majors

Baseball Prospectus will break down each of the majors' six divisions and analyze what's on tap this offseason.

Teams are listed below according to their order of finish in 2008.

The Seattle Mariners picked Don Wakamatsu as their new manager, giving the job to the Oakland Athletics bench coach and filling the only opening in the majors.

Justin Leonard is among 11 players who have made the cut in all four majors this year, but he holds one dubious distinction among such a select group.

He is the only player who has never been under par after any round. Leonard has been steady, although not spectacular.

Going into the third round of the PGA Championship, he had played 14 rounds in the majors this year and was 30-over par.

Don't expect to see Barry Bonds showing up in a pennant race. Bonds has not received a single offer, agent Jeff Borris said Monday.

He dismissed recent reports of interest from Arizona, the New York Mets and Boston. "I'm an optimistic guy by nature," Borris said, "and I've told Barry that the prospects look bleak." Bonds, who turns 44 in two weeks, led the majors last season with a .480 on-base...

Closer Joe Nathan and the Minnesota Twins have agreed to a three-year contract extension, a deal that includes a 2012 club option on the two-time All-Star.

Nathan was in the final year of a contract that called for a $6 million salary in 2008. Several ace relievers around the majors were making far more.

The 33-year-old Nathan has a 1.94 ERA and 160 saves in four seasons since he was acquired from San Francisco.

He 4-2 last year with a 1.88 ERA, 37 saves and 77 strikeouts in 71 2-3 innings.

Closer Joe Nathan and the Minnesota Twins have agreed to a three-year contract extension, a deal that includes a 2012 club option on the two-time All-Star.

Nathan was in the final year of a contract that called for a $6 million salary in 2008. Several ace relievers around the majors were making far more.

The 33-year-old Nathan has a 1.94 ERA and 160 saves in four seasons since he was acquired from San Francisco.

He 4-2 last year with a 1.88 ERA, 37 saves and 77 strikeouts in 71 2-3 innings.

Closer Joe Nathan and the Minnesota Twins have agreed to a three-year contract extension, a deal that includes a 2012 club option on the two-time All-Star.

Nathan was in the final year of a contract that called for a $6 million salary in 2008. Several ace relievers around the majors were making far more.