WINTER 1990-91
The Giants lost their best player from 1990 as Kevin Mitchell (.282,29,89)signed with Detroit as a free agent. Pitcher Rick Resuchel, who moderately rebounded from an injury plagued 1989 to go 12-17 with a 5.07 era was also a free agent but had failed to sign anywhere as of the start of spring training. Meanwhile Dion James (.260,3,52) also left as a free agent to the Mets and Brett Butler (.265,3,39) was traded to the Dodgers for 4 young players including a 24 year old John Wetteland. Off-season movement dropped the Giants another 8.2 in WAR based on last season's numbers and it did not seen like their string of two straight last place finishes would end anytime soon.
As for Mattingly, he and his $1.5 million contract still had two seasons remaining. Only SS Spike Owen at $1.6 million made more as the Giants payroll was 21st in the league.
In New York, the Yankees decided to raid the Mets again. A year after signing Darryl Strawberry the Yanks took another icon from their cross-city rivals inking 27 year old Lenny Dykstra (.279.6.64) and his 6.7 WAR to an 8 year contract. The signing allowed the Yanks to send 26 year old Roberto Kelly (.258,17,83) west to California in exchange for 3B Jeff Manto, a 26 year old who could challenge Randy Velarde (.239,13,66) for playing time.
Will Clark remains the cornerstone of the Yankee offense but opted to sign just a 1 year extension (for $1.68 million) and this could be his final year in New York.
Rick Rhoden remains in Houston but will be 38 by opening day although he is coming off a decent 12-12 season. After a year in Oakland, Craig Lefferts was on the move again as he signed a 1 year deal with Cincinnati while Atlee Hammaker remains in the Angels system but signed another minor league deal and appears ticketed for Edmonton once again.
DRAFT
The top pick in the draft was 18 year old pitcher Salomon Torres who signed with the Cubs. The Phillies rebounded from a questionable first overall selection last season to take (and sign) Manny Ramirez at #2. The Giants picked third and selected catcher Jorge Posada and the 19 year old will begin his pro career in the Midwest League. The Yankees did not have a first round pick and their top selection was Creighton Gubanich.
HALL OF FAME
A couple of former teammates with the Twins were added to the Hall of Fame this season with Rod Carew and Jim Kaat getting the call. Rollie Fingers, in his first year of eligibility, and Joe Torre, in his second, both fell just short of the necessary votes.
SPRING TRAINING
Will Clark hit .366 in spring training as the Yankees had a solid 18-12 finish. Perhaps some good news for San Francisco as Mattingly had his best spring in Arizona to date, slashing .362/.410/.536.
The Yankees don't get much love in the preseason prediction as they are pegged to finish with an 82-80 record and in 4th place in the AL with Boston and Toronto duking it out for top spot. San Francisco, on the other hand, is predicted to win 86 games and be in a fight all year with Atlanta and San Diego for the NL West crown with defending division champ Houston expected to fall from first to last in the division.