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Victor Martinez will receive a four-year deal for $50 million with the Detroit Tigers, according to Venezuelan reporter Ignacio Serrano of El Nacional, who first reported the agreement.

The Associated Press reported that the deal is pending the results of a physical. Martinez made $7.7 million last season.

The contract is a good one for Detroit, who needs offense. They did not have any player with an OBP over .350.

If he could also catch on a fairly regular basis, his value would be even greater, as his offense is rare for a backstop, but not as great for a DH.

Nevertheless, it was a good move by the Tigers, even if he will be overpaid by the third or fourth year of the deal. Theo Epstein and the Red Sox would like to have re-signed Martinez, but probably weren’t willing to guarantee a fourth year.

Meanwhile, this signing reminds us just how valuable and rare a commodity good hitting catchers are in MLB.

Just how rare? Well, take a look at this Top 10 list and see what you think.

Debate is strongly encouraged. There are different ways in which to judge a catcher, and I’m a little old school in that I want my catcher to be defense-first, with a strong throwing arm.

But it is so difficult to objectively measure defense, as even the most sophisticated metrics do a poor job of evaluating catcher defense, so I will focus more on offense. In other words, you will not see any .200 hitting catchers who play good defense on this list.

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In a surprise move Friday, the New York Yankees replaced fired pitching coach Dave Eiland with the Cubs’ Larry Rothschild. The Cubs longtime coach had survived several managerial regimes, but will now coach for former Cub Joe Girardi in the Bronx.

Rothschild was not known to be on the Yankees list of candidates, but he cited personal reasons for making the switch.

Per Wallace Matthews report on ESPN: “My reasons for pursuing and accepting this opportunity are personal and family-based, as the Yankees hold spring training in, and travel several times a year to, my hometown of Tampa. The chance to spend increased time with my family was something I wanted to explore and I am grateful for the opportunity to have done so.”

Rothschild had been the Cubs pitching coach for so long that it’s almost like replacing Richard Daley as Mayor. But after nine years, he will move on and the Cubs will be in the market for a new coach.

Does this signify nothing more than what was stated, family reasons, or is this a sign that the Cubs are rebuilding and Rothschild wants no part of it?

Perhaps a more interesting question is will Greg Maddux be taking over the role? We’ll look at Maddux and other potential candidates in this piece.

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For the second year in a row, the writers got it right. The Baseball Writers’ Association of America is known to be comprised of a lot of grizzled old veterans who shun sabermetrics. Just look no further than Derek Jeter winning a Gold Glove for proof. But they got it right with Felix Hernandez.

The Mariners ace made history by becoming the pitcher with the fewest wins (in a full season) to capture the Cy Young award. King Felix, who signed a big, long-term contract extension last offseason, won the award despite a record of 13-12.

Furthermore, it wasn’t even close. Hernandez got 21 of the 28 first-place votes and 167 points in all, winning by more than 50 points over second-place finisher David Price of the Rays.

In many previous seasons, the pitcher with the most wins got the award almost by default. Perhaps the problem is that the award is not “pitcher of the year” or “most valuable pitcher,” but is instead named after the guy with the most wins ever. He is also the one with the most losses ever, too, by the way.

The pitcher with the most wins in the AL in 2010 was the Yankees’ CC Sabathia, who went 21-7. He finished third in the voting.

By winning, Hernandez received an automatic $1 million raise in salary next year to $11 million. He also earned annual $500,000 raises after that to $19 million in 2012, $20 million in 2013 and $20.5 million in 2014.

So let’s take a look at why King Felix won this award, most likely angering the Joe Morgans of the world and making Yankees fans irate.  

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Now I realize this will be considered blasphemous to most Cubs fans, but I have an idea. Instead of trying to pass a bill in the Illinois legislature to take part of the 12 percent city of Chicago and Cook County amusement tax and set it aside for the purpose of renovating Wrigley Field, why not build a new one?

Look, I understand the quaint charm of the old ballpark on the north side, but let’s face it, folks: It is antiquated and needs to be used for other purposes if it cannot be torn down.

It’s like having an old car that you continue to pour money into in order to keep it running. “But this is a classic car!” you say.  Fair enough, but even old Yankee stadium came crashing down, and no ballpark had the history of that one.

Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, and on and on, all played there, and yet no one shed a tear when they built the new cathedral in the Bronx. Maybe that’s the difference between New York and Chicago—they think championships, we think nostalgia.

Now I’m not saying the Cubs cannot win a title in this old building, but its lack of amenities for the players and the ridiculous neighborhood that regulates how many night games can be played detracts from the team’s ability to compete at times.

New stadiums offer better facilities for the players and creature comforts for the fans, so what is not to like? It doesn’t have to be sterile and mall-like as Cellular One Field is on the south side. No, some of the newer ballparks are gorgeous and team-friendly.

If the Cubs can get Illinois to sink $200 million into renovating a decaying, obsolete building, why can’t this money be paired with the Ricketts cash to build a park that is worthy of these loyal fans?

Ah, but therein lies the rub, for the Ricketts don’t want to use too much of their own money to finance a new stadium. But look at the White Sox: They got a brand new park without Jerry Reinsdorf having to shell out a lot of dough, so it is possible.

While we’re at it, why not get all of the surrounding taverns and apartment buildings to pony up with some cold, hard cabbage to help finance a new stadium? For if the Cubs were to move, those businesses would lose a hell of a lot of money.

The C.U.B.S. (Citizens United for Baseball in Sunshine) can all go to hell as far as I’m concerned. If I were the owner, I’d tell them they can go root for the Windy City Thunderbolts if they don’t give me the night games I want. After all, Wrigley Field was there before they were.

The lack of night games may not be the only reason the Cubs can’t win, but it sure as hell doesn’t help. Let’s get into the 20th century, people, and give the Cubs the same advantages the other teams enjoy.

The “friendly confines”? The only ones whom the ballpark has been friendly to in the last century has been the damn opposition!

If you are opposed to this idea, is it on the grounds that you’d rather have nostalgia over winning? Then I say you are not a baseball fan; you are a Wrigley Field fan, and you are part of the problem, by the way.

There is more to baseball than sitting in the bleachers and getting blasted, Cubs fans. How about ending this long, embarrassing reign of futility and putting the Cubs players in a position where they can succeed?

Or do you not care about winning?

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It has been reported that the New York Mets could be looking to move Carlos Beltran, and who could blame them? He is 33 and has played in only 145 games the past two seasons combined due to knee problems.

Beltran is also owed $18.5 million in the final season of his contract.

Meanwhile, the Cubs are trying to pare down payroll as new owner Tom Ricketts wants to build through the farm system. And while moving Carlos Zambrano for Beltran won’t accomplish anything in 2011, Big Z’s contract is guaranteed through 2012, so this move would save the Cubs at least $36 million, and possibly more if his 2013 player option vests. 

But why would the Mets do this? Well, Zambrano actually flashed some of his old form after coming back from a suspension in 2010. Zambrano was 7-0 with a 1.27 ERA in 10 starts following his return to the Cubs’ starting rotation in August. 

Both players have no-trade clauses, and Zambrano has said he does not want to go anywhere.

The always-questionable Bruce Levine reported back in October that “resurgent Chicago Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano said he will invoke his no-trade clause if he’s approached about a deal during the offseason.” 

But sometimes there are offers you just can’t refuse and if the Mets were to guarantee his vesting option for 2013, he just might come around.

As for the other Carlos, the AP reports that “Beltran says he wants to finish his career with the Mets, but if the team wants to trade him, ‘I have to listen.'”

The Cubs want to be rid of the headaches that Zambrano has caused and while new Mets GM Sandy Alderson is a smart man, starting pitching is awfully hard to come by, and it is unlikely that Beltran fits into the team’s plans this season, much less beyond 2011.

The Cubs, meanwhile, could try Beltran at first base or right field with Kosuke Fukudome being traded. How this would affect Tyler Colvin is immaterial, as he should not be a starting outfielder anyway.

Might Beltran have a resurgent year heading into free agency? It could happen. Zambrano could also have a big year, but what’s wrong with a win-win situation?

I admit this is not likely, but stranger things have happened.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

If you took the time to watch Sunday night’s episode of CBS’ Undercover Boss featuring Todd Ricketts, I feel sorry for you. Didn’t you have anything better to do, like watching paint dry?

It was the Cubs owners’ turn to pretend to be just regular guys and do menial tasks in front of hidden cameras. All I can say is if Todd Ricketts, younger brother of chief Cubs mouthpiece Tom, is any indication of the family smarts, then Cubs fans are in for another century-long drought.

To say that the younger Ricketts is uncomfortable being a regular guy is an understatement. He is so out of his element trying to do anything involving actual work that it really makes you wonder how this guy gets up in the morning and finds the shower without a map.

First of all, he chooses “Mark Dawson” as his fake name. “Mark Dawson”…really, Todd? You couldn’t have come up with something a bit more clever? Or something more appropriate, like “Ima Goof”?

The episode starts with a really awkward scene where Todd states, “All of us siblings are equal partners, but my role has yet to be defined.” 

Um, there’s a reason for that, Todd. Your role should be to just stay the hell away from the Cubs. Your brother is already doing a fine job of pretending to know how to run a baseball organization.

Watch Todd try to clean bathrooms. FAIL.

Watch Todd try to sell hot dogs. FAIL.

Watch Todd try to park cars and work the scoreboard. EPIC FAIL.

In short, the man can’t do anything right. But it’s a sign that the Ricketts family has an ego and how this whole thing makes sense now.

No, not the appearance on this stupid program; that only makes sense if the Rickettses are intent at continuing to make the Cubs look goofy. Rather, it’s brother Tom’s refusal to seek help to evaluate Jim Hendry and his band of generally mismanaging idiots.

If that isn’t a sure sign of “ego gone wild,” then I don’t know what is.

For just as surely as Todd can’t rinse urine off a bathroom floor, Tom can’t evaluate talent or run a baseball team. Oh, but that doesn’t stop him from trying.

Now, Tom didn’t appear on the show, but it’s easy to imagine a reality show based on how he’s running the Cubs.

Watch Tom say how great Hendry is. FAIL.

Watch Tom keep Crane Kenny around. FAIL.

Watch Tom only care about Wrigley Field. EPIC FAIL.

But you have to admit these Rickettses are entertaining. In fact, this slapstick ownership group is funny as hell.

So why am I not laughing?

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

When I went online to Cubs.com to take their survey, it offers the following choices of fandom:

Now, I am offended by the implication that if you only attend occasional games you are a “casual Cubs fan.”

Not only is that wrong; it is insulting.

For one thing, what if you can’t go to games due to a medical condition? For another, the high prices of taking a family to a baseball game almost prohibits the average fan from attending more than a handful of games.

Furthermore, a good fan won’t attend games if the product on the field is lousy. The Cubs don’t deserve our money if the team sucks. In fact, continuing to fill the park every day is one of the problems with the Cubs.

So, since I am one who only attends occasional games yet is way more than a casual fan, I selected “none of the above.” And you know what happened? It took me right out of the survey.

No “sorry”, no nothing.

Face it, Cubs fans: This ownership doesn’t give a crap about you if you don’t go to games, rent suites, and have a lot of disposable income.

This ownership only seems concerned with their cash cow, Wrigley Field, and not about the product on the field.

I don’t know about you, but I couldn’t care less about leg room, seat width and all of that other nonsense—I want a winning team on the field, period.

But Ricketts and his staff have already proven that winning is not the goal, despite what they may say. For if it were, he would install a guy to help him determine if Jim Hendry is doing a good job as GM or not.

After all, Michael McCaskey, er, I mean, Ricketts has admitted that he doesn’t know more than the casual fan.

It seems he wants the glory when they win and the ego boost that owning a team like the Cubs provides, but he can’t possibly fairly evaluate the team on the field without help. Help he has chosen to go without.

Remember what Ricketts said in his introductory press conference? “We’re going to hire people we trust, give them the opportunity to succeed, and hold them accountable.”

But Tom, how can you hold someone accountable without a real baseball man to help you figure it out?

Truth is, he cannot. But that doesn’t matter. What matters is Wrigley Field.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Edgar Renteria = Babe Ruth.

Really? Um, no. But it was Renteria’s supposed “called shot” that won it for the Giants as they can now call themselves World Series champions.

Aaron Rowand was miked when he was told that Renteria had said he was going to do it. And do it, he did. His three run homer was the difference as the Giants won 3-1, taking the series 4-1.

Cliff Lee was good, but he is 0-2 in the World Series. Meanwhile, the only mistake Tim Lincecum made was the solo home run that Nelson Cruz hit in the bottom of the seventh.

There is no reason to believe the Giants cannot do it again next year.

Look, I know the game just ended. But let’s take a look at five reasons why the Giants could repeat.

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The Giants won in Texas, 4-0, ending a three game home park advantage in the series. More importantly, with this win, they go up 3-1 in the best of seven and only need to win one of the remaining three games to win the World Series.

Aubrey Huff’s two-run shot off Tommy Hunter in the third inning put the Giants ahead to stay early in the game, and Andres Torres (double) and Buster Posey (homer) accounted for the other runs.

Meanwhile, the Rangers bullpen returned to its previous-to-game-3 form as two of the three relievers gave up runs.

Teams have seldom come back from a 3-1 deficit, although it is certainly possible. The 2-3-2 schedule means that there is one more in Texas before the series goes back to San Francisco, which makes a comeback slightly more possible.

Still, it does seem like it’s all over but the shouting for the Rangers, who had a great season. But it appears that the antlers and claws may soon be put on the shelf, at least until next year.

This Giants team may be a bunch of misfits, but if so, then misfits never fit so well together.

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The home cooking was especially tasty for the Texas Rangers on Saturday night, as they finally got on the board to make this a series heading into Game 4 with a 4-2 victory over the Giants in Arlington.

San Francisco had taken the first two games at home, slugging around Cliff Lee in Game 1 and dominating Texas 9-0 in Game 2.

Saturday continued the trend of home-field advantage, as the Rangers used two home runs to win and cut the Giants’ series lead to 2-1.

Meanwhile, even college football and the Dallas Cowboys had to take a back seat on a day when the World Series visited Texas for the first time ever. With the Cowboys playing poorly and the Longhorns losing to Baylor, World Series fever has swept the state, and, this time, the Rangers lived up to the billing.

Let’s take a look at the keys to the victory on the eve of Halloween. Don’t be scared. Come on in…

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