MLB News and Rumors

The Arizona Diamondbacks avoided arbitration with Edwin Jackson by signing him to a 2 year $13.35 Million deal that will pay him $4.2 Million in 2010 and $8.35 Million in 2011. He also received an $800,000 signing bonus.

---Jackson is coming off a career year with Detroit in which he had 13 wins to go with a 3.62 ERA. He really boosts the Arizona pitching staff with Haren and Webb.


Mark Mulder is seriously considering retirement. Mulder has been unable to contribute in the big leagues after having rotator cuff surgery in September of 2006. If Mulder calls it quits, he would finish with a 103-60 record to go with a 4.18 ERA.


Starting pitcher Chien-Ming Wang is expected to make a decision to where he will sign by the end of this week. As of now the Washington Nationals look to be the favorites, but nothing is official.


The Boston Red Sox have been impressed with Daisuke (Dice-K) Matsuzaka so far leading up to Spring Training.

--- Dice-K is usually extremely dependable, but a groin sprain in 2009 held him back to a 4-6 record and a 5.76 ERA. It's good to see he's progressing well, as when healthy he could be a top-end pitcher.


The Minnesota Twins have been very happy with Francisco Liriano's performance in Winter Ball.

---This is great news for the Twins as when Liriano is healthy and in a groove he is great. Sadly for them, he hasn't been in that groove since 2006. He will compete for a rotation spot, and I think there is no doubt that he gets one.


The New York Mets have stated that it will be an open competition between Mike Jacobs and Daniel Murphy for the starting 1st Basemen spot.

---Both of these players are very shaky defenders and struggle against lefties, so there is no platoon possibility. I like Murphy's chances however because he puts the bat on the ball a lot more than Jacobs and in the spacious Citi Field, he still managed to hit 12 HR's.

Chicago Sports

Bulls

Derrick Rose had a successful All-Star game debut as the East beat the West by the score of 141-139. In 15 minutes of action, Rose scored 8 points on 4-8 shooting as well as 4 assists and 3 steals. Not bad for a player who was questionable to play. When NBA play resumes on Tuesday, the Bulls will host the New York Knicks in an Eastern Conference matchup. The Bulls come out of the break with a 25-26 record, which is good for the 8th seed in the playoffs and the Knicks come out at 19-32 which makes them outside looking in for a spot in the postseason.

Blackhawks

After the Blackhawks had lost 3 in a row with Cristobal Huet in goal, coach Joel Quennville decided to start Antti Niemi and that has paid off. The Blackhawks have now won 4 in a row and now it really makes you think who is the guy. The Blackhawks won 5-4 the past two games, both in shootouts, so it hasn't been exactly pretty but the job is getting done. Now at the Olympic Break, Quennville has some thinking to do about who he wants between the pipes come playoff time. What do you think fans? Huet/Niemi? Lets hear it. The Blackhawks go into the break with a 41-15-5 record and 87 points, which is good for 2nd in the Western Conference behind San Jose who has 89 points, but has played one more game.

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