Kuzul

As we near the end of 2010, we can look back on the 2010 baseball season as one of change. Wins are no longer the deciding factor in Cy Young races, the Yankees aren’t automatically World Series bound each year and even if a team doesn’t hit immensely well, if they have pitching and defense, they can win championships.

As for what 2011 will hold, some things seem obvious; the continuation of this new era after the end of the steroid era will continue, ERAs will remain relatively low and we will see maybe one 50 HR performance, or more likely none at all.

Some things are harder to determine though. For these, here are 50 bold predictions of what will happen in 2011 in baseball.

Begin Slideshow

Now that the winter meetings have concluded, many players have changed hands, while others have signed with their original teams. Some have been a long time coming, like Adrian Gonzalez being traded to the Red Sox, while others seemed to come out of nowhere.

While many players have now been signed, there are many others who are still free agents, such as Cliff Lee and Adrian Beltre. Others are signed with their teams, but remain in trade rumors, as they have been since the season ended. This group of players will be looked at. Who is close to being signed, and which rumors have started to fall by the wayside?

Begin Slideshow

Baseball: America’s national pastime, a game rooted in the past and in tradition. It’s a sport where, more than any other, you look back at the dominance of yesteryear.

Talking points begin not with Barry Bonds, but Babe Ruth; not with Pete Rose, but Ty Cobb. Hank Aaron, Jackie Robinson, Lou Gehrig, Ted Williams and Willie Mays are also the talk of many.

There are many traditions in baseball. Some are limited to one team or ballpark, while others are practiced and celebrated throughout the league.

The following is a list of 50 of baseball’s greatest traditions. They are in no particular order. After all, you can’t put a price tag on tradition.

Begin Slideshow

Only one day into baseball’s winter meetings, there have already been many major deals. Adrian Gonzalez is now a member of the Boston Red Sox, Mark Reynolds is on the Orioles and Shaun Marcum is a Milwaukee Brewer, among others.

As the winter meetings continue to heat up, many of the marquee free agents remain unsigned, namely Cliff Lee and Carl Crawford, so free agency is going to continue to make its mark this offseason. Teams will keep dealing to either get the piece they need for a title or to continue their rebuilding process.

Which teams are the best and worst in the new power rankings after the first day of trades?

Begin Slideshow

Only one day into baseball’s winter meetings, there have already been many major deals. Adrian Gonzalez is now a member of the Boston Red Sox, Mark Reynolds is on the Orioles and Shaun Marcum is a Milwaukee Brewer, among others.

As the winter meetings continue to heat up, many of the marquee free agents remain unsigned, namely Cliff Lee and Carl Crawford, so free agency is going to continue to make its mark this offseason. Teams will keep dealing to either get the piece they need for a title or to continue their rebuilding process.

Which teams are the best and worst in the new power rankings after the first day of trades?

Begin Slideshow

This Major League Baseball offseason, while slow to build up, has started to make many large splashes. Recently, Adam Dunn signed a contract with the White Sox, and Troy Tulowitzki agreed to a massive extension with the Rockies.

While free agents are being signed, players are being traded. What is particularly interesting about the rumor mill for trades this year is that many of the players there were once considered untouchable. No one saw Jose Reyes leaving the Mets five years ago, or even last year, and likewise for Zack Greinke.

These are the 15 players who are no longer untouchable, and, as a result, are the target of potential trades.

Begin Slideshow

The 2010 season went down as one where we saw a shift to a different era.

Gone is the steroid era, and pitching has made a return to prominence. A new crop of rookies looks to be historically good, and many sure-fire Hall of Famers seem to be wrapping up their careers.

Now the season is over, and the offseason hot stove has started in full force. Already one major trade has happened that few saw coming, with Dan Uggla moving to a different team in the same division, the Atlanta Braves. But that won’t be the only major deal that will happen.

Some things will be expected this offseason, while others will come out of nowhere. The following are 50 bold predictions of what will happen in the upcoming three months.

Begin Slideshow

Pretty much everyone knows about the two gems of this year’s free agency period, Cliff Lee and Carl Crawford. Even though the pool is relatively weak this year, there are other big names out there. One of the most notable is Phillies right fielder Jayson Werth.

Werth had a career year this past season, hitting .296 with 27 home runs, 85 RBI, and a league-high 46 doubles, en route to an eighth-place finish in MVP voting. As such, there are many that could use his bat in the lineup.

Which teams have the best chance to land him and who is the front runner?

Good chances: Giants, Angels, Phillies, Tigers, Red Sox

Begin Slideshow

While the 2010 MLB offseason has been quiet thus far, rumors have been surfacing on various players going to various teams. The free agents get most of these rumors, as they can sign with any team. However, other players under contract have been getting looks, and a trade involving that star can send shockwaves throughout baseball.

Already we’ve had one major trade this offseason. Florida Marlins second baseman Dan Uggla was traded to the Atlanta Braves for pitcher Michael Dunn and utility man Omar Infante. If a trade sending Uggla to the Braves, who already had an All-Star second baseman in Martin Prado, can happen, then there are many others that can.

Some of the following trades may happen due to the player being unhappy, others due to the team being unhappy. Others could just simply be two teams seeing the right pieces to their own respective puzzles.

Begin Slideshow

In this year’s rather modest free agent market, two names stick out; Carl Crawford of the Rays, and Cliff Lee of the Rangers. Lee in particular is the gem of the starting pitcher class, a one-time Cy Young winner, and a key piece of two straight World Series appearances.

Only three years ago, Lee was a hot and cold pitcher, who had some great years, but also had bad years. Since then, he has been one of the most consistent pitchers in the game, complete with multiple complete games and very few walks. Likewise, it took Roy Halladay a few years to get going, but now he’s perhaps the best pitcher in the league.

Cliff Lee’s contract is expected to be very expensive for either the Yankees or the Rangers over the next few years. Is it justified giving Lee perhaps 20 million a year, given how long it took him to get going, or given his struggles in Texas? Absolutely. Here’s why:

Begin Slideshow