AL Central

Ladies and gentleman, the return of JAYRC. He is a permanent writer here at the site and will start shouldering a huge chunk of the load once a computer issue is resolved...

On Sunday, Billfer of Detroit Tigers Weblog had a link suggesting that the recently non-tendered Kelly Johnson would be getting a healthy amount of consideration from teams.

In the article, Dan Wade of Baseball Daily Digest had this to say:

The first piece of what has now become a historic four team blockbuster trade between the Mariners, Blue Jays, Phillies, and Athletics has now become official.

The Seattle Mariners have officially acquired Philadelphia Phillies ace and Cy Young winner Cliff Lee in exchange for top pitching prospect Phillipe Aumont, P JC Ramirez, and OF Tyson Gillies.

As Matt Holliday and Jason Bay dominate the headlines on the free agent front, one name that we have not heard much from is Troy Glaus. Until now, that is:

THE 1926 TIGERS

Year: 1926

Record: 79-75

Win Percentage: .513

Win Percentage Change: -13

Run Differential: -37

Pythagorean Record: 74-80

AL Finish: sixth of eight

Manager: Ty Cobb

The White Sox have made a few moves this offseason to bring in guys that were at one time good, and at this current time fall somewhere between “ok ” and “retired .”

However, since the Tigers have decided that owning good young players is “soooo last year” and the Twins don’t have the resources to add to their team, the Sox seem to be the favorite in the AL Central for next season.

The Seattle Mariners are part of a three team deal with the Toronto Blue Jays and Philadelphia Phillies that will send Roy Halladay to the Phillies, and net the Mariners All Star and Cy Young award winning pitcher Cliff Lee.

After losing out on All Star CF Curtis Granderson in the one blockbuster trade completed at the Winter Meetings between the Yankees, Tigers, and Diamondbacks, Jack Zdureincik smartly held off of the Tigers ridiculously high asking price of P Phillipe Aumont, P Brandon Morrow, and P Shawn Kelley, to start negotiations for Granderson.

Minnesota Twins general manager Bill Smith just got a reprieve.

After sitting idly by and watching a number of the club’s offseason targets sign elsewhere in the past two weeks, Smith now has a second chance at making some major moves this offseason.

Smith’s reprieve comes as the free agent pool just received an infusion of new talent.

This infusion came as a result of the non-tender deadline, which passed at 11:59 p.m. ET Saturday.

It's not like we are heartbroken to see him go, but the Mariners made Ryan Langerhans a Free Agent and will not be retaining his services.

Despite his pedestrian offense and mediocre defense, Langerhans did churn out two walk off wins for the Mariners with his bat. 

His essential release creates an opening on the 40 man roster, a spot that is more then likely going to be filled by a Free Agent.