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It’s news no Diamondbacks memorabilia collector wants to hear, but it looks as though Brandon Webb will start the season on the DL. The 30-year old had surgery on his throwing shoulder last season and is apparently still far from 100%. Despite playing catch in spring training, Webb may be lucky to make even 20 starts in 2010 as evidenced by comments from manager A.J. Hinch this past weekend. The news is a flat-out bummer, especially considering the popularity of Brandon Webb autographs with MLB merchandise collectors following his 2006 Cy Young award season.

While the demand for his autographed baseball merchandise is annually overshadowed by searches for Chipper Jones memorabilia, there will be no shortage of attention for Bobby Cox’s retirement tour. The long-tenured Atlanta Braves manager is beginning his 24th and final season at the helm of the team, and many fans and Braves memorabilia collectors would love nothing more than a World Series victory to bookend Cox’s Hall of Fame career. While they face stiff competition in their division by ways of Philadelphia and New York, the Braves had a very quiet 86-win season in 2009 and with the arrivals of Billy Wagner, Tommy Hanson and a healthy Chipper Jones, they are in good shape heading into 2010.

It’s the kind of story MLB memorabilia collectors and fans around the league haven’t heard in generations: Major Leaguer having to leave the game to actively serve in the military. Such is the case for Cleveland Indians outfielder Shin-Soo Choo. The law in his native South Korea that each man must serve two years in the military before 30 hangs over the 28-year old’s head, but he’s trying to keep his focus on building on what was an impressive 2009 season. While Choo’s autographed MLB baseballs might not meet the same demand as teammate Grady Sizemore, the right fielder proved his worth in the Majors last season: hitting .300 with 20 home runs, 86 RBIs and 21 stolen bases.

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Choo and the Indians are set to open Spring Training Friday when they take on slugger Joey Votto and the Cincinnati Reds.

Albert Pujols’ lingering elbow injury won’t sideline the slugger, at least according to known orthopedist Dr. James Andrews. Fans who’ve collected Albert Pujols autographs on baseballs, bats, MLB jerseys and other Cardinals merchandise know the reigning MVP has dealt with an achy right elbow since 2003. He’s had operations in each of the past two seasons to remove bone chips and have nerve patchwork done, but feels confident about the injury heading into spring training.

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The three-time National League MVP lead the Majors last year with 47 home runs and was third with 135 runs batted in.

After 2009, fans and Mets memorabilia collectors have to be sick of talking about injuries, re-habs and DL stints. Unfortunately, it’s one of the injuries they’ll likely follow almost all year. Carlos Beltran arrived at the Mets’ spring training home in Port St. Lucie, Florida this morning, surgically repaired knee and all. The 32-year old’s 2009 campaign was cut short by a nagging right knee injury. Beltran underwent a much-publicized operation in January to completely repair two damaged ligaments and isn’t likely to begin baseball activity before May. While Carlos Beltran autographs are still in high demand amongst fans in Queens, many of team’s faithful likely don’t have much room to digest a lingering injury issue to a star player.

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If healthy, there’s a chance Beltran (with 273 career dingers) could reach the 300-home run plateau this season.

The Mets open their regular season Monday April 5th against the Florida Marlins.

Fans in Red Sox merchandise are going to be all over him in America’s premier sports city, so it’s a good thing John Lackey is getting a primer course at the team’s home in Fort Myers, Florida. Local and Boston media have been following the 31-year old Texas native around like it’s their job (oh, wait) since the newest member of the Sox arrived to camp early Tuesday. With career numbers almost a mirror image of fellow Texan Josh Beckett, it’s no shocker that searches for John Lackey autographs on baseballs, bats and other pieces of MLB memorabilia have been through the roof since signing with the Red Sox.

Lackey will likely take the team’s third rotation spot. He sports a career 102-71 record to go with a respectable 3.81 ERA.

This was the shortest offseason for the Bronx Bombers in ten years, and fans in Yankees merchandise wouldn’t have it any other way. Fresh off their 27th World Series Championship, the pitchers and catchers for the New York Yankees reported to the team’s Spring Training home in Tampa today. While this year won’t have the buzz of new additions like C.C. Sabathia and A.J. Burnett, fans and baseball memorabilia collectors around the globe will have their glaring eyes pointed at the team’s fifth rotation spot. The spot seems destined to land in the hands of either Joba Chamberlain or Phil Hughes. Whichever power arm loses out will likely fill the team’s need in the bullpen, mainly in the eighth inning.

Fans and San Francisco Giants memorabilia collectors can exhale: it appears the club and ace Tim Lincecum have agreed to a two-year deal that will keep the two sides out of arbitration. Lincecum has been the most dominant pitcher in the Majors over the past two seasons, raking in two Cy Young awards and becoming a must-have for fans that collect autographed MLB baseballs and signed Giants jerseys.

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The deal is said to be two years, with salary in the $15-17 million range.

Former Yankees starter Chien-Ming Wang is reportedly a week away from signing with a team, and word has it that team will be the Washington Nationals. Wang was an ace and favorite amongst Yankees memorabilia during his five-year stay in the Bronx, but had his 2009 cut short do to an ailing leg injury. The 29-year old is without question one of the more intriguing free agents still available, with many fans and MLB memorabilia collectors familiar with his 55-26 career record.

If the former ace indeed heads to Washington, it would give the Nats one of the most interesting rotations in baseball. With Wang, young lefty John Lannan and minor league phenom Stephen Strasburg, the team would likely improve on their combined 5.00 ERA, which was the third highest in all of Major League Baseball.

Fans and MLB memorabilia collectors know that the Superdome was one of the loudest and most raucous venues in sports for the past 28 years. Many fans think the Twins’ home field advantage ultimately lead to their victory in the 1991 World Series. Still, all good things must end. The Twins ended their stay at the ‘Dome after last season’s postseason defeat against the Yankees and are set to move just a few city blocks away to the soon-to-be-completed Target Field. While there has been much debate over the decision to go with an open-air stadium versus an enclosed dome, fans seem excited to bundle up in Twins merchandise for what promises to be some frigid early season baseball.

The Twins will open up their 50th season of baseball in Minnesota on the road against the Angels on Monday April 5th.