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Major League Baseball’s hot stove is cold, but will only need a few impact moves to heat up again over the next few weeks. Despite pitchers and catchers preparing to arrive for spring training in less than a month, there’s still major business to tend to this offseason.

With arbitration numbers exchanged, settlements achieved and hearings set for February, the short-term payroll for each team is coming into focus for 2014. 

The free-agent market is still ripe with options, but trades could be the most efficient team-building route for the following teams. 

Here are four arbitration-eligible stars who should be moved between now and the start of spring training.

*Statistics courtesy of Baseball-Reference and Fangraphs, unless otherwise noted. All contract figures courtesy of Cot’s Baseball Contracts. 

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Over the last two decades, the New York Yankees have put the fate of their franchise in Derek Jeter‘s hands. Now, as the 39-year-old enters the twilight of his career, the team is asking its captain to do something only three shortstops in the history of the sport have done: profile as an everyday shortstop as a 40-year-old.

From 1996 through 2012, spanning the first 17 seasons of Derek Jeter‘s career, the Yankees shortstop averaged 151 games played per year. That number, remarkable on its own, is even more staggering when considering the chunk of games missed in both 2003 and 2011 due to shoulder and calf injuries, respectively. 

For 15 of 17 big league seasons, Jeter played in at least 148 games. During that span, the future first-ballot Hall of Famer racked up 71.6 bWAR and five World Series rings. 

After an injury-plagued 2013 that limited him to just 17 games, the Yankees are banking on Jeter to regain his health and take the field on an everyday basis during the 2014 season.

Based on the history of baseball, it’s a major risk. 

Only three shortstops—Honus Wagner, Omar Vizquel and Luke Appling—have logged 500-plus plate appearances in an age-40 season. Even if we dilute the criteria down to include Barry Larkin‘s 2004 season, Jeter is chasing his past as his present becomes a murky issue around the win-now Yankees.

The precedent has been set for Jeter to strive for, but an apples-to-apples comparison isn’t quite fair in this situation. None of the shortstops above missed as much time as Jeter during their age-39 seasons. In fact, on average, the quartet of 40-year-old iron men played in more than 96 games in the season prior—in other words, five times as many as Jeter did last year.

As you can see, the shortstops profiled defied the odds but didn’t carry their teams.

For the Yankees, that’s an acceptable scenario due to the dearth of options behind Jeter on the roster. As long as the 19-year veteran is healthy enough to take the field, he’ll be productive enough to slide somewhere near Appling and Larkin in OPS productivity. 

MLB Network’s Brian Kenny, when breaking down the top 10 shortstops right now (video below), alluded to a healthy Jeter as a productive player. Considering that Jeter’s 2012 produced a .791 OPS, 216 hits and 99 runs scored, don’t expect any argument here.  

Yet, it’s Jeter’s ability to actually stay on the field that should have the Yankees’ brass worried.

Over the next few weeks, as veteran players begin to trickle into Florida and Arizona for spring training, expect to hear more stories like this one from Matt Ehalt of ESPN New York about Jeter’s excellent health, workout regimen and reasons why Jeter’s 2013 didn’t go as planned. 

It’s easy to fall for the trap that Jeter’s leg issues in 2013—stemming from a broken ankle suffered in the 2012 ALCS—will disappear with a full winter of conditioning and strength work. After all, Jeter wasn’t able to work out his lower body last year, contributing to muscle pulls and awkward running when he eventually returned for unproductive stints last season.

However, the attrition of a season, combined with Jeter’s age and lack of alternatives behind him on the Yankees depth chart, should be a cause for concern. 

Unless the team changes course and pursues free-agent shortstop Stephen Drew, which isn’t likely according to Peter Gammons, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman is poised to present manager Joe Girardi with a difficult decision: run a potentially productive 40-year-old shortstop into the ground and back to injury or cut his playing time in favor of offensively challenged players.

At this moment, Brendan Ryan and Eduardo Nunez are the only other shortstops on the Yankees’ 40-man roster. Last year, sorting by players afforded at least 300 plate appearances, Ryan had the worst OPS (.528) in the sport, per Baseball-Reference (subscription required). Since debuting in 2010, Nunez’s OPS+ of 87 puts him about 13 percent worse than the league average.

Simply put, the Yankees don’t have enough offense at shortstop to survive if Jeter misses time.

If we can see that, surely the front office of one of baseball’s most successful teams should clearly understand it. Bryan Hoch of MLB.com doesn’t think the Yankees want to bet against Derek Jeter. As he explains in the following video, they want Jeter to come back and play shortstop at a high level once again. 

To be fair, Jeter has defied the odds and critics before. After an awful 2010 (90 OPS+), Jeter returned to his old form after he surpassed the 3,000-hit plateau in 2011. When Jeter owned a .260/.327/.327 slash line on June 3, 2011, it was easy to understand why the words “finished” and “end of the line” were associated with the Cooperstown-bound star. 

As if on cue, Jeter reclaimed his stroke that summer. From June 4, 2011, through the end of that season, the freshly minted member of the 3,000-hit club carried an .805 OPS. To put that number into perspective, Jeter’s carer OPS is .828. At the age of 37, he was nearly as good as he’s been for an entire career.

Doubting Derek Jeter is a fool’s errand. Clearly, the Yankees believe in the health of their shortstop. If they didn’t, a viable backup option would already be present on the roster for the 2014 season. 

Time will tell if Brian Cashman and Co. are correct, but as of right now, it’s hard not to be worried about the team if Jeter’s age forces him to miss significant time again this summer.

Should the Yankees be more concerned about Derek Jeter?

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Every Major League Baseball team strives to avoid the free-agent market by cultivating and developing cheap, homegrown prospects into contributing players. Yet, when those players advance through their first few years in the show, salary arbitration becomes a story.

This year, 151 players, per USA Today, are eligible for salary arbitration. The criteria for becoming eligible for salary arbitration is defined here, via Fangraphs. With the date for filing arriving today, let the games begin.

For the agents, players and teams involved, three separate and distinct possibilities will arise over the next few weeks: One-year agreement, long-term extension or an arbitration hearing to choose the salary submission for one side.

Last year, for the first time since the right to arbitration arose in 1974, no player took a case to a hearing, per Forbes.

This winter, many stars are on the docket, increasing the likelihood that hearings will occur. Yet, teams have become adverse to arguing over a few hundred thousand dollars with players they hope to eventually bring back on long-term deals.

The following is an estimate of the outcome odds for each of the top players filing for salary arbitration in 2014.

*All projected arbitration salaries for 2014 are via MLB Trade Rumors. Statistics courtesy of Baseball-Reference and Fangraphs, unless otherwise noted. 

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Get your popcorn ready, folks.

When it comes to the free-agent tour for Japanese pitcher Masahiro Tanaka, expect a whirlwind of rumors, news and excitement over the next two weeks. By the end of January, the top pitcher on the market will pick a team, starting a domino effect for the rest of baseball’s available players.

At this point, it’s probably easier to list the teams not interested in Tanaka. With a posting fee of only $20 million—owed only when Tanaka‘s signature is on a free-agent contract—almost any team, in any market, can engage the 25-year-old pitcher in a conversation.

From there, the fun begins.

Earlier this week, Tanaka arrived in the United States, ready and willing to meet with teams. In the interest of time, the right-handed pitcher took a physical exam upon arriving in Los Angeles, with the idea of distributing one medical report to all interested parties, per Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.

Assuming that medical report comes up clean, expect the contract offers to roll in quickly.

Here’s a rundown of all the latest rumors and news surrounding Tanaka‘s U.S. recruiting tour. 

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In professional sports, smart, forward-thinking organizations have the ability to project ahead, anticipate the future, yet still focus on the present. For Major League Baseball general managers, deciding on which arbitration-eligible players to extend before free agency arrives is a yearly right of passage. 

This practice, sometimes referred to as “buying out” arbitration years, was made famous by former Indians and Rangers general manager John Hart. In the early 90s, Hart took over the fledgling Cleveland Indians, a team without a great business model. Prior to the opening of Jacobs Field, Cleveland had little hope for big attendance, revenue to sign outside free agents or the ability to keep homegrown stars.

Hart, upon taking over, was blessed with an abundance of homegrown stars. From Jim Thome to Manny Ramirez to Charles Nagy, the nucleus of a dominant team was being formed. 

Instead of dreading the yearly arbitration process and fighting against ascending talents for every penny, Hart began the practice of securing their services with deals to buy out arbitration years. While the team took some risk if those players were injured or didn’t live up to expectations, millions of dollars were saved when they became stars.

The Hart model is one that has been copied throughout the years, most notably by the Tampa Bay Rays.

This offseason, six players stand out as candidates for long-term deals. With risk, comes reward for each organization represented.

Without further ado, the arbitration-eligible players who should be signed long-term.

*All projected arbitration salaries for 2014 are via MLB Trade Rumors. Statistics courtesy of Baseball-Reference and Fangraphs, unless otherwise noted.

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Months after a season-ending press conference turned awkward for the Los Angeles Dodgers, manager Don Mattingly received what he wanted all along: a contract extension.

According to Ramona Shelburne of ESPN, the Dodgers have reached an agreement with Mattingly to keep the former lame-duck manager in tow for the next three seasons. Now, after months of speculation about Mattingly‘s long-term viability in Los Angeles, the franchise has committed to him for the foreseeable future.

The deal, confirmed by Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, replaces the existing one-year deal for 2014 with a contract that spans through 2016.

In order to reward their faith in him, the former on-field great must morph from a good leader to a very good tactician in the dugout in order to help the talented Dodgers reach their ceiling and win a championship over the next few years.

The Dodgers retained their guy, hoping he’s the right man to ascend to the throne of champion. After a long, storied career that left Mattingly on the outside of the championship chase in New York, his best chance at a ring comes now.

Heading into the 2014 season, “Donnie Baseball” will enter spring training with the best roster in the sport.

Yes, the Dodgers will arrive at spring training with more talent on their 40-man roster than the World Series champion Boston Red Sox, defending NL champion St. Louis Cardinals, maturing Washington Nationals and re-stocked Texas Rangers.

With NL Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw spearheading the rotation, and Yasiel Puig and Hanley Ramirez poised to play full seasons, the Dodgers have MVP candidates littered throughout the roster. If former NL MVP runner-up Matt Kemp can regain his health, the roster is loaded enough to expect 100-plus wins and a trip deep into October.

Last year, despite injuries to Zack Greinke, Ramirez and Kemp, along with Puig toiling in the minors until June, Mattingly led the Dodgers to a 92-win season. With that came an NL West crown and an NLDS victory over the Atlanta Braves. After beginning the season with a dismal record of 30-42, the Dodgers reeled off 62 wins over their last 90 games.

That run was a testament to Mattingly‘s resolve in the dugout. By keeping the roster together, even in the face of rumors of his impending firing, the young manager proved that he has what it takes to manage talented players in the face of adversity. The speculation about Mattingly‘s long-term status in Los Angeles had little to do with his ability to lead, motivate and calm the roster during difficult times. 

Instead, any debate around Mattingly‘s ability to win a World Series stems from strategy, specifically his in-game acumen. 

During the aforementioned press conference in which Mattingly asked for a contract extension, he alluded to the criticism of every move weighing on him, per Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times. 

“Really what it does, it puts me in a spot where everything that I do is questioned because I’m basically trying out or auditioning to say, ‘Can he manage or can he not manage?'” Mattingly said. “To me, it’s at that point where, three years in, you either know or you don’t.”

Three years into Mattingly‘s managerial tenure, here’s what we know: Through 485 games, he’s a winner. With a .536 winning percentage, the 52-year-old manager is off to a good start.

By handing their manager a three-year deal, the Dodgers are signalling that they acknowledge his good work. In the minds of the Los Angeles brass, Mattingly is the right man to lead the team to a World Series championship for the first time since the 1988 season. 

But now that he has the backing of the organization, the focus will squarely fall upon his performance. If Mattingly thinks the scrutiny around his decisions will end upon signing this deal, he’s very wrong. As Dodgers fans expect more winning, every move will be up for debate. Fortunately for him, the debate won’t immediately center around his job security with every puzzling move he makes in 2014.

And make no mistake, there will be puzzling moves. 

Last October, despite holding a 2-1 series advantage in the NLDS over the Atlanta Braves, Mattingly sent Kershaw to the mound in Game 4. Despite holding a lead, the Dodgers chose to ride their ace on three days rest. Conventional wisdom would have dictated to hold Kershaw back for a potential Game 5, putting him out there to rescue the series on full rest. Of course, Kershaw won the game and series, taking Mattingly off the hook if Game 5 became a reality.

Furthermore, as John Harper of the New York Daily News detailed, Mattingly decided to pinch-run for Adrian Gonzalez in the eighth inning of a tie game in the NLCS. When Dee Gordon, Gonzalez’s replacement, didn’t score in the inning, the game stay tied and cost Los Angeles two more turns at bat for one of their best run producers.

Those moves are just a few that illustrate Mattingly’s gambling style of managing.

Sometimes they work, sometimes they don’t. With a new contract emboldening him, expect more of the same moving forward.

The thinking here is that the Dodgers know exactly what they have in their dugout: an excellent leader, capable of winning with big talent and unafraid of taking risks in big moments.

Over the next few years, Mattingly will be expected to win a World Series, and despite all the puzzling moves, he’s a proven winner and has shown that he is deserving of the extension.

Agree? Disagree?

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The National Baseball Hall of Fame is a sensitive and controversial topic, regardless of which player, era or concept is up for discussion. As the baseball community reacts to the 2014 induction list, one thing is certain: At some point, a designated hitter will be inducted into Cooperstown.

When that day arrives, former Seattle Mariners great Edgar Martinez should be the man to carry the torch into baseball’s hallowed hallways. 

After researching the respective careers of the top designated hitters in baseball history, Martinez and David Ortiz, it’s clear which player should be the first in Cooperstown. The voting public may react differently over the next 10 years, but the facts are undeniably in the favor of the currently eligible Martinez.

With no disrespect to current Red Sox star David Ortiz, the idea of Big Papi paving the way for designated hitters in the Hall of Fame is backwards. After all, it was Martinez who redefined offense at the position, dominated American League pitching for years before Ortiz’s ascension and put up staggering numbers that few hitters in baseball history have ever matched.

Before breaking down why Martinez is deserving of induction in Cooperstown, this disclaimer is necessary in the interest of clarity: David Ortiz is on the path to the Hall of Fame, regardless of where the numbers and facts currently stand. If he continues to mash AL East pitching over the next few seasons, his accolades will be too hard to ignore for the BBWAA voters.

Of course, Edgar Martinez’s numbers should be too hard to ignore now.

In baseball history, only 19 hitters with at least 5,000 career at-bats, regardless of position, have posted a career slash line of at least .300/.400/.500. Edgar Martinez is one of those hitters. The names on the following chart comprise the most dominant offensive performers in the history of the sport. 

Currently, the average Hall of Fame hitter has produced approximately 69 WAR, according to Baseball-Reference. Martinez, despite making his name as a designated hitter after injuries and failed attempts at playing the infield during his youth, retired with a career WAR of 68.1, virtually identical to the average HOF mark.

Over the years, my stance on Martinez’s candidacy has shifted. Reliving his career through statistics, video and columns from his playing days has provided clarity on the kind of impact performer he truly was for the Seattle Mariners. That impact, similar to what Ortiz has meant to the Boston Red Sox, can’t be overlooked.

After acknowledging Martinez’s rightful place in Cooperstown, the topic shifts to his place among all-time DH’s, specifically in reference to the path Ortiz is currently blazing through the sport. 

Let’s take a look at four key areas (peak, late-career dominance, October success and total value) to assess why Martinez, not Ortiz, is the rightful king of the DH throne. 

When at their respective bests, both Martinez and Ortiz were middle-of-the-order stars, run producers and nightmares for opposing pitchers. Although a dip in Ortiz’s performance, followed up by a current resurgence, made comparing their six-year peaks difficult, the numbers don’t lie: During their best, Martinez had more of an impact than Ortiz.

While a fair argument can be made that Martinez’s best years coincided with one of the biggest offensive booms in history, OPS-plus, or adjusted OPS, takes that into account. Even after resetting the league standards, Martinez was 12 percent better than Ortiz during their most dominant seasons.

This piece, specifically when comparing career excellence of both designated hitters, produced some surprising numbers. None of which was more eye-opening than the perception vs. reality look at how each hitter performed during the late stages of their career.

Admittedly, Ortiz’s most recent success, capped off by another dominant run to a World Series ring, led me to believe that his late-career dominance was pushing him past Edgar Martinez. As Ortiz ages, he seems to get better and better. In a twist of irony, Martinez did the same. In fact, he was even better from age 35-37 than Ortiz has been. 

If there’s an area where Ortiz closes the gap, in a significant way, it lies in October. Over the course of his career in Boston, David Ortiz has surpassed Reggie Jackson to become the true Mr. October. That feat, while difficult to parlay within a discussion of regular-season dominance, is part of Ortiz’s ledger, undoubtedly part of the reason he’ll eventually land in Cooperstown.

Martinez, despite a few gigantic postseason series, including the 1995 ALDS that put the Mariners franchise on the national map, didn’t come close to replicating the success that Ortiz put forth when championships were on the line. If we call Martinez a good postseason performer, it’s necessary to call Ortiz an elite October hitter. 

Finally, there’s the subject of value. Although Baseball-Reference and Fangraphs have varying degrees of WAR and calculating the true value of players, their respective systems paint a very similar picture of the two DHs in question. Without a doubt, Martinez provided more value than Ortiz. In fact, the gap isn’t even close.  

To be fair, Ortiz’s career isn’t over. With the way he’s hit over the last few years, projecting three or four more years of value onto his career ledger isn’t outlandish. Yet, even if he can produce 3.8 WAR per year (his average value over the last two seasons) for the next three years, his career mark will still be well below the average hitter in the Hall of Fame.  

Depending on your take on postseason accolades, Ortiz is likely poised to parlay his championship rings, Mr. October moniker and importance as a central figure in Red Sox history into a future Cooperstown induction ceremony. If, say, Ortiz retires within 10 WAR of Edgar Martinez, the pomp and circumstance around his fame and October genius will even the playing field. 

If that occurs, Ortiz will have done enough to catch Edgar Martinez as the greatest DH ever. When that day arrives, Ortiz should join Martinez in Cooperstown, not be forced to knock down the door for a hitter of Martinez’s caliber. 

Agree? Disagree?

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Baseball, despite how much we analyze and study the game, will always surprise fans. For every star who has a poor season, castoffs, veterans and young players emerge to exceed expectations. In 2013, six players did just that on the way to stardom.

In 2014, don’t expect the same results. Over the course of time, more innings, at-bats and exposure, true stars emerge from the pack. One or two big seasons won’t make a star. Instead, years of success are needed to be exempt from a list like this.

The following is a look into six players who had star-level campaigns last season, but are bound to fade away in 2014. Few, if any, will be released or sent away to the minor leagues, but don’t expect All-Star Game appearances on their ledger for 2014. 

Without further ado, six stars who will quickly fade away in 2014.

*All statistics courtesy of Baseball-Reference or Fangraphs, unless otherwise noted.

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Through the first two seasons of Bryce Harper‘s career, he’s shown prodigious power at a young age. If his offseason plan comes to fruition, he’ll be bigger and stronger than ever in 2014.

According to Anna McDonald of ESPN, Bryce Harper is looking to bulk up this winter after finishing the 2013 season at 218 pounds. The 21-year-old prodigy isn’t just looking to put on a little weight, he’s looking to transform his body in preparation for the rigors of a long, grinding season. 

“I’m excited to take a month off, that’s something I’m excited for, let the body rest,” Harper said. “Let the body heal a little bit and get as big as a house. That’s the biggest thing I try to do.”

“As big as a house” is a phrase that might already be in production for a line of clothing in Washington, D.C for the upcoming season. While the notion might seem crazy for a young athlete like Harper, he seems to have a goal in mind.

“I want to go into spring training about 240, 245,” said Harper. “I’ll lose about 20 pounds during the season.”

According to Harper’s Baseball-Reference page, he’s listed at 230 pounds. If he shows up to spring training 10-15 pounds heavier, concerns about its effect on his game will become a narrative for the media to talk about. Speed, range in the outfield and injury risk due to more weight will become part of the conversation around Harper.

Of course, so will the added bulk changing his strength profile at the plate. If Harper does succeed in his goal, he’ll likely be stronger throughout the rigors of the season. Even if he loses the weight by midseason or September, he’ll still be bigger than he was when the 2013 season ended. 

Bryce Harper has proven to be an awfully powerful hitter during his short time in the major leagues. Over the first 257 games of his career, Harper has slugged 42 home runs, while posting a .481 slugging percentage. 

Those figures may not be close to as prolific as Barry Bonds or Mark McGwire in their respective primes, but when comparing Harper with every 19- and 20-year-old hitter in the history of baseball, his place in the record book stands out.  

Harper isn’t just powerful, he blasted more home runs through his age-20 season than all but two hitters, Mel Ott and Tony Conigliaro, in the history of the sport. While that is an impressive feat without context, the names below him on that list make it stand out even more. Alex Rodriguez, Frank Robinson, Ken Griffey Jr. and Mickey Mantle began some of the most prolific careers in baseball history by producing fewer home runs than Bryce Harper.

Now, heading into his age-21 season, Harper is poised to become bigger and possibly stronger. It remains to be seen if it will lead to more home runs, but the natural progression of power hitters typically leads to more power as the years go on. 

Legendary baseball writer Peter Gammons agrees with that notion. Recently, before the news of Harper’s weight gain became public knowledge, Gammons listed Harper among five players with the potential to approach a “near-historic” level in 2014. Per the column on Gammons Daily: “His OPS still rose from .817 to .854 despite the injuries, we have seen his prodigious power, his hitting skills, his edgy fire and his wont to be great.”

As Gammons noted, Harper’s .854 OPS, factoring in his excellent plate discipline, was an improvement over his age-19 season. While the home run totals are staggering, so is Harper’s place among the best adjusted OPS marks for young hitters in history. Through his age-20 season, the Nationals star owns the sixth-best OPS+ (125) in history (subscription required for link). Among the names below him on that list: Ken Griffey Jr. and Al Kaline. 

Yes, Harper’s OPS, despite the weight loss at the end of last season, rose from 2012 to 2013. As the former No. 1 overall pick moves into his third year and age-21 season, predicting a rise to 30 or 35 home runs wouldn’t be outlandish.  

Now, Harper’s ascension to the top of the power-hitting charts may begin even more quickly than expected. 

Bryce Harper’s desire to be great, evident to any baseball fan who has followed his path from Sports Illustrated cover boy at the age of 16 to top draft pick to his ascension through the minor leagues to stardom in Washington, is almost surely the driving force behind this offseason’s weight-management tactic. 

Take a look at the following home run hit by Harper in a late-September game this past season. If he’s feeling weaker than usual, it certainly doesn’t show. By blasting a low pitch deep into the right-center field seats, Harper showed the type of easy, natural power that has been present in his swing since video of his amateur exploits first hit the Internet.  

Naturally, without the aid of more bulk, Bryce Harper has the ability to be one of the best power-hitting stars in baseball. 

With some added heft, the National League could be in big trouble during the 2014 season.

Will Harper become one of the best sluggers in baseball in 2014?

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Earlier this month, Bleacher Report had an exclusive opportunity to speak with Craig Breslow of the Boston Red Sox as a part of his Strike 3 Foundation’s involvement with GE’s 3-D printing technology. 

On December 3, GE, represented by Breslow, participated in the first ever National 3-D Printing Day, attempting to highlight the benefits additive manufacturing presents the world.

I had the opportunity to represent B/R in a wide-ranging conversation with Breslow that touched on GE’s initiative, chemistry in the Red Sox clubhouse, personal and team-wide impact of the tragic Boston Marathon bombing and free agency.

Bleacher Report: How did you get involved with GE on such a unique campaign?

Breslow: GE asked me to be a celebrity influence for the cause. After hearing the benefits of this technology, it was impossible to say no to a great company. I’ve always been interested in different realms of technology, probably as an avenue to a post-career life away from baseball, and GE represented something great, along with a chance to learn.

B/R: Last year was a special season in Boston, but it began in the midst of tragedy after the Boston Marathon bombing. How did that impact you and your teammates? 

Breslow: Fenway Park became a base for Red Sox fans. They could get away from the troubles of the real world. The team appreciated that and wanted to honor those lost. It’s a fine line. No victory, regular season or postseason can compare or change what happened. It’s unfair to marginalize tragedy around sports, but we did our best to give grieving fans and a grieving city something to be proud of during the summer and fall.

B/R: Chemistry can be overrated by the sports media, but your team seemed to have something special. Was that organic or by design from the way management put together the roster?

Breslow: Management can put together a group that they feel will work well together, but it has to come within. Leaders like David Ortiz, Dustin Pedroia, Jon Lester and John Lackey simply weren’t going to let another year like 2012 happen.

B/R: Who were the under-the-radar leaders in your clubhouse? We always hear about Ortiz and Pedroia, but every good team has veterans who lead by example or with vocal wisdom.

Breslow: David Ross and Jonny Gomes fit that description. Both dealt with issues. Ross had concussion problems, missing time and having to overcome a scary ailment for a catcher. Gomes had to deal with half the media questioning his importance to our team and inclusion in the lineup during a slump in the postseason. In our dugout, not one man was surprised when he hit a big home run to turn the World Series.  

B/R: Free-agent dollars have exploded around the sport. Your former teammate, Jacoby Ellsbury, recently signed a contract in excess of $150 million to play for the Yankees. How do you react to all the money flying around the hot stove?

Breslow: I’m happy for Jacoby, he’s a friend. We’ll miss him, but he deserved to be rewarded for a great career. Owners and GM’s might never truly understand how to value players. Premier talents are elite, and should be paid accordingly. A player’s worth? What a team is willing to offer. With TV and media revenue, the players deserve their share.

B/R: What about your position? Although you were one of the best relievers in the game (226 ERA+) last season, a contract like that will never be in your future. Outside of the Mariano Riveras and Jonathan Papelbons, free-agent relievers don’t garner lucrative, long-term deals. 

Breslow: I think it will change some as time goes on. We (RP’s) don’t garner the innings or playing time, but the high-leverage moments are always in our hands. With less managers willing to allow starters to pitch complete games, the games can really be decided by bullpen arms. Big impact, small playing time, misunderstood value.

B/R: Does the discrepancy between the paychecks for starters compared to relievers strike you as puzzling? In this era, some young starters barely pitch five innings, leaving relievers to win or lose the game.

Breslow: To an extent. Anyone who understands baseball knows the value of great starting pitching, but the game has changed. Complete games are rare, and the bullpen has become a major component of how the game is managed and played on a daily basis. A lead, even if a starter does a solid job, is only worth a victory if the bullpen can close it out. Teams are only as solid as their weakest link.

To find out more about GE’s #3DPrintMyGift and the newest technology, click here. 

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