There was already one article dedicated to how busy this week has been, and looking back on it, not only were there a few omissions, but a lot more has gone on as this week gets more hectic while unsigned agents try to find find a team quickly before spring training starts. The big piece of news, that really isn't news, that was left out of the first entry today was that Tex was introduced as the newest Yankee today. It feels like he signed a long time ago, and it was easy to forget that he was never introduced. In case there was any question, he will be wearing number 25.
In other news, Jerry Harriston Jr signed with the Reds, the Orioles signed Koji Uehara, the Yankees signed Angel Berroa, and Giambi's deal is for 4.5 million over one year with a 5 million buyout for 2010 with a 1 million buyout. Know what you are doing through 2018, well Mike Scioscia does. He signed a contract through 2018. Now he has a great resume in LA. He signed in 2000, won the World Series 2002, and has won 4 of the last 5 AL West Division championships. I feel that usually its a bad idea to sign management for more than 3 or 4 years at a time. He is going to be a staple in Anaheim, if he isn't already.
The only signing updated I want to spend a little extra time is Koji Uehara for the Orioles. He is an 8 time All Star in Japan (34 years of age) and the first player from Japan to put on the Orioles uniform. Pitching has been a huge problem with the Orioles over the last few seasons, and really, they have the offense to be competiteve, but lack the rotation and the pen to back it up. So far this offseason, their solution has been Mark Hendrickson, which is really a solution at all. Uehara doesn't seem like the ideal solution as many have projected him to struggle in the AL (but have slight success in the NL) and will need help to keep his ERA at 4.00. Luckilly for the Orioles, he eats a lot of innings, which will help their pen, which is also terrible.
