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Hardly a week had gone by since the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim were eliminated from the playoffs before they hit their first offseason obstacle.

His name is Gary Matthews Jr.

In what will likely be an emotional and turbulent offseason for the Angels, who saw no less than three star players and several more reserves filing for free agency already, the team's chief concern has become a bench player who is still under contract for two more years.

Perhaps, though, that is why Matthews chose to make his irritating move now.

After the 2011 season, the Chicago Cubs will have to make a choice: keep third baseman Aramis Ramirez and purchase his club option for $16 million, or let him hit the market and buy the remainder of the contract for $2 million.

On Sept. 30, 2009, Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez stated Jeremy Hermida wouldn’t be playing anytime soon. Apparently, Hermida had injured an oblique muscle, and was scratched from the lineup indefinitely. I read a piece on FishStripes on the SB NationWeb site stated Hermida would probably “not make another start for the Marlins...”

The New York Yankees have a number of great homegrown players. They include shortstop Derek Jeter, pitchers Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera, and catcher Jorge Posada.

I'd even include World Series MVP Hideki Matsui, given that the Yankees is the only American team that he has played for. Consider him "drafted" from a "collegiate" level Japanese team.

On Sept. 27, 2009, I was fortunate enough to be in attendance when the New York Yankees wrapped up the American League East Division Title.

Perhaps what I will remember most about that day was a conversation I had with my dad on the way to the game.

David Wright, is one of the best third basemen in the game of baseball.  The New York Mets are lucky to have a player like him, but he still has his flaws.

Ever since Wright made his debut in the bigs he has pretty much, been a star.  He's got great talent and he can be a pretty good team "Captain."

Wright hits for a high average, hits home runs, and steals a solid amount of bases.  He is a Gold Glover in the field, and an expert at anything that has to do with bare hands.

In my last article on the Marlins—which you can read here —I stated that I felt the Marlins should promote in-house and bring Reid Cornelius or Scott Mitchell up from one of their minor-league affiliates to fill the pitching coach vacancy created when they moved Mark Wiley to another position within the organization.

I've mentioned Adam Warren a lot over the past few months. He really dominated in Staten Island with a 1.43 ERA, a K/9 of 7.9 and a BB/9 of 1.6. That combines for a ridiculous K/BB of 5.0 I ranked Warren the Yankees' 16th best prospect after his strong SI debut. Mike Axisa, over at River Ave. Blues, ranked him the 19th best prospect in the system, saying he is, "polished, pounds the zone, sits low-90’s and has touched 96 with SI … pleasant surprise."

Bell is expected to compete for the Orioles' starting third base job in spring training and is a Rookie of the Year candidate in 2010.

Donald Veal, acquired by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2008 Rule V draft, may finally be displaying the talent that many have believed he possessed. 

He has struggled since being promoted to Double-A in 2007 (with the Cubs) to the point that the Pirates tried him out of the bullpen last season (with awful results).

In the Arizona Fall League, he appears to have rediscovered himself:

3 Wins
16.2 Innings
0.54 ERA
0.74 WHIP
17 Strikeouts (9.44 K/9)
2 Walks (1.11 BB/9)
.259 BABIP