During the post-season, Cincinnati claimed LHP Ben Kozloswki off waivers from Texas. After tasting the majors in September of 2002, Kozlowski developed elbow trouble during the 2003 season, necessitating Tommy John surgery in June of that year. He resumed pitching competitively in June of 2004 at A+ Stockton in the California League, advancing to AA Frisco in the Texas League in late July. The 24-year-old did not regain his pre-injury form before the season ended and still will need to spend some time at AAA before he should be promoted to the majors. However, his former upside as a left-handed starter and likely ability to at least develop into a lefty reliever make him a solid waiver pick-up for the Reds.

Meanwhile, the Rangers claimed LHP Ryan Wing off waivers from the White Sox. Chicago drafted Wing out of community college with a second round pick in the 2001 draft. He spent the remainder of that season at Bristol, the White Sox's Rookie-level Appalachian League affiliate. After pitching for A Kannapolis in the South Atlantic League in 2002, he advanced to A+ Winston-Salem in the Carolina League for 2003. Unfortunately, the 22-year-old developed shoulder soreness and was unable to pitch in 2004. Even before his injury, Wing failed to display exciting dominance and needed to improve his control. Consequently, given his uncertain health, I do not see this as a real waiver steal for Texas.

Following the conclusion of the season, the Rangers chose to pay the $600,000 buyout on Rusty Greer's $9.6M option. Greer has not played since mid-2002 due to a variety of serious problems that have required multiple surgeries. The 35-year-old left-handed hitter would like to continue to attempt to resume his baseball career and hopes to sign a minor league deal with Texas, enabling him to try to earn a place on the team as a designated hitter.

The Rangers also declined OF-R Brian Jordan's option, paying his $125,000 buyout rather than spending $4M to retain him for the 2005 season. Trouble with his surgically repaired left knee cost Jordan half of the 2004 season and curtailed his performance when he was able to play. The 37-year-old should find a team willing to offer him an incentive laden contract this off-season, but his health was too uncertain to justify guaranteeing him $4M.

In Chicago, the White Sox picked up RHP Shingo Takatsu's $2.5M option. When Takatsu signed with the White Sox last off-season, I was unconvinced that he would succeed in the majors. I certainly did not think he would successfully appropriate their closer's role from RHP Billy Koch. Evidently, I gave too much credit to major league hitters. Takatsu compiled a 50:21 K:BB with 40 H and 6 HR allowed in 62.1 IP for a 2.31 ERA while converting 19 of 20 save opportunities. His G-F still leaves him open to homer problems, and he might run into trouble if Chicago fields a poor defense next season. However, unless hitters spend the off-season studying tape of his delivery, he again should be a bargain closer for the White Sox.

Chicago chose to pay the $50,000 buyout Sandy Alomar, Jr.'s $1M option for 2005. The 38-year-old simply no longer offers sufficient offense to warrant a contract of that size. At this point, he does not plan to retire, so he should find a reserve position somewhere this off-season, and the White Sox very well may again make a mid-season trade to re-acquire him as a back-up.

Both Frank Thomas and Carl Everett exercised their player options. Thomas will return at $8M while Everett will receive $4M. After undergoing surgery on his left ankle earlier this month, Thomas was unlikely to receive anything close to this salary on the open market. He is expected to miss the majority of spring training and may not be ready to play when the season begins. Nevertheless, he remains highly productive when healthy, so Chicago should not consider his salary an enormous burden.

A handful of injuries cost Everett a large chunk of the 2004 season and compromised his production when he was in the lineup. If the 33-year-old is healthy in 2005, the White Sox may be pleased with having him at this price, but at the moment, it is well above what he likely otherwise would have received this off-season.

Chicago bypassed the $1.3M 2005 option included in RHP Cliff Politte's last contract, signing him to a new one-year $1M contract that includes a $100,000 buyout on a $1.2M option for 2005. While he missed the final month of the season following an appendectomy, he should be ready to pitch well before spring training, and I approve of the White Sox's decision to hold on to him. The 29-year-old developed a severe platoon split this season, indicating that Chicago might want to limit his exposure to left-handed hitters in 2005. However, Politte also improved his G-F, which alleviated his home run problems.