MLB Rumors

According to the Palm Beach Post's Joe Capozzi, the Marlins have begun discussions on bringing back former Marlin great Luis Castillo, who was recently released by the New York Mets. 

The 2011 MLB season is less than a month away and the buzz surrounding the sport is beginning to get cranked up.

The Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues are in full swing and there are plenty of big stories in the early action. Questions surrounding potential platoons in the field and battles for the fifth starter rage on as the countdown to Opening Day creeps closer.

There are also boatloads of trade rumors and even a few early off the field issues as well. Let’s take a look at the latest buzz for every MLB team.

With spring training now at its peak and Cactus League play in full gear, the Los Angeles Dodgers find themselves in the national spotlight of the sports media in regards to a number of popular storylines.

Team ownership is obviously at the forefront, as Frank McCourt was anticipating a $200 million cash advance from Fox until the transaction was blocked by MLB commissioner Bud Selig late last week. It's unclear exactly where the overall finances of the club lie, but the fact that McCourt was involved in plotting such a deal doesn't sound encouraging.

It's been a big offseason for starting pitchers on the move.

After months of speculation, Cliff Lee signed a five-year, $120 million deal with the Philadelphia Phillies in the free-agent frenzy of the winter. The Milwaukee Brewers emptied their farm system for trade-market equivalent Zack Greinke and the Chicago Cubs then gave up an arguably better package of prospects for the good-not-great Matt Garza.

Adam Wainwright, the St. Louis Cardinals' ace and arguably their most important player, has an elbow injury GM John Mozeliak called "signficant," according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Wainwright returned to St. Louis to have his right throwing elbow examined after an injury in a bullpen session this week.

There's nothing better than finding a pair of favorite sweatpants with a perfect fit.

Albert Pujols needs that. He's done all the Cardinals have asked and exceeded all expectations. In my eyes, I believe he deserves $30 million a season.

Look at what Alex Rodriguez does, and look at what Pujols does.

(Note: Rodriguez's stats are from 2001-2010 because Pujols entered the league in 2001)

Boston Red Sox GM Theo Epstein made a remark late last week that likely drew less attention than it deserved, especially as the world gears up for Albert Pujols to hit free agency after the 2011 season. 

In discussing the tactics that helped Boston sign free-agent Carl Crawford in December—despite rumors that Crawford would go to the Angels—Epstein mentioned that Boston scouted Crawford exhaustively throughout "the last three, four months of the season at the ballpark, away from the ballpark."

Have you ever wondered what goes through your girlfriend's mind when she stops dead in her tracks, her eyes glaze over and she goes into a trance while looking at that ring in the window?

That's what this is for men. Players like this only become freely available once a generation, and we too have paused and slipped into an alternative universe where this shiny jewel could be ours.

Albert Pujols and the St. Louis Cardinals were unable to reach a new contract agreement as the deadline passed with no new deal, making it likely the three-time MVP will test the market after the season. Is it possible the Chicago Cubs are licking their chops and preparing for Pujols?

Word out of St. Louis today is that the Cardinals and Albert Pujols have ended talks on a contract extension.

This means that the slugger will become a free agent following the upcoming MLB season.

Teams should be chomping at the bit to potentially lure one of the best players in the game to their city.  Expect some huge deals to be throw nhis way following 2011.

But where will Pujols land? Which teams can we see him playing for? Check inside to find out.