Fan News

There are a few standout shortstops in baseball. Then there is the inarguable standout shortstop on defense, Andrelton Simmons.

The clock is ticking on the Masahiro Tanaka derby, meaning we're likely near another wave of big free-agent signings just in time for pitchers and catchers to report for spring training. Hard to imagine, but in about a month, the familiar sounds of rawhide smacking the leather in the bullpen will return to Arizona and Florida.

Fact: A solid foundation of sports knowledge will never be held against you.

You can use it for small talk, impressing strangers and making friends when you've been dragged to dinner parties. Also, in the rare event you end up on a gameshow, a command of sporting trivia can help make you cash money. 

While "busy" might be the best word to describe the offseason for the New York Yankees and general manager Brian Cashman, "hectic" is probably the best word to describe the upcoming month leading up to when pitchers and catchers report to spring training.

Last month, I took a different approach to breaking down the MLB offseason. Instead of assessing a team on how well needs have been filled or how much money has been spent, I focused solely on how much talent has been added to each roster.

In much the same way a college football or basketball program has its offseason evaluated, each addition was assigned a 1-5 rating on the "star" scale, and the team's overall "recruiting class" was scored from there.

The free-agent and trade markets have been quiet since the conclusion of December’s Winter Meetings. However, with the Jan. 24 deadline for a team to reach a deal with Japanese right-hander Masahiro Tanaka edging closer every day, it’s only a matter of time until things pick back up.

Despite a relatively quiet offseason, the Philadelphia Phillies have not necessarily filled all of their holes. Outfielder Marlon Byrd might be a bust, while starting pitcher Roberto Hernandez is an unknown in a shallow stadium like Citizens Bank Park.

Dozens of major league scouts will be on hand for the 2014 Louisville Slugger Tournament Series in the Dominican Republic.

The Dominican Prospect League features some of the best youth baseball players in the world, and they are all looking for a contract with a major league organization. This event is a great showcase for all of that talent, and players can use it as a launching pad for a successful professional career.

The last Brewers pitching prospect drafted in the first round that developed into an impact major-league starter was Ben Sheets in 1999. Since then, the organization has struck out repeatedly when drafting a pitcher in the first round.

With negotiations between agents, All-Star players and MLB teams, the best and worse pre-arbitration deals occur during the offseason.

Curious as to what exactly arbitration is?