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It has been a wild offseason for the Boston Red Sox following their 2013 World Series title.

Boston has already endured a slew of transactions that have taken place since the team walked off with the World Series trophy.

Gone from the mix are players like outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury and catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia to the Yankees and Marlins, respectively.

The Red Sox have welcomed in players like catcher A.J. Pierzynski and relievers Burke Badenhop and Edward Mujica.  Boston also made sure to bring back first baseman Mike Napoli.

On paper, it would appear as if the Red Sox are poised to defend their team with a solid core of talent along with some young prospects like Jackie Bradley Jr. and Xander Bogaerts.

In addition, the pitching—in the rotation and in the bullpen—is both talented and deep.  That alone makes the Red Sox formidable in 2014.

Yet Boston still has a few critical questions that remained unanswered. 

General manager Ben Cherington has had a relatively quiet offseason in comparison to some of the other deals made around the league.  Can the Red Sox expect much more this offseason?

Only time will tell.

Still, let us evaluate some of the key questions that Boston needs to evaluate between now and spring training.

Determining the Leadoff Hitter

The loss of Ellsbury hurts the Red Sox in a number of ways. 

Aside from Boston being forced to see its former center fielder in uniform with their chief rival, the team now has to consider the absence of production from the leadoff position.

Ellsbury owns a career .350 on-base percentage and batted .298 in 2013.  He also bolstered those numbers with a league-leading 52 stolen bases in the same season.

Those numbers are going to be difficult to replicate.

Nick O’Malley of Masslive.com sums up why replacing Ellsbury with a bona fide leadoff hitter remains one of Boston’s top priorities this offseason.  He writes, “The Red Sox have some in-house candidates to take up the full-time leadoff role.  Yet, there’s been little indication that the team is comfortable with any of them handling the duty as the primary option.”

He goes on to state that Bradley, Shane Victorino, Daniel Nava and Dustin Pedroia are the most likely candidates on the roster to fill this void.

Out of that foursome, either Victorino or Nava appear to be the front-runners to take over the job—something that has been confirmed by Red Sox manager John Farrell, per Rob Bradford of WEEI:

Ideally, Boston would like to have Pedroia‘s bat further down in the lineup and also wait and see if Bradley can develop in what could be his first full season as an everyday player.

Cherington described Bradley’s chances to assume the role, via O’Malley:

Yeah, I mean, [Bradley’s] gotten on base his whole life—college and minor leagues, obviously, at a very high rate.  So, that’s what we see as the No. 1 criteria.  We expect that in time he’ll be a good on-base big leaguer and that would make him a candidate to do that.  But I think, you know, when we’re thinking about lineups in the offseason anyway, we’re focused on guys that we know will be on the team and have some history of getting on base in the big leagues.  I think that’s how John feels.

Unless a major move is made between now and the start of the season, Boston looks as if it will employ either Victorino or Nava in the leadoff role and hope for the best. 

Setting the table in front of the heart of the Red Sox’s big hitters—David Ortiz and Napoli—was a critical component to the team’s success in 2013.

Expect no difference this upcoming season.

Determining a Starting Center Fielder

Directly related to the aforementioned question, the Red Sox still have a looming concern in Ellsbury‘s wake.

Pending changes, it appears as if Boston will stick with Bradley in center and bank on him earning that everyday role.  The only question is whether or not he is ready for this challenge.

Bradley hit only .189 with a .280 on-base percentage in limited action last season. 

If the Red Sox plan on utilizing Bradley in this situation, he will have to post up numbers better than that.

This is further described by Ron Chimelis of Masslive.com, who writes:

Trusting Bradley to replace Ellsbury is the only part of the plan that makes me edgy, even though there is every reason to think he will turn into a quality major leaguer someday soon. … Mature for his age, he does not turn 24 until April.  Is he really ready to replace Ellsbury?  Defensively, there is no problem.  Bradley might actually be an upgrade because of his better arm.

Chimelis also notes that Boston has faith in Bradley becoming a great player.  The only question is whether or not that will happen next year.

There remains a possibility that the Red Sox acquire another outfielder—preferably one with a big bat that can help protect the middle of Boston’s lineup.

While the hype that surrounded a possible trade for Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp appears to have died down, there are other options.

Shin-Soo Choo remains an option, and the Red Sox have taken a serious look, but there has not been a lot of speculation that Boston is close to making him an offer, per NESN:

Barring any significant acquisition, it appears as if the Red Sox are comfortable with Bradley taking over the job.

Hopefully for his own sake, he will showcase his major league capability in 2014, which will make all the questions surrounding his readiness seem foolish.

What to Do with Stephen Drew?

Out of all the questions Boston has to answer this offseason, the curious case of Stephen Drew is, perhaps, the least critical.

In a way, the Red Sox are in a prime position regarding how they want to handle the now-free-agent shortstop. 

A compensatory first-round pick is associated with Drew if he signs elsewhere—given how Boston offered him a qualifying deal earlier this offseason. 

That has certainly discouraged some interest around the league and Drew remains a free agent.

Drew and the Red Sox continue to look for a deal, and Farrell has reiterated that he would like Drew to return, via Ricky Doyle of NESN.com:

“Both sides would like to see this come together,” Farrell said on WEEI’s Hot Stove Show (via Doyle). “But at the same time, as we all know, he’s looking to see what best opportunities would be out there for him.”

Yet if Drew does depart via free agency, Boston is perfectly capable of supplanting the void with Bogaerts at shortstop while giving Will Middlebrooks a chance to hold down third base in a starting role.

The team also traded for utility infielder Jonathan Herrera on Dec. 18. 

This unique situation is a good one to be in from the Red Sox’s vantage point.  They can afford to be diligent and see how Drew’s market shapes out. 

If they re-sign him, fine.  If not, the team is perfectly comfortable moving forward.

There is little wrong with that.

It is easy to be frustrated with a team that made relatively few splashy moves in the wake of what has been a wild offseason thus far.

Cherington and the Red Sox have not been actively involved in many of the bigger deals made in recent weeks—much to the chagrin of writers like Christopher L. Gasper The Boston Globe.

Gasper writes that Boston is doing too little this offseason and criticizes the hopes the Red Sox have in the formula that worked so well for them in the 2013 season—staying away from long-term deals and signing middle-class free agents.

He writes, “They may have reinvented themselves, but they didn’t reinvent the wheel.”

While no one would initially complain about a blockbuster deal that could still potentially be made, this Red Sox team is still in good shape.

The pitching, ever so important, remains intact.  Aside from a few questions which have been discussed, the batting order is sound.

Even if Boston’s “wheel” was not reinvented, there are few reasons to assume it will not continue to roll forward.

All statistics, records and accolades courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com.  Contractual information courtesy of Cot’s Baseball Contracts unless otherwise specified.

Peter Panacy is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report, covering the Boston Red Sox.  Follow him @PeterMcShots on Twitter.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The Boston Red Sox outfield could be in for a number of changes in 2014 in the wake of what could transpire this offseason.

Already well documented is the potential departure of veteran center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury via free agency. Shortstop Stephen Drew and catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia are also free agents.

Ellsbury, who has served the Red Sox since 2007, is certain to command a lofty contract next year—a number higher than the $9 million he made in 2013.

In a way, Ellsbury‘s situation in Boston shall directly influence and dictate what transpires in the Red Sox’s offseason prospectus in the outfield. There is a possibility that he stays in Boston. There is also a strong likelihood that he walks, opening the door for other scenarios.

Staying put may be one of Ellsbury‘s best options, per Jim Bowden of ESPNBoston.com.

The article suggests that Boston will not give Ellsbury a long-term contract, yet the team does view him as their No. 1 offseason priority.

This scenario is further backed up by Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe, who states the Red Sox are still keeping an open dialogue with Ellsbury‘s agent Scott Boras.

Sure, keeping Ellsbury would be a nice move by general manager Ben Cherington. He is a tremendous asset without doubt. Yet the question remains whether or not the Red Sox can get him at the right cost and contract length.

Let us assume that the two parties are unable to come to terms this offseason and Ellsbury signs elsewhere.

The initial thought that would probably best suit Boston is to give the starting center field job to top prospect Jackie Bradley Jr.

Red Sox president Larry Lucchino made a statement to WEEI.com via Chris Towers of CBS Sports regarding Bradley’s long-term potential in Boston:

Bradley, taking you back a few months as to the views of him by experienced baseball people, he’s going to have a long and productive career.  I feel very confident about them, as confident as you can be with someone at that age and stage.

Bradley hit only .189 with three home runs and 10 RBI in limited action in 2013. While the numbers are not particularly inspiring, it is clear from Lucchino‘s statements that the Red Sox are pinning high hopes on their young talent.

Bowden also makes the argument that Boston should pursue free agent outfielder Carlos Beltran if Ellsbury walks. Beltran would be an upgrade in left field—assuming that is where he would play if signed—but how likely is this possibility?

This likelihood is broken down by Ricky Doyle of NESN.com. He writes:

In a vacuum, Beltran would look good in a Sox uniform.  While he’s no young pup—he’ll be 37 in April—he still has power, which is at a premium these days, and he’s a proven playoff performer with a competitive edge.  Teams can’t win solely on the latter, but the 2013 Red Sox showed that there’s some value to having a cohesive team comprised of high-character players.

Doyle also describes that Beltran could potentially be a liability from a defensive standpoint, and his signing would shake things up in Boston’s lineup.

The idea of Beltran in the outfield isn’t too compelling either, per Doyle:

In all likelihood, Beltran would play left field if he signed with the Red Sox, as right field at Fenway Park is no place for someone with diminished defensive tools, particularly range.  Beltran playing left field would obviously have implications for Daniel Nava, Jonny Gomes and Mike Carp, who would all be jockeying for playing time in some capacity. Bradley would likely serve as the Red Sox’ center fielder, as signing Beltran could accompany the end of Ellsbury’s tenure in Boston.

There are too many factors at stake here for Boston to take a gamble on Beltran.  While he would be an asset at the plate, the Red Sox would have to consider his age, defensive liability and contractual obligations. 

In short, they are best suited looking elsewhere.

Another interesting potential target is Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp, whom the Red Sox were reported to have interest in per Cafardo.

When healthy, Kemp is a tremendous player—his 162 game career averages are .293 with 26 homers and 94 RBI with an .844 on-base percentage.

Yet Kemp is in the midst of an eight-year, $160 million contract. The Dodgers would certainly have to eat some of that contract if they moved Kemp, but Cafardo reports they have not shopped Kemp despite interest from other teams.

As such, this deal is probably slated as a rumor at best.

The most likely scenario is Boston giving Bradley a starting job in the wake of Ellsbury‘s departure.  Nava, Gomes and Carp (pending free agency) will compete for playing time.

What about shortstop Stephen Drew?

Despite reports that stated Drew’s time in Boston was over, Cherington made it clear that the Red Sox were interested in having him back, per Peter Abraham of The Boston Globe.

“That’s not something I’ve been told,” Cherington said regarding Drew’s departure. “We’re still talking with him and we’d like to have him back. We’ll see what happens.”

Abraham points out that Drew signing with another team could cost a first-round pick given the Red Sox offered him a qualifying offer. That, in turn, could dampen the market, even though reports state that Drew’s agent Scott Boras has been pushing him elsewhere.

Drew could still return, and Cherington has indicated they would like him back.

Yet a better scenario could be this: Part ways with Drew, especially if the contract is too much. Give the young and talented Xander Bogaerts a shot at playing every day at shortstop. Either Will Middlebrooks or an addition like veteran Michael Young could fill the third baseman job.

Young could be an interesting addition given the interest, per Derek Stykalo of Fansided.com.

If Boston were able to sign Young, the team could potentially take some pressure off of both Bogaerts and Middlebrooks to perform at high levels in 2014.

Are there any options like this available at catcher? That is a more difficult question to answer.

Saltalamacchia, the incumbent catcher who lost considerable playing time to David Ross in the postseason, is set to be a free agent and is drawing considerable interest from other teams, per Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.

The Red Sox have made Saltalamacchia a qualifying offer and would clearly entertain his return. Yet what happens if he leaves?

Previously, Boston could have pursued other veteran options like Carlos Ruiz or Brian McCann. Now, Ruiz has re-signed with the Philadelphia Phillies and McCann with the New York Yankees. These deals have thinned the market and could potentially force the Red Sox’s hand.

According to R.J. White of CBS Sports, Boston is interested in former Cubs catcher Dioner Navarro as a fallback option, while Stykalo reports that the Red Sox have interest in A.J. Pierzynski.

If Saltalamacchia walks, expect Boston to be quick in signing a new backstop. The market here is relatively thin and the Red Sox have the chips to make a quick short-term deal.

Like many championship teams, the Red Sox are in a precarious position to retain some of their talented veterans. It will be difficult for them to get all of them back in free agency.

As such, expect Boston to pursue additional options this offseason. Some, or all, of the aforementioned players could leave which forces the Red Sox to be more active on the free agent market.  Yet the biggest deals are not always the best ones. 

Only time will tell which avenues Cherington and the Red Sox pursue.

All records, statistics and accolades courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com unless otherwise indicated. Contractual information courtesy of Spotrac.com.

Peter Panacy is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report, covering the Boston Red Sox. Follow him @PeterMcShots on Twitter.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout is probably wondering why he got snubbed when Rawlings announced the finalists for the 2013 Gold Glove Awards.

For the most part, the experts that make up the panel to determine the finalists usually get it right.  Nearly every one of the finalists on the list is deserving in one way or another.  As always, though, mixing facts with opinions will leave players out of the conversation who should otherwise be there.

Trout, Matt Carpenter, Michael Brantley and Josh Donaldson will have an entire year to think about being snubbed.

Explaining and understanding the rating criteria used to determine finalists can be hazardous to your health, but if you want to know how Rawlings uses sabermetrics to make the determinations, read more at MLB.com. 

There always will be snubs, which is unfortunate.  These players should have at least been brought into the final conversation. Let us take a look at why.

Mike Trout—Center Field, Anaheim Angels

2013 Fielding Percentage: .994

Putouts: 359 (2nd in AL)

There are those who argued that Trout was snubbed for a Gold Glove nomination back in 2012.  That was a pretty good argument.

It is worth noting that last season, Trout posted a .988 fielding percentage, recording 340 putouts on 347 chances against three errors. 

He improved on that number in 2013, upping his fielding percentage to .994, with 359 putouts in 361 chances with only two errors.

What more could Trout have done?

Comparing Trout to a member of the competition—Lorenzo Cain, who was nominated—gives us further insight into the snub.

Make no mistake, Cain is a terrific outfielder and worthy of recognition.  Yet Cain played in fewer games than Trout—113 to 148, respectively—and had a lower fielding percentage (.990) and one more error in 2013.

Based on those numbers alone, Trout should have been in the discussion over Cain.

Bill Shaikin of The Los Angeles Times notes that Trout was not as good sabermetrically, which hurt his chances.

Did Rawlings get this call right?  Based on the sabermetrics, perhaps they did.  Based on more traditional statistics, they were wrong. 

As a result, Trout gets snubbed once more.

Matt Carpenter—Second Base, St. Louis Cardinals

2013 Fielding Percentage: .985

Assists: 429 (4th in NL)

Like Trout in the American League, it is hard to fathom leaving Carpenter off the list of Gold Glove nominees.

All he did was record a .985 fielding percentage while committing only nine errors over the course of 2013.

Carpenter also led the league in double plays turned at second base with 97. 

It is hard to argue that Darwin Barney of the Chicago Cubs or Brandon Phillips of the Cincinnati Reds do not deserve nominations, but Carpenter should at least get the nod over Dodgers’ second baseman Mark Ellis.

Ellis was solid with the glove and committed three fewer errors during the season.  But he also played in 13 fewer games.  His range factor per game (putouts plus assists over games played) was 4.43 compared to Carpenter’s 5.00 mark.

Carpenter got to more balls and had more chances.  Yes, those chances can lead to more errors, but they also have a bigger impact on the game’s outcome.  Here, Carpenter’s value should have increased considerably.

Sadly, it did not.

Michael Brantley—Left Field, Cleveland Indians

2013 Fielding Percentage: 1.000 (1st in AL)

Assists: 11

Brantley ranked second in the American League with 257 putouts and third with 11 assists.

Take his 257 putouts out of 268 chances with zero errors, and it is impossible to overlook Brantley in the AL Gold Glove discussion in left field.

That is exactly what happened, however.

Brantley should have gotten the nomination over Oakland Athletics left fielder Yoenis Cespedes due to a number of factors.

Cespedes played in only 94 games in left field and posted a .980 fielding percentage.  Compared to Brantley’s 151 games in left and perfect fielding record, the numbers state that Brantley should have received the nomination.

Sorry Rawlings, you got this one wrong.

It is hard to fathom why Brantley got snubbed in this year’s nominations.  He could easily be a top vote-getter, let alone a nominee.

Josh Donaldson—Third Base, Oakland Athletics

2013 Fielding Percentage: .961

Putouts: 143 (1st in AL)

Perhaps playing in Oakland prevents Donaldson from receiving some of the love he deserves. 

Statistics, being what they are, do not care about location or fanbases, and they should have been enough to warrant a nomination for the A’s third baseman.

Donaldson owned a .961 fielding percentage at the hot corner in 2013.  He committed 16 errors in 414 chances, yet led the league in putouts and played in the third-most games (155) at the position.

Compare those numbers to those of Texas Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre.

Beltre played in 146 games this season, had a .959 fielding percentage and committed 14 errors in 339 chances.

Beltre already has the accolades of being a Gold Glove third baseman—he received back-to-back awards in 2007 and 2008—yet his 2013 nomination is a complete snub to Donaldson.

It is clear that Beltre no longer possesses the range he once enjoyed.  Donaldson still has that ability, and the numbers prove so.

As John Shea of The San Francisco Chronicle notes, 2013 has turned into a disappointing year for Donaldson regarding accolades.  Still, Donaldson has to be pleased with how he performed.

Too bad it was not enough to get him a much-deserved Gold Glove nomination.

With all selection processes, there is the possibility that snubs will happen.  The 2013 Gold Glove selection process has lived up to that statement.

All four of these players deserve recognition for this award.  Sadly, they will not receive it. 

However the selections are made and the nominees chosen, these snubs will have to sit back and watch as others receive an award that possibly could have been theirs.  It raises the argument as to what exactly is important in determining finalists.

That argument is best suited, perhaps, for another time. 

Meanwhile, all those who were snubbed can hope for is that 2014 provides a better opportunity to cash in on the accolade of being a Gold Glove recipient.

All statistics, records and accolades courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com unless otherwise stated.

Peter Panacy is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report.  Follow him @PeterMcShots on Twitter.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The Boston Red Sox were hoping to avoid a Game 4 in the American League Division Series against the Tampa Bay Rays, yet that is exactly what is on the table.

As such, both teams need to regroup heading forward for, what could be, a pivotal postseason matchup. 

Which team will get more from their starting pitcher and who will be the offensive stars and catalysts during the game?

For Boston, one more game is all that is needed to advance to the ALCS, whereas Tampa Bay has to continue their comeback after staving off elimination in Game 3.

The Red Sox obviously want to avoid a Game 5 and will hope to shut the door Tuesday night.

There are a number of keys to each team’s success in this game. Whichever team gets the best out of those keys should come away with a Game 4 victory.

Boston Red Sox

Boston will turn to veteran right-handed Jake Peavy to take on the Rays. Boston wanted to clinch in Game 3, but late-inning heroics from the Rays made it otherwise.

Jake Peavy Needs to Pitch Well

This could be an obvious statement, but Peavy has not exactly been stellar as of late. Over his last three starts, Peavy has a 5.21 ERA. He also has not been that effective on the road—a 5.27 ERA in 2013 compared to 2.73 at Fenway Park.

Which Peavy will the Red Sox get on the mound tonight?

The Rays are hitting only .217 against Peavy this season, which bodes well in spite of the aforementioned statistics. Peavy tends to be effective early in the game, yet his ERA tends to rise above 6.00 in innings three and four, which means he can be vulnerable after the first time through the opponent’s lineup.

Expect Tampa Bay to try and exploit this transition.

Peavy will also try to shake off his postseason demons having lost both his previous two postseason outings while posting a 12.10 ERA for San Diego.

Hopefully, for Peavy and Boston’s sake, things end in their favor. The Red Sox do not want to see David Price in a potential Game 5.

If Boston gets a quality start out of Peavy and is able to turn the game over to their bullpen, the Red Sox should be in good shape.

Keep the Offense Rolling

In their first two wins of the series, Boston put up a combined 19 runs compared to only four in their Game 3 loss.

Some of this could be attributed to playing away from the lofty confines of Fenway Park—they have only a .206 batting average at Tropicana Field—yet in the playoffs, all of those numbers go out the window. 

Boston needs to get to Rays pitcher Jeremy Hellickson early and often and expose Tampa Bay’s bullpen as soon as they can. Getting to Tampa Bay’s starters was key in Boston’s first two games and the formula needs to work in Game 4 for the Red Sox to be successful.

David Ortiz has done the most damage against Hellickson and boasts a .375 batting average with three home runs. Ortiz may be called upon to provide some of the necessary offensive thump for the Red Sox lineup. If they can get something going against Hellickson early, the Rays may be in trouble.

Shane Victorino on the other hand is hitless in three at-bats, yet that is too small of a sample size to assume anything at this point.

Tampa Bay Rays

Game 3 provided some magic for a Rays team trying to avoid elimination in the series. 

Jose Lobaton’s late-inning home run provided the motivation and means for Tampa Bay to continue playing. Will that momentum carry over in Game 4?

Jeremy Hellickson Needs to Pitch the Game of His Life

In many ways, Hellickson emulates Red Sox starter Jake Peavy. Hellickson also struggled down the stretch, going 1-7 with a 7.53 ERA over his final 10 starts.

Simply put, he needs to pitch as if Tampa Bay’s season is on the line because it is. 

His lackluster ERA down the stretch does not bode well against a Red Sox team that has dominated offensively in the series thus far. Hellickson does own a 3.44 ERA against Boston in three starts this season so that is good news.

Given how important momentum is in the playoffs however, is it possible that Hellickson’s struggles resume in the ALDS?

For the Rays, Hellickson needs to be as sharp as he possibly can be. Tampa Bay cannot afford to get behind early in this game, at least by a sizable margin. 

As previously noted, Boston’s David Ortiz could be the largest threat to Hellickson’s chances. Getting him out, or at least facing him with zero runners on base, will be vital here.

Evan Longoria Can Carry This Team on His Shoulders

Rays third baseman Evan Longoria provided much of Tampa Bay’s offensive thump in Game 3. He will need to do more of the same if his team hopes to avoid going home after Game 4.

Longoria has good power numbers against the Red Sox over his career—20 total trailing only the Yankees for teams he likes to hit homers against.

Unfortunately, Longoria has not fared well against Boston starter Jake Peavy. To date, Longoria has hit a mere .200 against the Red Sox right-hander, although two of his three hits have been for extra bases.

Assuming that those stats resemble what may happen in Game 4, Longoria’s best chances may come in the later innings against Boston’s bullpen. Any base hits or RBI against Peavy would have to be considered a bonus.

Longoria also needs protection around him in the lineup. If Tampa Bay is to succeed, hitters like David Dejesus, Ben Zobrist and Wil Myers will have to get on base for Longoria to be a threat.

If and when that situation happens, Longoria becomes that much more dangerous.

Boston will hope to force the opposite.

For Tampa Bay, their sole concern is forcing Game 5. Expect them to put everything on the line versus the Red Sox in order to achieve this.

Boston wants to quell the Rays recent momentum and shift everything back into their favor.  They need a few things to go well in order for this to happen.

In either case, both the Red Sox and Rays will be gunning for everything in this critical Game 4 matchup. What eventually transpires will be a direct result of the listed keys. Whichever team follows these targeted goals should be in excellent shape to win Game 4.

All statistics, records and accolades courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com unless otherwise stated.

Peter Panacy is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. Follow him @PeterMcShots on Twitter.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The Oakland Athletics are one win away from clinching the 2013 American League Division Series against the Detroit Tigers and will have to go through Tigers starting pitcher Doug Fister if they want to do so in Game 4, which will start at 5:07 p.m. ET on October 8.

Fister finished the regular season with a 14-9 record and a 3.67 ERA.

Fister will have to contend with an Athletics team that has turned up the heat as of late.  After scoring a combined three runs in their first two games of the series, Oakland eventually scored six against Tigers pitcher Anibal Sanchez en route to their series lead.

Now, Detroit has to count on Fister to keep the team in the series and avoid elimination.

The A’s are wondering which Fister they will face in Game 4.  Will it be the pitcher who threw seven innings of two-run ball against Oakland in Game 2 of last year’s ALDS and owns a 1.71 ERA over five career postseason starts?

Or will Fister emulate the start he had against the A’s back on August 28 when Oakland put up 13 hits and seven earned runs over five innings?  In that game, Oakland was able to find Fister‘s weaknesses and went on to win 14-4.

It is safe to assume the A’s are hoping for the latter.

Fister owns a career 3.17 ERA against Oakland over 12 starts.  He has faced only the Cleveland Indians and Kansas City Royals more.  Yet the A’s roughed him up during his lone start against Oakland in 2013, and that is a good sign for a team that has all the momentum in their dugout.

Which A’s bats will make the difference?  Well, Coco Crisp owns a .368 batting average against Fister, and there is the saying, “How Coco goes, so do the A’s.”

If Crisp can set the tone for Oakland’s lineup, the A’s should be able to continue their offensive surge, which came to life in Game 3.  Crisp reaching base would be a great start to giving the rest of the lineup a chance to do some damage.

With the Tigers’ bats mostly silent in the series thus far, Oakland hopes to put up just a few runs early against Fister and counter with starter Dan Straily, who is 4-1 with a 2.00 ERA over his last six starts.

If Oakland can muster the same success it enjoyed against pitchers like Sanchez in Game 3, there should be little reason to assume the A’s will not clinch the series in Game 4.

The only thing standing in their way is Fister.

All statistics and records courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com unless otherwise stated.

Peter Panacy is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report.  Follow him @PeterMcShots on Twitter.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The Tampa Bay Rays will travel to take on the Cleveland Indians in the 2013 American League Wildcard Game on October 2.

While both teams are evenly matched in many ways, Tampa Bay’s pitching—both their overall rotation and bullpen—will prove to be the difference in the one-game showdown.

The Rays will start Alex Cobb, which bodes well for Tampa considering that his counterpart, Indians pitcher Danny Salazar, began the 2013 season with Cleveland’s AA affiliate.

Considering how well Cobb has pitched this season, the matchup edge is clearly in favor of the Rays.  All Cleveland can hope for is that Salazar is too unknown a product for Tampa Bay to cope with.  That is a lot to ask for considering his lack of experience.

The Indians do boast an impressive lineup, and Cobb will have to do his best to shut them down.  This will not be an easy task, yet considering how well he has pitched down the stretch, Cleveland should have their hands full.

If the Rays are able to maintain a lead heading into the latter innings, they can count on a solid bullpen consisting of guys like Jake McGee, Joel Peralta and Fernando Rodney.  Alex Torres is Tampa Bay’s best middle-relief option having posted a 1.71 ERA in 58 innings.

While Rodney has been a little shaky during the season, the rest of these players are solid in shutting the door over the final three innings.  If Cleveland is trailing going into the seventh, their night could be all but over.

On the other hand, the Indians do not have an established closer, although Joe Smith, who has a 2.29 ERA with 54 strikeouts in 63 innings this season, may be their best option if the game is close.

If pitching wins championships, Tampa Bay has it for Wednesday and Cleveland does not.  Both have respectable lineups, yet the pitching will prove to be the vital factor.

For the Rays, it should be enough to get them beyond this one-game playoff.

All statistics and accolades courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com.

Peter Panacy is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report.  Follow him @PeterMcShots on Twitter.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

While the hype surrounding Major League Baseball’s free agency period tends to focus on well-known and high-profile players, smaller signings are often just as important.

In a way, low-profile signings can be the difference between a championship team and one that is out of any race before September. 

There are two things in common among the players included on this list.  First, they are not exactly the biggest targets in 2014.  Second, they may be the big difference makers each team needs to have success over the course of a full year.

Whether they provide adequate depth, round out a rotation or even just provide an unsung upgrade at a position, the teams that end up employing their services next season will be better off in 2014.

Chad Gaudin

Position: Relief Pitcher

2013 Team: San Francisco Giants

Right-handed reliever Chad Gaudin is an interesting commodity when it comes to free agency.  The 31-year-old reliever-turned-starter had a nice season filling in for San Francisco’s injured starter Ryan Vogelsong.

He is capable of both long relief and spot starting, which can help almost any rotation.  His 2013 contract of $750,000 makes him affordable as well.

Do the Giants want him back?  Probably, as tweeted by Larry Krueger of their flagship station KNBR in San Francisco.

Yet there are plenty of other teams that could be interested.  The New York Yankees, Los Angeles Angels and Philadelphia Phillies could use a versatile starter.  The Boston Red Sox need bullpen help.  Gaudin can provide both. 

Gaudin earned his keep in San Francisco and is likely to stay there, but the deep pockets of teams like Boston, New York and Philadelphia could lure his services back east.

Carlos Ruiz

Position: Catcher

2013 Team: Philadelphia Phillies

Veteran catcher Carlos Ruiz will be 35 years old when the 2014 season starts.  At that age, it is likely  that his best days are behind him.  Yet he can still provide good offensive prowess.

The other question is whether or not Ruiz returns to Philadelphia—the team he has spent his entire career with. 

The Phillies do need to get younger and more athletic.  Do they plan on keeping Ruiz in their equation, or do they look more to the future?  As of now, Philadelphia does not have an in-house option to replace Ruiz and the market for catchers is pretty thin.

Ruiz would also like to stay, but will a deal be made before he hits the open market at a thin position?  He probably won’t make as much compared to his previous contract, which makes him more attractive as a commodity.

In all likelihood Ruiz will remain in Philadelphia, but there is a good chance he could land with another squad looking for catching help.  The Tampa Bay Rays could use an offensive upgrade over the aging Jose Molina.  The White Sox and Tigers may also be looking for upgrades. 

This market is very thin and if Philadelphia does not lock up Ruiz soon, he may take a contract elsewhere.

Nate McLouth

Position: Outfield

2013 Team: Baltimore Orioles

There is a lot of upside to outfielder Nate McLouth.  The nine-year veteran has a lot of attributes that teams will be looking for during the offseason.  He has a good on-base percentage, hits right-handed pitching well and he can steal bases.

While he is nowhere close to a splashy free agent, his 2013 base salary of $2 million would mean the 31 year old would be a cheap option for a team looking to add depth or find an upgrade in the outfield.

Tim Dierkes of MLBTradeRumors.com breaks down what will happen if McLouth leaves the Orioles and emphasizes what he can provide for another team that is interested.  He writes:

The Orioles aren’t brimming with alternatives to replace McLouth, and will have to turn to the free agent and trade markets if they don’t re-sign him.  Since McLouth could assume more of an above-average, oft-used fourth outfielder role, he could boost the depth of many clubs. 

The Seattle Mariners and Pittsburgh Pirates—where McLouth started his professional career—may be looking for help in the outfield.

It would not be surprising to see McLouth land with either squad if it does not work out in Baltimore.  Both of those teams need the help and McLouth can provide it.

Stephen Drew

Position: Shortstop

2013 Team: Boston Red Sox

If you forget 2007 and 2012, shortstop Stephen Drew is actually a nice option at the position.

Playing on a talented Red Sox team helps his numbers quite a bit, but there is a potential that he could move on to somewhere else. 

Will he command the contract he got with Boston in 2013?  Probably not, even though his agent is Scott Boras.  Will he provide good defense with above-average numbers at the plate?  Absolutely.

So, which teams would be interested? 

The shortstop market is both relatively old and thin. 

With that in mind, there are a number of teams looking to add something at the position.  The New York Mets are a possible candidate as tweeted by Andrew Vazzano of SNY.tv.

Of course, Boston will look to entertain his return to the Red Sox.  Considering some of his extra-base hitting prowess displayed during the year, Boston would be smart to at least try an offer.

Other possibilities include the Pittsburgh Pirates, who could lose Clint Barmes via free agency, as well as the Tampa Bay Rays with Yunel Escobar.  Both clubs have good prospects waiting for their chance, but Drew could be the bridge in the meantime until their respective prospects are ready.

Yet the favorite here has to be Boston.  The Mets could lure him away if they want to overpay.  If contract negotiations become a problem, perhaps a short-term option becomes reality.

While none of these free agents are likely considered “high priority” by teams around the league, each offers a unique set of skills that could prove to be the difference heading forward into 2014.

In Gaudin‘s case, it is his versatility on the mound either as a starter or reliever.  Think how valuable that is to a rotation and/or bullpen late in the season.  With Ruiz, veteran catchers who can provide some offensive thump are a bonus to any lineup.  Ruiz’s ability to work with elite pitchers also makes his signing a bonus.

McClouth is a solid, if not stellar, outfielder.  There are plenty of teams that need corner outfielders and McClouth provides that.  He has good defense, enough offensive prowess and would add depth in a worst-case scenario.  At best, he could be a cheaper staple of a good offense.

Drew is also a likable option for teams needing good defense at shortstop.  He has some pop in his bat as well.  Those are both great assets considering the position. 

None of these signings will likely command the media attention given to players like Robinson Cano or Carlos Beltran.  Yet these free agents are no less important to helping teams win. 

After all, it is not necessarily the best players that help a team win—it is the right ones.

Peter Panacy is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report.  Follow him @PeterMcShots on Twitter.

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Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun is digging a deeper hole for himself following his recent apology acknowledging his use of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs).

Braun issued a statement Thursday—the full text of which can be found here—apologizing for his use of PEDs and further explaining his actions.  Yet his apology may be too little and too late. 

Braun, and his clouded reputation, shall forever be stained by this incident.  However, there are things the 2011 National League MVP can do to at least return his image to something respectable.

For starters, Braun should speak with the media.

The nature of that potential conversation shall be described shortly; yet how did Braun get to this point in the first place?

Braun is no stranger to allegations of PED use. 

In his 2011 MVP season, Braun had tested positive for PEDs, yet was able to successfully appeal a 50-game suspension; he became baseball’s first player to win such an appeal.

Despite the success of the appeal, one might think that Braun had learned his lesson.  His reputation, albeit tainted, was still intact and he had escaped suspension and the scrutiny that would have accompanied it.  It should have been a foregone conclusion that Braun would stay clean having come so close to ruining his character.

Braun did not take the wiser of the two courses.  In the wake of the second accusation of PED use, Braun may now seem more foolish than ever before. 

Despite not being directly linked to any specific PED from the hands of the Miami-based Biogenesis clinic, Braun’s involvement and subsequent actions certainly did not put him on the right path.

When Major League Baseball announced that they would seek Braun’s suspension, Braun’s statements and actions were anything but adequate. 

In a February 5 article written by Tim Brown and Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports, Braun stated that he had nothing to hide and never had any relationship with the clinic’s operator, Anthony Bosch.

Braun further elaborated:

During the course of preparing for my successful appeal last year, my attorneys, who were previously familiar with Bosch, used him as a consultant.  More specifically, he answered questions about [testosterone-to-epitestosterone] ratio and possibilities of tampering with samples.

Braun’s first explanation seems about as hollow as his most recent one.  The only difference is that Braun has now acknowledged PED use instead of denying it. 

Yet as previously mentioned, why would Braun even bother dealing with Bosch and his reputation within the Biogenesis clinic?

To make matters worse, Braun was then alleged to have gone after Dino Laurenzi Jr., the Comprehensive Drug Testing employee who had handled his 2011 urine sample.

Regardless, Braun’s interactions and subsequent denials further drove a wedge between him and the fans, as well as the media.

Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel sums up the aftermath perfectly when he wrote:

Fans don’t take kindly to PED cheats and certainly not to someone who lied about it publicly for so long.  In other words, Braun’s reputation is trashed, his integrity non-existent and his achievements forever tarnished.  Think about that when you suggest he got off lightly because it “only” cost him $3 million or so in salary while suspended.

Before this scandal ever took place, Braun’s popularity was something to be commended.  Now, it seems as if Braun has little chance to rectify the situation and make things right with the fans and MLB.

In the wake of Braun’s most recent attempt to apologize and clear his name, his reputation may be worse off than before.

ESPN baseball analyst Tim Kurkjian elaborated via an article published by Bill Chappell of NPR by saying:

While Braun used a lot of the right words, we need more specifics than this.  And I really thought that after this, he would get in front of a microphone, maybe even take some questions.  But from all indications, this might be it until spring training, or whenever.

That would be the first step in correcting a series of poor decisions on Braun’s part. 

At this point, fans are becoming numb to Braun’s denial and subsequent apologetic comments.  At best, they seem hollow and still lack the credibility necessary for Braun to once again earn the respect within the game.

Major League players are also disgusted with Braun’s decision-making as well as how he has handled things up to this point.

Detroit Tigers pitcher Max Scherzer stated via an ESPN article:

I thought this whole thing has been despicable on his part.  When he did get caught, he never came clean.  He tried to question the ability of the collector when he was caught red-handed.  So that’s why the whole Braun situation, there is so much player outrage toward him.

Rather than make a statement reiterating only the words Braun wants to speak, he needs to step forward in front of a microphone, as Kurkjian said. 

Braun will need to face the facts, admit them and begin the healing process necessary in the aftermath of this scandal.

Former MLB pitcher, and current broadcaster, Mike Krukow also stated in an interview with the San Francisco-based radio station KNBR that Braun’s most recent attempt did not help his character at all.  Instead Krukow reiterated what others have already said: Braun needs to stand in front of a microphone and answer every question—tough questions—truthfully and honestly.

Instead, we are left with a hollow apology.

CBS Sports senior baseball columnist Scott Miller summed up how many are feeling about this recent apology.  He writes:

Far as I can tell, Braun’s apology doesn’t even come close to covering the ground he needs to cover.  Starting with his urine collector.  Are you kidding me?  Braun demonizes the poor guy who collected his polluted piss while the stained slugger desperately worked to wiggle out of a suspension two winters ago.  He is positively Nixonian in telling one brazen, unadulterated lie after another.

Instead, Braun should be doing much more than issuing hollow statements filled with discredit.  He also should be issuing a huge apology to Laurenzi Jr., as San Francisco Chronicle writer John Shea tweets above.

While his current apology to Laurenzi is a start, the fact that Braun referred to him as an anti-Semite deserves more than just a few words.

If Braun does nothing more to repair his image, his character will remain in shambles.  If this is a start of more action on his part, he could regain some credibility.

Fortunately for Braun, if there is any good fortune, there is still time to do this.

Braun can benefit from the fact that baseball and the media are growing tired of steroids in the game.  He can also benefit from the fact that society tends to be forgiving if it receives a heartfelt apology and time is allowed to heal the wounds.

Remember when Jason Giambi and Andy Pettitte were linked to PED use? 

They both made apologies that were seen as adequate and both were able to move on and have successful careers without the scrutiny that Braun has brought upon himself.

The road ahead for Braun will not be as easy.  He has already tarnished his reputation as a player and his actions following this scandal have certainly not helped.

Even if Braun does right from here on out, he may never again be seen as the likable Milwaukee slugger who was once viewed as a perennial MVP candidate.  Yet he could better his situation and hopefully put himself back on track to earning the respect of both players and fans.

Braun could still turn this negative into a positive. 

It is an obvious conclusion that he needs to stay clean from this point forward.  He could be a spokesperson for continued testing in the hopes that his experience may actually provide some benefit to baseball years down the road.

This, in turn, would show that Braun is a human being who has dealt with struggles in the past and has concerns about how PEDs could affect baseball in the future.  Fans would like to see that.

If anything, Braun needs to step in front of the media and answer questions as both Krukow and Kurkjian suggested.  He needs to answer each and every question with integrity and honesty.  Braun also needs to make a deeper apology instead of the flat statement he issued on August 22.

Braun needs to apologize to his teammates.  He needs to apologize to each of the players that faced him up to this point.  He needs to apologize to his coaches.  Most importantly, he needs to apologize to the fans. 

After all, fans are the sole reason baseball exists.

Peter Panacy is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report.  Follow him @PeterMcShots on Twitter.

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Barry Zito seems to have discovered a dominance over the St. Louis Cardinals recently.

The last time Zito took the mound against St. Louis, the San Francisco Giants were in dire straights. Giants fans will remember that game.  It was game five of the 2012 National League Championship Series against the Cardinals where the Giants found themselves trailing St. Louis three games to one. 

On the road for game five, it seemed like a foregone conclusion that the Cardinals would beat up on the Giants’ lefty who had received so much criticism after signing a seven-year, $126 million contract in 2007.  The Cardinals were the hot team.  The Giants were not.

Yet Zito’s performance during game five was nothing short of incredible.  He pitched 7.2 innings of shutout baseball against the Cardinals and even contributed at the plate (mercurynews.com).  The Giants then soared after the must-win game, eventually going on to defeat St. Louis in seven games and moving on to win the 2012 World Series.

The lynch-pin of the Giants’ success in the playoffs was Zito.

Thus, it only seemed fitting that Zito would take the mound against the Cardinals yesterday during the Giants’ home opener.  The last time he saw the Cardinals, he dominated them and gave the Giants hope to keep their postseason dreams alive.  This time, he picked up right where he left off against a team he shut down a season ago, giving the Giants more hope that 2013 will be just as special.

Following the Giants’ opening day ceremonies, Zito took the mound amidst a roar of cheers from Giants fans who, not so long ago, chastised him.  It was another moment of redemption for the veteran.

The Cardinals looked just as baffled by Zito’s pitching as they did during the NLCS last year.  Zito shut out St. Louis, looking strong over seven innings.  He allowed only three hits while walking two and striking out four (cbssports.com).

Zito ran into some trouble during the top half of the seventh inning when St. Louis put two runners on base with two outs.  Yet Zito was able to retire Cardinals shortstop Pete Kozma on a fly ball to center to end the inning.  He finished the game with 102 pitches on the day.  Zito then departed to another tremendous ovation, one of which he has been getting used to lately.

The Giants went on to beat the Cardinals 1-0, giving Zito his first win of the young season.(cbssports.com).

What this means for the Giants is hard to determine, but signs have to be good. 

Zito was ready for the start despite all of the festivities that preceded the Giants’ home opener.

He stated:

I would like to stay focused on what I have to do and my process and not get caught up too much in the festivities.  It’s going to be great for the fans, obviously.  That’s for them to enjoy.  But for us, we have to focus on our tasks. (via mlb.com)

That is a great attitude for a veteran pitcher to have, especially after enduring a tenure with a team that included so many lows.  Yet for the Giants, Zito has become somewhat of a good-luck charm as they have now won 15 games in a row in which he has started, including the 2012 postseason (mlb.com).  That streak will undoubtedly end at some point, but a solid start including the win is a major plus for Zito and the rest of the Giants rotation.

Zito’s resurgence has not gone unnoticed by his Giants teammates.

Right fielder Hunter Pence praised Zito by saying:

Pitching is about deception, and he’s got a lot of deception.  He’s really smart out there and doesn’t give you good pitches to hit.  Even his strikes are tough to hit.  You think you’re seeing a cutter out of his hand and it’s really the fastball down the middle.  And if you protect too much against the cutter, he’ll go back outside. (via mercurynews.com)

Hopefully, this start is an indication that Zito will emulate more of the 15-8 season he enjoyed last year and avoid the types of seasons he had in San Francisco years prior.  If he can, the Giants pitching staff will be all that much better. 

It is hard to tell after one start, but a start like this one is always a good thing.

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As spring training closes in on its final days, and Major League Baseball looks forward to the regular season, teams across the league view their competition and highlight players that they feel will have a big impact during the regular season. 

The National League West, while not necessarily receiving the bulk of media attention, has become one of the preeminent divisions in MLB.  The San Francisco Giants currently stand atop the baseball world, having won two out of the last three World Series titles.  They also boast one of the best starting rotations in baseball along with the reigning National League Most Valuable Player and former Rookie of the Year Buster Posey.

Yet Posey and the Giants are not alone in a division that is steadily becoming one of the predominant divisions in the league. 

To the south, the Los Angeles Dodgers have quickly transformed from the “laughing stock” days of the Frank McCourt era into a powerhouse, especially after transactions involving former All Stars Adrian Gonzalez, Hanley Ramirez and Josh Beckett.  Already hosting talent, the likes of which include Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier and Clayton Kershaw, the Dodgers figure to challenge the Giants atop the division.

The Arizona Diamondbacks also made moves in the offseason, including trading for Martin Prado and signing veteran Cody Ross.  The moves, among others figure to make the Diamondbacks a scrappy and tough-to-beat team in the division, one that hopes to thwart the two “big dogs” that are predicted to contend for the NL West crown.

The Colorado Rockies and San Diego Padres are also looking towards the future.  While neither team should realistically compete for the division championship, there are positives for each franchise.  For the Rockies, both Carlos Gonzalez and Troy Tulowitzki should start 2013 healthy and poised for big numbers.  The Padres are likely to put high hopes on Chase Headley.

All signs point to an exciting race, heralded by top performances from some of the key figures in the division.

Here are the top-10 players, along with a few notables, who figure to have big seasons in 2013.

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