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Baseball’s last big free agent of the offseason, first baseman Prince Fielder, has agreed to a 9-year, $214 million deal with the Detroit Tigers, it’s the fourth largest deal in the history of Major League Baseball.

The deal comes less than a month until pitchers and catchers report and took many by surprise as the Tigers weren’t even in the conversation until a little more than a week ago.

Fielder follows in the footsteps of his father, Cecil, who played seven years for the Tigers in 1990-1996 and hit 51 home runs for them in 1990. He was also being courted by the Washington Nationals and Texas Rangers, has averaged 37 homers and 106 RBI the last six years with the Milwaukee Brewers.

The addition of Fielder creates a bit of a logjam at first base where Miguel Cabrera already plays. However, with catcher/first basemen Victor Martinez already out for the season the two sluggers could alternate time between first base and designated hitter.  Cabrera is also expected to see action at third base and could eventually take over their full time if all goes well.

He joins Albert Pujols as All-Star Basemen to leave the senior circuit and the NL Central this offseason for greener pastures with an AL club.

In fact the moves, coupled with Adrian Gonzalez’s trade to Boston last offseason, leave Reds’ first basemen Joey Votto as the only elite option at the position remaining in the NL.

FANTASY SLANT:  Fielder figures to be a top 15 overall option regardless of the trade and I’m not sure him landing in Detroit does much to alter that. I still rank Pujols, Votto, Cabrera, and probably even Gonzalez ahead of Fielder at first base.  However, his arrival to Motown provides great protection for Miguel Cabrera and with the likely to come 3B-position eligibility and Cabrera could move up to our No. 1 overall pick.

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Reds’ General Manager Walt Jocketty completed his off-season hat trick in an attempt to revamp the Reds’ pitching staff when he agreed to terms with right-handed relief pitcher Ryan Madson on reportedly a one-year deal worth $8.5 million.

After dealing for starter Mat Latos and landing left-handed setup man Sean Marshall in exchange for Travis Wood, Jocketty secured one of the best closers available in the free agent market this winter.

The team hasn’t announced the deal officially as Madson will need to pass a physical still.  There are indications that could take a few days. Once a formal deal is announced we will also have a better gage on what incentives and bonuses are involved in the contract.

Madson posted a 2.37 ERA with 9.2 K/9, 2.4 BB/9 and a 48.8% ground ball rate in 60 2/3 innings for the Phillies in 2011. The 31-year-old saved 32 games in his first full season as a closer.

He was negotiating with the Phillies earlier this offseason, but after they opted for Jonathan Pabelpon. The Reds waited and the closer market dropped, leaving them a bargain at least for one year.

The Reds' bullpen looks impressive with its latest additions of Madson and Marshall joining left hander Bill Bray and righties Nick Masset, Logan Ondrusek, Jose Arredondo, and Sam LeCure.

Here’s a look at more stats (from Lance McAlister, 700WLW.com):

2010-2011 combined
10-4, 2.45, 37 SV
117 games
113.2 IN
96 H, 29 BB, 126 K
6 HR
1.10 WHIP
10.0 K/9.........2.3 BB/9

Postseason
4 consecutive postseason appearances
2 World Series appearances
World Series title (2008)
33 postseason games: 2-1 2.31, 2 SV

Madson career
GABP: 8 games, 8 IN, 10 H, 7 ER, 4 HR, 7.88
Most career HR allowed by ballpark: 32 Citizens Bank, 4 GABP, 4 Turner Field
ERA: 1.74 vs Mil (18g), 1.72 vs St L (22g)

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The calendar has turned January and the Hot Stove talk is starting to wind down a bit with many of the big names already off the market. While there is still a chance for a team to nab some difference makers to this points these moves stand above all else.

1. Angels Land Pujols, Wilson
The Los Angeles Angels stole the thunder at the Winter Meetings by striking deals with both Albert Pujols and CJ Wilson on the same day.  Pujols, a three-time MVP and two-time World Champion, left St. Louis for a 10-year contract worth $254 million.  Wilson, the top arm on the free-agent market, left the defending AL champion Rangers for a five-year, $77.5 million...MORE

2. Marlins Make Splash With Reyes
Reyes became the first Mets player to win the batting title, coming off his .337 season with a .384 on-base percentage. He parlayed that into a $106 million deal with the Marlins and is the centerpiece of the Miami makeover. The team signed closer Heath Bell, the top saves guy available, one night earlier...MORE

3. Reds Go For It With Latos
With the division up for grabs, the Reds sent four players, including three of the organization’s top 10 prospects, to San Diego for ace lefthander Mat Latos.  Latos, 24, has the front-of-the rotation attributes that the Reds desired deeply.  He burst on to scene in 2010 with a 14-10 record and 2.92 ERA while allowing 150 H, 16 HR, 50 BB, 189 K, 1.083 WHIP in 184.2 innings.  The team gave up a ton, but with the division up for grabs and two more years of Joey Votto, GM Walt Jocketty opted to go for it…MORE

4. Red Sox Acquire Andrew Bailey
In an effort to fill the void left in the bullpen by Jonathan Pablebon’s departure to Philly in free agency, the Boston Red Sox traded for A’s closer Andrew Bailey in a five-player deal.  Bailey was 24-for-26 in save opportunities last season, finishing with a 3.24 ERA after missing the first two months with a strained right forearm. The 27-year old is entering his first arbitration year and remains under club control for three more seasons...MORE

5. Cardinals Look To Beltran
After losing out the Albert Pujols sweepstakes the Cardinals made an effort to fill the hole in the middle of the order by signing free-agent outfielder Carlos Beltran to a two-year deal. His .525 slugging percentage in 2011 for the Mets and Giants ranked eighth among NL outfielders. Overall, he batted .300 with 22 homers and 84 RBI in 142 games...MORE

Also Considered…

• Rollins Re-Signs With Philly
• Cahill Headed To Desert
• Nats Add Arm In Gonzalez
• Cubs Makeover Begins

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Cincinnati Reds general manager Walt Jocketty ended his winter hibernation by sending four players, including three of the organizations top 10 prospects to the San Diego Padres for starting pitcher Mat Latos.

Among the players sent to San Diego were starting pitcher Edinson Volquez, first baseman Yonder Alonso, catcher Yasmani Grandal, and pitcher Brad Boxberger.

Latos, 24, has the front-of-the rotation attributes that the Reds desired deeply.  He burst on to scene in 2010 with a 14-10 record and 2.92 ERA while allowing 150 H, 16 HR, 50 BB, 189 K, 1.083 WHIP in 184.2 innings.  He wore out down the stretch that season though and started 2011 on the DL.

The 6-foot-6 hurler struggled to get it going last season after becoming active, but finished strong by only allowing more than three runs once in his last 17 starts.  His final stat line for the season - 9-14, 3.47 ERA, 194.1 IN, 168 H, 16 HR, 62 BB, 185 K, 1.184 WHIP.

Alonso, a former first-round pick, didn't have a place to play with Joey Votto a mainstay at first base. Volquez was coming off a disappointing season, going 5-7 with a 5.71 ERA.  Grandal was considered expendable with the surge of Devin Mesoraco.  Boxberger was selected in the supplemental first round (43rd overall) of the 2009 draft.

It will be interesting to see how Latos goes from pitching most of his games in the pitcher-friendly Petco Park compared to the hot box that is Great American Ballpark.  Here is a look at some career splits that could shed some light on what to expect:

Home: 3.11 ERA, 185 IN, 17 HR, 1.15 WHIP
Away: 3.57 ERA, 244 IN, 22 HR, 1.15 WHIP
Ground balls: 538
Fly balls: 670
Career GABP: 2 starts, 14 IN, 5 H, 1.93 ERA

MY TAKE: Starting pitching comes at a very steep price and this move could prove to haunt the Reds.  The team felt that all four players, though talented, were expendable and Latos has upside, is cheap, and locked up for a few years.  I would like to know what they could of got for just Alonso and Grandal straight up. It may not have been Latos, but it may have been close. Volquez will always be remembered for be the guy the team gave Josh Hamilton for, a trade that can now join the Frank Robinson-for-Milt Pappas trade officially as the worst in the history of the franchise. For the sake of the Reds, let's hope this move doesn't enter that discussion. Latos is four years from free agency, so that is why he's considered such a valuable asset, but his nearly half a run difference in ERA away from Petco Park makes me a bit worried.

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With the Brewers likely to lose Prince Fielder to free agency and Ryan Braun facing a 50-game suspension, the team moved to add some help to the middle of the lineup by signing free-agent third basemen Aramis Ramirez.

The 33-year old right-handed power hitter enjoyed a nice bounce-back campaign in 2010 with the Cubs as he hit 306/.361/.510 with 26 home runs in 626 plate appearances.

Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports expects the contract to be in the $34-37MM range for three years. 

Ramirez is a Type B free agent, which means the Cubs receive a draft pick between the first and second rounds of the 2012 draft.

They receive the draft pick because they offered to go to arbitration with Ramirez, who declined.

Ramirez also declined a $16 million mutual option for the 2012 season. By offering to pick up the option, the Cubs saved themselves a $2 million buyout.

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The graph below indicates the fantasy points allowed by each team by position, ranked from 1 through 32. The higher the number means the better the match-up...

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Cincinnati Reds' outfielder Drew Stubbs struck out for the 200th time, joining Mark Reynolds as the only major leaguers to strike out 200 times in a season. Reynolds has accomplished the dubious feat three times, including a record 223 times in 2009.

“It’s something he has to work on in the winter,” Reds manger Dusty Baker told the Cincinnati Enquirer. “We’ll give him a plan. You don’t sit him down to prevent. You’ve got to play through it. It’s been tough on him for the last month to six weeks.”

Some perspective from 700 WLW's Lance McAlister..

From 1936-'42 Joe DiMaggio played in 976 games w/ 4,417 plate appearances:
He struck out 196 times

From 1990-'01 Tony Gwynn played in 1,380 games w/ 5,705 plate appearances:
He struck out 201 times

In 1976 Rose, Morgan and Concepcion combined for 1,934 plate appearances:
They struck out 163 times

From 1947-'53 Ted Kluszewski played in 830 games w/ 3,132 plate appearances:
He struck out 181 times

From 1953-'60 Ted Kluszweski played in 930 games w/ 3,457 plate appeearances:
He struck out 195 times

STUBBS PROFILE (Baseball-Reference.com)

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News came today that Cincinnati Reds’ third basemen Scott Rolen will miss 4-6 weeks after having arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder.

The veteran has been on the disabled list since July 21 with a strained left shoulder. It’s the same shoulder that cost him a trip to the DL back in April and it has plagued him most of the season.

Rolen is hitting just .242/.279/.379 with five homers and .676 OPS over 269 plate appearances this season. It could be early or mid-September before he returns to the lineup, if at all. Miguel Cairo should see the majority of the starts during his absence while sharing time with rookie Todd Frazier, but Juan Francisco could be a possibility once he is recovered from a knee injury.

MY TAKE: After managing to play in 133 games last season for the Reds, the 36-year old has seen action in just 65 contests in 2011. Assuming he doesn’t return this season, Rolen will finish the year averaging just 107 games over the past seven years. As much as I like his presence in the clubhouse and respect the career he’s had it may be time for him to hang up the cleats.

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The rich get richer. On Friday night the Philadelphia Phillies acquired the top remaining bat on the trade market, landing outfielder Hunter Pence in multi-player deal.

Already boasting one of the best starting rotations in the history of baseball, the Phillies are now the clear favorites to win the National League and the likely frontrunners to win this year’s World Series.

For Pence he’s going from the worst team in baseball to the best. He gained 31.5 games in the standings over night.

He should provide immediate relief for an offense that has struggled. Entering Friday, Pence was hitting 72 points higher and slugging 74 points higher than Phillies right fielders. He also hits from the right side of the plate and the Phillies as a team have struggled against lefties this season.

MORE TRADE NEWS (MLBTradeRumors.com)

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