Baseball

Keeping up with the Joneses becomes an even tougher task when your hated next-door neighbor cruised through the defending world champs on their way to a World Series victory.

Such a task is the one laid at the feet of Theo Epstein, Terry Francona and the Boston Red Sox this offseason. The acquisition of Jeremy Hermida from Florida is the beginning of what should be a handful of minor changes made to the Red Sox roster in order for Boston to take the division, and the pennant, back from the Yankees.

1. The infield quagmire needs to be resolved.

Chien-Ming Wang is a member of the World Champion New York Yankees, for now.

The 29-year-old right-handed starter is eligible for arbitration this winter and the Yankees have until the December 12 deadline to offer him a contract for next season, something that doesn’t appear likely.

Now that a day has passed, and Brewers' GM Doug Melvin has spoken about it, it's time to figure out what the acquisition of Carlos Gomez means for the Brewers this offseason.

Melvin commented at his press conference yesterday that he received no offers for pitching that he felt was worth trading Hardy for. Gomez fit a need for the Brewers, and he was comfortable enough with the offer to make the deal.

The Minnesota Twins announced today that the club has exercised Michael Cuddyer’s 2011 option valued at $10.5 million.

The option is part of the four-year deal Cuddyer signed in 2008. The right fielder will make $8.5 million in 2010, the third year of the $33.5 million pact.

Hardly a week had gone by since the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim were eliminated from the playoffs before they hit their first offseason obstacle.

His name is Gary Matthews Jr.

In what will likely be an emotional and turbulent offseason for the Angels, who saw no less than three star players and several more reserves filing for free agency already, the team's chief concern has become a bench player who is still under contract for two more years.

Perhaps, though, that is why Matthews chose to make his irritating move now.

After the 2011 season, the Chicago Cubs will have to make a choice: keep third baseman Aramis Ramirez and purchase his club option for $16 million, or let him hit the market and buy the remainder of the contract for $2 million.

On Sept. 30, 2009, Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez stated Jeremy Hermida wouldn’t be playing anytime soon. Apparently, Hermida had injured an oblique muscle, and was scratched from the lineup indefinitely. I read a piece on FishStripes on the SB NationWeb site stated Hermida would probably “not make another start for the Marlins...”

The New York Yankees have a number of great homegrown players. They include shortstop Derek Jeter, pitchers Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera, and catcher Jorge Posada.

I'd even include World Series MVP Hideki Matsui, given that the Yankees is the only American team that he has played for. Consider him "drafted" from a "collegiate" level Japanese team.

On Sept. 27, 2009, I was fortunate enough to be in attendance when the New York Yankees wrapped up the American League East Division Title.

Perhaps what I will remember most about that day was a conversation I had with my dad on the way to the game.

David Wright, is one of the best third basemen in the game of baseball.  The New York Mets are lucky to have a player like him, but he still has his flaws.

Ever since Wright made his debut in the bigs he has pretty much, been a star.  He's got great talent and he can be a pretty good team "Captain."

Wright hits for a high average, hits home runs, and steals a solid amount of bases.  He is a Gold Glover in the field, and an expert at anything that has to do with bare hands.