The MLB honored its best rookies on Monday. In the National League, Chris Coghlan of the Florida Marlins won the NL Rookie of the Year. In the American League, Andrew Bailey of the Oakland A’s won the AL Rookie of the Year.
Coghlan didn’t look like a top prospect early in the year but got better and better as the year went along. All told, the left fielder hit .321 with nine homers, 47 RBIs, 84 runs and eight stolen bases. After the All-Star Game, Coghlan hit .372 and looked like an up-and-coming star.
Andrew Bailey is the rare relief pitcher to …read more

At 42, many thought Tim Wakefield’s days of being a capable starting pitcher were over at the beginning of the season. Think again. Not only is Wakefield pitching well, he’s pitching well enough to be named to the 2009 Major League Baseball All-Star Game.
On Wednesday, Wakefield showed exactly why he’s an All-Star. In six innings of work, Wakefield struck out eight batters and gave up three earned runs to win for the 11th time this season. The knuckleballer has an ERA of 4.14 and a WHIP of 1.38.
Wakefield has a chance to set a career-high in wins. In 1998 and …read more

Jason Giambi was once a feared hitter for the Oakland Athletics. If reports are true, he could very well end up heading back to Oakland via free agency.

The 37-year-old designated hitter spent the last seven seasons with the New York Yankees. Although he had some good moments, most Yankee fans consider his time in New York a disappointment. Part of the reason where the amazingly high expectation he had after signing with the Yankees as a free agent.
The last time Giambi was with the A’s, he was putting up fantastic stats. In 2001, Giambi finished his final year in Oakland …read more

While there has been a lot of action in the baseball offseason, no case is as interesting as that of Rafael Furcal. He’s been linked to a number of teams and has even been rumored to have agreed to terms with a number of teams. But as of yet, he’s still available on the free agent market. Where will Rafael Furcal sign? Here are the most likely destinations:
Atlanta Braves
This is the latest rumor. While Furcal’s agent has confirmed the reports that the Braves are in the lead in negotiations, he has stopped well short of saying that a deal is …read more

Michael Inoa is a 16-year-old pitcher from the Dominican Republic who has scouts salivating. Inoa, who stands 6-foot-7 and weighs 210 pounds, is reportedly drawing interest from a number of teams including the New York Yankees, the San Diego Padres and the Oakland Athletics. However, it is the Athletics who are said to have the inside track.
Inoa reportedly has a 93 MPH fastball to go with a developing curve and change-up. Scouts believe that he has the ability to add between 2 and 4 MPH to his fastball. That amount of upside is enough for Oakland’s …read more

Looks like Keith Foulke is coming out of retirement. The Oakland A’s have signed the veteran right-hander to a 1-year deal worth $700,000 plus incentives that could kick the total value up to $3.2 million.
Reports have Foulke’s fastball in the mid-’80s, but he’s never been a flamethrower, so that shouldn’t be an issue. More importantly, he’s drawing praise for his command and deception, two elements crucial to his success.
Foulke last pitched in the big leagues in 2006 for the Boston Red Sox, but the last time he was more than marginally effective came in 2004. From 1999 to 2004, Foulke …read more