The online wagering baseball fans in New York took notice of a move that not many other baseball fans may have seen in this offseason. Right-handed pitcher Freddy Garcia has agreed to a one-year deal to return to the Yankees for the 2012 season. The deal pays around $4.5 million, and gives the Yankees a much-needed right-handed pitcher in the starting rotation.
The price per head baseball fans in St. Louis are eagerly awaiting to see if slugger Albert Pujols will accept the team’s arbitration offer and give St. Louis a chance to benefit from any offer that Pujols may accept from other teams. While the World Series champs have made it clear that it wants Pujols to come back next year, the all-star has not said anything about coming back to St. Louis. Pujols is expected to decline arbitration and become a full free agent this offseason.
The Boston Red Sox are in a rebuilding phase and have offered arbitration to designated hitter David Ortiz. Teams such as the Toronto Blue Jays may have an interest in Ortiz, but if Ortiz accepts arbitration then the Blue Jays would have to give up a lot just to sign him. The Red Sox did not offer arbitration to catcher Jason Varitek and pitcher Tim Wakefield. Both Varitek and Wakefield are the longest-tenured Red Sox on the roster and are extremely popular with Red Sox fans. The Red Sox will get compensation from the Philadelphia Phillies for the signing of former Boston closer Jonathan Papelbon because Papelbon was signed before the Red Sox had a chance to offer arbitration.
