Hot Stove Stance: Middle Infielders Cashing In

We are just a couple weeks into the Hot Stove season and one thing is for certain, MLB teams have money to blow as witnessed by signings of average and aging middle infielders. Average is actually a generous adjective in some cases. The market for middle infielders is admittedly thin so why invest the dollar value in some cases and the length of time in others? Wouldn't it be wise to give one year contracts especially for teams where the player is really a role player or a stop gap? It would give teams the chance to reevaluate the position, the player and their system for the following season.Here is a list of signings to date:John McDonald (Diamondbacks - 2 yr./$3 million)Willie Bloomquist (Diamondbacks - 2 yr./$3.8 million)Jamey Carroll (Twins - 2 yr./$6.5 million)Mark Ellis (Dodgers - 2 yr./$8.75 million)Aaron Hill (Diamondbacks - 2 yr./$11 million)Clint Barmes (Pirates - 2 yr./$10.5 million)Apparently Arizona Diamondbacks GM Kevin Towers felt he needed to shore up his middle...