Eckstein has played ten Major League seasons with the Angels, Cardinals, Blue Jays, Diamondbacks and Padres. He is a lifetime .280/.345/.355 hitter with 35 HR’s and 392 RBI’s. He also has two World Series rings, one with the Angels in 2002 and one with the Cardinals in 2006.

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Last season Cabrera started off the year with the Indians before making his to the Bay and joining the Giants via the trade route.

In his career, Cabrera posted a .272 avg and had 123 home runs while posting a career .317 OBP.

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Mora signed with the Diamondbacks prior to this last season, but was never able to establish his game and was subsequently released in June.

In 41 games with the Diamondbacks this season, Mora was hitting 230/.246/.278 with 0 home runs and 16 RBIs.

In his career, Mora totaled 1503 hits and 171 homers, while posting a .277 avg in  1556 games or 5422 at-bats.

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Cash spent parts of eight seasons in the Majors, breaking in with the Blue Jays in 2002. During his career, he played with the Blue Jays, Red Sox, Yankees and Rays.

Over his career, Cash posted a .183 avg in 641 at-bats. Cash was never known as an offensive minded catcher, as he took pride in his game calling. His career year came in 2008 when he hit .225 in 141 at-bats. He also posted career a high in home runs, 3 and RBI’s, 15 that year.

Though his playing days are over, Cash will now become a Major League advanced scout for the Blue Jays organization. Cafardo describes Cash as “one of those guys you always thought would wind up being a Major League manager.”

Image taken by Keith Allison and used under the Creative Common License Agreement.

Image by Keith Allison under the Creative Commons License.

Mora signed with the Diamondbacks prior to this last season, but was never able to establish his game and was subsequently released in June.

In 41 games with the Diamondbacks this season, Mora was hitting 230/.246/.278 with 0 home runs and 16 RBIs.

In his career, Mora totaled 1503 hits and 171 homers, while posting a .277 avg in  1556 games or 5422 at-bats.

Image taken by Keith Allison and used under the Creative Commons License Agreement.

As recently as September of 2011,  Ramirez indicated that he wanted to return to professional baseball.

Back in April the controversial Ramirez retired after being informed by MLB of an “Issue” regarding the Drug Prevention program. He was looking at a 100 game suspension at the moment because it was his second offense.

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The 35-year-old returned to the San Francisco Bay Area after a long career to help the Giants win their first West Coast World Series title.  The number one overall draft pick by the Philadelphia Phillies grew up in the South Bay Area and went to Bellarmine College Preparatory School in the late 1990’s before starting his professional career.

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Late in September, Vazquez showed signs of retirement when he threw the ball of his first pitch in the last outing of 2011 to the dugout as a souvenir.

“I know what I want to do already. I’ve talked to my family about that and basically this could be my last year,” Vazquez said in August. “This could be it for me. The hunger is still there. But I think God puts my priorities in order. Baseball is probably third right now.”

In 32 starts for the Marlins in 2011, Vazquez was 13-11 with a 3.69 ERA and 153 strikeouts in 192.2 innings pitched.

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“He wants to pitch, that’s 100% sure,” said a team member. “I saw his desire to compete again. He was in the practice and said he wanted to play with his son.”

The team member made it clear that Clemens looked to be in terrific physical condition and you couldn’t tell he was retired from baseball. He was asked if he could get ready to play and said it would only take him a handful of days.” He works hard. He works with the desire to help.”

Clemens retired after 24 Major League seasons in 2007. He was 354-184 with a 3.12 ERA in 4916.2 innings with the Red Sox, Blue Jays, Yankees and Astros. He’s also the pitcher with most Cy Young Awards in the Majors with seven.

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He was just 35 games behind John McGraw for second place all-time for games managed. In 33 years as a Major League manager with the White Sox (8 years), Athletics (10 years) and Cardinals (16 years) he was 2728-2365 with six league pennants and three World Series championships.

Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated says that he and Sparky Anderson are the best two managers he has ever seen.

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“I’ll keep playing,” said Thome. “I just need teams to call me. I can’t go play in the backyard by myself. I don’t know the demand for a 41-year-old DH, but my passion is I want to continue to play.”

Thome said that he would prefer to win a World Series ring rather than set individual records. Even though the Indians fell out of contention this season, Thome believes the team “seems primed for success” and that he would like to be a part of it.

“In a year or two, this team can do some very special things,” he said. “They have put the groundwork in, done things the right way.”

Thome hit .256/.361/.477 with 15 HR’s and 50 RBI’s in 277 AB’s for the Twins and Indians in 2011. But the biggest achievement for him this season was reaching the 600 career homer plateau.

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“I don’t know yet,” Oliver says. “I talked to my kids the other day. It was kind of funny. (Brock) thinks if I told (Maxwell) that I was only going to play one more year, he might be OK with it, because he could see the light at the end of the tunnel.

“The younger one doesn’t want me to keep hanging on, hanging on, hanging on.”

Morosi also adds that with the season Oliver had this year with the Rangers they might be interested in bringing him back. Oliver was 5-5 with a 2.29 ERA in 51 innings throughout 61 games in 2011.

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The team named former third baseman Robin Ventura as their new manager and they’re expected to name Mark Parent as their new bench coach and Schouwen says that they could go for a bigger name like Thome too.

The veteran designated hitter has a good relationship with White Sox Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf. They actually hold an annual meeting over dinner to talk about life and baseball after a season, and according to a Major League source close to Schouwen Reinsdorf “was eager to move this year’s meeting up.”

Thome hit .256/.361/.477 with 15 HR’s and 50 RBI’s in 277 AB’s for the Twins and Indians in 2011. But the biggest achievement for him this season was reaching the 600 career homer plateau.

Image by Keith Allison under the Creative Commons License.

Chavez extended his career with the Yankees when he signed a $1.5 million, one-year deal with the Yankees in early February. Chavez had been hampered by injuries his entire career while with the Oakland A’s.  Prior to this season, he wrapped up a six-year, $66 million contract that saw him record 51 hits in 230 at bats between 2008-2010.  Most of the at-bats came as a designated hitter.

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The Yankees signed Chavez to a Minor League deal back in February. The veteran infielder hit .263/.320/.356 with 2 HR’s 26 RBI’s in 160 AB’s for the Yankees in 2011.

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“I’ve definitely made up my mind that I definitely want to come back next year,” Wakefield said. “I have another goal in front of me that I’d like to accomplish, and that’s the all-time record for the Red Sox in wins. I’m only seven away. I think the fans deserve an opportunity to watch me chase that record. We’ll see what happens.”

The knuckleballer is 7-8 with a 5.12 ERA in 154.2 innings throughout 33 games, 23 starts with the Red Sox in 2011. “I think I’ve pitched better than the numbers have (indicated),” he said. “But my job, as fourth or fifth starter, is to give the club innings and get us in position to win a game. I’ve never claimed to be an ace of the staff. I’ve always wanted to be that anchor. With the knuckleball, over my 18-year career, it’s been innings pitched. I feel like I’ve done that.”

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It’s been speculated for some time, and as recently as last month, that Vazquez was pondering retirement after the 2011 season.

“I know what I want to do already. I’ve talked to my family about that and basically this could be my last year,” Vazquez said in August. “This could be it for me. The hunger is still there. But I think God puts my priorities in order. Baseball is probably third right now.”

In 31 games for the Marlins this season, Vazquez is 12-11 with a 153 strikeouts in 183 2/3 innings pitched.

The Marlins hired McKeon on June 20, 2011 to replace Edwin Rodriguez after the former skipper unexpectedly resigned mid-season.

McKeon’s retirement could open the door for current White Sox manager, Ozzie Guillen to lead the team into their new stadium in 2012.  Guillen is under contract through 2012 with the White Sox.

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Back in April the controversial Ramirez retired after being informed by MLB of an “Issue” regarding the Drug Prevention program. He was looking at a 100 game suspension at the moment because it was his second offense.

Earlier this month Ramirez said he was going to play Winter League in the Dominican Republic, but because their Winter League is affiliated with MLB, commissioner Bud Selig considers him ineligible to play.

Now, Ramirez wants to make a comeback even if it is in Japan. “I informed Scott Boras about my decision and he began the process,” said Ramirez. “If somebody wants to sign me in the Majors I’ll play, if not I’ll try to play in Japan or any other place. I wasn’t ready for retirement.”

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Wood is out for the season due to a torn meniscus in his left knee that he suffered while squatting in the bullpen on Saturday.  He’ll have surgery next week and there will be a six-week recovery period.

The reliever signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract before the 2011 season and finished with a 3-5 record with a 3.35 ERA.

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He also said that he is planning to play in the Venezuelan Winter League this year. Sources close to PRO Rumors said that the 2011 Venezuelan Champions “Caribes de Anzoategui” agreed to a deal with Young.

Young hit .292/.351/.475 with 171 HR’s and 683 RBI’s in 13 seasons with the Cardinals, Reds, Tigers and Nationals.

“It’s a small window that’s wide open,” he said.

“I’m not going to make a decision now because there are too many variables much more than how I feel.”

Cameron would be 39 by Opening Day of 2012 and it would be his 18th Major League season that began in 1995.

“I may be too young to quit, but my body’s telling me different. My body’s 45,” he said.

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“I don’t know what I’m going to be doing next season,” Okajima said. “I might retire. I might go back to Japan. I might be over here again. I’m not really sure. I just have to see where the offseason takes me once I get there.”

Okajima was once the team’s premiere set-up man, but after being designated for assignment earlier this season (and eventually outrighted back to Triple-A), he isn’t too optimistic about his big league career.

“I didn’t expect to be in this situation, but this is reality,” he said. “I am here. It’s obviously very disappointing to be in this situation in this point in the year, but this is reality and this is where I belong right now. I’ve accepted that fact and just have to rethink how I approach the game so I can be where I want to be next season.”

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He added that if he didn’t retire with the Angels, he would consider finishing his career with the Twins.

”I am going to retire an Angel,” he said. ”Next year is my last year, and I’m going to retire an Angel. I’m going to evaluate it this offseason. That’s when I’ll know. It’s 60-40, to the positive, that I’ll keep playing.”

”I feel good now, but I was hurt the first two months, and I was just evaluating everything, like, man, I can’t move,” Hunter said. ”And then it just went away, and now I feel good, so now I’m on the positive side again. You don’t want to see your skills diminish. You don’t want to linger.”

Hunter is hitting .261/.332/.423 with 19 HR’s and 72 RBI’s in 499 AB’s for the Angels in 2011.

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