Balfour comes back. Sean Doolittle, the lefty in the pen pitched to a 3.04 ERA in 2012 and will play an important role in 2013.

I project 85 wins for the Athletics in 2013.