FOSN Announces FanHuddle.com

I am very excited to be able to announce to you today that Front Office Sports Enterprise will launch FanHuddle.com in the fall of 2009.

Fan Huddle will be the premier source for sports media, information, and entertainment on the internet. With news and opinions for every team in the MLB, NFL, NHL, and NBA and accompanying fantasy coverage, Fan Huddle is primed to be the only source you will need to keep up with the sports world.

Our general coverage section will feature some of the premier writers from the internet blogging, writing, and talking about every significant aspect of sports. Additionally, an extensive section covering the NCAA will provide local opinions on college athletics. Live chats with our experts, extensive user interaction, power rankings, and more will complete the most extensive sports coverage on the internet.

Our large fantasy sports section will rival that of the best "fantasy sports only" websites around. With the best writers from across the internet and beyond, every aspect of the fantasy game will be covered. Live radio, chats, rankings, and more will complete our fantasy coverage.

With change, however, comes a period of transition. Major League Report will cease day to day operation effective immediately as the transition to Fan Huddle begins. To keep up with everything that is going on at Front Office Sports Enterprise in regards to Fan Huddle, you can join us on Facebook or Myspace.

We are very excited about this change and expansion, and hope you will join in the festivities! Get excited for FanHuddle.com and be sure to tell your friends about the best new sports media website!

Hall Of Fame Results

MLB Network has just announced that Rickey Henderson and Jim Rice have both been granted entry to the baseball Hall of Fame.

Business As Usual

That it is New Years did not stop some teams from announcing some moves they recently made.

• According to sources, the Angels have agreed to a two year, 17.5 million dollar deal with Brian Fuentes. The 34 year old will be the new closer for the Angels. We will see how many save opportunity he gets.
• The Cubs have agreed to send Mark DeRosa to the Indians in exchange for three minor league pitchers, Jeff Stevens, Chris Archer and John Gaub. As of now, DeRosa most likely will be the Indians starting third basemen next season.

Enjoy your New Years! See you next year.

Yanks sign Teixeira

A couple of days after the Red Sox and Angels apparently withdrew their offers and moments after the Nats supposedly upped their offer, the Yankees swiftly swooped into the Mark Teixeira sweepstakes and came away with the prize. The cost: 8 years, 180 million dollars.

For those who do not know, Teixeira is a 28 year old first basemen who batted .308 with 33 home runs and 121 RBI last season. This magnanimous signing means that Nick Swisher, also acquired this off season, we see most if not all of his playing time in the outfield.

Between C.C. Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, and Teixeira the Yankees have spent 423.5 million dollars in contracts.

Red Sox Withdraw From Teixeira Race

ESPN just reported that the Red Sox are dropping out of the Mark Teixeira race after early today reporting serious talks were taking place earlier.  Time will tell where he ends up, but many believe that the Angels are going to land him.  More to come later...

Catching Up

A lot of news lately has been coming out of the winter meetings at the Bellagio, so let's get caught up on some of the recent moves:

• C.C. Sabathia has decided he can handle New York and signed a record breaking deal (for a pitcher) of seven years, $161 million. A note of interest, Sabathia can opt out at the end of the third year of the contract if he so chooses.
  
• The O's and Reds have reportedly agreed to trade catcher Ramon Hernandez for outfield utility man Ryan Freel. Cash will be headed to Cincinnati and two prospects, Justin Turner and Brandon Warring, will make their way to Baltimore. This trade also opens a spot on the roster for O's top prospect Matt Wieters.
• The Dodgers have come to terms with infielders Casey Blake and Mark Loretta. Blake was inked to a 3 year, 17.5 million dollar contract while Loretta signed to a one year deal.
  

K-Rod to Mets

Sources are reporting that the Mets and the free agent closer Francisco Rodriguez have reached a preliminary 3 year, 37 million dollar deal. Despite setting the record for most saves in a season at 62, the 27 year old Rodriguez had to accept a more modest deal because the market for closers is not strong.

The other big market teams, namely the Yankees and Red Sox, have the back end of their bullpens secured, so the Mets were bidding against themselves for the most part. Mets "other closer" Billy Wagner, will miss all of the 2009 season with Tommy John surgery.

Pedroia Secured

Today the Red Sox have secured AL MVP second basemen Dustin Pedroia with a six year, 40.5 million dollar contract. With this contract the Red Sox have bought out the first two years of Pedroia's free agency eligibility. Plus, a 2015 option of $11 million exists, which if exercised would make that three years. Pedroia will be 31 when this contract expires; 32 if the option is exercised.

Collin Balester Interview Continued

Here's the last of the Collin Balester interview I was recently granted thanks to the help of Michael Dillion of Reynolds Sports Management.

1) You have excelled at all levels. What do you feel will be the toughest part about the majors?

Well thanks. I think the toughest part of the major leagues is that every player is so good and they all make so many ajustments from at bat to at bat that you really have to be a student of the game and really figure out and have different plans of attack on every hitter on every count. I mean they have every camera angle on you every pitch so they know what im about to throw, so you really have to do your homework and thats one thing I have to learn in this game to get where I really want to be.

2) You have worked hard to develop your changeup. Can we expect to see it more often in 2009?

My changeup has been a pitch where I never threw it and would really hate to throw it, but the last 2 years I really felt great about my changeup and all the hard work I put into it, I never thought I could throw that pitch over the plate let alone getting someone to swing and miss on it and it was my best pitch of my 2007 and 2008 season and that is going to be my most important pitch I will be keeping in my back pocket this year, but also I have a special pitch that no one has ever seen me throw that I am working on this offseason so come out to the stadium to see that ( haha)

3) What do most often use as your strikeout pitch?

Well its different from batter to batter but I would say that it would be my curveball or changeup now. My fastball is a pitch that I think i locate pretty well so when im throwing a fastball im trying to get the batter to do something with it in play not strike him out.

4) At 6'5" do you feel it is tougher to keep your pitching mechanics consistent?

Well I dunno because im only 6'5" im not anything but that height so I wouldn't know if its harder to keep my mechanics more consistent when im 5'5". That being said I think for all pitchers its tough to keep your same mechanics all year long without a little mess up here and there, I wouldn’t say a certain height it would be more tough to keep it fluid all year long.

5) Do you think you are ready for the major league level or do you need some tweaking?

I have worked hard and I continue to work hard so that I can stay at the major league level, I think that if I continue to work hard year in year out then I will deserve to stay at this level and be successful.

Around The Majors

Here's the latest news around the baseball world in the last 24 hours:

• The Boston Red Sox have offered Junichi Tawaza, a pitcher from Japan.
• Ruben Amaro Jr. pulled off his first deal as GM of the Phillies by sending former first round pick Greg Golson to Texas for John Mayberry, another former first round pick.
• Rumors are picking up for the Royals and Cubs to make a swap including Mark Teahen from the Royals and Mike Fontenot and Sean Marshall of the Cubs.