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Adrian Gonzalez? Gone. David Eckstein? History. The Hairstons? Adios.Miguel Tejada? Auf Weidersehen. Yorvit Torrealba? Movin on..You get the picture. The Padres will be a different team in 2011.The question becomes "Is different better?" I know that what I see on paper right now looks much better than the last two seasons teams did at this same point. Lets take a look at what should be the Padres starting line up for opening day.Begin Slideshow

Pitchers and catchers report in a little over three weeks. It's been a short offseason for the Rangers and the Giants, but for everybody else, Spring Training can't get here quick enough. In this latest installment of MLB Predictions, we will look at players that we think will make a huge impact on their respective teams this upcoming season. Some of the players you are going to see have already been up to "the show" and some even had significant time last year, but some of the players you may not be familiar with because of the smaller markets they may play in or may wonder who will be taking over for departed free agents. Undoubtedly there will be omissions so feel free to add who you think should be on here. Enjoy!Begin Slideshow

I will say, if nothing else, the San Diego Padres have had one interesting offseason. I really believed that after surprising baseball by winning 90 games, finishing just two games behind the San Francisco Giants and seeing a close to 200,000 attendance increase, the Padres would capitalize on their 2010 by adding to their team for 2011. Instead, well, I have really have no idea what they are doing. For every one step forward, they have taken two steps back. The latest examples of this? Their two middle-infield acquisitions this week.   After a couple of weeks of going back and forth with the Tampa Bay Rays, the two sides finally completed a trade that sends SS Jason Bartlett and a PTBNL to the Padres for minor leaguers Adam Russell, Brandon Gomes, Cesar Ramos and Cole Figueroa. Then the Padres signed 2B Orlando Hudson to a two-year, $11.5 ...

The winter meetings have seen a lot of action so far.Carl Crawford signed with the Boston Red Sox yesterday for seven years and 142 million dollars. This was in the wake of the huge contract given to Jayson Werth a week earlier from the Washington Nationals.After the top two hitters on the market have signed, the remaining players have a starting point in negotiations and there are still plenty of quality hitters remaining for teams looking to fill out their lineups.Here are the top 20 hitters remaining.Begin Slideshow

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?Begin Slideshow

So Alex Anthopoulos has found a manager in John Farrell. Now he has to continue upgrading his team through trades and free agency. The first thing to note is that it is highly unlikely Anthopoulos signs a Type A free agent. This is because his first-round pick is not protected, and that is what he would have to give up to sign them. So Manny Ramirez is out of the question. The second thing is that Anthopoulos has stated he is willing to go after Type A free agents if the price is right. I understand this, but it is highly unlikely that will happen. Type A free agents almost always get big money. If they are not worth a lot of money, then teams would not want to give up the draft pick, either. As a result, I see them targeting players that are not on the Type A free-agent list. The needs of this team ...

Amidst the pursuit for the next New York Mets manager, several on the field questions still plague the Mets in the coming months. Besides the evident issues facing the bullpen, the most pressing matter I see facing Alderson’s Mets is who will be manning the second base position next year. I’ve gone through some possible options out there for the Mets next year, some internal and external, but none named Luis Castillo.I got to tell you though; many of them are looking pretty promising. Let’s just hope these options look as good on the field as they do on paper.Begin Slideshow

Every offseason the free-agent class is headlined by a small group of big-name players. In 2008, CC Sabathia and Mark Teixeira were the big names. Last year, it was probably John Lackey. In 2010, Cliff Lee is undoubtedly the biggest fish in a very, very small pond. The problem is, players of this ilk command huge salaries and usually end up on big-market teams like the Yankees, Red Sox and Mets. The most interesting part of free agency is to be found when one looks past the big names at bargain players—those whom people had forgotten about. Even when looking at the underrated players on the market, this year’s free-agent class is still poor. Not to kill the suspense but, no, Cliff Lee will not be appearing on this list.Begin Slideshow

The Minnesota Twins appear to have a revolving door at second base.When the 2009 season began, the Abbott and Costello routine was, "Who's on third? I don't know."Now it's, "What's the guy's name on second?"This past week, eight Twins declared for free agency. Among them was second baseman Orlando Hudson.For the four-time Gold Glover and two-time All-Star, it begs the question—what is it wrong with Hudson?If Hudson does not re-sign with the Twins, and the odds of that happening appear unlikely, it will be four teams in four years for the switch-hitting second baseman. Between two stints on the disabled list Hudson played 126 games at second this season. That's the most since Luis Castillo played in 142 games in 2006.For the Twins, they will be searching for their sixth second baseman in eight years.The last player to hold the position longer than two consecutive seasons was Luis Rivas, the Twins ...

The Mets are closer to being a contending team than you may think.  The incoming GM could make these simple and, perhaps more importantly, cheap changes to have them competing next year and for years to come. Jettison Bad Karma: On paper, the Mets have been a competitive team for the past three years.  In reality, however, their high paid “stars” have underachieved, they have suffered an unlucky proportion of injuries and their fan base has grown impatient and cynical (I left out angry and borderline hostile).  Now, the booing and empty seats at the otherwise charming Citi Field have become both a symptom and a cause of the general malaise of the team.  Not to go too new age on you, ...