Opinion

If you have never heard of Aroldis Chapman, or if you have only heard dribs and drabs about him, then you had better get ready—because over the course of the next few weeks and months you are going to hear an awful lot about him.

I first read about him last spring while preparing for one of my fantasy baseball auctions. The rules in one of my leagues provides for a reserve roster, and permits team owners to acquire ANY player for its reserve roster, including players from the NL (notably, those who may become free agents), collegiate baseball, and international baseball.

It’s almost time to let the real “Hot Stove Season” begin in earnest.

Barring some unforeseen blunder by the Baseball Writers Association of America, Joe Mauer will be crowned the 2009 American League Most Valuable Player on Monday afternoon.

When that announcement becomes official, the clock starts.

What do Brendan Harris and Gene Larkin have in common?

In a perfect world, the answer would be simple: nothing (aside from having last names that sort of seem like they could be first names, but don’t completely seem like they could be first names).

The correct answer, however, is that both players were the best option off the bench for their respective Twins teams. For the 1991 Twins, this was a good thing. For the 2009 Twins, this was…well…less good.

The 2009 American League MVP award will be handed down on Monday, and Joe Mauer is the front-runner to take home the trophy. 

There are a number of players in pursuit of the Golden Boy, including Derek Jeter and Mark Teixiera. 

Jeter has certain unmeasurable qualities that have earned him the title of Yankee Captain, and Teixiera was the most powerful weapon on the best team in the majors. 

Remember when I said that in a month I'd hate that set of predictions in my last article?

Yeah...

It's been approximaetly eight days, and I hate them already.

Why?

It's really quite simple: A bunch of revelations.

Since then, Gonzalez has become a Scott Boras client, Rafael Soriano has been hyped as the best reliever on the market, and the Marlins have, according to several reports, pulled back on the level of urgency to dump Jorge Cantu and Dan Uggla.

I love playing GM for professional sports, especially baseball. I always have, and I probably always will.  Building my own team with my kind of personnel, and my type of players gets me excited.

I just did an article for the Rays, so I'll enter a shameless plug here .

However, I'll stop at two teams: my Rays and my Braves.

The spots in question are: an extra starting pitcher, a closer, an outfield spot, and first base.

Alright, along with being a professional baseball player, and a sportswriter for ESPN, The Mag, a general manager for an MLB team is on my short list of dream jobs.  Fantasy baseball has filled the craving to play with rosters, but playing with rosters that will actually go out and play against 29 other teams excites me tremendously.

I thought about it, and thought why not write about a fantasy of tinkering with a real team?

As the San Diego Padres approach the Winter Meetings under new owner Jeff Moorad and new general manager Jed Hoyer, there are decisions that this team will need to make to shape the 2010 squad.

One decision that the team is already working on is the future of first baseman, and the new face of the franchise, Adrian Gonzalez.

With Trevor Hoffman in Milwaukee and Jake Peavy a member of the Chicago White Sox, the Padres will do everything they can to ensure Gonzalez remains a Padre for years to come.

In discussing the Cy Young award, the debate is hindered by the question of what, exactly, the voters are judging the players on.