Now that Johnny Damon is a Tiger, every major free agent in the majors has been inked to a deal.
There was much activity this offseason: Roy Halladay became a Philly, Cliff Lee a Mariner, Jason Bay a Met, and Matt Holliday was given a deal that will haunt the Cardinals for years to come.
All eyes are now on spring training and the 2010 MLB season, which promises to be a wild ride.
But let's take a look into the crystal ball for a moment, let's take a look at next year's offseason.
Matt Holliday was the biggest name last year, but there are players who are much better and will command even more than Holliday's $120 million next season.
Here are three bold and no doubt controversial predictions for next season:
1. Joe Mauer signs a 9 year $200 million deal with the New York Yankees. Derek Jeter resigned for 5 years $90 million, Mariano Rivera resigned for 2 years $24 million
Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera will be hastily resigned, allowing the richest team to go for the richest haul.
I'm sorry Twin fans, but for all the talk about the hometown boy taking a hometown discount, the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox will get into a bidding war that will be too lucrative for Mauer to resist.
Regardless of the economy, Joe Mauer has everything going for him. He's young, he plays the toughest position, he plays gold glove defense, he gets on base, he has pop. When talent like this comes along, you pay.
Come on Twin fans, you know why the Yankees didn't spend big bucks this offseason, instead opting mostly for one year commitments. So they could go for the big prize next year while retaining Jeter and Rivera.
By the way, I don't expect the Yankees to get Cliff Lee, unless the price goes down to about 15 million. He's good but he's not in Roy Halladay's league.
2. Josh Beckett gets resigned by the Red Sox for 4 years $55 million, Victor Martinez resigned by the Red Sox for 3 years $39 million, Adrian Gonzalez is already on the team
I initially thought that the Red Sox would let Beckett go having signed John Lackey to a big deal this year. Beckett is injury prone and on the wrong side of 30, and the Red Sox already possess a great deal of pitching depth.
But when I thought about it, I realized that Clay Buchholz will probably have been traded along with Jacoby Ellsbury and other prospects for San Diego Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez.
The Red Sox have amped up the defense this offseason but face it, they need a power bat who can add 40 homeruns and 100 RBI's in the middle of their lineup. The Padres need to get as much young talent for Gonzalez as possible while they still can. Gonzalez will be part of "The Nation" by the trade deadline.
3. Cliff Lee signs a 3 year $57 million deal with the St. Louis Cardinals
But they're saving their money to resign Albert Pujols, right?
Wrong. It's a bold prediction but I think it can happen.
I don't think Albert Pujols will be a Cardinal in 2012. Don't believe the talk about wanting to stay, Pujols is even more likely than Mauer to take a huge free agent contract. When I say huge, I mean A-Rod money. Possibly even more. I'm not sure where Pujols will go, maybe I'm wrong about Gonzalez and Pujols joins the Red Sox, but he will not remain a Cardinal.
Cliff Lee is a good fit here. I expect either Adam Wainwright or Chris Carpenter to regress, so if Pujols hasn't signed an extension by next year, the Cardinals will look to improve their team with more Cy Young caliber pitching.
The Mariners are a small market team who will gladly take the Cardinals' draft picks to replenish their farm system.
The Cardinals will use the rest of their Pujols money to address other needs in the organization.
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