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Freddy Garcia recently was speculated to be returning to the Chicago White Sox, where he’s enjoyed most of his success in the latter years of his career, but he seems to have done an about face.

According to a report in ESPN New York, Garcia has agreed to terms with the New York Yankees on a minor league contract.  Perhaps he thought he had a better chance of winning with the Bombers, or perhaps they just offered a sweeter deal.  Garcia will earn $1.5 million if he makes the team, with the chance to round that figure out to a cool $5.1 million through performance bonuses.

It’s a bit surprising that Garcia would have to settle for a minor league deal, coming off a highly respectable season with Chicago where he went 12-6 with a 4.64 ERA, and considering that he sports a 133-87 career record.  He also has established himself as a big game pitcher during his brief exposure to the postseason, where he’s gone 6-2 with a 3.11 ERA in two trips.

He’ll compete with fellow recent signee Bartolo Colon for a spot at the back end of the Yankees rotation, and will give them greater depth should the inevitable injury arise.  He’s also insurance in case Andy Pettitte stays home.  Oh wait, I already talked about that.

While the major deals of the MLB offseason have long since had all their i’s dotted and their t’s crossed, there are still some last rounds of spring cleaning that need to take place before everything is set.

A bit of moving the furniture around, if you would.  Contract extensions to be signed, arbitration hearings to be avoided, and few free agent stragglers here and there.

So without further ado, here’s a rundown of the latest news of the day in baseball.

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It’s almost February and that means pitchers and catchers will be reporting to spring training in just a few weeks; it also means that the free agent signings are coming to an end. It’s rapidly becoming time for coaching staffs to be extending training camp invites to a group of players – a few of which may be lucky enough to land the last few rosters spots on a team. 

Even though, for the most part, all the real impact players have long been signed to teams,organizations are still paying attention to some free agents that can make a difference for a contender or fill a vital role/position for any team. Just look at the San Francisco Giants in 2010 if you’re wondering why teams are maintaining interest in the players left unsigned (they’re World Series run couldn’t have been achieved without players like Cody Ross, Pat Burrell, etc).

So, let’s take a look at each team, individually, to see who they’re still interested in… 

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With the recent acquisition of yet another set-up man/closer to the fold in Frank Francisco, the Blue Jays appear to have one of the deepest bullpens in all of baseball. Starting at the top with likely opening day closer Francisco, then down the line with Octavio Dotel, Jon Rauch, Shawn Camp, Jason Frasor, David Purcey, Jesse Carlson, Carlos Villanueva and likely Jo-Jo Reyes, the Jays are stacked in the pen.

With the influx of young but talented arms in the rotation, the Jays look to be trying to overload the bullpen just in case the starting rotation faces issues.

However, with the trading of Vernon Wells, Mike Napoli, Shaun Marcum and the departures of Kevin Gregg, Scott Downs and John Buck via free agency, the Jays are hoping their young farm system can help alleviate some of the losses here.

Expect JP Arencibia, Travis Snider, Kyle Drabek and possibly even Brett Lawrie to make an impact this season for the Blue Jays.

With that said, these are very raw and unproven players in the majors and the Jays may be in need of veteran players to help guide these potential stars through the major league grind.

The Jays will also be looking for bounce back seasons out of Jesse Litsch, Dustin McGowan (if healthy) and Jose Bautista—not the 54 home run-like numbers, but at least 30 is reasonable to ask.

So what else is out there Jays fans that will improve this team for the upcoming 2011 season?

Three Players That Could Potentially Be Jays

3B Michael Young

How Can He Be in a Jays Uniform?

With the Rangers’ recent signing of third baseman Adrian Beltre, it pretty much sealed the fate of Michael Young. With a pretty hefty price tag, Young right now can only be had by some of the league’s most wealthy teams.

Young’s price tag, along with age, makes him a bit of a risk for any team to take on, but his defense and bat more than make up for the somewhat sketchy contract.

At 33 years old, he may be too old for the Jays’ young team, but his veteran experience and bat would be worth the price. With all the salary traded away, the Jays could easily afford to grab Young from the Rangers, although some would argue the Jays should have included others to grab Young in the Francisco deal yesterday.

3B Eric Chavez

How Can He Be in a Jays Uniform?

Alex Anthopolous believes in second chances, he’s doing it with Dustin McGowan, Jesse Litsch and also Edwin Encarnacion, and I believe Eric Chavez may be Anthopolous’ next reclamation project.

A former all-star and perennial gold glove winner, Chavez anchored the Athletics defense for many years until injuries caught up to him. With the injury past, and a declining bat, I don’t expect Chavez to cost that much at all, and to me seems like the most realistic option going forward for the Blue Jays.

DH Vladimir Guerrero

How Can He Be in a Jays Uniform?

This may be a tough one for some to wrap their heads around, but I think Vladdy to Toronto makes a ton of sense. They lack a middle of the lineup presence, which Vladdy can help with. He is getting up there in age, but his bat proved to be alive last year in Texas.

With the big boppers of the AL already securing DH’s for the next season, I think the Jays probably can offer the native of the Dominican Republic a decent incentive-laden deal with the club.

The AL is full of DH’s right now with David Ortiz in Boston, Jorge Posada in New York, Hideki Matsui in Oakland, Bobby Abreu in Los Angeles, Jack Cust in Seattle, Mike Young in Texas, Johnny Damon and Manny Ramirez in Tampa Bay, Luke Scott in Baltimore, Jim Thome in Minnesota, Magglio Ordonez in Detroit and lastly Adam Dunn in Chicago, there really aren’t any more voids at DH left in the AL.

Toronto is probably Vladdy’s last option right now to play for a contending team this season. I highly doubt the likes of Kansas City, Seattle, Cleveland or Baltimore entice Guerrero to sign there, and even more unlikely is a move to the National League.

In my opinion, if the Jays can get two of these three players, the offense will be that much better.

The Jays have the money to spend, but will they is the better question.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Eric Chavez is nowhere near the player he was in his heyday with the Oakland Athletics, but this former Gold Glover from Cali could add the “intangibles” to a young Toronto Blue Jays infield. 

Reports are surfacing that Chavez has been working out in Arizona and his health appears to be as good as it has been in years. 

I have my doubts that Chavez would be willing to become a Jay in what would obviously be a limited role, yet his experience and knowledge is something every player in their infield could benefit from, especially the newbies joining the club in spring training. 

Third base is obviously up for grabs.  The question remains whether the job is Edwin Encarnacion’s to lose or if he will be splitting time with Jose Bautista. 

The hot corner is another spot that will eventually become home for Yunel Escobar, Aaron Hill or Brett Lawrie. 

Out of those three, Escobar is the player most likely to remain at his position.  The inclusion of Lawrie is quite possibly the first sign of Hill’s departure from second base. 

Encarnacion is never going to be the club’s everyday corner-man.  In my estimation, he is taking the hand he was dealt and running with it.  If Lawrie is as good as he says he is, his bat will propel him into the starting lineup regardless of the problems his glove could produce. 

If Hill can regain his 30-homerun swing from two seasons ago, there is nothing stopping him from manning third while Lawrie hones his craft. 

This is exactly where Chavez comes in.  What better person to tutor a young infield that will showcase a new first baseman in Adam Lind?

Every player one day will realize his best years are behind him, and no matter how much strength Chavez has regained in his back and shoulder, his new role will be that of a teacher to his younger mates. 

If indeed Chavez becomes a viable option for the Jays, his contract, one that was paying him in the tens of millions, will obviously (I hope drastically) be reduced to fit the role he is expected to play. 

To all the Jays fans, Chavez in a Jay’s uniform does fit, and the old-school Ryan Klesko/Jason Giambi drop-and-lift swing seems mighty inviting for short porch located at 1 Blue Jays Way.

Devon is the founder of The GM’s Perspective

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Come March, when Spring Training rolls around, the Florida Marlins will without a doubt turn to Matt Dominguez for a shot to claim the third base job. Originally, Chris Coghlan was destined to man the hot corner until the Dan Uggla and Cameron Maybin trades left him in the outfield only this time in center. 

But what if Matt Dominguez isn’t ready with the bat? His defense is major league ready at this point but at 20, many wonder whether the offense is a year or two away. He hit .252/.333/.411 with 14 HRs, 81 RBI in 138 games. 

If the worst case scenario were to occur and Dominguez end up back in AA Jacksonville, who can replace him at third base?

One automatic name that pops up is Emilio Bonifacio, the team’s speedy utility player but the last time he maned third base, he committed 14 errors in 86 games back in 2009. 

Even with the presence of Perry Hill, Bonifacio is better suited as the teams’ bench, pinch runner, and occasional starter perhaps taking over for Chris Coghlan, Omar Infante or playing a third when a player needs a day off. 

That leaves one available free agent bargain who was an Oakland Athletic since 1998, Eric Chavez. Let’s take a look at why the Marlins should pursue Chavez as third base insurance policy. 

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One of the main concerns for GM Ned Colletti and the Los Angeles Dodgers this offseason is finding a permanent solution for second base. For Dodgers fans, the last few seasons have been confusing in the middle infield, as several journeyman veterans and utility players have stepped in, taking turns manning the right side of the infield.

The upcoming season appears to be heading in the same direction. However, it is also possible with major names on the free agent market, the Dodgers will be able to sign a solid fielder with a productive bat to a multi-year deal.

With the future beyond the 2011 season in mind, let’s examine the possibilities of a second baseman with stability-type qualities for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Also check out: One Spot Left: Should the LA Dodgers Sign Vicente Padilla or Brandon Webb?

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This offseason marks a turbulent time for Major League Baseball, as several key names around the league are free agents, and many of them have already begun the steps towards a new team and a new beginning. 

By now, experts and analysts everywhere are already buzzing about the possibilities of blockbuster trades and big-name free agent signings.

Los Angeles Dodgers GM Ned Colletti has leaked to the media his plan to add starting and relief pitching, and maybe acquire a power bat if the price is right.

With this in mind, let’s explore the possibilities no one is talking about.

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The Oakland Athletics have started preparing for the 2011 season, as per usual with GM Billy Beane.

Third baseman Eric Chavez, who has been riddled with injuries over the last three years, has finally been released. He looks to start fresh with another team, but realizes he is a 12-year veteran.

Susan Slusser, writer for the San Francisco Chronicle, published this telling quote from Chavez:

“If things had been different, I would have wanted to stay in Oakland my whole career,” the six-time Gold Glove third baseman said. “I’ve had therapy, I’ve had treatment, I’ve had surgeries. The only thing left is to change scenery. … To go back to Oakland, even with the direction they’re going, I’m not even sure there would be a spot open.”

Ellis added that Oakland will miss him.

As Oakland prepares for another season, players and staff alike are thrilled about the second-place finish in the AL west. Closer Andrew Bailey has been rehabbing an injured shoulder that he suffered in September and looks to resume his closer role once play resumes.

Additionally, Rickey Henderson has decided to work with young outfielder Chris Carter on his defensive play. I think Rickey should also leak a few secrets about base-running. He’s only the all-time leader in stolen bases and runs scored. No biggie.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The Oakland Athletics have a history of talented and interesting players.

The club was born in Philadelphia in 1901, left for Kansas City in 1955, and finally settled in Oakland in 1968. They are the proud owners of nine world series titles, trailing only the Saint Louis Cardinals (10) and the New York Yankees (27).

37 Athletics are enshrined in the baseball hall of fame and there are certainly more to come.

My criteria for this list includes: statistics, defense, aura, and longevity with the team.

There’s no scientific formula here, but be assured, I conducted thorough research.

I’ll only take into account players statistics when they were on the A’s, dismissing contributions they made with other teams. The numbers listed will reflect this.

I will also include non-players (managers, announcers, etc.) that had a significant impact on the organization.

Without further ado, here are the Top 25 Oakland Athletics.

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