Rankings/List

Last year, Kenley Janson was the Netherlands' starting catcher in the World Baseball Classic. Now he's pitching for the LA Dodgers.

Janson is among a short list of guys who used to be position players but couldn't hit their weight or perhaps field their position, so they turned into pitchers instead.

Meanwhile, there were other guys who switched from pitcher to position player, though not all of them did so because they couldn't pitch, as we will see.

Jansen recorded a save on Sunday in his second big-league game, so he's the story du jour.

The Seattle Mariners already pulled off the one big deal they had planned to make leading up to Major League Baseball's trading deadline.  The Mariners traded away Cliff Lee for one of the best offensive prospects in the game in Justin Smoak (plus other prospects).

The 2010 trade deadline is on the horizon, and deals-a-plenty have been speculated over. As we come down the stretch, the trading blocks are red hot as many names are growing close to being on the move.

Though, for every deal that is completed, there is that one deal is long speculated over and desired by many that does not fall through. It happens every year, and 2010 will definitely not be an exception to that.

This year, plenty of big names have been circulating baseball via trade rumors for weeks. Power pitchers like Dan Haren and Roy Oswalt are courted by many teams.

The first base position in fantasy baseball produces a lot of depth from owners to choose from either via their drafts back in March, or a waiver wire pick-up during the season. With the second half of play underway, let's take a look at how the first basemen will finish out the season.

Billy Bob Thornton. Bob Knight. Nelly. Bill Clinton.

Recently another big name has been added to the above list. Apparently, Roy Oswalt is a Cardinals fan.

The Astros' ace has stated on numerous occasions that he'd favor a trade to the St. Louis Cardinals, and because Oswalt has a full no-trade clause, he holds all the cards.

So now it's up to St. Louis to make a move. With a farm system that has been depleted by several trades over the past few years, the Cardinals cannot afford to make a mistake here.

Both Carlos Santana and Buster Posey have paid immediate dividends for fantasy owners and have made an impact on our early 2011 rankings.  Let’s take a look at how things currently stand (remember, this an extremely early ranking and may change significantly as the season progresses):

There isn’t much to complain about this week when it comes to closers performances over the last week. With only six blown saves for the entire MLB over the last seven days, its nitpicking time. This week it was very difficult to separate an A from a D, let alone a B. If your closer gave up more than one hit look down the list. If he gave up a run, ha, look waaay down the list.

Grade A

Kansas City Royals outfielder David DeJesus was one of the hottest names on the rumor sheets over the last several weeks.

There were at least five teams that were in the chase to land him, but according to several beat writers, the Royals were asking far too much for teams to give up.

Well, it seems like the Royals are regretting that now as DeJesus will land on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained thumb, which will keep him out past the non-waiver trade deadline next Saturday.

Not to say that a waiver wire deal can't be completed once he's healthy and ready to return to the team, but h

The Mets have lost seven of eight on this recent West Coast road trip, and if it weren't for a bad call at home plate last Sunday against the Giants, the Mets could be in the middle of an eight-game losing streak.

The Mets were a game behind the Braves, and 1.5 GB ahead in the wild card. Now, the Mets find themselves six games behind Atlanta in the east, and three in back of the wild card.

The Mets natives are restless, and once again it is Jerry Manuel's head that is on the chopping block. If Manuel is fired at the end of the season, here is a list of candidates who could replace him.