FrontRowSportsReport.com: Sports Blog

The 2008 MLB season is upon us so what better time then to lay out our predictions for this baseball season - which promises to be one for the ages. So, below are our entire predictions for the 2008 MLB season, including final standings, who makes the playoffs and who will be the 2008 MLB World Series champions.

2008 MLB Regular Season Predictions 

American League East

1. Boston Red Sox
2. New York Yankees
3. Tampa Bay Devil Rays
4. Toronto Blue Jays
5. Baltimore Orioles

American League Central

1. Detroit Tigers
2. Chicago White Sox
3. Cleveland Indians
4. Minnesota Twins
5. Kansas City Royals

American League West

1. Los Angeles Angels
2. Seattle Mariners
3. Texas Rangers
4. Oakland A’s

National League East

1. New York Mets
2. Atlanta Braves
3. Philadelphia Phillies
4. Washington Nationals
5. Florida Marlins

National League Central

1. Chicago Cubs
2. Houston Astros
3. Cincinnati Reds
4. St. Louis Cardinals
5. Milwaukee Brewers
6. Pittsburgh Pirates

National League West

1. Los Angeles Dodgers
2. Colorado Rockies
3. Arizona Diamondbacks
4. San Diego Padres
5. San Francisco Giants

2008 MLB Post-season Predictions

American League Wild Card: New York Yankees
National League Wild Card:  Atlanta Braves

American League Champion: Detroit Tigers

National League Champion: New York Mets

World Series Champion: Detroit Tigers

Big day in arbitration deals in baseball today, some stars signed some are getting closer - in total 62 of the 110 players who filed for arbitration settled on terms.  Colorado Rockies outfielder Matt Holliday and Detroit Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera agreed to deals a couple of hours before todays  deadline to swap figures, Justin Moreau, Carlos Pena and Scott Kazmir are some other big names that avoided arbitration.

Holliday was the NL MVP runner-up last year and agreed to a multi-year deal ( a rarity in arbitration) worth $23 million over two years. Holliday made $4.4 million last year. Cabrera and the Tigers agreed to a 1 year deal worth $11.3 million.

On the other side, Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard and Los Angeles Angels closer Francisco (F-Rod) Rodriguez were not able to agree on terms and swapped figures with their respective teams in arbitration. Howard and the Phillies are $3 million apart and F-Rod and the Angels are $2.5 million apart. Those players and teams that went to arbitration will have their hearings during the first few weeks of February in St. Petersburg Florida.

Additional players who reached terms with their teams are:  Chris Capuano, Juan Rivera, Jose Bautista, Jimmy Gobble, Jason Kubel,  Jonny Gomes, Marcus Thames, Tim Redding, Matt Treanor, Joe Crede, Jason Frasor, Alex Rios, Brian Tallet and Gustavo Chacin.

The Oakland A’s finally traded ace pitcher Dan Haren yesterday, the NL West champs Arizona Diamondbacks were the lucky winners. The Haren trade also sent A’s right-hander Connor Robertson to the Diamondbacks in exchange for a full stable of young propects, including: left handers Brett Anderson, Dana Eveland and Greg Smith; infielder Chris Carter and outfielders Aaron Cunningham and Carlos Gonzalez.

The Diamondbacks, who are coming of a good year, now have a decent 1 - 2 punch with 2006 NL Cy Young Award winner Brandon Webb and Haren, plus often injured Randy Johnson whenever he can play. Haren was 15-9 with a 3.07 ERA last year, the win totals would have been higher if the A’s were able to put more runs on the board. The real number to look at is his low ERA. A question has to be asked why teams like the Met’s who are in desprate need of a inning-eating right-hander, didnt land Haren.

In other player dumping news the A’s, who are going through a rebuilding effort (did they ever stop their last one?) also traded MLB saves leader Jose Valerde to the Houston Astros for…young prospects.