MLB

Franklin Gutierrez stepped it up last year, hitting .283 with 85 runs, 18 HRs, 70 RBI, and 16 SBs.

He turned 27 yesterday, so continued progression is likely.

However, I’m not sure he has a 20/20 season in his future.

The bulk of his stolen bases—seven, to be exact—came when he was hitting out of the two-hole. Newly acquired Chone Figgins figures to occupy that spot in the order, meaning Gutierrez will hit fifth.

He hit nearly half (eight) of his HRs in the fifth slot (in 21.9 percent of his ABs). He only stole two bases there though.

In the words of the great LeRoy Brownlow, "There are times when silence has the loudest voice."

The Jonathan Broxtons, Mariano Riveras, and the Jonathan Papelbons of the world are going to go early. You can chase along by adding some other elite closers (click to see top 15 closer rankings ), but if you want to address other needs, here are some closer options you can get later on.

If you can’t beat them, join them.

Last year, the New York Yankees beat the Philadelphia Phillies and Chan Ho Park in the World Series, so Park figured why not join the team that beat him in the fall classic.

By Patrick Read

Washington, DC

In the wee hours of Monday morning, 36-year-old former Philadelphia Phillies starter Chan Ho Park agreed to terms with the New York Yankees.

The deal is for one year and $1.2 million guaranteed, plus another $300K in incentives for a possible total of $1.5 million.

I can admit when I under evaluate a player, which I did do with Michael Bourn. Last season was the first time he played regularly, so I projected him out to too few at bats, which played a huge role in his projected value. However, even when I upgrade him, I just don’t see him as a Top 80 player overall, where he has routinely been drafted this year.

Look at his numbers from last season:

Ever since Theo Epstein took over as the Boston Red Sox GM, he has made sure the Red Sox have gone into each season with a quality starting rotation.

Starting with moving Derek Lowe into the starting rotation back in 2002, Boston has always had two upper-level pitchers at the top of their rotation.

The 2010 version of the Red Sox rotation might be their best ever under Epstein. With the addition of John Lackey in the offseason, Boston will go into the season with three potential No. 1 starters.

According to Thomas Harding of MLB.com , the Yankees have signed free agent reliever Chan Ho Park who most recently pitched against the Bombes for the Phillies in the World Series to a one-year $1.2 million contract. Incentives could make the deal worth an additional $300,000.

An exciting NL Wild Card race notwithstanding, the 2009 pennant races seriously lacked intrigue; that is until the Minnesota Twins sprang out of their coffin right before the last nail was driven in. The Twins came from 7 games behind in early September to beat the dysfunctional Detroit Tigers in a classic extra-inning one-game playoff (or if you're John Church, just some game back in October you keep trying to forget ever happened).

If I told you that you had to fill 34 starts throughout the course of a season and offered you the choice between the following stat lines, which one would you take?

11-7, 3.23 ERA, 214.1 IP, 178 H, 24 HR, 58 BB, 160 K, 1.101 WHIP, 24 Quality Starts

14-7, 5.22 ERA, 194.2 IP, 226 H, 39 HR, 64 BB, 100 K, 1.490 WHIP, 14 Quality Starts

Is there even the tiniest little chance that you'd select line two? I suppose that if you were selecting a starting pitcher for your chief rival, you might go that way.