I think these are two of the best signings of the off-season, filling needs for both teams.

I’ve been a Cabrera fan for a few years; I know he’s been on seven teams since 2004, but I don’t think that it’s a coincidence that four of the previous six have made the playoffs (every year except 2006) with him as starting shortstop.  Cabrera’s stats don’t look so gaudy, with just a career OPS+ of 86, and some of his defensive numbers from last year seem to show that he’s slowed a step at short at age 35, but I think he solidifies the Reds defense, gives them a veteran presence with a knack for clutch hits.  And at $3 million, I really like the deal for the Reds.  It looks like the Twins will instead go with former Brewer J.J. Hardy at short, who I like, but I think Cabrera would have been a better choice for one more year.

Hudson, 32, has been known as a top fielding second baseman for the past few years, but he’s now on his fourth team since ‘05.  But he’s won Gold Gloves with each of them, and represents a nice upgrade for the Twins over Nick Punto, who looks like he’ll move to third base, though his best role may be in utility across the infield.  Last off-season, some were advocating that the Yankees dump Robinson Cano in favor of “O-Dog,” a sentiment that I did not agree with, but he should be a great fit for the Twins, especially between budding star Denard Span and reigning MVP Joe Mauer in the lineup.  With a new ballpark and a payroll at more than $90 million for 2010, Minnesota is starting to shed its “little engine that could” feel and looking more like the clear favorite in the AL Central.

Two weeks ago, I read on Heather Zeller’s A Glam Slam that the Minnesota Twins would be commemorating their move to Target Field with more than just some opening day celebrating, with some “new” look jerseys and logos. I say “new” because the “Twins” script has been “slightly altered” from what it was this past year, according to the team’s press release about the changes, which also include a new throwback jersey, circa 1961, and road unis featuring script of the word “Minnesota” that hasn’t been seen since the mid 80s. Don’t get me wrong, I dig on the jerseys and logo tweaks, but…

A week later comes the news that the New York Mets would go retro, as Zeller wisely puts it, with homers for 2010 that bring old and new together in one. You know, sort of like how the Mets’ team colors are an amalgam of New York teams of days past.

I can’t help but wonder if the people who were involved in coming up with the logos the first time around aren’t sitting at home right now saying “I told you so!” about marks and unis they’d designed way back when. While I can understand the wont to bring back some historical uniforms from time to time – hey, we all know we like it – there’s a point when it goes either too far, or too ugly, whichever comes first.

As someone who works in marketing, I can’t help but hope that those in power of making decisions aren’t doing it with more dollar signs in their head rather than business smarts and appealing to fans of all ages. Sure, the latter probably sells product, but when a number of teams are changing their jerseys, hats, and adding slight tweaks and alternates, you can’t help but think the worst.

Check out video of the Twins’ unveiling here. The jersey featuring the updated “Minnesota” script featured above can be purchased here.