NL East

It was a good week last week for Placido Polanco.

He signed a three-year, $18 million contract, he joined one of the best teams in baseball in the Philadelphia Phillies, and now that he is part of a great lineup, his offensive numbers should get a boost.

While all that is great for Polanco, it’s the last item that fantasy owners care about the most. With Polanco in a much better lineup, we should see increased fantasy production from him in 2010.

The Washington Nationals are interested in Mark De Rosa.

I’m going to let that one sink in for just a minute before I continue.

Atlanta is at it again.

Just a day after acquiring Billy Wagner to serve as the club’s new closer, the Braves have reportedly signed free agent reliever Takashi Saito to a one-year deal.

 
The Phillies have taken care of the hole left at third base by Pedro Feliz after the team declined to pick up his option for 2010.

Philadelphia signed Placido Polanco, who played second base for the Detroit Tigers over the past four plus seasons, to an $18 million, three-year contract earlier today. It is his second tenure with Philly (Polanco played for the Phillies from 2002 into 2005).

Winning is a risky business. It's much easier to lose.

But the Atlanta Braves are determined to win in 2010. Not 2011. Not 2012. In 2010.

The problem is Atlanta can't simply hope for the best in 2010. The Yankees can hope for the best. The Phillies can hope for the best.

Those clubs have the answers. There might be a few additions and subtractions here and there, but the gist of a winning franchise is already in place.

There are plenty in the Natosphere that want Mike Rizzo and the Washington Nationals to make a big splash and sign a bunch of free agents this winter to improve the product on the field.

After two straight 100-loss seasons, I'm sure Rizzo is tempted to make a run at Matt Holliday, John Lackey, etc.

But prudence, rather than exuberance, should rule the day.

If you take a good look at the Nats' 2010 lineup, the hitters are credible enough to imitate a wild card caliber team.

Placido Polanco didn’t receive an arbitration offer from the Tigers, making him all the more valuable on the open market.  He didn’t last long on that open market and is reportedly heading to the Philadelphia Phillies.

It is being reported that Polanco is getting a 3-year deal worth $18M.  There is a mutual option for the fourth year.  The Phillies obviously don’t have room for Polanco at second base since they have Chase Utley, so it appears that Placido will be making a return to third base.