The final countdown to the beginning of the MLB season has begun in earnest as we are now 6 days from opening night on ESPN where the Yankees face the Red Sox in what looks to me as it should be some of the closes races for all the divisions in recent years. CC Sabathia vs. Josh Beckett should stir even the most casual fans as the Yankees attempt to repeat in 2010. They will [...]

The Associated Press reports that the Florida Marlins have reached an agreement with the MLB Players Union to increase spending after complaints were filed that the Marlins payroll has been so small that it violated baseball’s revenue sharing provisions. The deal was announced today in a joint statement by the Marlins, the players union and Major League Baseball. Beyond the statement made, the parties did not comment on the matter. It is currently unclear how much the Marlins’ payroll might increase. The [...]

The Philadelphia Phillies have added another pitcher to their staff, signing Danys Baez to a two-year contract pending a physical. The 32 year old Baez missed all of the 2008 season due to tightness in the elbow which required Tommy John surgery, yet he returned in 2009 and went 4-6 with a 4.02 ERA in 59 appearances last season with the Baltimore Orioles. Baez has 114 career saves including a career-high 41 saves for the Tampa Bay Rays in [...]

ESPN just reporterd (3:00pm EST) that the Pittsburgh Pirates have dealt left-handed first baseman Adam LaRoche to the Boston Red Sox for a pair of Minor Leaguers. Pittsburgh gets Double-A shortstop Argenis Diaz and Class A right-hander Hunter Strickland, an 18th-round draft pick two years ago. Diaz, a 22-year-old known for his outstanding defense, is hitting .253 with no homers and 24 RBIs in 76 games during his sixth pro season, at Portland. Strickland, 20, [...]