There may have been no bigger disappointment in MLB last year than the Nationals. Many fans and analysts picked them to win the World Series, but a young team buckled under those heavy expectations and fell behind in the NL East race early. The Nats made a late run at a wild-card spot, going 18-9 […]

One reason that the Mets aren't considered among the top teams in the NL East might be because it's difficult to name four players that are truly difference makers. But a closer look at the roster shows that the Mets do indeed have four horsemen, a quartet of players that will determine how successful the […]

The Mets aren't likely to contend for the postseason in 2014. Matt Harvey missing the entire season will play a major factor in that. But the Mets probably have their eye on making a push for the playoffs in 2015 with Harvey back in the rotation, along with Zack Wheeler, Bartolo Colon and Noah Syndergaard. […]

If there was a question as to whether or not the Mets would spend money on improving the roster during the offseason, the team addressed those concerns by handing out $87 million in contracts to Curtis Granderson, Chris Young and Bartolo Colon. That equals what the Mets say their payroll was for 2013. (Last year's […]

It's never easy being the other baseball team in New York. This offseason did nothing to change that perception for the Mets. The Yankees snatched headlines with a free agent spending spree, signing Brian McCann, Jacoby Ellsbury, Carlos Beltran and Masahiro Tanaka. The Mets' acquistions may not be as loud or flashy (or expensive), but […]

While signing big-name free agents such as Nick Swisher and Michael Bourn last year drew headlines and fueled the Indians' run to an AL wild-card bid, keeping their young talent will make more of a difference in Cleveland remaining a contender for years to come. The Tribe locked down one key piece of its core […]

Some analysts view the San Diego Padres as a sleeper contender for the 2014 season. One of the reasons for that is a pitching staff that could feature five to six quality starters and a bullpen that goes four to five arms deep. However, that depth will now take a hit with the news that […]

Winning the Super Bowl hasn't made the talk of Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson playing baseball go away. As he took his post-Super Bowl victory tour around New York on Monday, speculation over whether Wilson will return to the diamond actually ramped up.

It surely diminishes Philip Seymour Hoffman to remember him for only one role. In light of the actor's death on Sunday, many are remembering Hoffman, 46, for his entire body of work and wealth of memorable roles. But every admirer of Hoffman has a favorite role of his. Hoffman's portrayal of A's manager Art Howe […]

Would Michael Young have been the Dodgers' opening day second baseman? With concerns over Alexander Guerrero adjusting to the position, names like Miguel Rojas have been mentioned as a potential starter at second base. But Rojas is a career .234 hitter in the minor leagues. That would seem to leave an opportunity open for Young, […]

After 15 seasons in the major leagues, Lance Berkman announced on Wednesday that he's decided to retire.  Knee, hip and back injuries have just become too much to overcome for the slugger, who will turn 38 years old next month. Last season, Berkman was limited to 73 games and 294 plate appearances with the Rangers. […]

A.J. Burnett has decided he'd like to pitch in 2014, after all. Maybe he saw the four-year, $50 million Matt Garza received from the Brewers and thought he'd like some of that. Perhaps Burnett and his agent saw a free agent market for starting pitchers that currently has no clear top choice and figured he'd […]

Other than boxing, no sport seems better suited to the movies than baseball. In recent years, that’s given us gems like Moneyball, but also duds like Trouble with the Curve. Does baseball lend itself to film because the game has so much space within the action that can be filled with amusing stories and cinematic […]

With the Yankees signing Masahiro Tanaka to a seven-year, $155 million contract on Wednesday, those who work in or cover baseball believe that offseason moves will begin happening again. What has essentially been a winter freeze since the holidays will now thaw out and we'll have news concerning the actual on-field product. Free agent signings! […]

When watching Richard Sherman's emotional outburst following the Seahawks' 23-17 victory over the 49ers in Sunday's NFC Championship Game, did anyone think to him or herself, "Gee, I wonder if anything like that would ever happen in baseball?" I'm guessing no, but there might have been a few baseball-starved fans who pondered the possibility. (Though […]