Kuzul

The 2010-11 MLB offseason is nearing its end, and most players of note have now been signed to contracts. There are some free agents lurking around, mainly in the DH department, such as Vladimir Guerrero and Manny Ramirez, but nearly all position players have found a home at this point.

Now that the big names are signed, it is time to look back at the offseason moves. Some were genius plays by teams, others looked ridiculous. This is not the place for that. Instead, I will be looking at the most overrated moves. Which moves were hyped to no end, yet will not make much of a difference for the teams that made them?

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The Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2011 inducted two very different, yet (in my mind) two very deserving players. Roberto Alomar was perhaps the premier all-around player of our time, and Bert Blyleven was a strikeout machine who could at least keep his team in games, even if they didn’t get the win.

While the Class of 2012 will likely be empty, there are many active players who seem like sure things when their time comes. Albert Pujols, Roy Halladay, and Joe Mauer are examples of players who will probably have no trouble.

There are a few borderline cases as well, such as Andy Pettitte or Jim Thome (though 10 years ago, he’d have been in on the first ballot)

The following are 25 great players who are either great now or on the tail end of their careers. Unfortunately for them though, they will not be a part of the Hall of Fame for various reasons unless the Hall goes crazy like they did in the late 1960s/early 1970s (the inductions of Rube Marquard, Jesse Haines and Paul Waner really hurt the Hall).

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We have less than a month until pitchers and catchers start to report, and as a result, players and teams are wrapping up any remaining contracts on both ends. Many players were signed yesterday in hopes of the team avoiding arbitration, yet there are some notable players that will be stating their case for a big contract.

Aside from arbitration news and the retirement of Gil Meche, what else is happening as the winter months wrap up? Who are the Yankees about to sign to a deal? Is Jose Bautista heading to arbitration, and if so how far apart are the two sides? Has Joe Blanton gotten some renewed interest?

For that matter, did Carl Pavano finally sign with the Twins? Read on to find out the latest MLB news.

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With only a month or so until pitchers and catchers report to training camp, the final free agents are beginning to find homes at last. Jim Thome signed a deal with the Minnesota Twins, and Rafael Soriano has become the most expensive setup man of all time, hopefully.

I don’t see why anyone would pay $11 million for a setup man, but nonetheless, his contract has been signed, and it’s time to look at the future.

Joey Votto and the Reds have been back and forth about a possible contract negotiation. Has that happened now? Is anyone in the market for Bruce Chen?

For that matter, why is Carl Pavano still not signed?

Here are the latest MLB rumors and buzz.

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The Philadelphia Phillies have made a major splash in free agency this past offseason. The only person of note they lost was Jayson Werth, who signed with the Washington Nationals, and they signed Cliff Lee to a deal seemingly out of nowhere.

Beyond that huge signing, most of their contracts were either minor league offers, such as signing Kevin Cash, and re-signing their own free agents, like Jose Contreras.

Nonetheless, the team still has a couple voids remaining. They could use a number five starter, although they don’t seem to be in a hurry to trade Joe Blanton. Having an extra proven lefty alongside J.C. Romero could help as well. While Ruben Amaro has noted that he’s fine with the roster as is, here are some players that the Phillies could bring in.

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The Major League Baseball free agency period is beginning to wind down. Adrian Beltre has signed with the Texas Rangers, Matt Garza is now a Chicago Cub after a big trade and many teams have wrapped up signing players for the 2011 season.

Other free agents have not been as lucky. Rafael Soriano is still looking for a club, as are Brian Fuentes, Eric Chavez and others. Teams still have openings on their roster for talent, and even as we speak players are being signed to deals. What are the top MLB rumors right now? Is Rafael Soriano close to a deal? Who did the San Diego Padres just sign? Could Jim Thome be on a new team next year?

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It’s that time of year in Major League Baseball. After free agency dies down, the focus shifts from those searching for a new contract to an entirely different group: those who are retired and now hope to achieve baseball’s greatest honor of being placed in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Last year, Andre Dawson made his way into the hall in his ninth time on the ballot, as Bert Blyleven and Roberto Alomar fell just short. Whitey Herzog was put in as a manager, and Doug Harvey was put in as an umpire as well. Jeff Bagwell, Larry Walker, Juan Gonzalez and Kevin Brown are among the first-timers on the ballot this year, to go with holdovers that include Edgar Martinez, Alan Trammell and Barry Larkin.

Who will join executive Pat Gillick in the Hall of Fame in 2011? Who got snubbed, and who got far more votes than they should have? Will B.J. Surhoff get a vote to put him in Cooperstown, for that matter? Stay tuned, as the announcement is imminent.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The free agent cycle for baseball seems to be wrapping up. The final major names are beginning to get contracts, and most teams have stopped shopping around and are just trying to get things sorted out for next season.

While some teams made moves to make a playoff push next year, other teams have gotten rid of their stars and are relying on rebuilding this year. Nonetheless, there are a few teams that are continuing to make moves, even as spring training approaches. Which teams are set, and which continue to make moves?

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As the quantity and quality of remaining free agents continues to shrink, those remaining are continuing their search for a team in 2011. Those that remain searching for teams include major names that were expected to have already found a team by now, including Adrian Beltre, Carl Pavano and Rafael Soriano.

Besides that, players who have been the subject of trade rumors find themselves still there as they remain with their current teams. Justin Upton was never close to being moved despite much discussion for a few weeks, and Jonathan Papelbon remains a member of the Red Sox.

Who is the subject of current trade rumors and which free agents are close to signing? Read on to find out.

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The baseball offseason is characterized by the free agency movement, where players sign with teams for top dollar. It seems as if every year, another free agent breaks the record for biggest contract. When these major deals in particular don’t work out, then they hurt the organization big time.

It seems to happen all too often; a player is signed to a major contract only to fail miserably, whether it’s due to injury or ineffectiveness. Even as early as last year, we could find contracts that did not work out, and now that salaries have exploded, this will continue to happen. As for these 50 free agent busts, they’re just happy that, for most of them, they’re past this experience.

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