MLB

The offseason is always filled with numerous trades and free agent signings.

But with each deal that's made, players' fantasy stocks increase, some decrease, and others stay the same with their new team.

This offseason was no different.

In fact, more major moves happened this year than in recent years.

We all know about Seattle's signing of Chone Figgins. The three-team deal involving Curtis Granderson and of course the four-team megadeal that had Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee changing addresses.

When a friend told me this morning that Melky Cabrera had been traded, I was shocked.

It wasn't even a rumor. It just happened. Abruptly.

Despite Melky's inconsistency at the plate, he was a fan favorite in New York.
Teammates and fans enjoyed his jovial demeanor on a team generally regarded as rigid. It has always seemed like Melky plays for his love for baseball rather than for the money he earns.

Whether he was chasing down a deep fly ball, making his signature wide turn around first, or delivering in the clutch, Melky was a joy to watch every night.

For most Braves fans, this was not the deal that they were looking for. With a surplus at the pitching postition, Atlanta was poised to deal one of either Javier Vazquez or Derek Lowe.

With Derek Lowe's recent comments about being on the trading block, it left most Braves fans, including myself, with the thought he was surely the one to be traded. However, with three years and 45 million dollars due to Lowe, the Braves found that option rather difficult.

The 2009 starting rotation of the Colorado Rockies turned in the greatest performance of any rotation in the franchise's history. Several team records fell as the regular five hurlers took their turn and pitched very well time and time again.

Ubaldo Jimenez, Jason Marquis, Jorge De la Rosa, and Jason Hammel each started 30 or more games, and Aaron Cook got the ball 27 times. Each won 10 or more games—the only team in MLB that could make such a claim.

According to an ESPN.com report, the Philadelphia Phillies have expressed interest in signing free agent closer Fernando Rodney to a two-year contract at $12 million as a setup man and safety net to Brad Lidge.

Rodney, 32, converted on 37 saves in 38 opportunities last season with the Detroit Tigers while posing a 4.40 earned run average, the highest ERA among American League relievers with more than 20 save opportunities (Per ESPN).

Back in the days of Sega Genesis and VHS tapes, one of my favorite games was World Series Baseball . I remember it being one of the first sports games I ever played where you could trade players to different teams. Of course, I took the liberty of making the Red Sox look more like an All-Star roster.

Are the Seattle Mariners a legitimate threat?

Now I realize that when thinking about who will be American League champions, your brain almost immediately makes your mouth say New York or Boston...unfortunately. But the boys in the rainy city have been slowly putting together a strong team, and could very well see themselves with a playoff birth and a chance to make some noise in the post-season.

I, along with roughly 75 percent of the Braves fan base, was quite taken aback when I fired up the old Blackberry this morning and realized that Atlanta was in serious discussions with the Yankees about Javier Vazquez.

Perplexed may be the best word for how I felt when the deal was finalized.

The Braves traded their best starter from 2008 for outfielder Melky Cabrera (a career .270 hitter), a left-handed rookie pitcher in Mike Dunn, and a prospect. Hardly seems like the Braves got the better of the deal.

Only two months removed from winning the 2009 World Series, the Yankees have had a very busy offseason.

They re-signed Andy Pettitte to a one-year, $11.75 million deal.

They made a three way deal to land Curtis Granderson, while sending Austin Jackson and Phil Coke to the Tigers and Ian Kennedy to the Diamondbacks.

They signed Nick Johnson to a one-year, $5.5 million deal.

And today, they re-acquired Javier Vazquez from the Braves in exchange for Melky Cabrera.

It seems hard to believe, but we are almost to the year 2010. And with any impending new decade, it seems only fair to look back on the best of the previous 10 years.

So with that, I present my Top 10 picks from each position between the years 2000-2009: Catchers

As with any ranking, there will always be snubs. I welcome any comments suggesting players that may have been left off this list.

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