For a wide variety of reasons (including free agency and interleague games), the competition between the National League and the American League is nowhere near as fierce as it once was.  However, the idea that it is ‘all just MLB’ is not quite true because the two leagues play under slightly different rules and, despite the presence of interleague play, they still retain a certain amount of individuality. 

Consequently, General Managers in the two leagues will have to make slightly different decisions when it comes to roster construction.  With a limited pot of money to spend, they have to make every dollar count and you can only do this if you closely match your personnel with the competition you are playing.  That’s stating the obvious to some extent, but it’s a fact that came to mind earlier this week when news of a couple of free agent signings started being reported.

The Rays signed Pat Burrell to a two-year deal worth $16m on Monday.  On paper, it looks a great signing for Tampa Bay because it addresses one of their main needs in a comprehensive way.  Burrell will provide a very good right-handed bat into the mix, filling the DH slot vacated by Cliff Floyd. 

It’s the presence of the DH slot that really makes this a winner for the Rays.  We all know that Burrell is a liability in the field.  The fielding statistics show it (such as the Ultimate Zone Ratings, as on the ever-expanding list of useful data at Fangraphs.com) and any fan who’s watched him misplay a seemingly routine flyball will lend weight to the case too.  This isn’t an example of an unfair perception; he really is Captain Clunk out in leftfield. 

Take away his scrap metal glove and allow him to concentrate on his hitting and you’ve got a guy who will add a fair amount to your team while not costing you runs on the other side of the ball.  For just a two-year commitment at a decent price, the Rays have upgraded their team without saddling themselves with a lengthy or overly rich contract. 

Traditionalists don’t like the DH rule, but so long as it’s in effect then every AL team should make sure they get the best out of it by plugging in a genuinely productive hitter who is better off not taking the field on a regular basis.

Barely minutes after reports of the Burrell deal were pinging around the Internet, Milton Bradley’s long-touted move to the Cubs moved a step nearer.  Bradley will sign a three-year deal worth $30m, if his physical examinations don’t turn up any problems later this week.   Just as the Rays looked to fill a need, the Cubs have identified that their lineup was a bit right-heavy and the switch-hitting Bradley can offer some variation.  The move would also allow Lou Pinella to shift Kosuke Fukudome into centre, maximising his defensive abilities in case his disappointing form at the plate continues from last season.

These two factors help to make this a positive move by GM Jim Hendry; however it doesn’t quite fit the ideal of modelling your team on the playing rules quite as neatly as the Rays’ signing does.

Bradley will need to play right-field with the Cubs.  There is no DH slot in the National League, so they can’t keep him out of harm’s way as much as the Texas Rangers were able to do last season.  His total of 126 games in ’08 was only the second time he has managed to get into triple figures, with injuries always cropping up and sending him on to the DL in other years.

They are definitely gaining something by adding Bradley’s bat, but it is a bit of a compromise as well.  He can only be productive for the Cubs when he is in the team and history has so far suggested that putting Bradley in the outfield brings with it a significant risk of injury.

Maybe that’s a risk worth taking though?  The Cubs’ season ended in harrowing fashion, but they were the best team in the National League during the regular season.  The Brewers will not be quite the force they were in ’08 and no one else in the NL Central has yet made a series of moves to make the Cubs sweat too much.  Even if Bradley does miss some playing time, you could argue that it’s not likely to cost them a play-off place and if he’s healthy when it matters most, they’ll have a very threatening batting lineup.

The landscape is different for the Rays.  The Red Sox are loaded with talent and the Yankees’ have improved significantly after their winter spending splurge (which is not necessarily over just yet either).  The margin for error is slim and Burrell’s positive fitness record is another factor that made him a good fit for this team at this time.  Any player can suffer an injury, but Burrell should provide them with a full season of 30 homers, ninety-five RBIs and a .375 OBP.  Losing their DH for any considerable length of time would hurt the Rays more than it would hurt the Cubs to lose Bradley for a similar period. 

In a strict head-to-head evaluation, I would credit the Rays with securing the slightly better deal, but both moves work well overall for the two teams based on their needs and the competition they will face during the season ahead.