With the news tonight that the LA Angels didn't just sign the biggest bat and one of the best hitters of all time, Albert Puljos, but they also went out and signed the best pitcher available sans the previously eligable CC Sabathia, in CJ Wilson. Between the two signings they now have spent $331.5 million on free agency in less then 24 hours and are widely considered the big winner across MLB.

Albert Puljos signed for 10 years and $254 million dollars, has a lifetime batting average of .328 and has 445 career home runs. His BA dropped to a career low .299 this past season and also didn't top 100 RBI's for the first time when he batted in 99 with 37 home runs. Some are skeptical if it's wise to give a 31 year old hitter who just previously posted his worst statistical season a 10 year contract but Puljos has a track record that spans over a decade, has proven himself in the clutch and playoffs and will be hitting several major milestones during this next contract that could help the Angels supplement his salary such as his 500th and 600th home run and possibly many more if his body holds up along with others. 

Albert Puljos Story from ESPN.com

CJ Wilson signed for 5 years and $77.5 million and posted a record of 16-7 this past season while having a 2.94 Earned Run Average per 9.0 innings pitched over high league and career high 34 starts with the Texas Rangers. Wilson made his first career all-star team this past year in only his 2nd season starting full-time with the Rangers after coming out of the bullpen previously for them. It's significant to note that the Angels are division rivals of the Rangers and it shouldn't be lost on everyone that he took less money then he was previously offered by the Miami Marlins to sign with them.

CJ Wilson story from ESPN.com

Jose Reyes was just introducted as the biggest(and most expensive) free agent signing ever but is this the right play?

Jose Reyes hasn't even officially been on the Marlins for 24 hours and it's already shaping up to be a rocky start because of incumbant all-star shortstop Hanley Ramirez. The way the Marlins went about aggressively persuing and then signing Reyes it looks as if they didn't cover all their bases(pardon the pun, sorry). The way they've responded it looks like they didn't expect any real problem with having to move Hanley to 3rd, now it's pretty clear they should have. 

Ramirez is now pretty clear in his desire to continue to play shortstop and with Reyes just signing a contract for over 100 million I doubt they are going to make him fit into another position when he's clearly a defensive upgrade over Ramirez and this past year even batted better...but in the long-run i'd think that the batting numbers will even off or show Ramirez ahead as long as he continues to develop the amazing raw talent that saw him playing full time in mlb from such a young age.

http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/the-gms-office/post?id=2749

Now, if you read the link and the comments just about fans from every team in baseball can think of some trade to take Mr. Ramirez off the Marlins hands and are more then happy to put him at shortstop whether it means moving their all-star already there or not. I saw one that suggested the red sox trade Adrian Gonzalez AND the Red Sox top minor leaguer. I can promise you this, the red sox won't be trading gonzalez ANY TIME SOON, and sure as hell not for a error prone shortstop(with a over .300 lifetime BA or not). Especially when they have a kid that's coming up within the next year possibly thats already an above average major league player in the field. 

Would I like the sox to trade for him? Sure, I say maybe Youkilis and some prospects and then put Lowrie at 3rd and we've got our bridge until our prospect pans out, or if Ramirez straightens out his swing we can always re-sign him and have a gold glove prospect to trade, either way is cool with me. But wait, this is ALL SPECULATION! Would teams want Hanley? Absolutely! But, the Marlins are going to try and just hope that he gets comfortable with 3rd and winning some games pacifies him a little before they trade a big piece of their future. But we can always dream right guys?

+Joshua Hastings

 @joshuadavid1121

www.MassAuthentics.Ecrater.com

 http://massauthentics.tumblr.com/

Buehrle in and Puljos out in a span of 29 minutes.....

It took 29 minutes between the espn report surfacing that the Marlins were prepared to move on from Albert Puljos since he hasn't accepted there latest serious offer and the announcement by espn that confirmed Mark Buehrle has signed to be a veteran leader on a staff with many young and developing possible stars in the making.

While Buehrle is no where near the star that Puljos is, what Buehrle can do is take the ball and pitch every 5th day and give you a solid 200+ innings of work, 12-14 wins and a great guy in the clubhouse. I initially didn't believe the Miami Marlins were serious about signing Puljos but after the last few days I can see that they are really trying to be competitive with the big names in MLB and put a winner on the field for the fans. This is really the first time they have went out tried to bring in a free agent.

A for effort so far Miami and as far as actual results i'd have to say B as of now. Jose Reyes would have been a fantastic pick-up if you had spoken to incumbent all-star shortstop, Hanley Ramirez. Without Ramirez on board and all-in the team isn't going to be serious contenders. He's the longest tenured player on the team and is the best position player by far as well as offensive leader. I'd imagine that he'll have a quick transition to 3rd base once he sits back and thinks about everything and embraces it. A little bit of stroking his ego and letting him know that you still love him and no one is replacing him, they are just trying to give him some help. He'll be happy with the move eventually, we hope.

What do you think, does Ramirez have a right to be mad or is he being selfish and the Marlins didn't have to run anything by him, they are the owners and he is a player.


http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/7328040/sources-miami-marlins-mark-buehrle-agree-4-year-deal-worth-58-million