Opinion

The plan for the Los Angeles Dodgers going into the 2013 season was to play Hanley Ramirez at shortstop. 

Despite that commitment, Dodgers manager Don Mattingly and general manager Ned Colletti wanted to see Ramirez improve his defense at shortstop.

It's only a matter of time before Major League Baseball gets expanded replay, but first the league has to figure out a protocol for how to go about using it when it's needed.

The big question: Should instant replay be used liberally whenever a situation calls for a review, or should it be the managers who get the ball rolling?

More to the point: Should managers be given challenge flags, just like NFL coaches?

After not pitching in the 2009 World Baseball Classic while recovering from a knee injury, Johan Santana has apparently expressed interest in pitching for Team Venezuela in the 2013 World Baseball Classic, which will begin this March.

According to Adam Rubin of ESPN, Santana will try to participate in the event once gets past a few obstacles he will have to go through, due to the time he spent on the disabled list at the end of the 2012 season.

Friday was a big day for Major League Baseball, as players and teams tried to agree to deals in order to avoid arbitration.

Some big names agreed to terms with their respective teams, making hometown fans ecstatic in the process.

First of all, we'll start with the defending-champion San Francisco Giants. 

The Los Angeles Angels announced that they have invited 21 non-roster players to spring training this season. The organization’s pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report on Feb.

Minnesota Twins prospect Alex Meyer has a tall order on his hands as he attempts to climb the ladder for his new team in 2013.

As the prospect sent over from the Washington Nationals in the Denard Span trade, Meyer was the 23rd overall pick in the 2011 MLB June Amateur Draft.

Atlanta Braves fans should be mad that a former player is not getting enough votes to be elected to the Hall of Fame.

However, that player is not Dale Murphy.

While he had good numbers, Murphy's numbers aren't worthy of the Hall.

Instead, fans should be looking at the numbers put up by former first baseman Fred McGriff and wonder why he isn't getting more consideration.

Brett Myers may not be Zack Greinke, David Price or, even, Justin Masterson, but the signing of a veteran, free agent starter was fantastic news for Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona and the fans of the team.

Veteran left-hander Joe Saunders is increasingly becoming the source of opposing viewpoints among Baltimore Orioles fans. 

Saunders, 31, was traded by the Arizona Diamondbacks in August 2012 in exchange for reliever Matt Lindstrom.

When it comes to the World Baseball Classic, I sometimes think of Michael J. Fox's climatic monologue from The American President. 

"They're so thirsty for it, they'll crawl through the desert toward a mirage," Fox says, "and when they discover there's no water, they'll drink the sand."