NL Central

If you're a Houston Astros fan who would love to see hard-throwing lefthanded Cuban pitcher Aroldis Chapman wearing an Astros uniform, you'll most likely be very disappointed.

Right now, it looks like Jose Valverde has a far better chance of re-signing with the Astros (something he almost certainly won't do) than the 'Stros do of acquiring the defecting Cuban pitcher.

I hope Chicago Cubs fans are gearing up for another six months of disappointment, because this winter isn't giving any indication that 2010 will be any better than the season it will follow.

The Cubs closed their 2009 season with one singular goal: Unload Milton Bradley. The marriage was a failure almost immediately, and GM Jim Hendry made it clear when he sent Bradley home for the last few weeks of the season that he couldn't be back in Chicago next year.

The Houston Astros signed Jason Michaels to a one-year deal on Monday, inking the outfielder for $800,000 with a club option for 2011.

With Michaels’ signing, the Astros are now at their max in terms of their 40-man roster and will spend the rest of the off-season searching for players the club can ink to minor league contracts.

“It’s nice to return to a place you are familiar,” Michaels told MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart (Houston’s beat writer). “Not just with the guys on the team, but with the surroundings and stuff like that. I’m glad it was able to be worked out.”

It's easy to get excited about a 22-year-old prospect who jacked 27 homers between AA and AAA last season.  Especially when, during his September cup of coffee with Cincinnati, and in his second at-bat for the Reds, he blasted one about 30 rows deep over the right field fence of Great American Ball Park.

Juan Francisco, a left-handed batter standing at 6'2" and tipping the scales at 220 pounds, undoubtedly has the body of a power hitter.

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. 

The Cincinnati Reds non-tendered outfielder Jonny Gomes on Saturday, according to the MLB.com.

Gomes posted impressive power numbers in 2009, batting .267 with 20 home runs and 51 RBI in just 281 at bats.

The problem was his feast-or-famine numbers against right-hand pitching. He hit 15 home runs in 180 at bats, but managed only 29 non-homer hits on his way to a .244 average against righties.

On Friday morning, the White Sox signed free agent reliever J.J. Putz to a one-year, $3 million deal. The contract reportedly has incentives that could make it worth as much as $6 million.

The Cubs were reportedly interested in Putz, among other teams, but have been handicapped by their inability to move Milton Bradley.

Putz likely replaces the departed Octavio Dotel in the Sox bullpen but could close if the Sox decide to move closer Bobby Jenks.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The latest breaking news coming out of baseball’s winter meetings and the Houston Astros centers on the signing of third baseman Pedro Feliz.

That signing became official this afternoon, according to MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart and confirmed by Astros senior director of digital media Alyson Footer; Houston inked a one-year contract with Feliz worth $4.5 million.

I was born in 1975 and have been a Cincinnati Reds fan ever since. For the majority of my life, the shortstop position has basically been manned by two people: Dave Concepcion and Barry Larkin.

Since Larkin's final season in 2004, the Reds have been unable to find stability at the position. It appears that the latest person to get a chance to play shortstop on a regular basis is Paul Janish.