Fan News

In order to keep up in the competitive AL West, the Texas Rangers must sign Kyle Lohse to solidify their rotation. 

Lohse entered free agency as one of the best pitchers on the market, but his age and the draft-pick compensation attached to him have kept him from finding a new home.

With just about a month remaining until pitchers and catchers start reporting to spring training, one thing has become increasingly clear for Shaun Marcum and those players still without a contract for the 2013 season.

Time is running out.

Whether it's age, injury history, personalities or draft pick compensation required to sign them, there are a handful of players still available as free agents who can step in and help a team win games in 2013 and beyond.

The Toronto Blue Jays are officially part of the discussion. 

The American League is crowded with top-level teams, and now the Blue Jays have to be included in that list. After adding two Cy Young-talented pitchers in R.A. Dickey and Josh Johnson, an above-average inning eater in Mark Buehrle and adding talent at the top of their lineup in Jose Reyes and Melky Cabrera, the Jays are a legitimate threat. 

September baseball is all-or-nothing baseball. It is baseball that is played either in front of swelling crowds with palpable tension or in a cold ballpark sparsely dotted with paying customers where the peanut vendors are the loudest voices.

September baseball is either rich with meaning, where every pitch is hung on, or it’s merely an exercise of formality, played out because the schedule says so.

September baseball is either “must win” baseball or “must play,” nothing in between.

Justin Upton is front and center on the trading block, and there are multiple teams interested in the two-time All-Star.

The latest free-agent buzz in Major League Baseball has surrounded three clients of Scott Boras, all currently left out in the cold of winter with spring training fast approaching.

Rafael Soriano, Kyle Lohse and Michael Bourn have yet to find new homes this offseason, in large part because all three are attached to draft-pick compensation after their former employers extended them qualifying offers.

For years, we all have known the day was coming when the stars from the steroids era would be on the Hall of Fame ballot. They all should get in. None of them should ever get in. Believing there is one answer that will resolve this problem in a way that makes complete sense is reserved for the Skip Baylesses of the world. The rest of us know this situation is far too complicated and that there is just no easy way to make it right.

It's hard to believe the offseason is almost over, with just a month separating us from spring training action for all our favorite teams.

Every team will have it's share of new faces when opening day finally arrives, but the fan favorites that have been leading their teams for years now are no doubt a focal point for the casual observer.

Here are some players in every franchise that hear their fair share of cheers any time they take the field for their home fans.

A new rumor involving the Arizona Diamondbacks trading outfielder Justin Upton seems to surface daily. MLBTradeRumors.com is updating constantly with the latest potential landing spots for the sometimes brilliant and sometimes enigmatic right handed slugger.

Just a month and change remains before the thrilling kickoff to spring training 2013.

As the thump and thwack and crunch of cleats scurry through our imaginations, questions remain regarding what the everyday lineup for the New York Yankees will look like this campaign.

One thing fans do know, however, is that Derek Jeter, Ichiro Suzuki and Robinson Cano will be swinging at the top of the Yankees order come April.