Kuzul

When Ozzie Guillen filled out his lineup card throughout the 2010 season, the DH spot in the lineup was often a black hole. It seemed like the White Sox had this hodgepodge of players trying to fill the position and none of them could cut the mustard.

White Sox DH’s hit .247/.332/.396 with 18 HRs in 2010. Now they have a guy who might hit 18 HRs in the first half of the 2011 season.

The White Sox signed DH/1B Adam Dunn to a four-year, $56 million contract on Thursday. Dunn spent the last two years of his career in a Washington Nationals uniform.

I don’t have a problem with the length of the contract, as Dunn will be 35 when the contract ends. With the position he plays, he should still be productive by that age.

I do however think the dollar amount per year is a little high for what Dunn will bring to the table, but not completely outlandish. If I were going to go four years with the big Texan, I would have gone four for $44 million.

Dunn made $10 million a year for the last two years with the Nationals, so a $4 million/year raise isn’t crazy. It wasn’t like Dunn made $3 million and GM Kenny Williams gave him a huge raise.

Money aside, I think the one thing people don’t realize with Dunn is that he has been one of the most consistent players in baseball over the past seven seasons.

Here is what I know I am going to get with Dunn every year. Dunn’s 162-game average looks something like this: .250/.381/.521 with 40 HRs. And guess what? He pretty much comes close to that line every year.

I would expect it to be bombs away in the hitter-friendly US Cellular Field. Forty-five to 50 HRs won’t be out of the question for Dunn in 2011.

I also know Dunn is going to take the field every day. Dunn has played in over 150 games eight out of nine years in the majors. For a guy his size, that’s pretty impressive.

Dunn will be the primary DH for the White Sox in 2011, but will sprinkle in time at first as well. His time at first will mostly depend on whether or not the White Sox bring back Paul Konerko, which I expect them to do.

If there is a concern with Dunn, it’s that his BB percentage has decreased three years in a row and his K percentage has increased three years in a row—never a good trend to have.

However, my positive spin on that is that Dunn was playing on a pretty bad team the last two years and that could be the result of him trying to do too much. Dunn will be joining a pretty decent lineup in Chicago, so we will see if this is a trend or just a product of his environment.

You can follow The Ghost of Moonlight Graham on Twitter @ theghostofmlg

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Reports have surfaced that the Chicago White Sox have signed free agent first baseman Adam Dunn to a four-year, $56 million deal. After reading that statement, a collective sigh may have been audible on the other side of town, though each individual may have had a different reason for joining the chorus.

On the one hand, Adam Dunn is a consistent left-handed power hitter that would have looked great in the middle of the Cubs lineup. On the other hand, Dunn is not exactly known as great defender at any position and will not only cost the Sox a reported average of $14 million per year, but also a first round draft pick in 2011.

Does this signing really affect the Cubs, though? Not necessarily.

Had the Cubs made this move, their offense would have been immediately upgraded. But they would have also added the second-most error prone first baseman in the majors from 2010 to the third-most error prone team in the majors from 2010, cost themselves a second round draft pick (their first round draft pick is protected) and likely committed themselves to too much salary to add a quality arm to the rotation or bullpen.

It is precisely that second set of reasons that led me to believe that Dunn was not a serious target for the team in the first place.

What his signing most definitely will do is set a reference point for negotiations with other free agent first basemen. Although I’m sure that a $14 million salary isn’t too surprising to anyone, the contract should be a valid counter-argument for teams to use in contrast to the rather large salaries owed to Ryan Howard over the next seven years.

For players and agents that were hoping to capitalize on Howard’s gargantuan extension, it may provide a reality check. For the Cubs and other teams looking to sign a first baseman, it may quicken negotiations.

Of course, with Dunn off the market, there’s a chance that teams could scramble for the first basemen that remain, bumping up their offers in the process. Since the Cubs are trying to control costs and add a few key pieces to their puzzle, such circumstances wouldn’t be ideal and may shrink the pool of players that they’re negotiating with.

What would be ideal for a cost conscious club are negotiations with more cost-effective options concluding before the bigger fish finalize their contracts. It’s for that exact reason that Scott Boras prefers to drag out negotiations for his clients as long as possible.

If a few more of the bigger names fly off the board, then the best move might be to wait until most first base positions are filled across the league, reducing competition to a minimum and increasing the restlessness of free agents, and hope that a good option remains. Until that point, however, it might be wise to at least entertain the idea of striking quickly.

What remains to be seen and may, to a certain extent, counteract the point that I just made is that the signing of Dunn might increase the likelihood of Paul Konerko going elsewhere. Although I have no expectation of the Cubs pursuing the soon-to-be 35-year-old, other teams will be making a stronger push for him, lessening the market pressures that would normally be expected with Dunn’s absence.

If, on the other hand, Konerko were to re-sign with the White Sox, the situation would be reversed. With, for all intents and purposes, one first base position filled by two first basemen, supply would be shrinking at a faster rate than demand and may cue the start of the aforementioned scramble.

In the end, however, there are still going to be plenty of available first basemen on the market, so any effects that are seen this year will be less than they would be in other years. The exact effects that this will have on the market should be much clearer in a few days, assuming that the reports are accurate, but the affect that this signing has on the Cubs will most likely be minimal.

In the off chance that a run on first baseman does occur, though, look for the Cubs to either sign a first baseman at the Winter Meetings in Orlando next week or wait out the market with Tyler Colvin as their backup plan.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

ESPN.com is reporting that Adam Dunn, the slugging on-base machine most recently with the Washington Nationals, has signed a four-year $56 million deal to play on the south side of Chicago.

Indications have been that Dunn wants to continue to play the field, but I have to think the White Sox will use him primarily as a DH. This would be a smart move, obviously, as Dunn’s fielding leaves a lot to be desired.

His hitting, however, should play very well at U.S. Cellular Field. Dunn hits for power, and will now call one of the more hitter friendly parks in the game home. Many will point to his strikeouts, but he gets on base at an above average clip while driving in runs.

One interesting thing to note is how similar Dunn’s 2010 was to 2008, both contract years. While he got nothing close to what he thought he was worth after 2008, he seems to have cashed in this time around while having a similar year.

Perhaps Kenny Williams’ desire for a left handed bat with sock contributed to that, or teams are now starting to pay for offense again after a couple off-seasons that saw defense heavily valued. It will be interesting to see how this signing affects other free-agent signings.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The 2011 Major League Baseball season seems a long ways away, but it is never too early to take a glance at potential impact rookies for next season.

Jeremy Hellickson, 23, a pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays, leads a group of 10 players who are ready to make an impact on their respective teams in 2011.

Begin Slideshow

When Chicago White Sox GM Kenny Williams needs some talent, he’s proved that he’d rather harvest players from other clubs than go the home grown route.

Williams’ strategy over the years has been to use Chicago’s farm system to pick up more experienced commodities.

Look at how the current roster is constructed.  Mark Buehrle is the only starting pitcher that came through the White Sox system.  Of the everyday starters last season, just Gordon Beckham was drafted by the team and was developed in the minors.

Excluding Alexei Ramirez, who was signed as a free agent from Cuba, the Sox have depended on trades to fill out the lineup card.

Williams may very well be planning on dealing for some of Chicago’s needs (first and third base, catcher, bullpen) at the winter meetings.  However, big deals in the last two seasons have left the farm system a bit thin.  Williams has dealt most of his stronger pitching prospects to try and stay competitive in the now.

There is some talent, but do these prospects factor into the White Sox roster or as tender for a player outside the organization?

Here are my thoughts on some of the more prominent South Side prospects and how they may fit into the major league mix in 2001.

Chris Sale, Pitcher

2010’s first round pick was up with the club in August and made 21 appearances out of the bullpen.  The tall southpaw was used in relief and performed well in that capacity, but in the long term, Sale has more value as a starter and should be allowed to develop in that role.

Jake Peavy’s availability on Opening Day is in doubt.  It’s possible that Sale starts the season in the rotation and moves into the bullpen or to Charlotte when Peavy returns.  I’d like to see him as a starter, and I think the White Sox feel the same way.  However, if he can help them in the bullpen this season, he may stay up with the club throughout the season.  Remember, Buehrle spent time in the pen and found his spot as a starter.

2011 Projection: Sale should be around in some role for a majority of the season, though he may spend time in Charlotte if the White Sox want him to throw starter’s innings all year.

Brent Morel, Third Base

Morel came up and impressed White Sox management with his glove last September.  His .231 batting average left a lot to be desired, but he hit over .320 at Birmingham and Charlotte last season.

Given some time to find his offensive game at the big-league level, Morel should bring stability, if not a ton of power, to the hot corner for Chicago.

I think that the Sox have figured out that Mark Teahen is not an every day player at third.  The White Sox should show the patience they did with Joe Crede, who eventually found some pop in his bat.

2011 Projection: If the White Sox re-sign Paul Konerko or another big name bat to patrol first base, expect Morel to head into spring training as the starter at third. 

Dayan Viciedo, First Base

If Viciedo has a spot in the White Sox roster, it probably won’t be at third.

The Sox had hoped the Cuban free-agent signing of 2008 could fill that role, but his glove is a big question mark.  Morel’s arrival in Charlotte moved Viciedo to first base.  Any talk of him helping out the White Sox in 2011 starts there.

Viciedo has a heavy bat.  He had 20 dingers in 86 games with Charlotte last year before being called up this summer, but he swings at a lot of poor pitches. 

The amount of time Viciedo spends with Chicago will depend on Konerko’s possible return and what Williams finds available at first base.  I could see some at bats for him at the DH spot, but it’s likely Williams will want more game-tested production out of those positions than possibly trotting out the next Joe Borchard or Josh Fields.

2011 Projection: Viciedo starts the season at AAA trying to develop some plate discipline, then may be up mid-season or in 2012.

Tyler Flowers, Catcher

Traded along with Brent Lillibridge and two minor-leaguers for Boone Logan and Javier Vasquez before the 2009 season,  Flowers was looked at as the future behind the plate for the White Sox.

It doesn’t appear that he’s quite ready to assume that position just yet.

Flowers hit just .220 in Charlotte this season, despite 16 home runs.  His two short looks in Chicago the last two years didn’t get anyone excited. 

At 24, Flowers is probably going to be a below-average defensive backstop at best.  Until he proves he can be a .280, 20 homer type of guy, I don’t see the White Sox turning over the everyday catcher’s spot to him.  He may be that type of guy in two years, but he’s not that guy right now.

The fact that the White Sox bid in the Victor Martinez sweepstakes tells me the club feels the same way.

2011 Projection: Flowers plays everyday, in Charlotte.  He gets a call up in September, but I think the Sox either re-sign A.J. Pierzynski or bring in another veteran (Miguel Olivo, perhaps) to bridge the gap to the Flowers era. 

Gregory Infante, Pitcher

Infante wasn’t with the club long in 2010, but did not allow an earned run in his five September appearances.

He’s the prototypical Kenny Williams reliever.  He’s got a live arm, big fastball, impressive curve ball when it’s going well, may be a little spotty with control.

The bullpen is a major priority for improvement.  If the memory of the Scott Linebrink signing is still fresh in his mind, Williams trades for that arm or fills the need through the farm system.

2011 Projection:  Infante gets a long look in the spring.  Depending on what the White Sox are able to add in the arms department, he could find himself in a seventh inning set up role.  However, I don’t think the team is going to sit still in addressing the bullpen for long this winter.

Trade Bait?

The White Sox have showed over the years that they aren’t afraid of dealing a hot prospect to make the club better.  Any of the above guys could be sent packing if Williams gets the right offer.  He likes making deals, and I think overall his success rate gives him the benefit of the doubt when we hear of a trade on the South Side.

I think Sale and Morel are safe bets to be on Chicago’s 40-man roster come spring, and I don’t think the organization is ready to give up on Flowers.  But there are many highly touted players who found their way onto other rosters, and the wheeling and dealing of the Hot Stove League has just begun.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

This is the final part of a series of articles outlining the decisions that the Cubs will need to make this offseason. You can read part four by following this link.

Jim Hendry has already said that he’s more concerned about making “two or three really good moves” than relying on the splash factor of one move. So, for those of you looking at the big name free agents with large price tags, or even a potential trade for Adrian Gonzalez, don’t get your hopes up too high.

Instead, look for the Cubs to get guys that fit the team and their budget. In all likelihood, one of those moves will be acquiring a first baseman and the other one or two will be adding some pitching, either in the rotation, the bullpen, or both.

At first base, the North Siders will be looking for someone who exhibits power from the left side and is good enough with the glove to lessen the impact of Aramis Ramirez’s fading defensive abilities and Starlin Castro’s growing pains.

Although one of the best left-handed sluggers over the past decade, Adam Dunn’s fairly high asking price, his defensive shortcomings, his type A status, and the almost certainty that the Nationals will offer arbitration, the overall cost in dollars, defense, and draft picks is just too high for serious consideration. I’m sure the team will do (or has already done) their due diligence on the off chance that he isn’t offered arbitration and his price tag comes down, but they’ll be concentrating elsewhere.

Adam LaRoche, Lyle Overbay and Carlos Pena are the most likely free agent targets, each with some pop from the left side and at least an above average glove. Of course, each player has more than their share of strikeouts, but Overbay and Pena draw some walks to offset that.

Depending on his asking price, Aubrey Huff should also get a look, although he isn’t as known for his defense as the prior trio and is the eldest among the four (by one month over Overbay). I’m sure the Cubs would love to have a season of 35 doubles, 26 home runs, 83 walks, and only 91 strikeouts from their first baseman, but the Giants will probably make a very good push to keep him.

On the trade market, there’s absolutely no reason to not inquire on what collection of players it might take to land Adrian Gonzalez. With his Gold-Glove-caliber defense, 30 to 40 home run power, high walk totals, and his $6.2 million 2011 salary, he’s too great of a bargain to not look into. But it’s the cost in players in return, which teams like the Red Sox might drive up, that makes the proposition less likely.

Another player the Cubs have been linked to recently is the Rangers’ Chris Davis, a young left-handed hitter with great power, experience playing both corner infield positions, and some glaring plate discipline issues. It’s certainly an intriguing possibility, reuniting hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo with one of his former students, and leaving the option open to move Ramirez to first, should the need arise. Although there has been little mention of this trade since the story broke, I could see it happening.

If the Yankees decide to sign another outfielder (Carl Crawford or Jayson Werth, perhaps), then don’t be surprised if the Cubs become linked to Nick Swisher, son of former Cubs catcher Steve Swisher. Although he had a significant dip in walks last season, Nick had always drawn a ton of walks and has continued to hit around 30 doubles and 30 home runs each season.

If the Cubs are instead looking for someone to take a flyer on to compete with (or in a reserve role behind) Tyler Colvin at first base, then you might see names like Hank Blalock, Eric Chavez, Brad Hawpe, Eric Hinske, Mike Jacobs, or non-tender candidates Willy Aybar, Dan Johnson, and Casey Kotchman bandied about.

There are a number of ways that they could go with starting pitchers, but I fully expect the Cubs to look into both Jon Garland and Javier Vazquez. I also wouldn’t be surprised to see them take a chance on one of Erik Bedard, Jeremy Bonderman, Jeff Francis, Kevin Millwood, Brad Penny, Jarrod Washburn, Brandon Webb, Chris Young, or (if he’s non-tendered) Chien-Ming Wang.

Of that bunch, I find Garland to be far and away the most likely to end up with the Cubs. That’s not to say that he will or that the others won’t, but he has put together a pretty nice resume since being traded from the Cubs to the White Sox, including eight solid years with the South Siders and a very nice season with the Padres in 2010. Also, he might not demand quite so much money as the other options, making the potential negotiations go smoother and quicker.

As far as potential trade targets go, they may talk with the Rays about the availability of Wade Davis, Matt Garza, Jeff Niemann, and James Shields, but your guess is as good as mine about starting pitchers they might trade for.

To bolster the bullpen, I’m sure the team would be interested in re-signing Kerry Wood, but he would need to be willing to take a pay cut off of his $10.5 million salary in 2010. Other targets could include Grant Balfour, Chad Durbin, Frank Francisco, Jason Frasor, J.J. Putz, Jon Rauch, or Takashi Saito, depending upon their demands and whether or not some of them (Balfour or Francisco) are offered arbitration.

The only other free agent that I could see the Cubs signing is not a pitcher or first baseman, but a second baseman. Although such a move is pure speculation on my part, I believe that Orlando Hudson would be a great addition.

Hudson plays great defense, can hit well for a second baseman, provides a little bit of speed on the basepaths, and may have a somewhat modest salary seeing as he’s never earned more than $6.25 million in a season. Such a move obviously means that one or both of Jeff Baker and Blake DeWitt would be sent on their way, but the signing of a player like Hudson could be a move that makes the Cubs’ 2011 playoff chances seem like less of a long shot.

Finally, there is one last way that the Cubs might add a player. With one spot open on their 40-man roster and the Rule Five Draft approaching, there is the possibility that the team could take a chance on someone left unprotected in another organization. Since I expect the North Siders to sign at least one free agent, I would be surprised to see them fill the last spot on their roster with a player eligible for the Rule Five Draft, but it could happen.

Just make sure to keep an eye out this offseason. The moves that end up having the biggest impact on this team might not be those involving bigger names.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

A rare find.

Cubbie fans, you won’t believe this one.

While visiting with my parents today, I noticed a baseball inside the house and didn’t think much of it.

I have a little brother who is 12, so I just figured it was something of his not valuable since it was lying around.

When I picked it up, a name jumped out at me instantly: Bill Buckner.

Being the Yankee fan that I am, I was thinking this was a Red Sox baseball right off the bat.

Before I got too excited and started investigating the names on the ball, I wanted to be sure that the autographs were real.

One thought I had at first is, did printed baseballs exist back then? I didn’t think so.

The other thing was that most of the autographs had a thick look to them, as if the ink was fading, which made me think it was authentic.

I asked my mom where she found it, and she said it washed down the creek in the backyard.

Very odd place to find an autographed baseball, but that’s where it was found.

The condition of the baseball is another thing…I’d give it a five out of 10. Not bad considering how old it is and the fact that some key autographs are still looking good.

So, then the fun began.

I started to look up the players on the ball, one by one, to figure out the team…that didn’t take long.

The Chicago Cubs.

Then the hard part: What year was the ball?

I wanted it to be 1982, because of Ryan Sandberg’s rookie season.

However, when I saw the name Ron Cey, I knew the ball was from the following year, 1983, because when the Cubs brought Cey on to play center field, Sandberg moved to second, and the rest is history.

Also, I knew it was 1983 and not 1984 because manager Lee Elia is on the ball. He was replaced by Jim Frey in 1984.

So, I know this is a 1983 Cubs baseball, with 25 autographs on it, and it looks real. I will find out later this week if it is real.

I wanted to share this story with you guys—you just never know what you are going to come across.

This reminds me of the show on the History Channel, Pawn Stars. I wish I lived near Las Vegas; I would bring the ball into the shop.

I can make out plenty of names on this baseball besides Sandberg, Buckner, Elia and Cey, as already described.

Lee Smith, Jerry Morales, Larry Bowa, Wayne Nordhagen, Scott Thompson, Junior Kennedy, Willie Hernandez, Steve Trout, Mike Proly, Tom Veryzer, Dickie Noles, Jody Davis, Fergie Jenkins, Steve Lake, Bill Campbell, Gary Woods, Keith Moreland, Paul Maskau, Warren Brusstar, Leon Durham and Jay Johnstone.

All 25 names on the ball are visible. The only ones you can barely see are Durham, Brusstar, Johnstone and Maskau.

Joe Carter’s autograph isn’t on the ball, though he was on the team.

The most interesting fact: Every name on this ball is still living, though a few players and coaches on the team but not on the ball have passed.

I don’t know what else to say about this find, except that it was really fun trying to figure out what team it was. Now that I have, I hope it is real.

Follow me on Twitter @nyyrobinson.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

This is part four of a series of articles outlining the decisions that the Cubs will need to make this offseason. You can read part three by following this link.

After Aramis Ramirez exercised his $14.6 million player option, the Cubs’ only true free agent was Xavier Nady. Since then, Brad Snyder was outrighted off the 40-man roster and opted to join Nady in the pool of free agents, leaving the Cubs with only 15 position players.

That’s obviously a number that will need to increase, but most of the spots on the Opening Day roster will probably be filled by players from that group. For instance, I fully expect Darwin Barney, Starlin Castro, Tyler Colvin and Geovany Soto to be lining up along the third base line come April 1.

Castro and Colvin each have their share of things to work on, but each showed enough talent with both the glove and the bat to start for this team; Soto had a few injury issues, but proved that he is one of the better hitting catchers in this league after a disappointing sophomore campaign in 2009; and Barney may very well be the perfect backup infielder—a talented and versatile defender with enough of a bat to fill-in when necessary.

I’d also be very surprised to see that roster without the likes of Marlon Byrd, Ramire, or Alfonso Soriano.

After Ramirez’s 2010 season that featured poor defense, a drop in offensive production, and a myriad of injuries, teams won’t look to acquire the veteran third baseman until they see exactly how well he bounces back in the early goings of the season, especially since he has no-trade protection via his ten-and-five rights. And at $14.6 million, he’s too expensive to simply release him and eat his salary unless he completely collapses.

Soriano actually improved defensively and in almost every offensive category, but his full no-trade clause and the four-year, $72 million commitment that comes with it leaves him in almost the exact same situation. The lone difference is that trading Soriano at any point in 2011 without taking on a very large portion of his remaining salary would qualify Jim Hendry as a miracle worker, especially in the wake of last year’s Milton Bradley-Carlos Silva swap.

Byrd, on the other hand, will likely return because he is fairly cheap ($5.5 million salary in 2011) and was a catalyst for the 2010 Cubs on both offense and defense. Even if his production were to fall off somewhat, he would still offer value as a clubhouse presence and mentor to the younger players.

Of course, Byrd might get moved if too many younger players prove themselves ready for big league action. For instance, what would happen if Sam Fuld, Brett Jackson and Brandon Guyer all did exactly that during spring training?

As previously stated, Soriano isn’t going anywhere. So if Kosuke Fukudome isn’t traded or Colvin remains in the outfield, then those three players would take up the other three outfield spots and Byrd would need to find somewhere else to play.

If both Fukudome and Colvin remain, then only two of those three would be needed to push Byrd out. And the possibility could still exist that Snyder could be re-signed in much the same way as Angel Guzman—on a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training—and eventually play his way onto the team, which would only require one of Fuld, Jackson and Guyer to accomplish the task.

As you may already know, Fuld is a strong defender and base-stealing threat that draws a lot of walks and doesn’t strike out a whole lot. In fact, he might develop into a classic leadoff hitter if given the opportunity, though he would need to bounce back from a lackluster 2010 season. After being among the final candidates to make the roster out of spring training last season, I expect him to be a front-runner for one of the outfield spots.

Guyer, the Cubs’ 2010 Minor League Player of the Year, and Jackson, the Cubs’ first round pick in 2009, are both top outfield prospects for the Cubs who can hit, play good defense, and steal their share of bases. Just like the Cubs’ 2010 Minor League Pitcher of the Year Chris Archer, Guyer is eligible for the Rule Five Draft in December, meaning that he’ll most likely be added to the 40-man roster.

Since he’s also three years Jackson’s senior, I’m left to assume that Guyer would have the upper hand on landing a roster spot, although I can’t assume that either player would make the Colvin-like jump from Double-A in 2010 to the majors on Opening Day.

Snyder, whose chances seem dim after not being re-signed to a minor league contract, put up huge numbers in Triple-A last year (.308/.381/.568) while stealing 19 bases and playing very good defense. If he is re-signed, he could be the dark horse that forces someone out the door.

Most likely, no matter what happens with other players, the Cubs will try to relieve themselves of most of Fukudome’s $13.5 million to clear some room for the other outfielders. I’m skeptical of the market that exists for him, but management only needs to find one team offering the right package, which I do believe will happen.

The infield is a little more straightforward as it will probably consist of Barney, Castro, Ramirez, and at least one of Jeff Baker and Blake DeWitt. In all likelihood, both Baker and DeWitt would stay as a platoon at second base with the former starting against lefties and the latter against righties, but the team might feel the need to have a better offensive backup to Ramirez at third than what Baker, Barney or DeWitt would offer.

From within the organization, the most likely candidate would be Marquez Smith, who hit .314/.384/.574 in 91 games at Triple-A Iowa and can play good defense at the hot corner. Josh Vitters was the Cubs’ top pick in 2007 and may make his own way up to the big leagues before too long, but he is probably better off spending another year in the minors after a less-than-stellar showing at Double-A Tennessee and a season-ending injury to his middle finger.

It gets a little murky over at first base, though.

Micah Hoffpauir is the only true first baseman on the roster, but Colvin’s name has already been thrown into the fray and Ramirez may be a consideration if his defense declines any more. The possibility exists that Nady might return, but it’s been well-covered that the Cubs would like to have a left-handed bat added to the lineup, which would be easiest to do at first base. Nady is a right-handed hitter.

Hoffpauir had a pretty good offensive season in Iowa (.283/.368/.529), putting up the seventh-best wOBA (.386) in Triple-A and improving his walk rate considerably (up to 11.3 percent from 6.7 percent in 2009), but seems to be an afterthought in the minds of almost everyone involved. With no minor league options remaining, he’ll get his final shot at the role in spring training, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him in a different uniform come the regular season.

I expect the Cubs to be looking hard for external options at first base, but if they do look internally, the most likely scenario would involve Colvin re-learning the position.

Finally, although it may not be grabbing many headlines, one of the most important decisions will involve the men behind the plate. Soto is entrenched as the starter, as he should be, but his continued problems with injuries may force the Cubs to replace his backup, Koyie Hill.

Unlike first base, this position will definitely be filled from within. With Welington Castillo and Robinson Chirinos on the 40-man roster, two players who have shown the ability to hit in the minors and are known as good defenders behind the plate, Hill will have some competition. If the team believes that Soto’s health is a legitimate concern, then Hill might even be non-tendered in favor of one of the younger and better hitting alternatives.

Don’t forget to look out for part five of this series, which will go over some of the team’s external options, expected to be up at some point in the coming week.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

As a college kid I once drove to Southern California with my soccer team buddies. 

We had a very difficult and grueling two-week season-opening training camp to prepare for, so we decided to pack all five of us into my small Toyota Corolla, and we headed down to Santa Cruz to prepare.

Five guys with five soccer balls across the back window as we drove.

Two weeks later, anxious and homesick, we drove all night.  And I’ll never forget that last corner driving north on the I-5 freeway by Boeing field.  When you make that turn and first see the tall buildings of downtown Seattle with the Olympics in the background, the exuberance never fails!  You know you are finally home.

The soothing tones of Dave Niehaus had that same kind of magic. 

When you heard him weaving words together like an artist, transforming an average baseball game into a majestic masterpiece, you knew you were home.   

His voice was like no other, describing baseball for the Seattle Mariners like nobody else can, or ever will again.

He was our friend.  He felt like our father.  Our childhood pal who we stole away with, late at night when our moms thought we were sleeping. 

His was the voice heard while painting a deck, or floating on a boat during a warm summer night on Lake Washington. 

He made the woeful Seattle Mariners more than just a baseball team.  He made them feel like family.

And he was there, each summer, each game.  Always there.

We all knew the news of this past Wednesday was coming. After all, he was 75 years old. But like any beloved family member, none of us were ready for him to be gone and we certainly were not ready when he left.

The most talented and unique personality in Seattle sports history has passed, leaving a hole in the hearts of so many.

There really is nothing else to say that hasn’t already been mentioned.  So rather than try, let’s have Dave himself do what he did for so many years. 

This is not a clip of a famous play.  This is just an average game on an average summer night, recorded during a meaningless extra-inning game almost two decades ago. 

Playing the Chicago White Sox as my then young family rode the ferry from Bainbridge Island to Seattle, he made average games more than just baseball. 

Dave Neihaus’s brilliance was in how he made the routine special.

Over the past four decades every one of us heard hundreds of games just like this one.  While approaching Seattle in the car, or from far-off corners of the state, Niehaus brought the game to life with enthusiasm and clarity, as if every one was game seven in the World Series.  

Thus the best call ever made by Dave Niehaus, was the one he made every single day during four decades of baseball seasons. 

It will never be the same listening to a Seattle Mariners game now that’s he’s gone!  

(If for any reason the embedded clip fails to show, you can still find the video here.)

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Cubs nation was buzzing a bit last week—not because of a potential Adam Dunn signing or because they managed to trade Kosuke Fukudome for a bucket of balls, but because Jim Hendry hinted at the Cubs potentially taking a look at former closer, and fan favorite, Kerry Wood.

Wood was let go following the 2008 season, when he was replaced as the setup man following the trade for Kevin Gregg.

It was considered a mistake at the time, with Hendry giving away a pair of key role players, and class acts, in Wood and Mark DeRosa before replacing them in the clubhouse with Milton Bradley.

Wood signed with the Indians that winter on a two-year deal. His numbers were unimpressive, including an ERA over six in 2010, playing for a very poor squad in Cleveland.

However, Wood’s career may have been revived after a trade to the Yankees. Many were unsure as to how Wood would perform in a crucial situation after playing with only the Cubs and Indians in his career. The fireballer rose to the occasion for New York, posting an unbelievable 0.69 ERA over 26 innings in the regular season, including 31 strikeouts.

Jim Hendry can fix an old mistake by bringing back Wood.

The Cubs bullpen was a disaster last season, letting several close games get away. Outside of Carlos Marmol and Sean Marshall, the Cubs lack reliable arms in the ‘pen. Wood could be a great mentor to a young pitcher like Andrew Cashner and could present Mike Quade with a right-hander to team with the lefty Marshall in the setup role.

Of course, all of this could be much ado about nothing. While we don’t expect any Blackhawks-type money issues, the Cubs have said on multiple occasions that their payroll will be lower, meaning a guy like Wood could be out of the equation when free agency is in full swing.

A fan favorite and reliable bullpen arm, if brought in at the right price, Wood presents Hendry with an option that he almost can’t afford to pass up.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com