Over on the message board, folks are starting to give predictions, but its too early for that.  Granted the free agent class wasn’t much to start with, but there are still pieces to be gotten and holes to be filled.  Trades can still happen- all the way through March.

Yesterday some big moves happened.  None seem overwhelming- except maybe to the Mets who lost our on more than one deal.  But each of these next few creates depth that wasn’t there before.

Let’s start with Jim Thome signing with the Twins. This Kelsie Smith piece gives you a clear idea of why the Twins wanted him… mostly to keep him out of the hands of the White Sox.  He won’t play everyday- which might be good for him- and yet he gives the team experience and solid depth.  It was easy to see he wasn’t going to go to a National League team, but the Twins keep him close to his Peoria, IL home, and the pitchers he has come to know well.  Additionally, you have to love a 39 year old player who says something like this at his press conference:

“Even though I am 39, how can you not learn from (Justin) Morneau and (Joe) Mauer? I mean, those guys are what the game is all about right now, and to be their teammate is an honor.”

Now that is a great quote.

The Padres in a sort of surprising move, signed Jon garland.  Why surprising?  Well, it kind of goes back to the BillyBeane statement of why pay for a $75 million team if you get as many wins with a $40 million team.  The truth though, is Garland fills in a lot of blank innings that will need to be pitched this year. Remember every team expects to need a pitcher to pitch for 1,458 innings each season.  If you can find a guy who can consistently go 7-8 a game, and make his start every 5th day, that goes a very long way towards filling those innings.  What else is it does is put less pressure on younger pitchers to stay in games where they just don’t have any command.  It helps their development and the development of young pitchers in the bullpen.  It also sets a tone for everyone on the staff.  So while the Padres may not get a significant number of wins, not enough to make them division contenders, they may be getting their money’s worth on this signing.  Check out this Corey Brock piece for more info here.

Lastly, there is the Ben Sheets deal, which in some ways is very much like the Jon Garland deal.  You wonder why Billy Beane would outspend anyone else for an unproven injury, but, well he did.  Does this deal make the A’s much better?  If Sheets is healthy, it sure does. AND, if he is really healthy, and the team isn’t competing in July- it gives Beane a piece to trade.  Its Matt Holiday of 2010.  Sheets will either be a Type A  or Type B free agent, most likely if Oakland holds him for the year. If Sheets turns out not to be healthy, well, then it is one of the worst one-year deals signed this year.  But, I don’t think too many people believe that.