The Baltimore Orioles got Matt Lindstrom in trade from the Colorado Rockies, and as an experienced closer, he will give them another ninth-inning option. Lindstrom worked as the closer for Florida in 2009 and for Houston in 2010, before performing in a set-up role for Colorado last season. Does he have the skills to challenge Jim Johnson as closer in Baltimore? Let’s take a look.

With the departure of Luke Scott and Felix Pie, the left field job in Baltimore is up for grabs as spring training begins. Manager Buck Showalter stated his preference that Nolan Reimold (OF, BAL) wins the gig—but is that news, or February noise?

Responding to the offensive sinkhole created by the loss of Victor Martinez (DH, DET), the Tigers shocked observers by agreeing to a nine-year contract with Prince Fielder (1B, DET) this week. The bad news is that Fielder moves to a far less-friendly HR venue in Comerica Park, which deflates HR to LHBs by 11% as opposed to 16% inflation in MIL. Still, the overall hitter-friendliness of the AL and Fielder's numbers--he's averaged over 38 HR, 15% bb% and a 165 PX over the previous five seasons--make park effects almost immaterial.

The New York Yankees significantly upgraded their rotation on January 13 by trading for Michael Pineda (RHP, NYY) and signing free agent Hiroki Kuroda (RHP, NYY). Pineda and Kuroda will join C.C. Sabathia (LHP, NYY) and Ivan Nova in the Yankees rotation, leaving Phil Hughes (RHP, NYY), A.J. Burnett (RHP, NYY), Freddy Garcia (RHP, NYY) to battle for the fifth rotation spot.

On January 10, the Orioles bolstered their rotation by signing Taiwanese starter Wei-Yin Chen (LHP, BAL). Chen's arrival will stiffen the competition in the Orioles rotation behind Tommy Hunter and Jeremy Guthrie. Youngsters Zach Britton (LHP, BAL) and Brian Matusz (LHP, BAL) will reportedly be pitching for jobs in spring training, especially given the presence of another Asian import, Japanese southpaw Tsuyoshi Wada (LHP, BAL) (16-5, 1.51 ERA, 4.2 Cmd, 8.2 Dom).

The San Diego Padres bolstered their outfield by trading two prospects to the Chicago White Sox for slugger Carlos Quentin (OF, SD). Quentin hit 24 homers in only 421 AB for the White Sox last season and had an elite 158 PX. He becomes San Diego's starting right fielder and should hit in the middle of the order. However, there are reasons to temper enthusiasm about Quentin's return to the National League....

Beltran to STL, Kubel to ARI, Cuddyer to COL; Latos, Volquez swap homes, Gio Gonzalez traded to WAS.

Plus Alex Gonzalez, McGehee, Lowrie, Weiland, Willingham, Francisco, more.

Pujols switches leagues as LAA makes splash in free agency.

Also, Mets shore up bullpen, swap OF with Giants, new homes for Bedard, Slowey, Harang, McLouth

On Winter Meetings Eve, Iannetta, five other CAs change addresses; Broxton, DeJesus move on ...