MLB Free Agency preview and Week 10 NFL Five Things

It's time for the absolute best season of the year! A time for giving and recieving. A time for glee, joy, and cheer. A time where establishments are decorated and lit up!

This is not a season where games are played, blood is spilled, or folks go home unhappy.

Get over yourselves, people! It's not Christmas!

Some say the MLB offseason is better the regular season and postseason. In some respects, its true, especially when the sport has no salary cap.

Remember last year when we all but guaranteed a Marlins-Angels World Series following their spending sprees? I didn't think so.

They don't raise banners or hand out rings or trophies for winning the offseason. But it's still fun!

That said, here is where I think the big name MLB free agents will end up this offseason:

Josh Hamilton, Rangers
Any small market midwest team with no big nightlife or media presence (KC, MIN, MIL, etc.), 5 years, $110M
Hamilton effectively played his way out of Arlington at the end of last season, disappearing in big spots, and being booed off the field during the wild card game. His salary demands far exceed what Texas is willing to pay, so he appears to be gone.

B.J. Upton, Rays
Phillies, 4 years, $60M
Upton is waayyyyy out of Tampa's price range, and he also has fallen out of favor with manager Joe Maddon before. The Phillies are in desperate need of an outfielder, and he is the best available.

Michael Bourn, Braves
Nationals, 4 years, $55M
Bourn is a perfect fit for a Nationals lineup that needs speed and defense at the top.

Zack Greinke, Angels
Dodgers, 5 years, $110M
LA's spending spree under new ownership continues, and Greinke will make a perfect #2 starter behind Kershaw.

Kyle Lohse, Cardinals
Cardinals, 3 years, $45M
I can't imagine St. Louis lets him get away after establishing himself as the ace of the staff last season with a 16-3 record with a 2.86 ERA.

Nick Swisher, Yankees
Mariners, 4 years, $60M
Hey, at least he won't have to worry about postseason play in Seattle for a while!

Hiroki Kuroda, Yankees
Yankees, 1 year, $15M
At this point, its either Yankees or go home to Japan for Kuroda. He was New York's most consistent starter last year, so the Yanks will do everything they can to bring him back.

Rafael Soriano, Yankees
Tigers, 3 years, $42M
Mariano is coming back. The Tigers desperately need a closer after Jose Valverde's postseason implosion. Soriano wants to close. Perfect fit here.

Mike Napoli, Rangers
Rays, 1 year, $13M
The latest savvy move by the Rays' Andrew Friedman. He can DH and play catcher half the season, and even start at first base once in a while.

Shane Victorino, Dodgers
Blue Jays, 3 years, $30M
Why not? Especially after trading for the Miami Marlins team and signing Melky Cabrera!

Ichiro Suzuki, Yankees
Yankees, 1 year, $16.5M
Revitalized his career in the Bronx last season. Still has plenty left in him. With Brett Gardner coming back healthy, the speed and grit of the Yankee lineup will be magnified.


Now, on to Week 10 Five Things:

1. Big Ben is the NFL MVP because the Steelers are simply not a good team without him. Just watch the second half of the Monday Night game. Against the worst team in the NFL.

2. The Rams-Niners tie emphasized why the Niners didn't win the Super Bowl last year. Aside from the Vernon Davis TD in the playoffs last year, he just cannot make that one big play to take his team to the next level. And by the way, don't start with overtime rules.

3. Houston's maturity as a team showed Sunday night. Awful conditions, playing the NFL's best defense, and pulling out a win. This is a Super Bowl team, folks.

4. How about an overhaul in Arizona? Anyone remember their 3-0 start? We hear about how the Jets and Eagles should clean house, but the Cards have completely imploded.

5. Can the Saints really make a run now? It's possible. DO NOT be surprised if they squeak into the playoffs. They are dangerous right now.

Latest fickle flip flop Super Bowl prediction: New Orleans vs Denver

Top 5
1. Houston
2. Atlanta
3. Baltimore
4. Chicago
5. Green Bay

Bottom 5
32. Kansas City
31. Jacksonville
30. Cleveland
29. Carolina
28. NY Jets