Although Frank Thomas hasn’t play a game since 2008 with Oakland, he wasn’t officially retired until now.  Thomas will hold a press conference at US Cellular Field today to make the official statement.  Thomas, aka The Big Hurt, spent 16 years of his 19 year career with the White Sox.  In the 90′s The Big Hurt was arguably the most dominant hitter in baseball and without a doubt the most intimidating, standing at 6’5″ 275 pounds.
From 1991-1999 Thomas averaged 32 HRs and 112 RBI a season.  In that same time …

Tim Lincecum and the San Francisco Giants reached a contract agreement that is worth $23 million over the next two seasons.  Lincecum will receive a $2 million signing bonus and be paid $8 million for the 2010
season.  His salary will be raised to $13 million in 2011.  He also can get money for performance and award bonuses.  This is a large pay raise for the back to back NL Cy Young Award winner.  The 25 year old made just $650,000 last season.  He is eligible for free agency after the …

For Chien-Ming Wang to go from elite status (Yankees) to the bottom of the barrel in baseball (Nationals) you know he must be desperate for a job.  The Nationals signed Wang to an undisclosed amount as of now and he will join the rotation in May in all likelyhood.  Wang was a 19 game winning in 2006 and 2007 but struggled to stay healthy in 2008 and 2009.  Wang is already 29 years old after playing professionally overseas for a few seasons.  His injuries weren’t minor aches and pains, he …

The Detroit Tigers and ace supreme Justin Verlander have agreed to a 5-year/$80 million deal that avoids arbitration and prevents the all-star pitcher from becoming a free agent in two years. The Tigers are wise to make this move now, because Verlander would without a doubt earn at least $100 million if he wasn’t locked up within the next two years. This is one heck of a contract extension.
For Verlander, this deal allows him to not have to worry about trade rumors and free agency for at least four years. …

Minnesota has signed Orlando Hudson to a 1-year/$5 million deal.  Honestly, I thought Hudson to the Nationals was a done deal but he wanted $9 million per and the Nationals basically insulted him by offering $3 million.   I guess Hudson realized he wasn’t going to get $9 million and rather try to win, make the playoffs and hopefully a World Series title; he has a good shot with the Twins who desperately needed a second basemen.  I couldn’t be happier.  The Twins have finally accomplished something in the off season …

After the Reds signed Orlando Cabrera they decided they need to free of some room to pay him his WHOPPING $1.3 million salary for next year.  The Reds trade Willy Taveras to the A’s for Aaron Miles.  The Reds weren’t pleased with Taveras’ performance last year and he’s really struggled to get on base in the Major Leagues and as a leadoff hitter not many teams are going to be patient with you.  Taveras batted .240 but did have 25 steals in 104 games. 
Aaron Miles was a big disappointment last …

Ryan Garko is heading back to the Amercian League after signing a 1-year/$550,000 deal with the Mariners to play 1B, DH and catch?  Yes, Garko may find himself behind the play for some spot starts or in late innings.  Garko was a former All-American catcher in 2003 at Stanford but hasn’t caught a game in the Majors yet but manager Don Wakamatsu hasn’t eliminated the idea either.  It would be interesting to see a guy like Garko, who was definitely a very good catcher more than 5 years ago, return …

The Cincinnati Reds vowed to make more moves this offseason, and they did so by signing shortstop Orlando Cabrera to a one year deal. Cabrera is scheduled to make $3 million this coming season in addition to a mutual option for 2011.
Cabrera is coming off a fine season with the A’s and the Twins in which he hit .284 with nine homers and 77 RBIs. He really was the spark plug that the Twins needed to catch the Tigers in the AL Central. I know Jason is not going to …

Jim Edmonds is now on his 3rd NL Central team after he signed a minor league deal with the Brewers today.  Edmonds sat out all of last year, at 39 years old, for health reasons.  Edmonds had a lot of concussions the year before he retired.  His role with the Brewers will likely a left handed pinch hitter because the Brewers only have one lefty OF and that’s Jody Gerut.  Gerut at his best and Edmonds at his worst I’d take Edmonds any day.
It’s going to be unlikely that if …

The following list is the top 50 prospects in baseball this year from MLB.com.
1. Jason Heyward, ATL
2. Stephen Strasburg, WAS
3. Mike Stanton, FLA
4. Buster Posey, SF
5. Brian Matusz, BAL
6. Desmond Jennings, TB
7. Neftali Feliz, TEX
8. Pedro Alvarez, PIT
9. Justin Smoak, TEX
10. Madison Bumgarner, SF
11. Carlos Santana, CLE
12. Alcides Escobar, MIL
13. Wade Davis, TB
14. Domonic Brown, PHI
15. Dustin Ackley, SEA
16. Brett Wallace, TOR
17. Kyle Drabek, TOR
18. Martin Perez, TEX
19. Jesus Montero, NYY
20. Jeremy Hellickson, TB
21. Jarrod Parker, ARI
22. Starlin Castro, CHI
23. Christian Friedrich, COL
24. Tim Beckham, TB
25. Logan Morrison, FLA
26. Brett …