With free agency beckoning, Garret Anderson didn’t do himself any favours with a substandard 2009 campaign. Then again, how much did we expect him to do? Other than a big July in which he looked like the Anderson of old, the veteran outfielder didn’t do much.

We already discussed his poor August performance, but compared to what he did in September, Anderson looked like a Silver Slugger in August. In the season’s final month he hit just .216 with a 571 OPS and only one homer, a showing that likely sealed his fate in Atlanta – if that wasn’t already decided anyways, with the Braves needing to clear up some space for uber rookie Jason Heyward.

After staying relatively healthy in 2008, Anderson missed time this year with a quad problem, and his extra-base pop has been waning for a couple of seasons now.

He’s 37 and, coming off a down year, will be a fairly cheap option for some team, although you’d think with his deteriorating range in the outfield, he’d be best served working as a DH back in the American League.

However, one NL club that might come calling is the Florida Marlins, who would love to shift ROY Chris Coughlan back to his natural position at second base. Anderson might be a good match there, providing a veteran presence to a young club without the usual high price that is associated with that kind of player.

From a Fantasy perspective, Anderson is at best an NL-only option, and even then, he’d likely be a fourth outfielder type for your team. At this point, that’s not likely to improve.

This week, one of the top young pitchers in the world, 21-year-old Cuban southpaw Aroldis Chapman, defected prior to the 2009 World Port tournament being held in the Netherlands. Along with Stephen Strasburg and Yu Darvish, Chapman and his triple-digit high heat is likely one of the top three young pitching prospects currently not signed to an MLB contract.

Chapman moved to the forefront of the International pitching scene with a stellar peformance in the 2007 Baseball World Cup. He amassed a 2-0 record in defeating both South Korea and Japan, and along the way managed a microscopic 1.20 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 15 IP. He was named to the tournament All-Star team as the top southpaw.

Chapman went 11-4 for Serie Nacional in 2008-2009, striking out 130 in 118 1/3 IP. Unfortunately, he also managed to allow 62 walks and tied for the league lead with 14 wild pitches. Chapman is the holder of the record for the fastest recorded pitch in Cuba at 102 mph. Now that’s some very serious heat. My hunch is that batters won’t be digging in against a flame thrower who has a propensity for wildness like this.

Now what does this mean looking to the immediate future? Once the dust settles, Chapman will undoubtedly be looking at securing free-agency from MLB and then it’s time to let the games begin. The last big-name pitcher to defect from Cuba was back in 2002 and Jose Contreras managed to secure a four-year deal worth $32 million. Just last year, Dayan Viciedo signed a four-year, $10-million deal with the White Sox. Is the sky potentially the limit in this situation?

How many pitchers — especially southpaws — have the potential to hit triple digits on the radar gun? How many of those same pitchers have accomplished this in the past 10 years? Not that this is a guarantee of success, but the combination of both his age and recent history and the fact that MLB teams are enamoured with that huge strikeout potential makes a very large contract a very distinct possibility.

This leads us to the Washington Nationals, potentially the only group upset with the news of the Chapman defection. The shock waves are still rolling through the Nats’ camp as they attempt to secure the services of Strasburg. Do you think Scott Boras isn’t watching the Chapman developments very closely as he looks to gain the maximum leverage possible for his client? The ante has been raised one notch higher with the news of the Chapman defection.

From a Fantasy perspective, now would be the time for those of us playing in dynasty formats to make a move. Although it is highly unlikely we will actually get to see Chapman pitching this year because of the logistics involved, he is a talent worthy of rostering now before the hype continues to drive his price in both the real and Fantasy worlds to the highest of levels.

If you’ve been in an NHL coma since the Penguins hoisted the Stanley Cup, well, you’ve got a few things to catch up on — a few things as in $300+ million spent on free agents within the first few days of free agency. Who changed hands? Uh…well, a lot of guys. However, here are the critical ones:

• I’ve totally got Marian Hossa figured out now. He uses the playoffs as a bit of window shopping to see what team he wants to go to next (or perhaps what city has the best strip clubs to visit). First as a Penguin, he left for Detroit, now from Detroit he signs a ridiculous 12-year deal with Chicago. The Fantasy aspect of this? While Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane become free agents next year, one has to look at how Dale Tallon will balance his cap hit. Guys like Dustin Byfuglin may suddenly be available as the season rolls around. In the meantime, look for Hossa to take Martin Havlat’s place in the Hawk lineup — that means playing on different lines as things change up.
• Speaking of Havlat, the Minnesota Wild decided it wanted to stop paying one injury-prone guy with the first initial of M. to pay another injury-prone guy with the first initial of M. While Marian Gaborik may have fled (see below), the Wild signed up Havlat as its new go-to guy. Havlat doesn’t have the same skill as Gaborik and is probably more fragile. While he will get all the chances in the world to be Minny’s top dog, it really comes down to two things: how healthy can he stay and what will new coach Todd Richards’ system be like?
• Oh, and that Gaborik guy? Instead of Jacques Lemaire bitching about how he doesn’t play defense, he’ll have John Tortorella on Broadway screaming about why he’s soft. The difference, though, is Tortorella will let Gaborik go at top speed. Of course, the Rangers have been the black hole of offence for other talented players lately, so why will this be any different? For one, Gaborik can make offence out of nothing — something guys like Scott Gomez and Chris Drury couldn’t do.
• The Montreal Canadiens have remade themselves…sort of. Remember that notion that the Habs were undersized but talented? Um, well…Chris Higgins takes flight in exchange for Gomez, then the Habs sign Mike Cammalleri and Brian Gionta. All skilled guys, all kinda smaller, so, yeah, not a lot’s changed in Montreal.
• Other things that haven’t really changed: Steve Sullivan resumes his comeback in Nashville, David Booth stays as Florida’s main offensive threat, the Sedin twins continue to confuse people in Vancouver, Scott Niedermayer stays within driving distance of Disneyland for at least one more year, and Erik Cole and Chad LaRose remain with Carolina.
• At the draft, Florida and Calgary swapped Jay Bouwmeester for Jordan Leopold. Come free agency, both guys stayed in their new spots. Florida obviously got the shorter end of the stick while Calgary’s offense will come seemingly come from the back end, with Bouwmeester joining Dion Phaneuf for a formidable power play combination.
• Goaltenders on the move: Colorado’s ugly netminding situation gets interesting, as backup Craig Anderson gets a shot at the starting role with the Avs. Nikolai Khabibulin takes the reins in Edmonton (obviously, he must have seen something interesting in Edmonton that Chris Pronger and Dany Heatley didn’t). How hurt is Rick DiPietro on Long Island? Hurt enough that the Islanders signed a guy who could start his share of games in Dwayne Roloson.
• Toronto is trying to get tougher, signing punch-put artist Colton Orr and adding reliable defenceman Mike Komisarek. Komisarek is a great stay-at-home defender capable of playing in-your-face hockey by dishing out some serious thuds.

Buck is back, with the final portion of our look at 2009 NFL free agency signing period. Previous reports:

AFC

East
North
South

NFC

Compete conference

Denver Broncos

Key Signings/additions – RB LaMont Jordan (New England), QB Kyle Orton (Chicago), S Brian Dawkins (Philadelphia), RB Correll Buckhalter (Philadelphia).

Key Departures – QB Jay Cutler (Chicago), S John Lynch (retired), LB Jamie Winborn (FA), RB Selvin Young (FA).

The Skinny – You might have caught an occasional news blip, oh, roughly every 30 seconds or so, about the supposed friction between Bronco head coach Josh McDaniels and starting quarterback Cutler. That rift became about 1,050 miles wide after Cutler was dealt to Chicago – with former Bear signal-caller Orton landing in Denver. You might remember Orton and his neck-beard from his various Internet photo appearances in both on and off the field genre – nudge, nudge, wink, wink.

Orton’s thankfully lost the neckie, and he’s not as bad as you might think: Three so-so December games at frigid Soldier Field dragged his 2008 numbers southward. That being said, Denver isn’t known for balmy winter weather, and Orton doesn’t figure to be anything more than a decent NFL quarterback and occasional Fantasy starter; the skills (football skills, anyway) just aren’t there.

Dawkins should help shore up what was an awful Denver D last season, but whatever sleeper potential Jordan and Buckhalter might have had went out the window when the Broncs tabbed Georgia running back Knowshon Moreno as their first-round draft pick. Moreno is a great fit for the Denver offense, and could have a monster season if his body holds up to the pounding.

Kansas City Chiefs

Key Signings – QB Matt Cassel (New England), WR Bobby Engram (Seattle), LB Zach Thomas (Dallas), LB Mike Vrabel (New England), G Mike Goff (San Diego).

Key Departures – TE Tony Gonzalez (Atlanta), LB Donnie Edwards (FA).

The Skinny – The Chiefs are hoping that Cassel’s big year in ‘08 wasn’t just a product of the system in New England, but they didn’t do him any favours by trading Gonzalez to Atlanta for a mere 2010 second round draft pick. Gonzo snagged 96 catches for 1,058 yards and 10 TDs a year ago, and his hands and athleticism will be sorely missed.

If he can stay healthy, Engram could occasionally contribute some meaningful numbers working underneath the coverage, but his fantasy value will be limited by his advancing years and the presence of big Dwayne Bowe on the opposite side. The same age caveats apply to Thomas, whose glory days in Miami are nothing more than distant memories. Don’t draft Vrabel for your IDP league based on his strong years in Foxboro, but his playmaking ability might win him some favour as a spot starter in deeper formats.

Oakland Raiders

Key Signings – QB Jeff Garcia (Tampa Bay), RB Lorenzo Neal (Baltimore).

Key Departures – WR Ronald Curry (Detroit), S Gibril Wilson (Miami).

The Skinny – The second-most famous Garcia to ply his trade in the Bay Area returns to town, but he’ll likely only be an insurance policy in case JaMarcus Russell stumbles. Now, when Russell does stumble, Garcia should give the Silver and Black some serviceable play whilst dinking the ball underneath and trying the patience of Al Davis, who never met a 60-yard bomb he didn’t love.

Those bombs will likely be pointed in the direction of Raiders’ shocking no. 1 draft pick, mercurial wideout Darrius Heyward-Bey. DHB is big and fast, and if Russell keeps his game together, the combination could be lethal for years to come. We’re not sold on Russell just yet, but both he and Heyward-Bey are great speculative Fantasy picks – so long as you don’t bet too heavily on either one.

The running game figures to be improved by the bruising presence of fullback Neal, who is one of the game’s premier blocking backs. While his Fantasy worth is nil (except in formats that reward pancake blocks), Neal should boost the value of whomever lines up at tailback for the Raiders this season.

San Diego Chargers

Key Signings – LB Kevin Burnett (Dallas).

Key Departures – G Mike Goff (Kansas City).

The Skinny – The Bolts pretty much played a pat hand in the offseason, though the departure of Goff leaves a sizable hole on the right side of the O-line. The signing of running back Darren Sproles to a hefty franchise tender should signal that the Chargers are not completely sold on the potential longevity of starting tailback LaDainian Tomlinson, who has battled injuries each of the past two seasons and is about to hit the big three-oh. All those touches begin to wear an NFL back’s body down, and LT is showing signs of hitting the wall. Needless to say, (but we’ll say it anyway) Sproles is a must-grab if you draft LT in your Fantasy league this season.

The Chargers defense garnered only 28 sacks last season – largely due to the absence of rush monster linebacker Shawne Merriman (knee) – and they addressed that need by nabbing ‘tweener linebacker and D-end Larry English with their first-round draft pick. The 6-foot-2, 274-pounder racked up 31.5 sacks and 63 tackles for loss during his career at Northern Illinois, but there are some questions as to his pass coverage skills. Merriman looks to be ready to come back, but in case he can’t, English may be asked to shoulder a big load early on.

Buck continues our look at 2009 NFL free agency signing period. Previous reports:

AFC

East
North

NFC

Compete conference

Houston Texans

Key Signings – LB Cato June (Tampa Bay), DE Antonio Smith (Arizona).

Key Departures – RB Ahman Green (FA), LB Morlon Greenwood (FA), QB Sage Rosenfels (Miami).

The Skinny – June joins the Texans after two mediocre seasons in Tampa Bay, and the fact that the Bucs were willing to let him walk speaks to his limited abilities as a playmaker. He’s a decent pass defender, but not very tough against the run, and with just one sack in six seasons he’s not much of a Fantasy option, either.

Green’s long history of knee injuries limits his options as to where he’ll play in 2009. Seems there’s not much of a market for 32-year-old running backs with creaky knees in the NFL, and even if Green lands in a favourable situation, there’s no reason to believe that he’ll stay healthy long enough to make a Fantasy impact. Move along, nothing to see here.

Greenwood had an awful season in 2008, but the 30-year-old ‘backer had racked up four straight seasons of 100-plus tackles prior to last year. The Texans are very strong at linebacker, though, and became even better when they drafted versatile Brian Cushing with the 15th overall pick.

Indianapolis Colts

Key Signings – None of note.

Key Departures – WR Marvin Harrison (FA), RB Dominic Rhodes (Buffalo).

The Skinny – The Marvin Harrison Era appears to be over in Indianapolis, and after a pedestrian 60-636-5 line in ’08, Marvelous Marvin is clearly nearing the end of his storied career. If he lands in the right situation, Harrison could still put up serviceable numbers – but it would appear that his days of 100-plus catches and double-digit TDs are just specks in the rear-view mirror.

Running back Joseph Addai’s Fantasy value took a jump upward when understudy and noted TD poacher Rhodes left town, but that balloon burst in a hurry when the Colts drafted Donald Brown of U-Conn with their first round draft pick. Brown led the nation in rushing last season, and could become the starter in Indy if the brittle Addai can’t stay healthy. Chances are that a two-headed monster is about to be unleashed in the Colt backfield; good for them, but bad for Fantasy owners.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Key Signings – WR Torry Holt (St. Louis), OT Tra Thomas (Philadelphia).

Key Departures – WR Matt Jones (FA), LB Mike Peterson (Atlanta), RB Fred Taylor (New England), WR Jerry Porter (FA).

The Skinny – The departure of Taylor and signing of three-time Pro Bowl left tackle Thomas means that running back Maurice Jones-Drew has a chance to become one of Fantasy football’s top players in 2009. While we’ve heard that line before, MJD quietly put up some very nice numbers in 2008, and figures to get the rock a ton in ’09. And therein may lie the problem: Drew has never carried the ball more than 200 times in an NFL season, and his diminutive stature makes him an injury risk…ah, but the potential reward.

By all accounts, Holt’s 2008 season was a bust: 64 catches, 796 yards and just three touchdowns. However bad it was, that sickly line still led the Rams, and also would have led the Jags had Holt posted it in J-Ville. Holt’s lousy ’08 campaign snapped a personal streak of eight straight seasons with at least 81 receptions and 1,188 yards, and the veteran has vowed that he’ll rebound in 2009. Don’t get all excited, though: David Garrard is still the quarterback in Jacksonville, after all – and Holt has definitely lost a step (or two) since the heyday of the Greatest Show on Turf. We’d advise drafting Holt as a low-end No. 3 wideout and playing him when the situation looks right.

Peterson could be a beast when he’s on the field – but with only 30 games played the past three seasons that beast didn’t get to show its teeth very much. Deep IDP leaguers should keep an eye on who wins the starting gig for the Jags, as that player could be a sneaky source of tackles.

Tennessee Titans

Key Signings – DT Jovan Haye (Tampa Bay), WR Nate Washington (Pittsburgh).

Key Departures – DT Albert Haynesworth (Washington), WR Brandon Jones (San Francisco), CB Chris Carr (Pittsburgh).

The Skinny – The loss of one of the game’s best D-linemen will undoubtedly hurt the ferocious Titan defense, and Haye should not be viewed as anything close to a substitute for Haynesworth. Second round draft pick Sen’Derrick Marks of Auburn, though, showed some playmaking ability in his college career.

Washington gives the Titans a true home run threat, but he has yet to show the kind of consistency that will win – and hold – a starting NFL gig. He’ll team with the frustrating and fragile Justin Gage to give Tennessee an exciting and enigmatic duo at wide receiver. Translation: Don’t expect great numbers week-to-week with these guys, but either is capable of a big game here and there. If your league rewards long touchdowns, know that Washington’s three scores last season came from 48, 50 and 65 yards.

We continue our look at NFL Free Agency today with the AFC North. We’ve already covered the NFC and the AFC East.

Baltimore Ravens

Key Signings – C Matt Birk (Minnesota), TE L.J. Smith (Philadelphia), CB Domonique Foxworth (Denver).

Key Departures – LB Bart Scott (N.Y. Jets), S Jim Leonhard (N.Y. Jets), CB Chris McAlister (FA).

The Skinny – The ravenous Raven defense lost three starters over the offseason, and the advancing age of linebacker Ray Lewis and D-tackle Trevor Pryce is definite cause for concern. Nonetheless, this should be a dominant unit again in 2009.

Not so much for the offense; Birk’s presence in the middle of the line should help, but there are legitimate worries about the play of both offensive tackles. The run-oriented offense favored by the Ravens needs a beefy and athletic O-line to succeed, but the pedestrian 4.0 yards per carry B-More racked up as a team in ’08 bespeaks a line lacking in…well, beefy athleticism. Four-oh per crack won’t get the job done when your passing game is mediocre at best.

Smith will be there to fill in at tight end when Todd Heap succumbs to his annual injury woes, but the big guy has battled health problems of his own over the past two seasons. The concern for fantasy owners is that L.J. will steal some catches away from Heap, negating the value of both Baltimore tight ends.

Cincinnati Bengals

Key Signings – WR Laveranues Coles (N.Y. Jets), DT Tank Johnson (Dallas), QB J.T. O’Sullivan (San Francisco).

Key Departures – WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh (Seattle), S Dexter Jackson (FA).

The Skinny – Coles is not as skilled as Houshmandzadeh, but the veteran is a good route-runner and tough as nails. True to the Bengal tradition, he has also had a few brushes with the law in his time – and if he offers you a great deal on shoes, don’t take him up on it. In fairness, Coles has stayed out of trouble since the infamous Dillard’s incident back in ’99, and his ability to make the tough catch in traffic should make him a fan favourite as the Bengals try to reload their guns on offense.

And speaking of firearms, defensive tackle Johnson will compete for playing time inside – mostly as a run-stopper. The Tank is still only 27 years old, but won’t pile up enough tackles or sacks to be Fantasy relevant.

O’Sullivan figures to be Carson Palmer’s backup, but could be in line for the starter’s job if Palmer’s elbow isn’t ready to go – or if he suffers a setback. Palmer should be fine, though, and the nosedive O’Sullivan’s game took after the league adjusted to him last season should warn you to stay far away on draft day.

Cleveland Browns

Key Signings – LB Eric Barton (NY Jets), WR David Patten (New Orleans).

Key Departures – TE Kellen Winslow (Tampa Bay), LB Andra Davis (Denver), S Sean Jones (Philadelphia).

The Skinny – Barton should help shore up a defense that was awful against the run last season, but he’s not a big producer of sacks or turnovers. The loss of Winslow and the uncertainty surrounding wideout Braylon Edwards stands to hamstring an offense that wasn’t very good to begin with.

And furthering the “not very good” theme, Patten may actually win a starting wideout job opposite Edwards, especially given 2008 starter Donte’ Stallworth’s current serious legal troubles. Stallworth could possibly land in prison as a result of the charges against him, and it is very uncertain as to how much – or if – he will play this season. The Browns added a couple of young wideouts in the draft (most notably Brian Robiskie of Ohio State), but it’s very likely that Patten enters Week One as the starter. The 34-year-old went for 54-792-3 in New England’s pass-happy offense in 2007, but there’s nothing happy about the Brown passing game right now. At this point in his career, those 2007 numbers are probably Patten’s ceiling. Please try to contain your excitement.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Key Signings – None. One big addition: The Vince Lombardi Trophy.

Key Departures – QB Byron Leftwich (Tampa Bay), WR Nate Washington (Tennessee), CB Bryant McFadden (Arizona).

The Skinny – The champs played a pat hand in free agency this offseason, preferring instead to address their team needs through the draft. Though Pitt should again be a force in 2009, it’s no secret that this team is getting a little bit long in the tooth – especially on the defensive side of the ball.
Washington’s ability to get deep will be missed, but his skills were not irreplaceable – and third round pick Mike Wallace will get the chance to make Pittsburghers forget all about Nate. The speed burner from Ole Miss scorched a 4.33 40-yard dash at the combine after averaging 20.1 yards per reception last season. He’s still raw, though, and probably won’t make much of a dent in the passing game this year, but could become a dangerous return man almost immediately. Leftwich joined roughly six dozen other mediocre quarterbacks on Tampa Bay’s depth chart, but Charlie Batch has shown in the past that he’s capable of carrying the water for a brief period. McFadden is a solid corner when healthy, but that “when” hasn’t been very often of late.

Earlier this week, we released the NFC portion of our NFL Free Agency Report. Today, we’ll switch to the AFC, starting with the East.

Buffalo Bills

Key Signings – WR Terrell Owens (Dallas), RB Dominic Rhodes (Indianapolis), OL Geoff Hangartner (Carolina).

Key Departures – OT Jason Peters (Philadelphia), G Derrick Dockery (Washington), LB Angelo Crowell (Tampa Bay).

The Skinny – The Buffalo passing game was putrid in 2007 and pathetic in ’08, but may actually scale the dizzying heights of Mediocrity Mountain now that T.O. is in town. Owens should become the red zone target that the Bills have lacked since…well, forever. The Bills’ team record for TD catches in a season is a mere 11 – a figure T.O. has exceeded no fewer than seven times in his career. The big wideout should also draw attention away from talented but oft-forgotten receiver Lee Evans, who found the end zone only three times in 2008. Owens and Evans give the Bills one of the league’s most dangerous wide receiver tandems, and could mean that a new era of aerial firepower has been ushered into the frigid environs of Western New York.

The passing attack will probably have to carry the water (or ice) early on, since troubled running back Marshawn Lynch will be serving a three-game suspension to start the season. Former Colt and Raider Dominic Rhodes should be the feature back in Lynch’s stead, but he’ll be running behind a suspect offensive line that will be without Pro Bowler Peters, who was traded to Philadelphia. Even when Lynch returns, Rhodes should see some third-down and spot duty – further diminishing Lynch’s already floundering Fantasy value. The lack of a running game, and the presence of two top-notch wideouts, could actually make quarterback Trent Edwards (gasp!) Fantasy relevant — at least until the Buffalo winter closes in shortly after Labour Day.

Miami Dolphins

Key Signings – DB Gibril Wilson (Oakland).

Key Departures – DE Vonnie Holiday (FA).

The Skinny – The Fins were one of the league’s most surprising teams in 2008, and largely played a pat hand in the offseason. Wilson racked up 134 total tackles for the Raiders last season, and should team with Yeremiah Bell (who had 120 for Miami) to form a solid one-two punch at free and strong safety. The Miami defense was pretty darn good against the run in 2008, and Wilson’s arrival should bolster a secondary that finished 25th against the pass a year ago. Not that Wilson is afraid to stick the run – 98 of his tackles last season were of the solo variety. Holliday’s 3.5 sacks won’t be greatly missed – especially since he’ll turn 34 this season.

New England Patriots

Key Signings – WR Joey Galloway (Tampa Bay), CB Shaun Springs (Washington), CB Leigh Bodden (Detroit), RB Fred Taylor (Jacksonville), TE Chris Baker (NY Jets).

Key Departures – QB Matt Cassel (Kansas City), FB Heath Evans (New Orleans), LB Mike Vrabel (Kansas City).

The Skinny – Some guy named Tom Brady will be asked to fill the big shoes of departed signal caller Cassel, who threw for almost 3,700 yards and 21 TDs last season, but we’re thinking the big kid from Michigan should be up to the task. Mr. Gisele will have another pair of targets in the big Baker and the elderly Galloway, but Randy Moss and Wes Welker should still see most of the targets. Running back Taylor is more durable than his rep would have you believe, but at 33, he’ll likely be no more than a role player in this offense.

The trade of Vrabel leaves a big hole at outside linebacker, and it wouldn’t shock us a bit to see the Pats try to snag an impact ‘backer early on draft day. Springs is an excellent corner when he’s on the field, but a spotty injury history may limit his playing time. Bodden had a fine season for Cleveland in 2007, but took a step backward in Detroit last year.

New York Jets

Key Signings – LB Bart Scott (Baltimore), CB Lito Sheppard (Philadelphia), S Jim Leonhard (Baltimore).

Key Departures – QB Brett Favre (retired), WR Laveranues Coles (Cincinnati), LB Eric Barton (Cleveland), TE Chris Baker (New England).

The Skinny – The Jets hope that Leonhard and Sheppard can help shore up what was a very leaky secondary last season, while Scott will team with David Harris to form a potent duo at inside ‘backer. Harris had a stellar season in 2007, but his ’08 campaign was pockmarked by injuries. Scott hasn’t been much of a pass rusher since he blew up for 9.5 sacks two seasons ago, but that could change in his first year with Gang Green. Sheppard is a decent pass defender whom the Jets rely on to provide some stability (by which we mean the ability to occasionally knock down a pass) opposite budding star cornerback Darrelle Revis.

Coles’ departure figures to sting in a big way; his toughness and ability to work underneath the coverage would have been valuable assets as young quarterbacks Kellen Clemens and Mark Sanchez learn the ropes. Baker’s departure should pave the way for tight end Dustin Keller to make his way onto virtually every Fantasy sleeper list heading into the ’09 season. If you like your tight ends late and with a double-shot of upside, DK could be your man.

Long gone are the days of Saved By The Bell, Miami Vice and Plan B free agency. These days, a far more adventurous frontier of player movement occurs each spring. As the NFL Draft looms, it is time for a refresher on the NFC’s free agent happenings since February. We’ll follow with our AFC Free Agency Report shortly.

NFC EAST

Dallas Cowboys

Additions – The free agency period proved to be a low key occasion for the Cowboys from a signing perspective. They added outside linebacker Keith Brooking from Atlanta and defensive end Igor Olshansky to help soften the blow of their own free agent defections. Dallas needs to improve its overall team toughness. Adding Olshansky and Brooking may not be answers to those issues.

Losses – The Cowboys made big news by releasing safety Roy Williams, cornerback Adam Jones, and receiver Terrell Owens. Without question, all three were talented players, but posed big headaches. Williams can’t cover the pass and is injury prone; Jones couldn’t stay out of trouble and wasn’t productive when he played (Pac Man’s most impressive feat may have been getting on national television late in the season and announcing his love of strip clubs. Real smart); and Owens is on the downside of his career and not worth the weekly headache. Dallas’ biggest loss may prove to be talented defensive end Chris Canty, who bolted for the Giants.

New York Giants

Additions – The Giants addressed one of the team’s strengths in previous years by adding defensive tackle Rocky Bernard from Seattle and bringing in Dallas defensive end Canty. It was a wise move by Giant GM Jerry Reese, who watched as the G-Men failed miserably in pressuring Donovan McNabb in the playoffs without the services of Pro Bowl defensive end Osi Umenyiora.

Losses – The team added a few dollars into Brandon Jacobs’ bank account and with Derrick Ward’s success last season, keeping Ward wasn’t a real option. His departure to Tampa Bay served as New York’s biggest personnel loss, unless you really believe that Plaxico Burress had zero or minimal impact on offense.

Philadelphia Eagles

Additions – Of the four NFC East teams, the Eagles had perhaps the most peculiar offseason. After dropping the NFC title game to Arizona, the Birds went with a low-risk free agency approach. They brought in Browns safety Sean Jones to replace Eagles icon Brian Dawkins (more on that shortly). Also, they signed offensive tackle Stacey Andrews from Cincinnati. That move will serve a dual purpose as Andrews may have been brought in to help keep his brother, Shawn, in check. The team wisely addressed the fullback position by signing Seattle’s Leonard Weaver.

Losses – The Dawkins’ departure to Denver was a blow to the Eagle fanbase. However, the team’s brass doesn’t bend over backwards to keep guys over 30, especially those that were on the decline. Aging veteran offensive tackle Tra Thomas and tight end L.J. Smith weren’t as productive and jumped shipped as well. The Eagles choose often to do their rebuilding through the draft, trades (see the Jason Peters deal) and select free agent moves.

Washington Redskins

Additions – Defensive tackle Albert Haynesworthis in Washington courtesy of the eighth largest contract in NFL history. For seven years and $100 million, he better have an answer to the current economic downturn.

Losses – Since owner Daniel Snyder spends extravagantly, veterans had to leave to clear up cap space. Cornerback Shawn Springs, running back Shaun Alexander, linebacker Marcus Washington and defensive end Jason Taylor were all shown the door in the nation’s capital.

NFC NORTH

Chicago Bears

Additions – The Jay Cutler move dwarfed Chicago’s free agent acquisitions, which rank as uninspiring. The biggest eyecatcher was offensive tackle Orlando Pace, who should have the injury report named after him. Over the past three seasons, he has played in 23 of a possible 48 games.

Losses – The Bears did not lose much in free agency. The team’s most notable losses came via release. Receiver Marty Booker and oft-injured safety Mike Brownwere cut.

Detroit Lions

Additions – Well, when a team goes 0-16, changes are on the horizon. Defensively, Detroit added cornerback Philip Buchanon from Tampa Bay and former Atlanta Falcon defensive tackle Grady Jackson to help bolster what was one of the league’s worst defenses in 2008. They’ll need a lot more bodies, though, to fix its problems on defense. The hideous Detroit offense will get a bit of a boost from reserve running back Maurice Morris and receivers Ronald Curry and Bryant Johnson. While all three will not be confused with Pro Bowlers, they should at least help give the offense a bit of a shot in the arm.

Losses – Unless Calvin Johnson mysteriously disappears, anyone off the ‘08 Lions is an immediate improvement.

Green Bay Packers

Additions – Centre Duke Preston and free safety Anthony Smith represent the only free agent activity for the Packers in the ‘09 offseason. That’s not exactly signing Reggie White, Keith Jackson and Sean Jones in the span of three years, is it? Green Bay opted for the less-is-more approach.

Losses – If you thought who they picked wasn’t a thrill a minute, get a load of this. The Packers only lost defensive tackle Colin Cole in free agency. Mean Joe Greene he is not. Green Bay is opting to build through the draft, folks.

Minnesota Vikings

Additions – Much like the Packers, the Vikings were very quiet in free agency. Receiver Glen Holt comes in to the Twin Cities from Cincinnati.

Losses – It’ll be interesting to see how Minnesota combats losing centre Matt Birk to Baltimore. Birk, a staple in the Minnesota area, was a steady player for the Vikings throughout the decade. Meanwhile, ball-hawking safety Darren Sharper fled Minny for New Orleans.

NFC SOUTH

Atlanta Falcons

Additions – The Falcons played a conservative hand in free agency, only landing veteran linebacker Mike Peterson from Jacksonville. Considering how much Atlanta lost defensively, it’s a bit surprising it didn’t opt to build some depth.

Losses – Atlanta lost six defensive players to other teams including defensive tackles Rod Coleman and Grady Jackson; cornerback Dominique Foxworth; and linebackers Michael Boley and Keith Brooking. To the Falcons’ credit, most of the departed have some years on them except Boley, who enters his fifth season. Expect Atlanta to fill the gaps on defense in the draft.

Carolina Panthers

Additions – All was quiet from the team that finished their season with a humiliating home loss to the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC playoffs. While the Panthers were roughly $13 million under the cap coming in, they devoted their resources to franchising defensive end Julius Peppers. After finishing 12-4 in ‘08, the Panthers saw little in the ways of improvement via free agency.

Losses – The team didn’t suffer serious losses. Instead, it opted to cut ties with wide receiver D.J. Hackett, running back Nick Goings, cornerback Ken Lucas and defensive tackle Darwin Walker. By the way, it hasn’t been a fun year for Lucas, who gets punched out by then-teammate Steve Smith, but gets released in the long run. Let that be a lesson to you kids. Sports is part performance, part politics.

New Orleans Saints

Additions – The clear goal for the Saints in the offseason was to upgrade the defense. Cornerback Jabari Greer comes in from Buffalo, while safety Darren Sharper brings experience aplenty with him to the Saint secondary. Meanwhile, defensive tackle Rod Coleman arrives from Atlanta to give the Saint defensive line a boost. The 23rd-ranked defense in the NFL surely could use the help.

Losses – The biggest off-season note for the Saints was the release of New Orleans favourite Deuce McAllister. After numerous knee injuries, the time arrived for the Saints to cut ties with one of the most productive players in team history.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Additions- With money to spend, the Bucs decided to go after Giant running back Derrick Ward. He’ll join a backfield featuring Ernest Graham, which should provide a formidable “thunder and lightning” combination. Speaking of offense, Byron Leftwich will take his newly acquired Super Bowl ring from Pittsburgh and join a muddled quarterback picture in Tampa.

Losses – The Bucs made waves in the offseason by releasing five previously productive veterans including linebackers Derrick Brooks and Cato June, running back Warrick Dunn, and receivers Ike Hilliard and Joey Galloway. A team that blew a playoff spot down the stretch in part because of its age needed to get younger and fast.

NFC WEST

Arizona Cardinals

Additions – Kurt Warner dominated a lot of the free agent talks for Arizona, which spent much of the offseason paying attention to its in-house free agents instead of busting the bank for guys from other teams. That didn’t stop the NFC champions from weakening its Super Bowl foe, the Pittsburgh Steelers. Cornerback Bryant McFadden will join a secondary that failed to cover Santonio Holmes in the Super Bowl’s final two minutes, thus costing them the Vince Lombardi trophy.

Losses – Running back J.J. Arringtonand up and coming defensive end Antonio Smith left for Denver and Houston, respectively. Neither loss is necessarily crippling, but both defections damage the depth of the Cards just a bit.

St. Louis Rams

Additions – The Rams seemed to do a lot more shedding of talent than acquiring it. Two of their biggest moves included signing centre Jason Brown and quarterback Kyle Boller from the Ravens. Do I hear restructuring through the draft?

Losses – Two of the last links to the ‘99 Rams were cut loose by new head coach Steve Spagnuolo. Torry Holt and Orlando Pace are gone. The same goes for receiver Drew Bennett, whose time in St. Louis was marred by injury. By the way, here is a quick exercise. Write down the Rams’ starting receivers within the next five minutes. I bet you can’t do it.

San Francisco 49ers

Additions – Offensive tackle Marvel Smith was the prized possession of the 49er free agency plan. He’ll help shore up a unit that doesn’t do anything particular well, but has managed to be maddeningly mediocre for nearly a decade. Also, Brandon Jones joins the team from Tennessee to bolster a lagging wide receiver group.

Losses – The ‘Niners are not a talent rich team and other clubs aren’t exactly knocking down their door to steal players. ReceiverBryant Johnson left for Detroit, but otherwise San Francisco did not suffer wildly big hits in free agency.

Seattle Seahawks

Additions – One of free agency’s biggest prizes landed in Seattle in the form of T.J. Houshmandzadeh. Over the past few seasons with quarterback Matt Hasselbeck on the shelf and a rash of receiver injuries, the team’s passing game laboured a great deal. Houshmandzadeh gives them credibility at the receiver spot which the ‘Hawks greatly need.

Losses – Seattle’s depth took a hit with the losses of running back Maurice Morris and fullback Leonard Weaver. Don’t be surprised to see them possibly pick up a running back in the later rounds of the NFL Draft. Meanwhile,the Houshmandzadeh signing made Bobby Engram expendable. It might hurt in the leadership department, but in his 13th season, Engram’s productivity likely already crested.

At long last, the process we began in early November of reviewing each team’s free agency movement, has come to close with this, the final installment. Yay! And there was much rejoicing. You can find the rest of the series here:

American League Part I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII , IX and X.

National League Part I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, XII and XIII.

Washington Nationals

Remember two years ago, when we all thought that the Washington Nationals had a chance to be historically bad, and they turned out to be surprisingly competitive (relatively speaking, of course)? Well, that promised putrid play showed up after all, just a season later, as the Nats struggled through a dismal 59-win season in 2008. The team had no power, its pitching was awful and the best thing you can say about Washington’s 2008 was that the team speed was almost middling.

Now, the positive: there’s probably only one way to go for the Nats, and that’s up. I think. I certainly don’t see this team avoiding a fourth straight losing season, but coming in under 100 losses is a very realistic goal. As has been the club’s philosophy in recent years, there’s plenty of competition in camp, but unlike recent seasons, it’s not just about quantity over quality – there are some talented players here.

The outfield, in particular, is crowded. Lastings Milledge has a job, and he’ll bat leadoff; newcomer Adam Dunn also has a spot in the outfield, and he’ll definitely help address the team’s lack of power. Elijah Dukes seems ready to break out. First base prospect Chris Marrero, who has some serious pop, should be along in another year or so. Throw in some nice young arms on the way, such as Jordan Zimmermann (who may break camp with a rotation spot) and Ross Detwiler, and there is reason for optimism in the U.S. capital for the first time in a long while.

Free Agents

Aaron Boone, 1B: Boone has no speed anymore, and with his weak strike zone judgment, I’ve been wondering for some time now about his future big league prospects, but he just keeps finding jobs as the Astros signed him for one season and $750,000 and all indications were that he was going to get the lion’s share of PT at third base in Houston. However, my prediction may have come true for different reasons, as Boone is scheduled to undergo heart surgery this week – a procedure that will end his season before it begins and may very well bring his career to an abrupt finish.

Odalis Perez, LHP: The Nationals’ Opening Day starter in 2008 stayed healthy, improved his control and managed to shave almost a run and a quarter off his ERA. His reward? He wasn’t re-signed until early February, and even then it was an $850,000, non-guaranteed minor league deal. No one put a gun to his head to sign the contract, but Perez decided he wanted a better deal and refused to report to camp. A couple of weeks later, Washington said bye-bye and cut the lefty. We actually thought that Perez would have been dealt at the deadline last season, and after what transpired this winter, the Nats are probably kicking themselves for not figuring out a way to get rid of him then. Perez auditioned for other teams as a member of the Dominican squad at the WBC, but so far, there’s no news of any serious bites despite his claims that there are as many as 10 teams interested. The Mets may be a good match here, but Perez may have screwed himself with his childish stance in Washington.

Our apologies for the lack of content on the site this weekend. When we weren’t glued to the TV for March Madness, we were feverishly working away on the 2009 RotoRob MLB Draft Kit, which still has plenty of goodies coming, including the remainder of our cheat sheets, key questions facing each team, and another five Top 10 Lists that Owners Always Wanted But Were Afraid to Ask For. And don’t forget our piece de resistance – the ultimate keeper league player list. That’s coming real soon, too.

But in the meantime, we thought we’d wrap up our Free Agency Report. If you’d like to catch up on this series (and we know you desperately want to), you can do so here:

American League Part I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII , IX and X.

National League Part I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI and XII.

San Francisco Giants

The ugliness that has been the San Francisco Giants in recent years started to turn the corner somewhat last season. Okay, let’s get the bad stuff out of the way: this team has now endured four straight losing seasons and hasn’t been to the postseason since 2003; last season, the offense eroded even further, and was nearly the worst in the National League; and the pitching staff gave up 39 more runs than it did in 2007.

Yet somehow, San Francisco earned one more win in 2008. Luck? Perhaps. But there’s so much to get excited about here – especially when thinking about the long-term future of this organization.

The rotation is already a strength, headed by 2008 Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum, but has ridiculous amounts of room for growth. Randy Johnson has been added to the mix; Matt Cain is poised for a breakout; Barry Zito has to be better, doesn’t he? And how about the future? Mention minor league hurlers Madison Bumgarner and Tim Alderson to any prospect junkie, and stand back, because the saliva will be flowing.

Hell, the Giants have even started developing position players who are looking like blue chippers, and they haven’t done that in years. Buster Posey and Angel Villalona will soon be joining a team that already features young talent like Travis Ishikawa, Kevin Frandsen and Pablo Sandoval. The team added some veteran savvy in Edgar Renteria to help tide them over before the wave of youngsters hits, so it’s very reasonable to expect the Giants to end the losing this year. In fact, in a wide open NL West, it’s not a huge stretch to think that they could also end their playoff drought this season.

Free Agents

Rich Aurilia, 1B/3B: Aurilia saw more action than you’d expect last season, reaching 140 games for the first time since 2002, and he wound up hitting pretty well. His pop and patience came back to an extent after the ugliness of 2007. In fact, we thought his solid season would get him dealt out of San Francisco at the deadline, but it didn’t happen. Instead, the Giants have re-signed him to a minor league deal, and assuming he makes the team, he won’t have nearly as large a role in 2009 as the Giants’ youth movement will send him to a utility infield role. Aurilia could emerge with some value in deeper NL-only leagues, but barring a serious injury or two to another San Francisco infielder, that’s his upside.

Omar Vizquel, SS: Vizquel missed a good chunk of last season because of injury, and his extra-base pop – never impressive to begin with – continued to decline. Of greater significance from a fantasy perspective was that his speed washed up as he managed a mere five steals. Now a fringe major leaguer, Vizquel was signed to a minor league deal by Texas, where he is expected to win a utility role. Sure, he’s one of the all-time great Venezuelan players, but he’ll be 42 next month and has almost nothing left to offer except leadership. Still, he was such a great fielder that I wouldn’t be surprised to see him wind up as a coach once he hangs ‘em up.

Next: We’ll cross the continent again and make our final stop in the U.S. capital to check in on the Washington Nationals.

We’re just a couple of weeks away from games that count, Cole Hamels’ owners are worrying and Hideki Matsui will be severely limited for the first half of the season.

And we’re on the home stretch of our Free Agency Report. In case you missed some of this seemingly never-ending series, here you go:

American League Part I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII , IX and X.

National League Part I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X and XI.

San Diego Padres

The Padres were ridiculously bad in 2008, sporting the worst offense in the National League and a pitching staff that was middling at best. Expecting a step forward in 2009 is foolhardy; in fact, assuming that Jake Peavy is finally dealt (he was almost sent packing this offseason), this team will have a hell of a time avoiding 100 losses.

After Peavy, Chris Young is a solid No. 2 starter, although he’s experiencing some tendonitis this spring. After that, the rotation is one huge question mark. For instance, check out these household names competing for the fifth starter job: Josh Geer, Cesar Ramos, Walter Silva. Getting exciting yet? Uh, ya.

Just imagine if young superstar Adrian Gonzalez were to miss an extended period of time. He completely drives the Padre offense, such that it is; without him, they’d have a tough time outhitting a Triple-A team.

But surely there’s help on the horizon, right? Um….a bit, but not much. Top prospect Kyle Blanks is blocked by Gonzalez so will need to learn the outfield to take the next step. Outfielder Will Venable was impressive last season, and is ready should an injury strike, but he doesn’t offer a ton of upside. After flopping badly last season, second baseman Matt Antonelli looks ready to stick in the Show this season, but with David Eckstein now in town, he’s blocked, unless the club opts to shift Eckstein to shortstop. The rest of the Padre top prospects need more seasoning.

Free Agents

Trevor Hoffman, RHP: Hoffman got hurt last season, yet still managed his fifth straight 30-save season – the 13th time in total he’s reached that plateau. The Padres opted to let him walk, and Milwaukee inked him for one year and $6 million in the hopes he would shore up its bullpen. The thing is, Hoffman is now 41, so expect more wear and tear to crop up – he’s already dealing with a strained oblique this spring and has been slow to recover. He’s going around the 19th round in most drafts, but don’t think about reaching for Hoffman until more dependable closing options are off the board.

Mark Prior, RHP: We certainly weren’t shocked when Prior couldn’t make it back to the majors last year, ultimately succumbing to yet another shoulder operation in June. The Padres decided to throw another $1 million at him, re-signing Prior to a minor league deal, but we still have no idea when or if he’ll ever be healthy again. He last started a big league game three years ago, and while it would be very nice to see Prior make it back, your betting dollar would be better spent elsewhere.

Next: We’ll take a drive up the California coast to San Francisco and check in on the Giants.

A-Roid needed surgery; Manny’s back in LaLa land; and Japan keeps winning at the WBC. Ya, baseball’s back, baby! And today, we continue our look at the free agent market, with a stop in the gateway to the south, St. Louis. If you missed a previous part of this report, fear not. We got your back.

American League Part I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII , IX and X.

National League Part I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX and X.

St. Louis Cardinals

The Cards sported both a better attack and better pitching staff in 2008, helping to erase 2007 – the team’s only losing season since 1999. Led by Albert Pujols, who overcame fears that his elbow would blow up at any second and wound up enjoying a career year, the St. Louis offense was among the NL’s best. Pujols is still a stud, and perhaps some organic growth from some of the younger players is in order, but is it reasonable to expect similar seasons out of Skip Schumaker and, especially, Ryan Ludwick in 2009? And Aaron Miles, another big surprise who overachieved in 2008, is gone.

Team speed – for years a Cardinal trait – is now a weakness, and that was not addressed in the offseason. In fact, with Cesar Izturis and his team-leading 24 thefts now in Baltimore, the Cards don’t have a single player who reached double digits in steals in 2008. Me thinks Ludwick better repeat his 37-homer season.

The pitching staff had very much of a bend, but don’t break mentality, filled with hurlers who tend to give up a fair amount of hits, but get by on their superb control. Certainly the return of a healthy Chris Carpenter offers a huge boost to a middling rotation, but he has never been what anyone would call a dominant, blow-them-away starter.

And the bullpen has its own set of questions now that Jason Isringhausen is gone. Namely, who is the closer? Jason Motte? Ryan Franklin? Josh Kinney? Chris Perez?

The Cards are in a fiercely competitive NL Central Division, so taking aim at the Wild Card seems more reasonable for the time being. But I see too many questions surrounding this club to think 90 wins is possible. Still, if everything breaks right – the offense continues to get surprising performances, the rotation holds up, the bullpen picture clarifies itself, and perhaps Colby Rasmus provides a Ryan Braun-type kick in the ass to the team – St. Louis can take the next step.

The Cardinals had plenty of things to deal with this offseason, with eight free agents on the books – at least half of which who were key players on the team last season – yet they opted to let every single one of them walk away.

Free Agents

Juan Encarnacion, OF: Encarnacion hasn’t played since getting hit with a foul ball in August 2007, and for all intents and purposes, his career is over. In 11 seasons, Little Juan played 1,259 games and accumulated 4,685 at bats, smacking 156 homers and finishing as a lifetime .270 hitter.

Jason Isringhausen, RHP: Isringhausen imploded in 2008, surrendering too many long balls, getting hurt and ultimately losing his long-time job as the Cardinal closer. As good as he was in 2007, Izzy was simply awful in 2008, allowing opponents to hit 100 points higher against him. The veteran was signed to a minor league deal by the Rays, and while he’s thrown well so far this spring, he’s yet to make his game debut, so there’s certainly no guarantee he’ll get a gig in the Tampa Bay pen. Back in St. Louis, Jason Motte will close to start the season, but who knows how long that will last.

Cesar Izturis, SS: Izturis got more action in 2008 than he’s had in a couple of seasons, and although he barely mustered any extra-base pop, he had some value in an NL-only league based on his speed and counting stats. Currently playing with the Venezuelan team at the WBC, Izturus is a great defender who Baltimore pegged to solve its shortstop woes for two years and $5 million. Khalil Greene has been brought in to replace him.

Braden Looper, RHP: Looper rode improved control and sharpened command to a one-year, $5.5 million deal (with an option for 2010) from the Brewers. This is Milwaukee’s answer to losing C.C. Sabathia and Ben Sheets, and so far, Looper is doing his best Sheets’ impression, suffering from an oblique strain this spring. However, he’s on the comeback trail now and has looked good throwing to live batters this week, so he’s supposedly still on track to start Milwaukee’s home opener. A healthy Carpenter (is that an oxymoron?) will take Looper’s rotation spot.

Felipe Lopez, 2B: Lopez rode a big second half to wind up having a pretty solid season in 2008. Although his patience continues to decline, we think he’s going to be a cheap source of steals. Arizona decided to take a shot on him, bringing in Lopez for one year at $3.5 million. Lopez, who played with Puerto Rico in the WBC, will bat leadoff for the D-Backs, and remember, this dude used to be pretty damned good. Can he continue to bounce back in the desert? The Cards are using Schumaker to replace Lopez at second, but so far, it’s an experiment that is failing.

Mark Mulder, LHP: Agent Mulder, the one time A’s ace, has made exactly 21 major league starts in the last three seasons combined. Sure, he looked good in a minor league rehab assignment in June, but so what? He says he’s almost ready to audition for major league teams, and Oakland is supposedly interested, but there’s been little progress on that front. Clearly, Mulder has a long road back.

Russ Springer, RHP: Springer’s K rate dipped and his walk rate rose despite a smaller workload in 2008. Regardless, the veteran middle reliever’s results remained strong enough to draw a one year, $3.3 million deal from Oakland. Sure, he’s 40 now, but Springer remains a solid set-up option and he pitched well enough last season to garner a bit of NL-only league love.

Ron Villone, LHP: Villone got plenty of work as a situational lefty in the Cardinal bullpen, and while he was a bit easier to hit and suffered from a control breakdown, he made up for that to an extent by fanning a batter per inning. Mitchell Report boy Villone was signed to a minor league deal by the Mets, and he’s competing with Casey Fossum to be the second left-handed set-up man in a revamped New York pen. The Cards added Trever Miller to replace Villone.

Next: We’ll head out to the West coast to check in on San Diego and San Francisco.

The Buffalo Bills signed WR Terrell Owens to a one year deal on Saturday, a move which seems to be in the best interest of both parties. Owens gives young QB Trent Edwards a threat that will allow for more single coverage looks to Lee Evans. Paired with Marshawn Lynch, the skill positions in Buffalo are all quite talented. Owens should put up good numbers, but this helps Edwards the most. Also, in the past week, the Bills added QB Ryan Fitzpatrick to hold the clipboard.

The other big QB signing of the week came when the Cardinals and Kurt Warner agreed to a two-year deal. I had a feeling that it would work out all along between Warner and the Cards and that the visit to the 49ers was not too serious, just a bargaining chip. Ultimately Warner got paid, but not the amount he wanted. Now it remains to be seen if the Cards will keep WR Anquan Boldin, so the aging QB may lose a top weapon.

There have been a couple of RB signings since free agency started, and all of them have a fairly low fantasy impact. Correll Buckhalter signed a deal with the Broncos, which ensures he will be severely injured at some point next season. Derrick Ward, part of the three-headed running back attack for the Giants, signed a deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he will compete for carries. Former Texas Longhorn standout and misdemeanor extraordinaire Cedric Benson has agreed to stay in Cincinnati, where he will likely be the starting running back. He had a decent year for the Bengals in 2008, so maybe he can build on that.

In WR news, the Seattle Seahawks’ signing of T.J. Houshmanzadeh took the headlines. Nobody has caught more balls the last four years than Houshmanzadeh, and he will look to establish a relationship with Matt Hasselbeck right away. TJH entertained a deal with the Vikings, which I think would have worked out better, but he opted for the northwest as he has ties to the Washington state region, having attended Oregon State. Obviously, if Hasselbeck stays healthy, his stock goes up for next year with a big new weapon at his disposal.

Spring Training is officially underway, and all is right with the world again. That means it’s time for us to step up our baseball coverage, starting with the completion of our free agent report. Miss a section? Here you go:

American League Part I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII , IX and X.

National League Part I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII and IX.

Philadelphia Phillies

The defending World Champions had great balance in 2008, with a powerful lineup, a great bullpen and a fine rotation. This is a team that’s been on the rise for a couple of years now, but can they defend? Well, with a mere four free agents to deal with this offseason, they were more or less guaranteed to return virtually intact.

Pat Burrell, OF: This consistent slugger won’t help you in batting average, and his strike zone judgment slipped after a career best showing in 2007, probably explaining his slight reduction in numbers. Still, Pat the Bat draws a ton of walks, topping the century mark in each of the past two seasons. Philly opted not to bring him back, signing Raul Ibanez instead. Burrell, meanwhile, switched leagues and has gone to the team Philly took out in the Series – Tampa Bay. How ironic will it be if these two teams meet in the Series again and Burrell proves to be the difference?

Tom Gordon, RHP: Flash has been in decline for four years now, and last season ended early thanks to elbow surgery that will likely translate into a late start this year. The Phils let him walk, and Arizona swooped in, becoming the eighth team to stitch Gordon’s name on its uniform. We shouldn’t expect much – hell, the dude’s old enough that his son was drafted last year, but Arizona’s late inning situation is a land full of possibilities given the amount of question marks. So don’t be shocked if Gordon actually emerges with some value. Or not.

Jamie Moyer, LHP: If Gordon is old, what does that make Moyer? Yet, unlike Gordon, who has been sliding for a few years, Moyer is coming off his finest season as a Phillie, making me wonder just when the hell this dude will slow down. Obviously the Phillies don’t think it will be anytime soon, re-signing him for two years. The lefty with the timeless changeup really cut down on the long balls allowed last season, and that made a huge difference.

Rudy Seanez, LHP: Another aging arm, Seanez was cut from the Dodgers during the pre-season and wound up having a pretty good season with the Phils. He walked too many, struck out too few, got hurt, yet enjoyed decent bottle line results. Seanez always seems like such a long shot to make whatever team he’s battling for a job with, but it wouldn’t shock me if he lands yet another gig somewhere. However, to date, he’s not getting any bites this offseason.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Sixteen straight losing seasons and counting; an offense that was middling at best (and that’s being extremely generous) and a pitching staff that was horrendous. This team has its work cut out for itself. Again. Something positive: The Buccos had just four free agents to deal with, yet they let every single one leave, but that could be addition by subtraction as each of them were aging veterans. So if nothing else, the Pirates should be younger in 2009.

Chris Gomez, 3B: Although he enjoyed a fine start to the season, his chances – and play – deteriorated badly in the second half when he barely hit .200. His extra-base pop was almost non-existent, leaving him as a very unproductive utility player. Signed by the O’s, Gomez will try to win a job in B-More, but with Ty Wigginton there, it’s going to be tough.

Jason Michaels, OF: Another veteran bench player the Pirates let walk, Michaels started the season with the Indians, but was so bad, they had to DFA him. Dealt to the Pirates, he was better, but that’s not saying much. He simply doesn’t get on base often enough to be useful, strikes out too often, and his power is slipping. Now with Houston, he’ll add bench strength to the Astros, but won’t be of any use for fantasy purposes unless half the team eats some bad crawfish.

Doug Mientkiewicz, 1B: Yet another veteran backup Pittsburgh allowed to leave, Mientkiewicz saw plenty of action with the Pirates last year, but as we discussed last season, with no power to speak of, he’s not roster-worthy. The Dodgers have given him a shot as a non-roster player, but the best case scenario is he beats out Hector Luna and Luis Maza for a back-up corner infielder gig.

Luis Rivas, SS: What’s this? Another backup the Pirates parted ways with? Are you sensing a trend? Rivas was awful in the first half, earning the non-fantasy factor stamp from us, but shockingly, he was even worse in the second half, recording a 454 OPS after the break. Somehow, the Cubs were interested enough to sign Rivas to a minor league deal, where he’ll compete for the second utility infielder job, something I expect will stead him with zero fantasy value yet again.

Next: We’ll hop aboard the Main Line and head to St. Louis to check in on the Cardinals.

As the clock struck midnight Friday morning, NFL free agency has officially begun. Over the next day or so, be prepared for some big news to drop.

Already in the morning hours, the Redskins have made the biggest splash, but it does not have a huge impact on the fantasy scene. The ‘Skins re-signed CB DeAngelo Hall and added DT Albert Haynesworth, inking both to big time deals. They are certain to have an improved defensive line now, but will it be worth the cost?

The Titans, after losing Haynesworth, could be about to lose QB Kerry Collins as well. The veteran QB is demanding more than he is worth, which has propelled negotiations with free agent QB Chris Simms. It looks like the Titans may be content on entering camp with Vince Young and Simms battling for the starting gig rather than overpaying for an aging Collins.

It has been reported that the Ravens have offered LB Ray Lewis $24 million over three years, with $17 million guaranteed. If the Ravens lose Lewis, I think the fantasy value of their defense is in question. Lewis is a leader and a player-coach, not to mention the heartbeat of the team. If the Ravens lose Bart Scott as well, they may lose their status of a top tier defense.

It looks like former Jaguars RB Fred Taylor will join the Patriots. If this goes down, I think is a great fit for both parties. The fantasy value of any New England backs are now limited. This makes me happy that I cut Laurence Maroney in my keeper league. Take that Millen, this is a GM with some foresight!

The Lions are going strong after WR Nate Washington to compliment Calvin Johnson. The former Steelers WR is rumored to be courted by Rams, Titans, Buccaneers, and Vikings. The addition of Washington would add depth to the Lions and give Matthew Stafford another weapon, assuming he is drafted #1 overall.

There is a rumor floating around saying that Marvin Harrison will sign with the Dolphins. That would be an interesting move for both parties, but I think it could work. Harrison has also been linked to his hometown Eagles, but I think there are too many distractions in Philly for Marvin.

T.J. Houshmandzadeh is being linked to the Eagles, Giants and Bears. I think he would be a great fit in Chicago and give them a reliable weapon. Joining in late in the sweepstakes are the Vikings. If the Purple People could make a trade for Sage Rosenfels and sign TJ, they would have quite an offense to go with Adrian Peterson. If I were in the Vikings front office, I would push hard for both of these deals.

The Cardinals have a big offseason to deal with, primarily because of contract talks with WR Anquan Boldin and QB Kurt Warner. Warner has said he will only come back with the Cards, but contract talks are still far apart. Also, it seems now that Boldin is open to the idea of returning if the money is right. My gut says both deals get done and the Cardinals will have their aerial attack in place next year.

The next 24 hours will be interesting as many of the players who had non-official deals in place before the opening of free agency will sign, as others continue to shop around for the big money. Also remember, the draft is only two months away. The NFL never ends!

Oh, baby! Spring Training games start Wednesday – meaning that in less than 24 hours, we’re going to be checking out boxscores. It doesn’t get any sweeter than that. Well, except checking out boxscores while being hand-fed Twinkies by scantily-clad 18-year-old ladies, of course.

Our previous installments:

American League Part I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII , IX and X.

National League Part I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII and IX.

New York Mets

Given a second straight September meltdown that cost them a post-season berth, it’s easy to overlook the fact that the Mets actually improved in 2008 (albeit, by a single win). Really, the bottom line here is that the Mets were a mediocre team other than July and August when they went on a 36-19 run. The team’s “disastrous” September (13-12) was no different than the club’s record in April and was in fact better than how they fared in May and June.

Still, it’s time for the Mets to wipe all that away and focus on the future, which means the christening of a brand new stadium – Citi Field – and hopefully, with it, a new era.

The team may certainly have a different look this season, as manager Jerry Manuel — about to begin his first full season in charge of the Mets — is considering some major tinkering to the lineup. Luis Castillo may shift to the top of the order, with Jose Reyes dropping to the three-hole and Carlos Beltran moving up to the second spot. Carlos Delgado would slide up to cleanup, while David Wright would drop from third to fifth.

Hmmm…taking one of the best leadoff hitters in the game and shifting him? Uh, okay.

But the Mets are looking for a big recovery from Castillo after he sucked in his first season with the team. He’s dropped 17 pounds and the expectations for a major recovery are large – enough so that I’m reconsidering my plan to dump his sorry ass this spring.

Another change in the lineup could occur in left field, where Daniel Murphy is being pegged as the new starter, a move that would certainly cut into the value of Ryan Church.

Offense was the Mets’ calling card last season, as they ranked second in runs and steals. Beltran has been sliding for a couple of seasons, but remains a force in centrefield, and may see a bump in value batting out of the two-hole. Expect more runs, but less RBI. Reyes rebounded after an off year in 2007, but had his lowest stolen base total since he’s been a full-time player.

The pitching was middling as best last season, ranking seventh in WHIP. In fairness, other than Pedro Martinez – who looked toast – the starting rotation was pretty good; the bullpen, however, was the bane of the Mets’ existence in 2008. That’s a situation that has been addressed in a big way with the signing of Francisco Rodriguez and the acquisition of J.J. Putz.

With 11 free agents this offseason, the Mets had plenty to deal with as they attempt to take the next step and return to the playoffs for the first time since 2006. Fortunately, the offense was barely affected, with just one key bench player among the free agent class; the pitching free agents, however, included two members of the rotation.

Free Agents

Moises Alou, OF: One of the most injury-prone players of his generation, Alou was limited to 15 games thanks to calf and hamstring problems, the latter of which ultimately necessitated season-ending surgery in July, just the highlight of a season filled with injuries to Met outfielders. He remains unsigned, but it’s possible Philadelphia or Toronto (looking for a temporary replacement for Vernon Wells) may come calling.

Tony Armas, Jr., RHP: Armas never looked worse than he did last season during his brief time with the Mets, but at Triple-A, he showed great control and posted strong hit rates, hinting at the pitcher who was once a top prospect in the Expo system. But the fact is, he hasn’t been useful since early in 2006, and as usual, injuries derailed him that season. Anyways, the Mets must have liked what they saw of Armas in the minors, and re-signed him to a minor league deal. You never know when all of a sudden everything will click for a pitcher, but the fact that he is experiencing Visa problems for the second straight spring doesn’t bode well for him to enjoy any success in 2009.

Luis Ayala, RHP: Ayala started the season in Washington, but was too hittable in a set-up role. Dealt to the Mets in August, he was slightly better, and did have some value down the stretch when he took over the closer role after Billy Wagner got hurt and Aaron Heilman failed. With the Mets’ big bullpen additions, Ayala was no longer needed, and he’s landed in Minnesota.

Damion Easley, 2B: Can you believe it’s now been almost six years since the Tigers released Easley, eating over $14 million in salary in the process? He’s been a part-time player since, but at the age of 39, is still hanging around. In fact, when Castillo was so awful last season, Easley saw more action than normal down the stretch, resulting in 85 hits – his highest total since 2001. Easley no longer has any power, but drew interest from Arizona earlier this offseason. However, he remains without a job, and we know the Mets won’t be asking him back – they’ve moved on by signing Alex Cora to take over Easley’s role.

Orlando Hernandez, RHP: Hernandez’s 2008 season was a disaster as he got a late start to the season because of foot surgery – something that concerned us early in the year when we wondered if he’d be healthy at all. Well, we were bang on, as the injury never healed sufficiently for him to take the mound, and then he opted for season-ending surgery in August to remove a bunion on his big right toe. While his strikeout rate slipped and his command was weak in 2007, Hernandez has always been a consistent winner (lifetime 90-65 mark), so you’d think someone would bite. He’s willing to continue his career as a reliever, but there’s been no interest in him at all.

Pedro Martinez, RHP: Well, Martinez was healthier last year than he was in 2007. There, now that I’ve said something good about his 2008, I can take the gloves off. The dude was simply shelled and his shoulder problems resurfaced in September, keeping him winless for the remainder of the season. This former Expo great wanted to re-sign with the Mets, but that isn’t expected to happen. Instead, Martinez will use the WBC as a platform to try to generate interest as he seeks a 2009 contract.

Ramon Martinez, 2B: Thanks to injuries and ineffective at Triple-A last season, I wondered whether this vet was done altogether. He wound up in the Met system and after a September call-up, he actually saw some time as the starting second baseman in New York. And although he hit decently, this spoke more to Castillo’s ineffectiveness rather than Martinez’s prowess. At any rate, the Mets liked what they saw enough to re-sign him to a minor league deal, but I expect him to again spend plenty of his time at Triple-A.

Trot Nixon, OF: Since his career year in 2003, Nixon’s slugging percentage has dropped five straight seasons, and after last season’s debacle – hernia surgery limited him to a mere 35 less-than-impressive at bats – he looks old before his time. Nixon started the season in the Arizona system and hit well at Triple-A, but was dealt to the Mets when they were dealing with a rash of OF injuries. Of course, he soon joined that mess, getting hurt himself. The Brewers have signed Nixon and he’ll compete for the final outfield spot in Milwaukee. He probably has an edge for the job because he’s a lefty, but man, has his career ever gone downhill steadily.

Oliver Perez, LHP: Perez was unable to consolidate his great 2007 rebound season, setting a career high in walks in 2008 while also experiencing a decline in his K rate. The upshot of his inconsistency was one-third less wins (just 10 after a career-best 15 in 2007). Regardless, the Mets re-signed him for three years and $36 million, a deal that could be awful if Perez starts to revert to his 2006 form. However, it could be a steal if the work that Johan Santana is doing with him to make him a more consistent pitcher pays off. The Mets need Perez to return to the 15-win range for them to have a shot at the playoffs; with one of the best lefties in the game in Perez’s corner, there’s a good chance that may happen. I’m issuing a sleeper alert on this still-just-27-year-old southpaw.

Ricardo Rincon, LHP: Rincon missed most of the 2007 season because of Tommy John surgery, and he worked his way back by pitching in the Mexican League this season before the Mets gave him a look. He earned a September call-up and pitched well in limited action. He’s still a free agent, however, and at the age of 38, looks just about done.

Matt Wise, RHP: When the Mets signed him last offseason, we actually thought this was a wise move. Unfortunately, an arm injury delayed the start of his season, and when he returned, he was far too hittable, suggesting that he wasn’t quite 100 per cent. Sure enough, after just eight appearances, the shoulder started acting up, ultimately leading him to shut it down for the season in August. He’s still a free agent, and will likely remain as such until it’s clear he’s healthy.

Next: We’ll drive 100 miles down the Jersey Turnpike and the I-95 to Philadelphia, to check in the offseason happenings of the World Champion Phillies.

Spring Training is underway and we’ll have actual boxscores to peruse come Wednesday! How sweet is that? With that in mind, we push forward with our Free Agency report. Miss the other sections of this near-legendary tome? No problem-o, dude. We got you covered:

American League Part I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII , IX and X.

National League Part I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII and VIII.

Milwaukee Brewers

After showing nice progress in 2007, the Milwaukee Brewers were one of the feel good stories of 2008, taking another significant leap forward en route to 90 wins, the NL Wild Card and the team’s first playoff appearance in 26 years.

Fueled by the NL’s second best pitching staff, which was bolstered by the mid-season acquisition of C.C. Sabathia (who was absolutely dominant in Sausage City) the Brewers spent most of the summer blazing towards the playoffs. Sure, a late season slump almost cost them that shot and it took a win on the final day of the season to wrap it up, but after an entire generation of Brewer fans had suffered through a postseason drought, no one was complaining. Yes, the Brewers were dispatched fairly easily in four games in the NLDS by the eventual World Series champion Phillies, but the message was sent that this team was no longer a doormat for the rest of the NL.

Unfortunately, the offseason took a big chunk of those good feelings away. Gone are twin aces Sabathia and Ben Sheets, replaced by Braden Looper. Uh, yeah.

Team owner Mark Attanasio believes that the team is tapped out salary wise after taking on the Sabathia contract and also adding Ray Durham in a mid-season deal and then enduring an expensive offseason that included new contracts for Prince Fielder (who has slimmed down, but has a fatter wallet thanks to a two-year, $18 million deal) and Corey Hart ($3.25 M), not to mention Looper, who could earn as much as $12.25 million over the next two years.

On the plus side financially, after wasting $10 million on Eric Gagne last season for a seriously ugly campaign, the Brew Crew was able to bring him back on a cheap, incentive-laden minor league contract for 2009. Of course, it’s going to take a hell of a lot of work before Gagne manages to earn himself another late-inning role as he’s fallen pretty low down the pecking order in the Milwaukee pen, assuming he even makes the team.

One wonders whether the Brewers (12th in hitting, but fifth in home runs last season) will have enough offense to withstand the weakening of their pitching staff this season. Third baseman Bill Hall, who has been sliding downhill for a couple of seasons now anyways, is dealing with a calf injury, and will get a late start on his spring. This does not bode well for a rebound. And while that may be addition by subtraction in some people’s minds, and perhaps serve only to expedite the dawn of the Mat Gamel era, the uber prospect is also hurting this spring with a shoulder issue. That leaves Mike Lamb as the main option at the hot corner for now. Yeah, I know…it’s hard not to wet yourself when you hear that.

Free Agents

The Brewers only had 10 free agents to deal with, but with four key hurlers included on this list, the team took a serious hit to its staff and will be very hard pressed to remain among the top pitching teams in the NL. Fortunately, the losses on offense were only to role players.

Russell Branyan, 3B: After starting the season in the minors and then getting hurt in August, Branyan didn’t see much big league action last season, but when he did play he actually put up a decent BA for once and showed enough to earn himself a contract from the Mariners. He’ll participate in what looks like a wide-open competition for the starting first base job in Seattle.

Craig Counsell, 3B: Counsell saw less action in 2008, but he knows how to get on base and has excellent strike zone judgment, two ingredients that led Milwaukee to re-sign him. It’s Counsell’s flexibility that makes him valuable, at least for a real baseball team. He actually proved useful when Rickie Weeks went down in June, and could get into the 3B mix this spring with all the injuries Milwaukee is dealing with. He’s no spring chicken, but Counsell proved he still has a bit of life left in him when used judiciously as a role player.

Ray Durham, 2B: Durham was enjoying a strong season with the Giants, doing a way better job of getting on base than he had in years. Traded to Milwaukee in July, he hit well for Milwaukee and continued to exhibit good patience. Although not a productive, full-time player any longer, Durham still has very good gap power and his recovery in OBP last season was really startling. He’s still a free agent, and KC is a possible suitor, but it wouldn’t surprise me if Durham had to settle for a minor league deal as no one is really desperate for keystone corner help right now.

Eric Gagne, RHP: Gagne was signed to take over at closer, but he was unable to stay healthy, was tremendously ineffective and ultimately proved that he wasn’t the answer, losing his job. As mentioned, Milwaukee has brought him back for much less money and he’ll have to fight for a job with plenty of bullpen candidates in town.

Gabe Kapler, OF: Kapler was a big surprise early in the season, but ultimately faded back into his traditional extra outfielder role. Still, he did enough as a part-timer to earn a contract from defending AL Champs Tampa Bay, where he will compete for the starting right field job.

Mike Lamb, 3B: It didn’t surprise us at all when Lamb flopped in Minnesota, losing playing time and then getting the boot outright. Milwaukee signed him late in the season, and he was even worse while playing in Beer City. For some reason, The Brewers re-signed him and now, thanks to the rash of injuries to their third basemen, he could factor in as an important piece in the early going. And that’s just plain scary.

Guillermo Mota, RHP: Mota bounced back nicely after his awful 2007 season in which he had to deal with a drug-related suspension. He upped his K rate, was harder to hit and offered some value in NL-only leagues thanks to his wins and holds. The Dodgers opted to sign the inconsistent reliever, hoping that returning to the site of his best seasons will help revitalize him further.

C.C. Sabathia, LHP: Sabathia got off to an awful start with the Tribe last season, but turned things around and proved to be an incredible addition for Milwaukee at the deadline, sharpening his control and giving the team an innings-eating stud it so desperately needed to help make it over the hump and into the playoffs. Unfortunately, he priced himself way out of the Brew Crew’s price range with this career season, landing in New York when the Yankees opened the vaults for the big lefty.

Ben Sheets, RHP: Sheets turned in a fabulous season, but the wear and tear on his arm (he matched his career high in complete games) once again took its toll, and a two-year offer from Texas fell through when it was discovered he had a torn flexor tendon in his elbow. He’s since undergone surgery which will likely keep him out until the All-Star break and will necessitate him signing a cheaper deal that will include incentive bonuses.

Brian Shouse, LHP: Shouse gave up more homers than usual, but thanks to his vultured wins, holds and nice ERA, he enjoyed a strong season, dominating southpaws to the tune of a .180 BAA. The Rays, looking to bolster their bullpen, signed him a week and a half ago.

Next: We’ll head east to check in on the New York Mets, who had a boatload of free agents to deal with this offseason.

Alright, the push is on to hammer the rest of these reports out as we gear up for the release of the 2009 RotoRob MLB Draft Kit. If you’ve missed any of the previous parts of this series, catch up here:

American League Part I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII , IX and X.

National League Part I, II, III, IV, V, VI and VII.

Los Angeles Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers only made slight strides over 2007, but it was enough to win the NL West and come within three wins of the World Series. But let’s face it – without pulling the trigger on the Manny Ramirez deal, there’s no way this team earns its third straight winning season, never mind makes the postseason.

Of course, the fate of Manny is still very much up in the air, and if he bolts, the Dodgers will go back to the substandard offensive team they were before he arrived. This is a team that finished 13th in the NL in runs and slugging, but would have been much worse had Ramirez not looked like Ted Williams over the final couple months of the season. There were just too many passengers in this lineup. Jeff Kent looked like a shell of himself, and thankfully has opted for the rocking chair; Juan Pierre was simply awful, managing just 13 extra-base hits all season long, finally being reduced to a part-time role.

Unfortunately, the team has done very little to improve itself offensively, making the re-signing of Ramirez all the more vital.

Pitching was definitely this team’s strength in 2008 as they paced the NL in ERA, OPS against and WHIP. Hong-Chih Kuo was superb as a spot starter/long reliever; Cory Wade was spectacular out of the bullpen; Derek Lowe enjoyed a tremendous season, but has since departed, landing in Atlanta and leaving young Chad Billingsley as the de facto ace for the Dodgers.

Lowe’s departure, combined with the retirement of Greg Maddux and the dispatching of Brad Penny has left the Dodger staff potentially thin and rather fragile to an extent. This could prove to be the team’s undoing, although fortunately, they reside in a weak division where 84 wins was good enough to take home a title last season.

No. 2 starter Hiroki Kuroda dealt with shoulder problems last season, but so far this spring, the news is good. Clayton Kershaw, still not old enough to drink, will be asked to shoulder a heavy load. It would be a huge bonus if Jason Schmidt, finally pain free, can emerge with the fifth starter job, or if Jeff Weaver, added on a minor league deal, can rediscover the form that allowed him to win 27 games with the Dodgers in 2003 and 2004. And Randy Wolf is also back, another constant injury risk, but an arm that can definitely help if he can make 30 starts.

Closer Takashi Saito is gone, and while Jonathan Broxton can clearly handle the role (notwithstanding some hiccups in the playoffs that turned the NLCS in the Phillies’ favour), the trickle down effect will hurt the overall depth of the Dodger pen.

The Dodgers had to deal with a major-league high 13 free agents this offseason – a hell of a lot for a team seeking its first NL Championship since 1988.

One other piece of bad news for you Dodger fans, especially the superstitious types: LA has only made the playoffs in even numbered years since 2004. The youth movement is definitely underway in LA, but this team may have to take a step back before it can take another step forward.

Joe Beimel, LHP: Despite coming off his finest big league season, Beimel remains unsigned. He was a bit more hittable in 2008 than he’s been in a couple of years, but with the lusting after of lefty relievers by most teams this offseason, he was expected to get a multi-year deal. Now, he may have to head back to the Dodgers, where he lost in arbitration in 2007, perhaps just for one year.

Gary Bennett, C: Former juicer Bennett missed most of 2008 with an injury, not that anyone ever notices Russell Martin’s backup very often. He’s still out there, and despite his lack of action last year, I suspect Bennett will land a back-up role somewhere.

Casey Blake, 3B: Blake was having a fine year with the Tribe, but he struggled once he arrived in LA after the Dodgers gave up a couple of prospects to acquire him. Still, he cut his strikeout rate last season and gets on base at a decent clip and with such a weak market at the hot corner, the Dodgers opted to re-sign him for three years and $17 million.

Rafael Furcal, SS: Furcal was having a superb year, but his season ended extremely early, causing him to earn consideration for a 2008 RotoRob Award as the Fantasy Bust of the Year. Still, the Dodgers saw enough to bring him back, despite fierce competition from the A’s and Braves, the later of which actually thought they had signed him. Assuming the Dodgers don’t bring Manny back, Furcal will be counted on to spur the team’s little ball attack with his blazing speed.

Nomar Garciaparra, SS: He remains injury prone, but is a great team player, and when Furcal went down, Garciaparra shifted over to short for a while and actually emerged as a decent wire pick for a while. The Phillies have made him an offer, but his days of being able to handle a full-time job look done.

Jason Johnson, RHP: Despite his propensity to surrender too many long balls, Johnson held his own in a spot starter/long man role while he was with the Dodgers. A couple of years ago, Johnson had to go to Japan to find his way back to the majors, however, this year, the Yankees will give him a shot, penning him to a minor league deal.

Jeff Kent, 2B: Kent’s knee woes did him in and a walk rate that had been declining for the past couple of seasons really helped usher in the end for this 16-year-vet, who retired as a lifetime .290 hitter and one of the greatest power-hitting second basemen ever.

Derek Lowe, RHP: The loss of Lowe, whose control was impeccable last year, will really hurt. D-Lowe will look to propel the Braves back into contention this season.

Greg Maddux, RHP: Maddux was enjoying a fine year with the Padres, but as we predicted, he was dealt at the deadline back to the Dodgers, with whom he spent part of the 2006 season with. The Professor wasn’t quite as effective once he landed in LA, giving up more homers than normal, and then he decided to call it a day after 355 career wins. That’ll do, I guess.

Chan Ho Park, RHP: Park put himself back on the map with a fine season as a spot starter/long reliever in LA, becoming one of the Dodgers’ better reclamation projects. He looked like a serious retread back in 2006 when the Mets gave him a shot, but Park is now a legitimate candidate to battle for the fifth starter job on the World Champion Philadelphia Phillies, who signed him for one year and $2.5 million.

Brad Penny, RHP: Penny dealt with some shoulder problems last season, looking good upon his return before getting rocked in his next start and landing back on the DL. He made it back for two appearances in September before shutting it down for the season. Now, Penny is part of a potent Red Sox rotation, and the former All-Star will try to prove last season was a blip.

Manny Ramirez, OF: Once Man-Ram arrived from Boston, he almost single-handedly turned the Dodgers season around. He was enjoying a solid year for the BoSox, but as a Dodger, he was absolutely sick, batting almost .400 and showing incredible power, patience and plate discipline. However, where Ramirez winds up is still anyone’s guess. The dude has already turned down a $25 million offer for one year from the Dodgers. Could division rival San Francisco swoop in and steal Manny? If the Giants do so, it could swing the balance in the NL West. The Dodgers don’t seem to be in any kind of panic to re-sign the future Hall of Famer, and that could cost them.

Mark Sweeney, 1B: As we discussed early last season, bringing Sweeney back last year didn’t work out so well. He looks like he’s done as he hasn’t even had any bites this offseason. Time for the 39-year-old to follow Kent’s model, perhaps.

Next: We’ll head northeast a ways and report on the Milwaukee Brewers’ offseason.

Happy Valentine’s Day to all our readers. Today’s a good day to take a break from your sports viewing and take your wife/significant other out for dinner. Maybe you’ll even get porked tonight if you’re good!

Anyways, we’ve been concentrating on basketball and hockey lately, but with February well entrenched and Spring Training workouts already underway, it’s time to switch gears and get back to our Free Agency Report. Previous parts – American League Part I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII , IX and X.

National League Part I, II, III, IV, V and VI.

Houston Astros

After bottoming out in 2007 with 72 wins, the Houston Astros rode a huge second half to 86 wins last season, their 15th winning campaign in the last 17 years. This was a truly amazing feat, given that the team was 47-56 on July 26. But a huge finish — a 39-19 mark from that point on, despite a crushing five-game losing skid in mid-September – allowed Houston to claw its way back into the wild card race.

It’s conceivable with some fine-tuning to the rotation, this team could take a run at the NL Wild Card and return to the playoffs for the first time since 2005.

But first the Astros have some issues to sort out, not the least of which is what in the hell is going to happen to Miguel Tejada after he admitted lying to congress in connection with his testimony in 2005 about the use of performance-enhancing drugs, an area we covered extensively in our series on The Mitchell Report. He could face up to a year in jail, but most expect a much lighter sentence, likely just probation. So as we write, you can expect Tejada to be manning shortstop for the Astros on Opening Day.

The Astros did very little this offseason to improve the offense, despite talk that they were thinking of making a run at Adam Dunn. Led by Jose Valverde, the bullpen is solid, but as discussed, the rotation needs work.

Houston did add Mike Hampton to the rotation, but is it realistic to expect him to log more than 20 starts? Swingman Chris Sampson made 11 starts last year, and will be considered for a rotation spot, but is clearly better suited to be a reliever. The Astros could really use one more solid starter to add to this mix.

And given that they had five free agents to deal with this offseason, Houston had its work cut out for itself as it attempted to build on last season’s rebound. Fortunately, it re-signed the two key members of its bullpen who were free agents, allowing the rest of this class to head west.

Brad Ausmus, C: Never much of an offensive talent, Ausmus was reduced to a role player for Houston in 2008, losing whatever slim fantasy value he had. He used to at least see plenty of PT, not that this made him attractive, but a career worst 15 runs? Yikes. Ausmus has finally left the Astros, signing with the Dodgers, and leaving his main competitors last season – Humberto Quintero and J.R. Towles to battle for the starting gig.

Doug Brocail, RHP: Brocail’s command was superb last year, so despite bottom line results that weren’t quite in line with what he achieved with the Padres in 2007 – a fact that didn’t surprise us — he remains a top set-up man. Houston obviously recognized this when it re-signed him for another year plus an option for 2010, bringing back a key component of a solid bullpen that again looks like it will be a team strength.

LaTroy Hawkins, RHP: We already documented how poorly Hawkins pitched with the Yankees, but everything changed when he was dealt to the Astros. His command suddenly did a 180, and he settled in as one of the top set-up men on the ‘Stros. Small wonder they wasted little time in re-signing him this offseason, so he’ll reprise his role in the pen behind Valverde and Brocail.

Mark Loretta, 2B: Loretta showed solid gap power as a key member of the Astro bench last season, and drew the attention of a few teams before earning himself a similar role on the Dodgers this year. Combined with Ausmus, that’s two key role players the Dodgers pilfered from the Astros. Throw in Randy Wolf (below) and you’ve got yourself the Los Angeles Astros.

Randy Wolf, LHP: As we expected, Wolf didn’t survive the trade deadline last year, coming over from San Diego to Houston, and his solid late-season work helped spur the Astro second-half run. Finally healthy, Wolf would have been a good arm to bring back, but Houston was unable to outbid the Dodgers, losing yet another of their free agents to LA. This one may hurt, especially since Houston also lost out in its attempts to lure Braden Looper to town.

Next: We’ll head west and check in on the Los Angeles Astros, er, Dodgers.

We’ve been remiss on keeping up to pace with our baseball off-season coverage, focusing lately on basketball, hockey, and, of course, the NFL playoffs. But don’t worry, we’re already planning the 2009 RotoRob Fantasy Baseball Draft Kit, so before you know it, baseball coverage will be coming down the pike en masse.

For now, catch up on our Free Agency Report: American League Part I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII , IX and X. National League Part I, II, III, IV and V.

Florida Marlins

Led by an improved pitching staff – especially the bullpen – the Florida Marlins put the brakes on a two-year losing skid, winning 84 games in 2008 to finish a mere 5.5 games back in the Wild Card race.

There are plenty of questions that need addressing here, but the Marlins have yet again put together a roster of talented youngsters that appears to be on the cusp of greatness.

While the team doesn’t have many free agents to deal with, arbitration will be an issue for the cash-strapped Marlins, who ranked dead last in payroll in 2008. I mean, Wes Freaking Helms was their top paid player at $2.4 million last season.

Jorge Cantu and Jeremy Hermida have already signed and avoided arbitration. But Alfredo Amezaga, Ricky Nolasco, Cody Ross and Dan Uggla are still eligible. And given that behind Hanley Ramirez, Uggla was the team’s top power hitter (which was a real strength in Florida last season as the club ranked fourth in the NL in slugging), he won’t come cheap.

As mentioned, the bullpen helped revitalize a pitching staff that was dead last in the NL in 2007, but it had to work hard – the rotation only managed 74 quality starts – just 12th in the NL. Missing Anibal Sanchez for most of the season definitely hurt in this regard, but the Marlins are committed to keeping him healthy in 2009, and to wit, have prohibited him from participating in the upcoming World Baseball Classic. But not to worry, with H-Ram, Matt Lindstrom, Amezaga, Cantu, Renyel Pinto and Rick VandenHurk all expected to participate for their respective nations in the WBC, Florida is sure to be well represented.

With Matt Treanor now in Detroit and Paul Lo Duca not being offered arbitration and probably out of the team’s price range anyways, the Marlins desperately could use a veteran catcher. But there’s really not much out there that fits their minuscule budget, so this could be a serious issue with John Baker and his whopping 61 career games heading the depth chart at present.

Not surprisingly, the Marlins haven’t exactly been making waves in the free agent market, although they did sign steroid boy Jay Gibbons to a minor league deal. Gibbons, who last played in the majors in 2007, was in Indy ball last year. Yikes. Oh, Florida also gambled on reliever Scott Proctor, who once upon a time had a live arm before he hurt it. Still, he could prove to be quite useful and may help solidify an improving bullpen.

In reality, this club’s improvement will virtually be completely organic as it matures. I expect Florida to make a serious run at the Wild Card and its first playoff appearance since 2003.

Of the team’s four free agents, two have already signed elsewhere.

Luis Gonzalez, OF: When Gonzo signed with the Marlins last season, we weren’t impressed, and I think we nailed that one right on the head. His batting eye continues to slide and he scored all of 30 runs in 136 games. Uh, ya. Could this be the end of the line for the 18-year-vet? Oh, come on! He’s just eight years removed from a 57-homer season. But wait….Gonzalez has hit five more dingers than that in the last four years combined. No problem!

Mark Hendrickson, LHP: Once upon a time, we recommended him, but in 2008 Hendrickson had an awful season as a swingman with an unacceptably low K rate. And now he’s an Oriole, for one year and $1.5 million. Remind me again why B-More has been crap for so long?

Paul Lo Duca, C: Lo Duca, a Mitchell Report poster boy, was rancid enough with the Nats to get released, winding up signing a minor league deal with Florida. He was brought up to the majors and actually hit well and did a fantastic job of getting on base in a very limited role. The Marlins failed to offer him arbitration, and now he’s stuck trying to find a job in a market that is loaded with veteran catchers. I wouldn’t be surprised if Lo Duca doesn’t find a gig until well after Spring Training has started.

Arthur Rhodes, LHP: After a fantastic season split between Seattle and Florida, Rhodes landed in Cincy for two years and $4 million, a deal we already discussed earlier this month.

Next: We’ll take a little swim across the Gulf of Mexico and check in on Houston. Just 10 teams to go!