I guess I gave away my thoughts in the title.

Vlad signed with the Rangers for $5M for one year this week. I think it is a great signing because Vlad has owned Texas in his career. He has hit .394 in 50 games at the Ballpark in Arlington, and is only 35 years old; which is unbelievable.

Granted he is an injury risk, but give me Vlad at DH vs. Milton Bradley making $5M this year and $9M in 2011. He has lost some thump, but if he is healthy is still a great 5 or 6 hitter.

Want to watch Vlad play this year, don't pay too much; check out my Ballpark in Arlington page.

The Cincinnati Reds have inked a deal this week with Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman. The Cuban Missile can bring it at speeds up to 100 mph, and is only 21 years old. The deal is for 5M per year, for 5 years.

Signing Aroldis Chapman  is a great move for the Cincinnati Reds. The Cincinnati Enquirer mentioned this as a "high risk" move, but I disagree. I say the Reds signing Eric Milton a few years ago for about 9M per year was high risk. The Reds have a recent history of overpaying for guys that make no sense for the team; see Paterson, Corey.

The Chapman deal is yet another step in the right direction for the team, who has made aggressive signings of young Latin players over the last few years.

These types of arms come around about once in a generation, especially from a lefty. You take young arms like this an hopefully teach them how to pitch, not take washed up arms and try to salvage them for the same price. I hope Chapman is a dominant starter for years to come.

If he doesn't work out, we could all think of 25 million we have wasted on worse.