Cardinals sign shortstop Aledmys Diaz

The St. Louis Cardinals have been wanting to expand their market into Cuba and Asia. Well, on Sunday afternoon they did just that by signing Cuban free agent shortstop Aledmys Diaz.  Diaz, 23, gets a four-year contract. The deal looks like it's worth $15-$20 million, even though there's no official word on the terms of the contract.

Lots of MLB teams scouted Diaz, who was suspended for a year after he lied about his age. In his last season in Cuba, he hit .315 with 12 home runs and 11 stolen bases in 270 at bats. There are teams who think that Diaz is better off playing second base. Diaz, views himself as a shortstop, but he can also play second base and third base. One of the things teams have liked about him most is the power that he is capable of producing when he's in a line-up. There are some mixed reports about his defense. That's one reason why there are teams who think he's better off playing second base in the long run. I guess the Cardinals will find out where he fits better. The Cardinals seem to do well with players who can play multi-positions.

In signing Diaz, the Cardinals get infield depth and maybe a starting shortstop for the future. He'll start out in the minors in 2014 and work his way up the the MLB. As of right now it looks like he'll be at double A Springfield or triple A Memphis. He'll be in Cardinals camp on Monday in Jupiter, FL. Cardinals manager Mike Matheny plans to get him in games right away to see where he is. The signing looks like it could be a win-win for both Diaz and the Cardinals.

Matt Carpenter lands six-year extension with Cardinals

The Cardinals have signed third-baseman Matt Carpenter to a six-year extension. Carpenter's new deal is worth $52 million and includes an option for the 2020 season. The option is for the 2020 season is worth $18.5 million.The deal buys out the first two years of free agency for Carpenter, and gets rid of all three of his arbitration years. Carpenter, 28, has played three seasons in the MLB. He's improved himself as a player since being draft by the Cardinals in the 2009 MLB draft.

Last season, Carpenter had a break out year for himself. He played in 157 games and hit .318 in 2013, with 126 runs scored, 199 hits, 55 doubles, 7 triples, 11 home runs, and 78 rbi's. The 55 doubles broke a record for a left-handed batter in franchise history that was held by Stan Musial. The record had been 53 doubles by Musial in the 1953 season. Carpenter ended up an All-Star for the first time in 2013, and won a Silver Slugger Award (which goes to the best offensive players at each position in both the American League and National League). It marked the first time in Cardinals history that a second baseman won a Silver Slugger Award. He also finished fourth in NL MVP voting.

So far in Carpenter's thee year career his stats are: 278 games played, .937 at bats, 306 batting average, 170 runs, 287 hits, 78 doubles, 12 triples, 17 home runs, 124 rbi's, and 4 stolen bases.

The deal for Carpenter looks like it could end up being a bargain for the Cardinals. A lot of that depends if Carpenter can improve from 2013 or put up almost same numbers that he did. I think he will be able to improve those stats from 2013. Good move by the Cardinals. I wouldn't be shocked if next in line for an extension is either Shelby Miller, Micheal Wacha, or Trevor Rosenthal.

Blues make splash for playoff push, land Ryan Miller and Steve Ott

The St. Louis Blues wanted to improve their team going into the playoffs, two of their weak spots were with starting goal-tending and grit. And on Friday evening, the Blues were able to do both in one trade. They traded goalie Jaroslav Halak, forward Chris Stewart, prospect William Carrier, along with a first-round pick in 2015 and a third-round pick in 2016 to the Buffalo Sabers for goalie Ryan Miller and forward Steve Ott.

Miller and Ott could both become free agents after the 2013-2014 season. Miller,33, had played his whole career in Buffalo. until being traded today. In the 2009-2010 season, Ryan Miller won the Vezina Trophy. That award goes to the best goaltender in the NHL. That season, Miller played 69 games and went 41-18-4, with 5 shutouts, and a goals against of 2.22. He's played for team USA two times in the Olympics.

In Miller's twelve years in the NHL, his stats are: 540 games played, 284 wins, 186 losses, 56 (tie/overtime loss), 28 shutouts, 2.60 goals against, .916 save percentage, and 9 assists. His career playoff record is 25-22. Right now Miller, for the 2013-2014 season is 15-22-3. He did the best he could playing behind one of the worst defense's in the NHL. So, coming to the Blues should help improve that record. That's knowing that he's still good and the Blues have a great defense playing in front of him.

Could Ryan Miller end up staying a Blue beyond the season and not just be a rental? Time will tell, but he should be able to help the Blues a lot. He's good at playing the puck, which is something Brian Elliott and Jaroslav Halak aren't that good at doing.

As for Steve Ott, 31, this is his second time being traded in his career. Ott, started his NHL career for the Dallas Stars in the 2002-2003 season. He was traded by the Stars in July, 2012 to the Buffalo Sabers for center Derek Roy (current Blues player this season). Ott can score some, but he's more known for his hard work and toughness. His best season came back in 2009-2010, when he scored 22. In his elven years in the NHL, his stats are: 673 games played, 103 goals, 161 assists, 264 points, 28 power play goals, 1,318 pentalty minutes, and is a minus 35. Right now Ott has 9 goals, 11 assists, and 20 points in 59 games.

Could Ott remain a Blue after the season? There could be a chance that he does re-sign with the Blues long-term. A lot of that is because he knows Blues GM Doug Armstrong and head coach Ken Hitchcock really well. Ott's best friend is current Blues teammate and former Dallas Stars teammate Brenden Morrow.

I wouldn't want to be one of those teams playing the Blues who has given the Blues trouble in the past couple of playoffs. A lot of that is because of the Blues capability, if they all play up to the level that they can play at, and teams gets two players in both Steve Ott and Maxim Lapierre who are good at getting under players skins. They both are the type of player who you like to have when their on your side, but can't stand when their playing against you. Morrow is that type of player also, but can score more. 

As for me, I like this trade a lot for the Blues. It helps them improve a lot, I thought that if Miller was traded the Sabers would get maybe Dmitrij Jaskin or Ty Rattie. Without the Blues giving one of them up, this trade looks like a big steal for GM Doug Armstrong. For the Sabers part, they needed the draft picks when they're rebuilding their team. And there's already word that both Jaroslav Halak and Chris Stewart might not be Sabers for long.

Orioles make splash, land Ubaldo Jimenez

There still are some top free agents looking for homes, and the Baltimore Orioles landed one of those top free agents who hadn't been signed yet in starting pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez. Jimenez gets a four-year contract, that's worth $50 million. Jimenez, 30, has been in the MLB since September 2006, when he was called up by the Colorado Rockies. He spent all of his seasons with the Rockies until July, 2011 when he was traded to the Cleveland Indians for Alex White, Joe Gardner, Matt McBride, and pitcher Drew Pomeranz.

Jimenez was an All-Star in 2010 while with the Rockies, and pitched their first no hitter in franchise history. In Baltimore, Jimenez joins a starting rotation that includes up and coming star Chris Tillman, Wei-Yin Chen, Bud Norris, and Miguel Gonzalez. That also includes top pitching prospects in the waiting Kevin Gausman, Zach Britton, Dylan Bundy, and T. J. McFarland.

After being traded to the Indians, Jimenez didn't do that well for them. He looked lost on the Indians and struggled with control. I kind of wonder if he liked it in Colorado too much, and had trouble fully adjusting to being on a new team and in a new city. But in 2013, he seemed re-find his career going 13-9 in 32 starts, 194 strikeouts, while pitching 182.2 innings, with an era of 3.30. His 2013 season was his best on since 2010, when he went 19-8 with an era of 2.88.

Jimenez has played eight seasons in the MLB over those eight seasons, his career record is: 82-75, 212 games, 211 starts, 3.92 era, 1,172 strikeouts, 1275.2 innings pitched, and a whip of 1.35.

It looks like it will be a win-win for the Orioles and Jimenez. They needed a pitcher in their rotation who can help give them innings. Jimenez may not be a CY Young candidate like he was in his early days on the Rockies, but he can still help win games. And pitch in big games if needed. He should be able to help the younger starting pitchers on the Orioles.

Now he'll just need to live up to his contract. Are the Orioles done making moves? I think we'll find out during spring training, if they are done making moves in the offseason. Since there still are two top hitters on the free agent market in Nelson Cruz and Kendry Morales.

Suk-min Yoon lands with Orioles

The Baltimore Orioles have signed free agent pitcher Suk-min Yoon to a three-year contract, that's worth $5.75 million. Yoon, 27, has been playing professional baseball in Korea. He played for the Kia Tigers since April, 2005. He's pitched in both of the two World Baseball Classics in 2009 and in 2013. Yoon, was a three time All-Star in Korea. The three seasons he was an All-Star were in 2008, 2009, and 2011.

He can either be a starting pitcher or work out of the bullpen. He's also won two era titles in 2008 and 2011. In his career from Korea his record is 73-59, with an era of 3.19, 44 saves, 949 strikeouts, and a whip of 1.20 in 1,126.9 innings pitched.

As of right now Yoon is the biggest offseason pick up for the Orioles. It looks like it might could end up being a great pick up for the Orioles. Are they done signing free agents? Maybe not, there's still a few top free agents in starting pitchers who they could use. So I see this as a win-win for Yoon and the Orioles. And who knows, maybe Yoon ends up closing for the Orioles. Since right now it seems like he could be their closer.

Julio Teheran agrees to contract extension

The Atlanta Braves and starting pitcher Julio Teheran have agreed to a contract extension. The deal is a six-year contract worth $32.4 million. In the deal he gets an option for the 2020 season. That option is for $12 million, or a $1 million buyout. Teheran was signed at age 16, as a non-drafted free agent out of Cartagena, Colombia. Now, at age 23, he wasn't going to be arbitration-eligible until after the 2015 season. So, the Braves bought out those years by giving Teheran a new contract.

Last season, was Teheran's first full MLB season. He finished fifth in NL Rookie of the Year voting after going 14-8 with an era of 3.30 in 185.2 innings and 170 strikeouts. He had been one of the Braves top prospects in their minors.

The Braves got him for a nice deal, and may have saved money in the long-run. For his career, he's 15-9 with 34 starts in 37 games, with an era of 3.44, 185 strikeouts, and has pitched 211.2 innings. He should keep improving from his rookie season. The Braves are doing well locking up lots of their core players.

St. Louis Cardinals 2014 Season Preview

Offseason Additions: SS Jhonny Peralta, CF Peter Bourjos, 2B Mark Ellis, OF Randal Grichuk, OF Rafael Ortega, OF Joey Butler.

Offseason Subtractions: SP Chris Carpenter (retired), RF Carlos Beltran, SP Jake Westbrook, SS Rafael Furcal, 3B David Freese, RP Fernando Salas. RP Edward Mujica, RP John Axford, C Rob Johnson, 1B Brock Peterson.

Point team prediction: 90-95 win range, 1st place

They have one of the best pitching staffs in the National League with Adam Wainwright, Jaime Garcia, Michael Wacha, Shelby Miller as the top four. And for the fifth spot you have Lance Lynn, Carlos Martinez, Tyler Lyons, and Joe Kelly all trying to win the fifth spot. The bullpen is still strong, even if Carlos Martinez were to win the last spot in the rotation. The only question for the bullpen, would be Jason Motte. Only because he's coming off of Tommy John surgery, but he'll be set up man for closer Trevor Rosenthal. Rosenthal did well after taking over as closer last season and seems like that's where he's best as.

Infield defense should be improved with Matt Carpenter at his normal position in third-base and Kolten Wong at his normal position second-base. Peter Bourjos if fully healthy (hasn't been since 2011) could steal 30-40 bases. No one really knows about Bourjos because he hasn't been healthy since then. But in 2011, he led the AL in triples with Austin Jackson. Wong has the potential to steal 15-25. So the Cardinals should be able to steal more bases in the running game. I know manager Mike Matheny has been wanting to use the running game more. Now Matheny has that change to run more.

Fantasy Stud: Yadier Molina

One of the best offensive catchers in baseball, put up new career highs in hits, rbi's and batting average in the 2013 season. There's even some talk of Molina being a future Hall Of Fame player. Could that happen? Maybe if he keeps putting up numbers. I know last season Johnny Bench even praised Molina last season.

Rookie to watch for: Oscar Taveras, if he makes the team out of Spring Training or even starts out at Memphis first. He's said to best hitting prospect that the Cardinals have had since Albert Pujols.