Opinion

If you're into listening to people in the know, such as scouts, coaches, front office guys and other players, you'd be led to believe that Michael Pineda could be pretty special.

Of course, all you have to do is see his mammoth size and ability and you can draw the conclusion all on your own.

There are good reasons for the Mariners to bring Pineda up now, but there appear to be good reasons not to as well.

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If the Phillies struggle with their health again this season, guys are going to have to step up besides Wilson Valdez.  A couple of prospects have shown some rather nice signs in camp. 

At the start of spring training, there were approximately 12 pitchers fighting for two to three spots in the bullpen.  A few have emerged.

Let's take a look at five prospects that have caught my eye in spring training.

We are about a week and a half away from Major League Baseball's Opening Day. It's time now for ball clubs everywhere to start cutting personnel as they finalize their 25-man rosters.

There are a number of players who are at risk of being released by their current teams as spring training rolls along. Typically, these are aging veterans who are struggling in exhibition games, injured and unlikely to be ready for Opening Day, playing a crowded position or that have fallen out of favor with their organizations.

Chase Utley's Bum Knee

In spite of the positive spin the Philadelphia Phillies and Chase Utley are putting on his pained knee, he has been diagnosed with patella tendinitis, chondromalacia and bone inflammation, and is now heading to see a rehab specialist because the team is afraid to have his knee cut open—and rightly so. 

If four different AAA players from four different major league organizations all have the exact same talent and equal potential, why would one be a better player to draft than the others?  

The same question could be asked of four current major league reserves. Opportunity would be the answer. Which player is blocked from the opportunity to get regular at bats at the major league level, and which player will be afforded the chance to play. 

On Sunday, the Philadelphia Phillies signed Luis Castillo to a minor league deal and it makes perfect sense to do so.

After months of speculation, the New York Mets finally released their erratic lefty Oliver Perez.

The release appeared inevitable at some point this off-season, but the Mets decided to give Perez an opportunity to prove himself during spring training.

Perez auditioned as both a starter and a left-handed specialist but failed to impress. The Mets will be on the hook for the $12 million he’s owed.

Marco Scutaro was the "highlight" signing of 2009's offseason. For those who are true fans and/or have played the game, you know that he was not the big solution. In fact, he should never have been signed in the first place. He is simply overpaid and overrated. If the Red Sox did want to sign him it should have been at a much cheaper annual salary. 

In the past few days, Sandy Alderson has made two decisions that New York Mets fans wanted the previous regime to make virtually all of last year. Bottom line: Cut Luis Castillo and Oliver Perez.

Much like the Miami Heat when they signed the triplets, many in the sports world had them winning it all, including 70 games.  Now, they will be lucky to get to 60 games on the season and winning it all doesn't seem so likely anymore.  

When the Phillies signed their stellar rotation, most in the sports world had them winning the World Series.  People thought that they had it all sewn up—ready to hand them the trophy.  Not so fast my friends, not so fast.