January 30
ESPN.com
columnist Tristan H. Cockcroft
"
Only six free agents this winter have signed contracts with an average annual value of $10 million or more. One of them didn't even appear in a game in 2009. Congratulations, Ben Sheets. You might be the luckiest member of this free-agent class. Not that Sheets isn't worthy, as reports during his Jan. 19 throwing session for potential suitors were positive, noting he repeatedly hit 92 mph on the radar gun, only a couple of ticks behind his pre-surgery velocity. He apparently sold the Oakland Athletics on his skills being every bit what they were before February 2009 surgery to repair a torn flexor tendon in his pitching elbow, or at least close enough to be worth a one-year, $10 million ..."
January 29
ESPN.com
columnist Tristan H. Cockcroft
"
Only six free agents this winter have signed contracts with an average annual value of $10 million or more. One of them didn't even appear in a game in 2009. Congratulations, Ben Sheets. You might be the luckiest member of this free-agent class. Not that Sheets isn't worthy, as reports during his Jan. 19 throwing session for potential suitors were positive, noting he repeatedly hit 92 mph on the radar gun, only a couple of ticks behind his pre-surgery velocity. He apparently sold the Oakland Athletics on his skills being every bit what they were before February 2009 surgery to repair a torn flexor tendon in his pitching elbow, or at least close enough to be worth a one-year, $10 million ..."
January 25
ESPN.com
columnist Tristan H. Cockcroft
"
Dave Duncan's teachings have spawned more than a handful of unexpectedly good seasons from his pitching pupils. Now we'll see whether one of his most impressive students can carry those lessons to the other league. Joel Pineiro, rescued off the scrap heap in July 2007 and restored to 15-win, 3.49-ERA form this past season, signed a two-year, $16-million contact with the Los Angeles Angels on Friday. He joins a lengthy list of former Duncan reclamation projects who later bolted for bigger contracts elsewhere: Kent Bottenfield, Braden Looper, Jeff Suppan, Jeff Weaver (2006 postseason!), Woody Williams ... Here's the problem: Each one of those five pitchers, in his first season with his new ..."