Opinion

The stratification of wealth between Major League Baseball teams is reaching endemic proportions. For the amount he spent on the Yankees two years ago, George Steinbrenner could have paid the Florida Marlins’ players nine times over and still had enough left to buy himself a nice yacht.

Once again, Carlos Pena professes his love for the Rays and his desire to stay there long term. I never expected to see anyone express a strong desire to stay with the Rays long term, but wow have times changed:

Snubs are made whether it be during the All-Star break or post-season awards.

Thus, we can classify them as underrated, if they're not getting the proper accolades from the fans or even sportswriters. This isn't fantasy world, this is real world contributors.

Here are 12 guys who performed well in 2009 but didn't get the respect they deserved.

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The Seattle Mariners are a hot pick in 2010—and for good reason.

Last year, the M’s rebounded from a 101-loss ’08 campaign to win 85 games and lead the American League in staff ERA (3.87). The top of their lineup now features a “double-whammy” of Ichiro and Chone Figgins while the top of their starting rotation now includes the “one-two punch” of Felix Hernandez and Cliff Lee.

Yes, Seattle could be very good. But so too could those L.A. Angels.

This is the time during Spring Training that all Major League teams starts to cut down on their rosters, sending some players down to their Minor League affiliates while others are sent on their way right out of the organization.

The funny thing about this process is that there are very few surprises as to who stays and who goes.

It's tough to write about the New York Mets these days.

There hasn't been a whole lot of good news to write about when it comes to the Mets this spring. Actually, there hasn't been much good news to write about the Mets during this entire offseason, as anything positive that happens to the Amazin's, like signing Jason Bay, is followed by multiple negatives, like not being able to add any pitching, or the Mets continued injury problems.

0-10 through 10 games.

Stinks, right?

To hear the Nationals' players talk about it, fans and writers should disregard the club's spring training record.  They have a list of reasons and excuses to forget about the record.

"We're just getting our work in."

"We aren't playing with our regular players."

"I just want to stay healthy for the season."

"I'm working on some new thing/adjustment."

The San Francisco Giants have built up a formidable starting rotation over the last two seasons. One could make the argument that it is top three in the majors, if not the best one completely. Tim Lincecum has won the Cy Young award in back-to-back seasons, Matt Cain is coming off a 14 win year in which his ERA dropped to 2.89, Barry Zito made a strong recovery late last season in which he upped his strikeout totals and lowered his walks and ERA from the previous two seasons.

It's hard to feel good right now as a Mets fan.

Outfielder Carlos Beltran had the knee surgery that he should have had last fall in January and is out for the first two months of the season.

New signing pitcher Kelvim Escobar, recovering from two years of shoulder issues and surgery, has had yet another setback in his rehab and will almost certainly start the season on the DL. 

Contract options—whether they are vesting options or player/team options—present a headache to baseball managers who would rather play the best nine men each day without having to worry about the business side of the game.

Ah, but it matters. In fact, it matters a lot.

For example, there are two vesting options in the AL Central alone worth watching.

The Detroit Tigers, if they're smart, will not repeat the mistake they made in 2009 when they allowed Magglio Ordonez's 2010 option to vest by a mere 61 plate appearances.