FanHouse Endy Chavez

As you might have heard, defense is the new big thing. It's not a revolutionary idea to suggest that having good defense can help you win baseball games, but the improvement the Rays made from 2007 to 2008 was quite a wake-up call around the majors. They had essentially the same pitchers, and they actually scored fewer runs, but they won 31 more games with good defense.

Which brings us to the Seattle Mariners.

The Mariners were a train-wreck of a team last year, despite what we all thought was supposed to be pretty good pitching. Now, the Mariners are riding high in the AL West, with the best ERA in the league. Most of their pitchers are the same (granted, Erik Bedard has been healthy).

The difference could be Endy Chavez and Franklin Gutierrez.

In 2008 the Seattle Mariners, projected by many to contend with the Angels for the AL West title, suffered through a miserable season, finishing the year 61-101. Because of that disappointment -- they ended the season 39 games behind first place L.A. -- people were generally down on their prospects in '09. So when they started hot out of the gate, 9-6 and 2 1/2 games clear of the rest of the division, it took many by surprise.

For a variety of reasons, though, it's really not all that shocking. First and foremost, it's only 15 games; I mean, come on, even the Pirates are 9-6. But there were also a number of reasons to think that Seattle would be significantly improved entering the season.

We all know that chicks dig the long ball, but in today's day and age fantasy baseball owners want speed to go along with home run potential. It's crazy to think that you're going to find any hitters on the waiver wire with 20/20 potential for 2009. So, let's do Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine a favor and forget about the long ball and focus on five hitters who can help you rack up some stolen bases for your fantasy squad.

FanHouse continues its 2009 MLB Preview with a look at the Seattle Mariners.

The Mariners of 2008 provided a case study in why overachieving isn't always a good thing. The team won 88 games in 2007, which could be looked at in one of two ways. You could say the team was close to contending and should go all in for a run at the postseason, or you could look at their expected record and say that the team outperformed expectations and shouldn't do anything drastic.

Fantasy baseball draft season is coming, so you best be prepared by delving through every major player on each team. Fantasy FanHouse is here to help with a quick once-over.

Meet the...
Team who someone predicted would win the World Series last year. Seriously. When you stop laughing, you can check out the link (he's the top one listed -- though when you see his other atrocious picks you won't be surprised). Was I any better? Glad you asked. I actually took Mr. Downey to task before Opening Day. You can check the rest of my stuff if you wish, as there were some misses in there.

Anyway, it's safe to say expectations are a slight bit lower heading into '08.

Our MLB editor files dispatches from the Winter Meetings in Las Vegas in Notes From Sin City.

I've seen quite a bit of Mets general manager Omar Minaya here at the Bellagio, so I'd like to think he's reading my posts. Even if he isn't, he did respond to my suggestion that New York needs more bullpen help, by pulling off a three-way deal for closer J.J. Putz.

Minaya, along with Indians GM Mark Shapiro and Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik, made the trade official moments ago and he had a simple message for the folks in New York who keep bothering him when he goes out to get his morning bagels.

"To you Mets fans, we've addressed the bullpen by getting Mr. Putz," he said.

Indeed he has, and he's addressed a few other areas of need with this deal, further adding to the bullpen depth by acquiring Sean Green, a guy who is very tough on right-handed hitters, and filling the hole left by Endy Chavez with Jeremy Reed, who is a capable fourth outfielder.

But this deal is mostly about Putz, who, if healthy, could be an even more devastating weapon than the recently signed Francisco Rodriguez.

"To win championships, you have to have a good bullpen," said Minaya. "We had Putz and K-Rod as one and two on our list [coming into the offseason]. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine we'd have our No. 1 and No. 2 closer."

Update: This trade is now official.

So you thought the Mets were out of the running for a J.J. Putz trade after signing Francisco Rodriguez. I can't say I blame you ... I thought the same thing. But apparently there are discussions of a three-team, twelve player deal were first reported by Ken Rosenthal and updated by Castro Turf:

Under terms of the deal, the Mets would get Putz, outfielder Jeremy Reed and reliever Sean Green from Seattle. The Mariners would receive reliever Aaron Heilman, outfielder Endy Chavez and first baseman Mike Carp from the Mets. They'd also get Franklin Gutierrez from the Indians and minor leaguers. The Indians would get reliever Joe Smith from the Mets and infielder Luis Valbuena from Seattle.

Double whoa on this one. It's a lot to give up for the Mets to get a guy that struggled through injury last season (and by a lot I mean Smith ... since Chavez has been invisible for the Mets lately and Aaron Heilman is ... well, Aaron Heilman), but if Putz returns to his injury free form of '07, and if he becomes cool with pitching the eighth instead of the ninth (Rosenthal's recent update is that Putz's current answer to that question was "no"), this is a huge get for them to further improve the bullpen after the acquisition of K-Rod.

With the trade deadline right around the corner, our MLB editor brings you the top five rumors every day until July 31.

- The Mets have no idea what to expect from Ryan Church the rest of the way and the Fernando Tatis-Endy Chavez combination in left field probably isn't going to cut, so everyone, including manager Jerry Manuel, is expecting the team to add an outfielder before the trade deadline. Just don't expect that outfielder to be of the Adam Dunn or Matt Holliday variety -- they just don't have the chips. New York has one of the shallowest farm systems in baseball as a consequence of the Johan Santana trade, particularly in the coveted major-league ready category.

That leaves the Mets looking at players like Xavier Nady, Raul Ibanez and Casey Blake, which really is fine. They need an upgrade on what they currently have in left field and some insurance for their injured right fielder to win the NL East, not a star player.

- The Cubs have already added starter Rich Harden and reliever Chad Gaudin, but they're still looking for pitching. A high-ranking team official took in A.J. Burnett's last start for the Blue Jays. A looming DL trip for closer Kerry Wood could change the team's focus, though. Wood's injury is not believed to be serious, but the team's bullpen was heavily taxed over the first half, and now they're down their best arm. Suddenly Damaso Marte, Brian Fuentes and Huston Street have to be looking pretty good to GM Jim Hendry.

Like the kid at the mall who won't stay off the escalator, Moises Alou and the baseball diamond are a match destined to end up in pain and suffering. The Mets outfielder is back on the disabled list after straining his left calf during the Mets loss to the Braves on Wednesday night.

It's the 17th stint on the DL for Alou in his 18 big-league seasons. There's no truth to the rumor that it was a stiff breeze that caused the injury. The reason, according to Alou, is much more prosaic. Compensating for one of his other injuries, a sprained ankle not his hernia if you're wondering, caused the calf strain.

There's no easy replacement for Alou in the lineup. While the Mets get Ryan Church back tonight from his head injury, their only other outfield options are Marlon Anderson and Endy Chavez. Each is best suited to a bench role and the AAA pantry could only offer third-string catcher Raul Casanova to fill Alou's roster spot.

Making matters worse, the Johan Santana trade gutted most of their high-level prospects which will make a trade for quality reinforcement quite difficult for Omar Minaya. Even if Alou isn't out for long, not the safest bet at the dog track, the team could still use another righty bat to balance their outfield options. It's not raining for the Mets right now, it's a downpour.

Moises Alou is like an old and dusty attic. Not only because Moises is old (and perhaps dusty), but the more you look around and old attic, the more you're likely to find something new. The more that Mets doctors look around Moises, the more likely they are to find a new injury.

Recovered from hernia surgery, Alou hasn't appeared in a minor-league rehab game since Thursday because of what Omar termed "swollenness" in his left ankle. Not sure how it happened, but the GM said Alou will be in town tomorrow to be checked out by the team's doctors after a CT-scan Friday apparently "showed something," which Minaya acknowledged "might be potentially a slight fracture in there."

Sheesh. Minaya also indicated Alou told him he wanted to play this weekend in St. Lucie despite the latest malady, but it was the Mets who held him back. Minaya still has been led to believe by the medical staff that Alou might be able to return later this week, even if there is a slight fracture.

Who could blame Moises for wanting to play through this, since at his age he isn't going to have too many more chances to get on the field. But ballplayers who are 26 probably shouldn't play through broken ankles, much less Alou. The good news for Met fans is that current folk hero Angel Pagan (who has cooled off but is still hitting .289), and 2006's folk hero Endy Chavez will still get at bats. But for the Mets, who are last in the N.L. in home runs, this isn't good news.