Anchorage:
Anchorage, already on the edge of the cap, went ahead and signed only one
player: Jay Buhner. Buhner lets Anchorage platoon its outfield of Ken
Griffey, Junior, Shawn Green, and Carl Everett so that each is rested.
Buhner got a fat contract of $2.5 million for 3 years to reunite with
Griffey. But on a team with only 4 good starting pitchers and only one
lefty on the entire staff, should Anchorage have spent that money on a good
southpaw? For only $250,000 more, Anchorage could have had Jimmy Key, a
good 3rd-starter (5th on this staff) who is reliable and left-handed. The
baggage that Key carries is his age, but Anchorage has a very good team
right now and should be the opening day favorite to win their division.

Etiwanda:
Etiwanda is also close to the cap and only made a couple of free agent
signings. Luis Gonzalez and John Mabry were great signings. Without a real
left fielder for much of the season, these two guys should help out a lot.
But signing Ricky Henderson for $1.2 million? Etiwanda already has two
great lead-off men in Darin Erstad and Quilvio Veras. So why sign a guy
with poor ratings, a hefty contract, and a ton of years after you just
signed two other guys that do his job better for less?

Ashland:
Ashland has a ton of room under the cap. They only signed one free agent
this winter, but WOW! Ashland hooked the biggest fish of all, John Smoltz,
with an astounding $18.5 million a year for five years. Smoltz is now the
highest payed player in the history of any sport, save Michael Jordan. So
should Ashland throw its entire cap at one player? Sure, why not? Smoltz
was the best player on the market, Ashland needs pitching, and Ashland has a
ton of cap room. While Smoltz is now untradable I don't think Ashland is
going to move its star now. Ashland now has an amazing young team and has
the makings of a dynasty.

Mexico:
Mexico is at the cap and didn't bother to sign anyone. Should they have
picked up a pitcher or two? Yeah probably, but why tinker with the division
champs?

Seattle:
Last, but not least, we come to Seattle. Seattle also had a ton of cap room
and chose to spend it on some offensive players with relatively cheap
salaries as apposed to throwing it all at a player like Bagwell. Seattle
had very little offense, but by signing Andres Galarraga, David Justice, and
Gary Sheffield, they now have one of the better 3-6 (Justice, Galarraga,
Sheffield, Sorrento) punches in the league. The signings of Galarraga and
Justice were great, but I think that signing Sheffield for $7 million was a
bit over the top. Ryan Klesko has pretty much the same ratings for about
2.5 times less. Or Seattle could have used that extra cap room to trade for
a better outfielder. But by signing Sheffield, Seattle doesn't have to
worry about trading with someone else or gambling on a youngster.