MLB 2011-2012 Offseason Thread

[Supreme Olajuwon]

Yeah, and maybe he'll let Pete come back too! :)

[Nervous Ferret]

Hope Zambrano rages on the fucking aquarium that will be where a normal backstop should be

[Innovator]

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/387224_10151122567645072_436749055071_22464962_606194019_n.jpg

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Mets bring back Scott Hairston. Fine by me, they needed a righty outfield option off the bench...even if he is a bit of a homer-or-nothing guy.

World Series here we come!</font>

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/387224_10151122567645072_436749055071_22464962_606194019_n.jpg

Even Arod is scared of going after....the belt!

http://how-i-met-your-mother.wikia.com/wiki/The_Threeway_Belt

[Droford]

The talks for Jones remain 'fluid', according to sources, although it appears the two sides cannot agree on which pitching prospects to include along with Martin Prado or Jair Jurrjens. Should the Braves acquire a top-tier pitching prospect from Colorado, they could potentially flip him to Baltimore to acquire the talented-yet-unproductive outfielder. It sounds like that may be GM Frank Wren's goal right now, especially if Ken Rosenthal's report of a desired pitching prospect is true.I dont want to see Adam Jones go, but if they can rape the Braves for two of their top pitching prospects plus Jurrjens and/or Prado then they might as well go ahead and do it.

Also, "talented but unproductive" lol...

[SammyG]

lol @ Marlins, team Latinos

[Triple Naitch]

Pretty sure every team is team Latinos.

[Emperor Smeat]

I think even the Marlins owner stated before that was his goal to fill the team with Latinos in order to make the fans come to the stadium considering every other trick never worked for the long term.

Even the years the actually won WS titles, they barely had anyone showing up except for the playoffs.

Tampa Bay has the same problem although not as laughable bad as the Marlins. Then again Florida isn't really a sports spot except for college football and the Miami Dolphins.

[Hardkore Kidd J]

Anthony Rizzo headed to the Cubs in a 4 player deal that sends Rizzo and Zach Catas to the Cubs for Andrew Cashner and Kyung-Min Na.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

Nice move for the Cubs. Theo's getting his shit together it seems. Him and Hoyer get their golden boy Rizzo back. Don't know anything about the Korean guy in this but it doesn't seem like Chicago gave up much for their 1st baseman of the future.

[Triple Naitch]

Like the move for the Cubs.

Speaking of the Cubbies, apparently Starlin Castro raped a bitch in the fall.

http://espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/story/_/id/7431695/chicago-cubs-starlin-castro-part-sexual-assault-investigation

[Skippord]

Dominican Roethlisberger

[Damian Rey]

Not a fan of trading Rizzo at all. I don't see what Byrnes and co. are seeing in Cashman. He's a reliever on a team that creates relievers every year, and I have my doubts that he's going to be a starter. Unless he starts and that electric stuff turns him into an ace, this is going to be an all win move the Cubs.

I liked Rizzo alot. Hope he smashes when he gets back to the big leagues.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Jorge Posada retires.

Pretty much a longtime coming. Kinda wanted to see him sign with another team just to see the general reaction of the Yankees fanbase.</font>

[RP]

Sure wish I could rethink that Castro jersey purchase! Oh Boy!

[RP]

Gotta start looking for a Rizzo jersey.

[Triple Naitch]

Jorgey Boy calls it a career. Not quite a hall of famer, but he was probably the second or third-best offensive catcher of his time.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

Hall of Fame ballots revealed today. Larkin better get in.

[Triple Naitch]

Hoping for Larkin and Bagwell.

[DaveWadding]

I don't understand why the media keeps trying to push Jack Morris as a HoF guy. He just doesn't have the numbers. He didn't win awards, nothing. I think the media is just trying to prove that they can use cliches to get a guy elected.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

BARRY :love: :love: :love: :love:

[MVP]

Glad Barry Larkin got in. It's a shame that Bagwell still hasn't been voted in just because there's speculation that he used PEDs, but no proof.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

Bagwell did way better this year though which is promising. 56% this year, 42% last year.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

Bill Mueller got 4 votes :o

[Hanso Amore]

Bagwell is going to make it. Its just going to take some time. I think with each year he will creep up a bit.

[DaveWadding]

Looks like Jack Morris will get in next year. Ugh.

[Emperor Smeat]

Morris and Bagwell will both make it next year considering the big names for the 2013 class includes either known roid users (Bonds, Clemens, Sosa) or a lot of recent doubt involving roids (Piazza, Schilling).

McGwire and Palmerio probably are going to lose more votes next year while the rest of the 2013 nominees or the ballot itself is a bit weak to win next year.

Although if neither make it next season, 2015 would be the next time possible considering the 2014 class has Maddux, Glavine, and potentially Mussina as the heavy favorites to get in.

[DaveWadding]

They just need to put Pete Rose in the Hall already. They let other dirtbags with good stats in (Cobb etc.)

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Glad to see Larkin getting in, much deserved. Find it really disturbing how close Jack Morris is though.

Bagwell not being in is still a joke just as it was last year. If Piazza doesn't make it in next year, I will track down each voter and punch them in the face. Shame that even if he makes it next year, the decisions on Bonds, Clemens, etc. will overshadow him.</font>

[RoXer]

Hard to believe Tony Womack was even nominated

[Triple Naitch]

Looking forward to/hoping Bagwell and Biggio get inducted together next year.

[Hardkore Kidd J]

<font color=goldenrod>Jorge Posada retires.

Pretty much a longtime coming. Kinda wanted to see him sign with another team just to see the general reaction of the Yankees fanbase.</font>

I don't know if this was just pure speculation and rumors . But, I heard one of the main reasons Jorge retired now was that this year was gonna be the last Old Timers Day at Yankee Stadium and Jorge really wanted to be a part of it. I really didn't know that this year was gonna be the last OTD or even if that's true but, that's what I heard. Does anyone have any proof of this or is it all just bull shit and rumors?

[Triple Naitch]

Can't see a guy turning down millions of dollars to play one game with a bunch of geriatrics.

[Hanso Amore]

I dont like the Larkin nod...and I liked him alot as a player.

Great guy, but not an all time great. Career numbers arent that good. Didnt win enough to warrant entry on that. Won an MVP with an average season. Domninated all star votes due to the lack of any good NL shortstops.

Honestly I think Bernie Williams had just a good a career.

[Hanso Amore]

I don't know if this was just pure speculation and rumors . But, I heard one of the main reasons Jorge retired now was that this year was gonna be the last Old Timers Day at Yankee Stadium and Jorge really wanted to be a part of it. I really didn't know that this year was gonna be the last OTD or even if that's true but, that's what I heard. Does anyone have any proof of this or is it all just bull shit and rumors?

OTD wont stop until there arent any players worth seeing. And that is going to be a long time away. Especially now that the World Series 90s teams are all fully retired Sans Mo and Jeter.

[Triple Naitch]

Barry Larkin has great stats compared to other shortstops in MLB history. He has the fourth highest OPS of all shortstops. His stats may be similar to Bernie Williams, but Williams plays a more stats-filled position.

[ClockShot]

Congrats to Barry Larkin for making the Hall of Fame.

Thanks to some of you guys for relaying some of the major news stories these past few days. On to the news.

Evening round-up (from mlbtraderumors.com):

The Yankees never reached a deal with Hiroyuki Nakajima. He'll be going back to Japan for another season and will land on the international market after that.

Rockies aquire Chad Tracy from the Rangers for Greg Reynolds. Yes, Chad Tracy. The son of Rockies skipper Jim Tracy. Hmmmmmmmmm?

Mariners sign Hisashi Iwakuma to a 1-year, $1.5 mil. deal. He can get $3.4 mil. altogether if he hits some starts and innings pitched incentives. :lol:

Blue Jays DFA Mark Teahen to make room for signing Darren Oliver. 1-year, $4.5 mil. with an option.

Roughly a week and a half before the Yu Darvish deadline is up in Texas. Rumors going around is that they're going to throw Matsuzaka money at him. He got 6-years, $52 mil. when he went to the Red Sox.

Hiroki Kuroda informed the Hiroshima Karp that he's staying in the states for 2012.

O's sign Wei-Yin Chin to a 3-year deal worth a little less than $12 mil.

And finally, the Angels lock up Howie Kendrick for the next 4 years. He'll be getting $33.5 mil. Jerry Dipoto is pretty much winding down his offseason.

[Droford]

Os have two asian players now..I hope angelos isn't planning on moving the team to Asia.

[Skippord]

Rockies now have two of Jim Tracy's son's in the organization

boooooyah

[ClockShot]

Owners give Bud Selig a 2-year extension at the owners meetings this week.

Take this news as you see fit.

[Triple Naitch]

Vito will be happy to hear that the Mets signed Scott Kazmir.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>And he has become a shortstop and changed his name to Sean Kazmar.</font>

[Triple Naitch]

MLB.com fucked it up on the transactions list. Nevermind.

[Emperor Smeat]

Owners give Bud Selig a 2-year extension at the owners meetings this week.

Take this news as you see fit.

A bit surprised considering Selig has stated plenty of times the last extension was to be his last since he wants to retire once its done.

I wonder if the owners are worried his potential successor that Selig/MLB has been grooming won't be as good as Selig (in terms of owners interest) or could be pro-player like the one before Selig.

Right now he's right behind the 1st commish for longest tenure but at the same time has been loosing fan support ever since the tied All-Star game and not doing nothing during the roid era even though it helped MLB post-1994 lockout.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

Jon Heyman saying the Reds signed Ryan Madson. Don't believe it yet, but it'd be tits if it's true.

[Dragon]

Apparently its only a one year deal. Good move for the Reds.

Madson and Boras really screwed up with wanting that extra year with Philly. Went from making $44M over 4 years to $10M on a one year deal.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

now theyre saying its for $8.5 million

Boras really screwed his client over

[Triple Naitch]

Said it earlier, but Boras is having his worst offseason to date.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Boras is the most overrated agent in sports. Sure he lands mega-deals for some guys, but he screws over a ton of his clients every year.

I'm still looking forward to seeing Prince Fielder's eventual contract. I'd love it if every team dropped their offers to like 3 years because he waited too long to make a decision.</font>

[ClockShot]

Only major news bits today are Red Sox get Brad Emaus from the Rockies for a PTBNL and the Giants sign Ryan Vogelsong to a 2-year, $8 mil. deal.

I don't know about your clubs, but the there's 40 days until pitchers & catchers report for the Yankees. Oswalt already dropped his asking price, but I'll bet Fielder, Jackson, and Kuroda will drop their asking prices within the next couple weeks.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>lol Emaus :( thought he was gonna wind up being a great pickup for the Mets when they got him in last year's Rule 5 draft</font>

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Astros claim Fernando Martinez off waivers from the Mets, thus ending the tenure of one of the biggest bust prospects in Mets history. He's still only 23 but he'd been hyped heavily since being signed at 16. He also has an arthritic knee already.</font>

[Supreme Olajuwon]

hey what's Lastings Milledge doing these days

[Supreme Olajuwon]

He's going over to Japan. Good for him!

[RoXer]

wanna go to so many spring training games this year

[RoXer]

like 3 a week would be great

[ClockShot]

Evening round-up (from mlbtraderumors.com):

Cubs fans, rejoice. Kerry Wood is staying in Chicago. No details on the numbers yet.

There are rumors going around that the Red Sox offered Jason Varitek a minor league deal with an invite to spring training to compete with Salty and Shoppach for a spot on the main roster. Ben Cherington denies it.

Mets sign Ronny Cedeno to a 1-year, $1.2 mil. deal with incentives.

Brave keep Jack Wilson around. 1-year, $1 mil. deal with $500k in incentives.

Finally, asking prices have apparently dropped for Roy Oswalt, Hiroki Kuroda, and Edwin Jackson. Oswalt will take 1-year, $8 mil., Kuroda wants $10-$11 mil. for 1 year, and Jackson still wants his 5 years but no word and how much he went down in value.

[Dragon]

Uh, apparently the Yankees just traded Jesus Montero for Michael Pineda.

I dunno, I definitely think its fair for both sides but the Yankees homer in me would have loved to keep Montero since the team has pitching options in the minors, but no hitting options even relatively close.

[Triple Naitch]

Whoa

[ClockShot]

Whoa

Ditto to that.

[ClockShot]

So, uh, who's catching?

[Dragon]

So, uh, who's catching?

Russell Martin.

[Triple Naitch]

Who's DHing?

God I hope not Prince.

[Dragon]

Who's DHing?

God I hope not Prince.

Really have no idea. It'd make sense for A-Rod to start getting more days at DH. I'd imagine they go for a cheap signing like Damon or something like that.

[Dragon]

LOL. Yankees sign Hiroki Kuroda to a one year deal.

Love this move, been thinking he'd be a great move all winter.

What a difference one night makes in the look of their rotation. Sabathia-Pineda-Kuroda-Nova-Hughes/Garcia/Burnett.

[Hardkore Kidd J]

Who's DHing?

God I hope not Prince.

Most likely "NO CHANCE" not unless we can get Fielder for a nice 2-3 year contract. NOT GONNA HAPPEN.

As the days pass I still think Fielder is gonna end up on the same team as Darvish will end up on.

I think it makes sense for the Rangers to sign Darvish and Fielder. Some say the Rangers don't have the money but I think they can manage.

[DaveWadding]

wanna go to so many spring training games this year

like 3 a week would be great

Let's go.

[Gertner]

Pineda. Meh. Had a bad second half.

[Emperor Smeat]

Fielder is most likely going to the Rangers considering he's currently having discussions with the team and no other big money club has shown any interest in getting him. Rangers are probably his last chance at getting a large deal unless the Cubs make a serious offer or the Nationals really go overboard in a deal to lure him.

Shocked at the Yankees moving Montero considering how much hype and development they put into him especially as their future catcher now that Posada is gone.

[Triple Naitch]

Most likely "NO CHANCE" not unless we can get Fielder for a nice 2-3 year contract. NOT GONNA HAPPEN.

As the days pass I still think Fielder is gonna end up on the same team as Darvish will end up on.

I think it makes sense for the Rangers to sign Darvish and Fielder. Some say the Rangers don't have the money but I think they can manage.

They said the same thing about Teixeira.

[Innovator]

HOT FUCKING STOVE

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Feel like Fielder can pretty much be penciled in as the Yankees DH. Just seems like it would be a classic Yankee move to still wind up getting one of the top free agents, except this time they'll get him for less than expected.</font>

[Innovator]

Don't make me sound the Vito suicide watch alarm.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Nah, the Yankees being really good on paper is a given every year and it doesn't even register at this point. Ditto for the Red Sox. Those two teams may not always make the playoffs and they might have absurd collapses, but they are the two teams who you know will at least be in serious contention all season. Barring a massive overhaul in the way baseball is structured I can't envision a scenario in which one, nevermind both, of those teams go into a season expected to suck.</font>

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Come to think, the Vito Suicide Alarm can probably be put away for the entire 2012 season. It's the first year I can remember in which the Mets not only had a bad team on paper, but EVERY team in the division looks markedly better. At least in 2004 the entire division looked bad outside of the Braves. Anything that goes right this season is absolute gravy.

It'll probably gonna be good for my health that I'll be able to laugh off terrible Mets play instead of having it ruin my night.</font> :o

[Skippord]

hope Prince signs with the Rangers

also hope the Rangers keep signing huge free agents every year until they win the World Series

[DaveWadding]

Carrie Muskat @CarrieMuskat 18m

#Cubs announce new patio deck in RF bleachers at Wrigley. Will add 70-foot LED board


____________________


Fucking awful.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

eww

[Triple Naitch]

The only thing that makes me feel good, as a Red Sox fan, about the Yankees getting Pineda is their history of acquiring young pitching phenoms. Jeff Weaver, Javier Vazquez, Carl Pavano, etc.

[Evil Vito]

http://www.metsblog.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/SloweyRackDickeyKilmanjaro1.jpg

<font color=goldenrod>R.A. Dickey</font> :love:

[Triple Naitch]

Now he just has to get down.

[ClockShot]

Evening round-up (from mlbtraderumors.com):

Another day closer to spring training, more players cut their deals.

The storyline for this week is wether the Rangers will the able to sign Yu Darvish by the tuesday deadline. Both sides agree on the money, but the big sticking point is the years. Rangers want him for 6, Darvish wants 5 so he can get back on the free agent market ASAP.

Brewers sign Cesar Izturis to a minor league deal with an invite to spring training.

Twins sign Joel Zumaya. 1-year, $800k. He can get $1.7 mil. altogether with incentives.

Blue Jays and Colby Rasmus avoid arb. 1-year, $2.7 mil.

A's sign Bartolo Colon. 1-year, $2 mil.

Red Sox and Jarrod Saltalamacchia avoid arb. 1-year, $2.5 mil.

Phillies sign Joel Pinero to a minor league deal with an invite to spring training.

And finally, Gio Gonzalez is going to be staying in D.C. for quite a while. He signed a 5-year extension worth $42 mil. Along with 2 option years, he could make $65 mil. alltogether.

[Emperor Smeat]

Good move by the Red Sox considering he's their catcher for the future now and Shoppach was mainly brought in as a backup. The only other ones they have are from Pawtucket and not ready for the main roster.

Really thought the Yankees would have kept Colon until they made the recent trade for Kuroda.

Darvish seems dumb if he wants to get on the free agency market "ASAP" considering its very unlikely a future deal will be as great as the one he's getting with the Rangers right now. Past history involving Japanese pitchers almost proves it won't occur.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Ron Washington announces Colby Lewis as his Opening Day starter. Earliest confirmation ever.</font>

[Aguakate]

<font color=goldenrod>Ron Washington announces Colby Lewis as his Opening Day starter. Earliest confirmation ever.</font>

LOL wat? Is this real life?

Not even going to wait on Yu Darvish?

[Triple Naitch]

Red Sox putting together a nice 2003 Phillies rotation of Vicente Padilla, Carlos Silva, and Brandon Duckworth.

[Hardkore Kidd J]

Good move by the Red Sox considering he's their catcher for the future now and Shoppach was mainly brought in as a backup. The only other ones they have are from Pawtucket and not ready for the main roster.

Really thought the Yankees would have kept Colon until they made the recent trade for Kuroda.

Darvish seems dumb if he wants to get on the free agency market "ASAP" considering its very unlikely a future deal will be as great as the one he's getting with the Rangers right now. Past history involving Japanese pitchers almost proves it won't occur.

Kuroda is a free agent isn't he? The only guy we traded for is Pineda. I still wonder what we will do about the DH. Will we trade for another hitter or maybe Pena. All those Red Sox fans better be thankful we didn't get Felix instead of Pineda.

From what I heard the Yankees were ready to give up a Montero/Banuelous/Betances package for Hernandez. And Seattle flat out said no. I really hope that this doesn't come back to bite us in the ass. All ready I am having doubts about this and wish we kept Montero. That's not a good sign.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Athletics acquire Seth Smith from the Rockies in exchange for Josh Outman and Guillermo Moscoso.

The A's rotation is looking rather dreadful. Dallas Braden, Brett Anderson, Brandon McCarthy, Bartolo Colon.....all have injury histories. Could see them losing 100 games.</font>

[RoXer]

Could also see each of them rebounding and getting 15 wins each so who knows

[RoXer]

However, it also helps if they score runs. I've been told that helps win games.

[Hardkore Kidd J]

<font color=goldenrod>Athletics acquire Seth Smith from the Rockies in exchange for Josh Outman and Guillermo Moscoso.

The A's rotation is looking rather dreadful. Dallas Braden, Brett Anderson, Brandon McCarthy, Bartolo Colon.....all have injury histories. Could see them losing 100 games.</font>

Especially since almost every team in the West got so much stronger.

Angels: Wilson and Pujols

Mariners: All though he is still in the developing stages I could seriously see Montero tearing it up.

Rangers: If they sign Darvish AND Fielder they would be pretty additions.

On Paper at least they look to be the worst team in the West that's for damn sure.

[ClockShot]

Evening round-up (from mlbtraderumors.com)

Red Sox have been in talks with Roy Oswalt. However it appears if they want to sign him, they're gonna have to trade somebody away. They don't have $8 mil. lying around.

Yankees are wrapping up their offseason by looking for a DH. They got around $1-2 mil. to spend and have been in talks with Johnny Damon and Hideki Matusi for comebacks, and Carlos Pena.

Joel Hanrahan, Rick Porcello, Phil Hughes, Phil Coke, and Nyjer Morgan avoid arb. and sign deals with their respective teams.

And finally, here's a good laugh. The Rockies have offered old man Jamie Moyer, at the age of 49, a minor league deal. IF he accepts, he'll be offered a chance to compete for a rotation spot while tutoring the younger pitchers on the staff.

[Emperor Smeat]

Kuroda is a free agent isn't he? The only guy we traded for is Pineda. I still wonder what we will do about the DH. Will we trade for another hitter or maybe Pena. All those Red Sox fans better be thankful we didn't get Felix instead of Pineda.


My mistake. Meant to say Pineda instead of Kuroda for the recent trade deals.


Evening round-up (from mlbtraderumors.com)

Red Sox have been in talks with Roy Oswalt. However it appears if they want to sign him, they're gonna have to trade somebody away. They don't have $8 mil. lying around.

:wtf: How do they not have the money lying around considering they dumped Dice-K, JD Drew's contract and a bunch others for next season (around $40ish million although not sure if that includes Lackey).

I know they said this season's payroll was going to be a bit smaller but that was due to JD Drew and Dice-K's money coming off from the books. At most the recent signings are closer to the other players they removed or from the extra saved when Papelbon left in terms of money.

[ClockShot]

mlbtraderumors.com got the transaction tracker. Nice little tool to find out how many signings each team has made. Just punch in a team(s), start and end date, and you're off.

Starting with the Red Sox's first post season move, picking up Scutaro's option back on 10/31 and ending today, Boston has made 22 moves in the form of signings, trades, options, etc. Yankees have made only 12.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>I hope Moyer takes the deal and has a couple good starts. He's said he'd love to get in a game at 50, so if he gets into one next year he'll have done it.

Gonna be tough though. Julio Franco seemed like a lock to play in a big league game at 50 but not even the Braves would keep him.</font>

[Dragon]

:wtf: How do they not have the money lying around considering they dumped Dice-K, JD Drew's contract and a bunch others for next season (around $40ish million although not sure if that includes Lackey).

I know they said this season's payroll was going to be a bit smaller but that was due to JD Drew and Dice-K's money coming off from the books. At most the recent signings are closer to the other players they removed or from the extra saved when Papelbon left in terms of money.

They didn't dump Dice-K's money though, they still have him for the year and still have to pay him the $10M, he just won't be pitching most likely.

I think a huge thing with the Red Sox payroll wise is that Gonzalez jumps from a salary of $5.5M last year to $21M this year. And Crawford goes from $14M to $19.5M.

[Skippord]

pretty interesting return for Seth Smith, couple decent starters from The A's

also I'm pretty sure that Billy Beane and Dan O'Dowd are lovers, like the 5th trade they've made together in the past 3 years

[Emperor Smeat]

They didn't dump Dice-K's money though, they still have him for the year and still have to pay him the $10M, he just won't be pitching most likely.

I think a huge thing with the Red Sox payroll wise is that Gonzalez jumps from a salary of $5.5M last year to $21M this year. And Crawford goes from $14M to $19.5M.

So basically someone on either NESN or ESPN was mostly wrong on the money that was coming off the books for this season which in theory was supposed to help lower the salary a bit and improve the dreadful bullpen. Papelbon leaving added in an extra $12+ million which A-Gon's contract jump ate up easily.

[Triple Naitch]

Athletics acquire Seth Smith from the Rockies in exchange for Josh Outman and Guillermo Moscoso.

The A's rotation is looking rather dreadful. Dallas Braden, Brett Anderson, Brandon McCarthy, Bartolo Colon.....all have injury histories. Could see them losing 100 games.

Brett Anderson, when healthy, is better than both Trevor Cahill and Gio Gonzalez. Jarrod Parker also has a chance to crack the rotation out of spring training, and he is supposed to be a beast.

[Skippord]

good God the A's are going to be a disaster

just saw their projected lineup on MLB Network

[Hardkore Kidd J]

good God the A's are going to be a disaster

just saw their projected lineup on MLB Network

I can't really say all that. I mean I thought last year that the Red Sox were gonna be unstoppable. It hadn't even been the season yet and I was hoping for a Wild Card spot. There's an old saying that goes like this "You just can't predict baseball" Sometimes the team that you think can be a disaster winds up being pretty good and sometimes the team that you see winding up really good can be really bad. A lot of crap can happen that no one can really see. On paper at least with all the AL West Coast teams getting better it's gonna be hard not fully impossible but pretty hard.

[Splaya]

Tigers Catcher DH whatever the fuck you want to call him Victor Martinez tore his ACL during an off season workout. He's out for the season



FUCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCK

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Wow that sucks. :( Miguel Cabrera won't get a pitch to hit in 2012.</font>

[Triple Naitch]

Bummer. I can see them adding Carlos Pena now and DHing Miggy full time.

[Hardkore Kidd J]

Man that sucks for the Tigers. Do you think Fielder could be a option for them now or do you think they aren't looking for something that long term?

[ClockShot]

The Yu Darvish deadline passed about 2 hours ago. Can't seem to find any info weather the Rangers sealed the deal or not.

[Hardkore Kidd J]

The Yu Darvish deadline passed about 2 hours ago. Can't seem to find any info weather the Rangers sealed the deal or not.


Well if they didn't Fielder has a 85 percent chance of being a Ranger.

[Emperor Smeat]

Tim Lincecum is asking for $21.5 in an arbitration deal while the Giants are only willing to go to $17 million. In terms of records, it would be the 2nd highest for a player (Clemens won $22 million) and the highest offer made by a team (Yankees $14.5 million to Jeter was previous record).

Phillies avoid arbitration with Cole Hamels and give him a 1 year, $15 million deal.

Red Sox gave Elsbury a 1 year, $8.05 million for his deal to avoid arbitration.

[Triple Naitch]

Lincecum is going to set the record for highest arbitration figure by a non-Free Agent, breaking the previous record of Cole Hamels from a few hours ago.

[ClockShot]

Just jumped onto NPB tracker and the Ham Fighters don't even know what's going on with Darvish at this point in time.

[RP]

Comon Rangers. Sign this Jap!. I want Prince. Let Rizzo spend another year in the minors.

[Droford]

The Orioles are looking at Francisco Cordero to be the Closer. Its like they are intentionally trying to find someone worse than Kevin Gregg.

[Splaya]

Man that sucks for the Tigers. Do you think Fielder could be a option for them now or do you think they aren't looking for something that long term?


Nah as much as it's panic mode here right now, signing Fielder would be a terrible idea.

[MVP]

The Orioles are looking at Francisco Cordero to be the Closer. Its like they are intentionally trying to find someone worse than Kevin Gregg.

Cordero may be 36, but I'd rather have him closing over Kevin Gregg.

[Innovator]

I don't even want to show Vito this...

BUT I HAVE TO


Adam Rubin, late of the New York Daily News and now of ESPN New York, is one of those guys who've been on the Mets beat as long as we can remember. (He remained on it despite a memorably bizarre incident in 2009 where Omar Minaya accused Rubin of writing bad things about the Mets because he wanted a job with the team.) But last night, as tends to happen occasionally with those of us who've been tied to the Mets for a while, he snapped, on Twitter. The catalyst was Sandy Alderson's comment on first baseman Ike Davis's injury last season:

• Sandy Alderson is quoted in Newsday re: Ike Davis as saying: "The treatment was correct and the recovery was just longer than we expected."
• Except for the fact diagnosis of cartilage damage originally was missed and a boot Ike then wore constricted circulation and stalled healing
• Sandy Alderson really is a straight shooter, generally, but that's too much spin.

And then the hits just kept on coming:

• One person begged me not to write Ike may have fracture as 2nd test approached. Turned out cartilage damage, not fracture, was missed.
• Doctors advised J.J. Putz to have bone chips removed from elbow, which would've cost 6 weeks. Mets said shoot him w/ cortisone. He tore UCL.
• Ryan Church says to Brian Schneider, 'Your knee looks swollen. Go see trainer.' Schneider to Church: 'They don't want to hear it.'
• Mets exec calling Billy Wagner a wimp for complaining of elbow discomfort during sim game in Pittsburgh. Wagner needed Tommy John surgery.
• Still haven't figured out rocket scientist behind having Jose Reyes bat righty vs. RHP after oblique injury. Injury lingered whole 2nd half.
• Thanks for reminding me about Ryan Church flying from Atlanta to Colorado with concussion. He said he felt like boater bobbing on Bering Sea
• Found oldie: Early in Reyes career, Mets wanted him tougher. They had Art Howe tell him "spit on it" to injury. Had undiagnosed fibula break

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>So what you're saying is the Mets are incompetent?

SHOCKER</font>

[Innovator]

Honestly that training staff was horrible.

[ClockShot]

Rangers sign Yu Darvish with time to spare. 6-years, $60 mil.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Not very often that you can settle an arbitration case within seconds of seeing the numbers...Clayton Kershaw asks for $10 million, Dodgers offer $6.5 million.

Kershaw wins. Done. Settled. In fact, he lowballed himself majorly.</font>

[Supreme Olajuwon]

That's almost as bad as the deal Ellsbury signed.

[Damian Rey]

I'd say Ellsbury made out like a champ in arb. You're talking about a guy who went from being a line drive hitting defensive wizard to a 5 tool player almost overnight, with a full injury deprived season in between.He ████ near triple his career HR total in one season (20 career HR after 2010, 52 after 2011 ). He's earning nearly 4x as much as he did last season for one outlier season. I'd say he made out pretty darn well seeing as he can no longer make less than $8m in arbitration.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

Yeah he obviously got a nice raise, but he's also 28 and coming off a 30-30 season. Could've gotten a ton more than $8 million.

[Damian Rey]

Maybe, but it's an outlier year to this point. He's only done it once so it very well may be a fluke year. Maybe it's not, but given the fact that guys like Hamels has a proven track record and Kershaw had a few very good years leading to his breakout year. Ellsbury's power surge literally came outta nowhere. I'd say it's a pretty fair deal for both sides considering the circumstances.

[MVP]

What's more important is what kind of deal Ellsbury is going to get in free agency after the 2013 season. Another 2 seasons with similar numbers to 2011 will probably land him a deal more lucrative than Jose Reyes's.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>28 year old Fausto Carmona is no more. He is actually 31 year old Roberto Heredia.</font>

[Triple Naitch]

I wonder if his $7 million option that was picked up is guaranteed.

[Damian Rey]

Pretty sure all MLB contract money is guaranteed. There might be some language that could negate the money, but I doubt it.

[Droford]

I wonder if his $7 million option that was picked up is guaranteed.

It was for Fausto Carmona, not Roberto Heredia. I think that could help negate it.

[Emperor Smeat]

They could void the option and money as long as they didn't already pay him considering Carmona ended up deceiving the Indians with his contract.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>More like Falso Carmona.</font>

[ClockShot]

Evening round-up (from mlbtraderumors.com):

O's sign Dennys Reyes and Armando Gallaraga to minor league deals.

Nats keep Michael Morse around. 2-years, $10.5 mil.

Rangers sign Brade Hawpe to a minor league deal with an invite.

Indians aquire Kevin Slowey and $1.25 mil. in cash from the Rockies for Zach Putnam.

A's are "very interested" in bringing in Manny Ramirez as the DH for 2012. Oh, and they sign Jonny Gomes to a 1-year, $1.1 mil. deal.

Red Sox were all but ready to send Marco Scutaro to the Rockies today. But it fell apart after the Red Sox figured out they had nobody to fill in at SS. Guess the rumors were true they were trying to move people around to bring in Roy Oswalt.

Carlos Pena goes back to Tampa Bay. 1-year, $7.25 mil.

[Emperor Smeat]

:lol: and :nono: Red Sox

Probably going to be a bit weird for Pena returning since the team proved they can win without him and Crawford which could impact him asking for a big contract next season. He left to chase for the big money with the Cubs and ended up having a "meh" quality year compared to what was expected.

[Skippord]

fucking Red Sox

[Droford]

2016 All Star Game being lobbied by the Orioles to play in Camden Yards to celebrate its 25th Anniversary.

Maybe they'll even have a player deserving of starting on the AL Team by then lol

[Supreme Olajuwon]

wooo blocking Droford has made this thread better too

[Droford]

You're just lucky the Orioles fucking suck. If they made the playoffs I would be 100x as worse than I am in the NFL thread.

[Hardkore Kidd J]

Did the Red Sox forget they had Jose Iglesias or is he just not ready for a starting position yet?

[Triple Naitch]

He's not ready yet.

[Skippord]

just play Jed Lowrie you assholes, the Rockies need a second baseman :'(

[Skippord]

or alternatively trade Jed Lowrie to the Rockies

[Damian Rey]

Lowrie was moved to Houston in Melancon deal wasn't he? Pretty sure he's not an option.

[Skippord]

oh yeah, forgot about that.

in that case start no one at short and just send Scutaro here

[Damian Rey]

I don't see the fit unless the Sox have someone else lined up. I think the Rox are gonna have to look elsewhere, unless they'd like to start EY Jr. over there (meh).

[Damian Rey]

Congrats owed to Skip, as the Rockies and BoSox have finalized a deal to bring Scutaro to the National League West as the newest Rockies infielder.

[ClockShot]

Damn. Red Sox did cut him loose.

What's their next move? Go for Oswalt, or search for an SS. Orlando Cabrera just retired, maybe he got 1 more season in him?

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Mets are trying to sign Cody Ross. I actually think he would be a great addition and he has the kind of attitude the Mets could use. He could spell either Andres Torres or Lucas Duda if they struggle with left handed pitching and could actually supplant Torres as the starting center fielder in general.

Only downside is there would be no lefty options off the bench unless the Mets wind up signing a lefty-hitting reserve infielder.</font>

[Emperor Smeat]

Might as well just promote Iglesias to the SS position because before the trade he was #2 in the depth chart. The whole trade with Scutaro was designed to free up a roster spot potentially for Oswalt or another starter pitcher. If they really wanted to fill up the SS spot with depth, then it would have been better to just keep Scutaro.


Even though the Rangers have been in a pretty big spending mood lately, as of right now they don't want prince Fielder based on his current value. They would rather use that money to keep Josh Hamilton than over-pay for Fielder even if Fielder is better overall as a batter.

[Damian Rey]

Jim Bowden of ESPN is saying Aviles will get reps at SS.

And Vito, Torres shouldn't be anywhere near the starting lineup outside of the occassional spot start/injury replacement. He had that lone fluke season that he's never going to replicate as he approaches the wrong side of 30, and personally, I think the Giants hosed they Mets on that deal in getting a much better player in Pagan. Ross would be an upgrade if the Mets sign him. Who are they penciling in RF? Duda? If so, I'm sure Ross could suffice in CF for the time being.

[Damian Rey]

Other than Hamilton's health issues, is Fielder really THAT much better than Hamilton? I'd say it's marginal at best and Hamilton has become the face of that franchise. Makes sense to try and sign him.

[Evil Vito]

Jim Bowden of ESPN is saying Aviles will get reps at SS.

And Vito, Torres shouldn't be anywhere near the starting lineup outside of the occassional spot start/injury replacement. He had that lone fluke season that he's never going to replicate as he approaches the wrong side of 30, and personally, I think the Giants hosed they Mets on that deal in getting a much better player in Pagan. Ross would be an upgrade if the Mets sign him. Who are they penciling in RF? Duda? If so, I'm sure Ross could suffice in CF for the time being.

<font color=goldenrod>I don't think the trade was a steal by any means. I certainly wouldn't argue that Pagan is better than Torres...but getting Ramon Ramirez was the main piece of that deal. The Mets rotation sucks and so they gave the bullpen a much needed makeover. Beyond that, Pagan developed a poor attitude towards Terry Collins once Beltran (Pagan's idol) got traded...so he had to go.

And yeah, Duda is the right fielder. I expect Torres to get the Opening Day start whether Ross is signed or not, simply because there really aren't any other options to lead off. Ruben Tejada could be a leadoff guy eventually, but Collins doesn't want to pressure him too much. He's also considered Daniel Murphy because he makes good contact...but he's probably a better fit in the #2 spot where his lack of speed won't be a hindrance.

I'm expecting the Mets to trot out this lineup against Tommy Hanson on Opening Day:

1. Torres, CF
2. Murphy, 2B
3. Wright, 3B
4. Davis, 1B
5. Bay, LF
6. Duda, RF
7. Thole, C
8. Tejada, SS

I'd rather have Duda 5th, but Collins wants to split the two big lefties in the order in hopes that Bay can at least mildly resemble the player he was in Boston.</font>

[Skippord]

woooo Scutaro

[Damian Rey]

I actually like Daniel Murphy alot and he'd be a decent pick for leadoff. Torres should hit 8th, honestly. His numbers were so bad last season I could not see any manager wanting to run him out there as a leadoff hitter.

[Dragon]

Other than Hamilton's health issues, is Fielder really THAT much better than Hamilton? I'd say it's marginal at best and Hamilton has become the face of that franchise. Makes sense to try and sign him.

Its not like the health issues are a minor thing though. Can't really just ignore them.

[ClockShot]

Evening round-up (from mlbtraderumors.com)

Ben Cherington either has a money tree growing inside his office, or John Henry cut him a blank check this offseason. Red Sox sign Cody Ross. 1-year, $3 mil. plus incentives.

Blue Jays sign Omar Vizquel to a minor league deal. He's at the age of 44.

Mariners sign Kevin Milwood.

Jorge Posada officially hangs up his gear tomorrow.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Mets apparently weren't willing to offer more than $1 million for Ross. lol god what a bunch of cheapskates.

and the Andres Torres Era officially begins...</font>

[Droford]

I would like to hold on to the hope that the Os will spend money and get Prince Fielder, otherwise this has been the most depressing offseason I can remember of the last 14.

<table id="yui_3_4_1_1_1327381977237_51"><tbody id="yui_3_4_1_1_1327381977237_50"><tr id="yui_3_4_1_1_1327381977237_49" class="odd"><td id="yui_3_4_1_1_1327381977237_48">Jan 20 </td> <th class="title" scope="row">Dennys Reyes (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/5847)</th> <td>RP</td> <td>Signed to a Minor League Contract by Baltimore (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/bal)</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Jan 17 </td> <th class="title" scope="row">Armando Galarraga (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/8140)</th> <td>SP</td> <td>Signed to a Minor League Contract by Baltimore (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/bal)</td> </tr> <tr class="odd"> <td>Jan 16 </td> <th class="title" scope="row">Darren O'Day (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/8207)</th> <td>RP</td> <td>Signed by Baltimore (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/bal) (avoids arbitration)</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Jan 16 </td> <th class="title" scope="row">Jim Johnson (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/7825)</th> <td>RP</td> <td>Signed by Baltimore (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/bal) (avoids arbitration)</td> </tr> <tr class="odd"> <td>Jan 15 </td> <th class="title" scope="row">Francis Beltran (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/6954)</th> <td>RP</td> <td>Signed to a Minor League Contract by Baltimore (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/bal)</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Jan 13 </td> <th class="title" scope="row">Wei-Yin Chen (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/9093)</th> <td>SP</td> <td>Signed as Free Agent by Baltimore (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/bal) (three-year contract)</td> </tr> <tr class="odd"> <td>Jan 13 </td> <th class="title" scope="row">Kyle Hudson (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/9047)</th> <td>LF/CF</td> <td>Designated for Assignment by Baltimore (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/bal)</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Jan 11 </td> <th class="title" scope="row">Ross Wolf (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/8086)</th> <td>RP</td> <td>Signed to a Minor League Contract by Baltimore (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/bal)</td> </tr> <tr class="odd"> <td>Jan 10 </td> <th class="title" scope="row">Willie Eyre (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/7723)</th> <td>RP</td> <td>Signed to a Minor League Contract by Baltimore (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/bal)</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Jan 3 </td> <th class="title" scope="row">Jai Miller (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/8280)</th> <td>RF/LF/CF</td> <td>Traded from Oakland (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/oak) to Baltimore (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/bal) (for cash considerations)</td> </tr> <tr class="odd"> <td>Jan 3 </td> <th class="title" scope="row">Brandon Snyder (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/8624)</th> <td>1B</td> <td>Traded from Baltimore (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/bal) to Texas (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/tex) (for cash considerations)</td></tr></tbody></table>
Wei Yin Chen! All the foreign name pronunciation, 1/100th of the cost

oh, and you can add they signed Wilson Betemit today..YES! WERE GOING to the W..oh fuck it

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Prince Fielder to the Tigers. 9 years, $214 million.

What the fuck?</font>

[Skippord]

they will be a hot mess defensively, but god damn Cabrera and Fielder

whoa

[Skippord]

also lol MLBFakeRumors (https://twitter.com/#%21/MLBFakeRumors) MLB Fake Rumors



Fielder, Colon to host celebratory signing luncheon. Players will eat each other. <s class="hash">#</s>tigers (https://twitter.com/#%21/search?q=%23tigers) <s class="hash">#</s>athletics (https://twitter.com/#%21/search?q=%23athletics)

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>So it'll work out nicely this year since one of them can DH...but what about next year? Are they going to trade Victor?

Otherwise you're looking at Cabrera going back to 3rd base or something.</font>

[MVP]

Cabrera + Fielder = Best 3-4 punch in baseball

[mhirn3]

it will also make the rest of the lineup more dangerous as the 2/5 hitters will likely get better pitches too. Inge could have a big year.

[Dragon]

Wow, didn't expect that.

I like it for them though, two of the best hitters in baseball in their primes right now. Such a deadly middle of the order.

I guess it means trading Martinez when he's back next year, which shouldn't be too hard to do considering he's only got two years and $25M left after this year. Not the ideal scenario with him coming back from surgery but I'm sure they could still make a deal.

The AL has gotten ridiculously harder this year after this offseason.

[MVP]

Chalk another one up to the mystery team winning out.

[ClockShot]

Whaaaaaaaat? I was reading like 30 minutes ago the Nats were the frontrunners.

Where the fuck did the money come from?

[Splaya]

Yup, I need new shorts....

[Splaya]

Like how do you even pitch to them. You have arguably the top left handed hitter and a top 3 right handed hitter hitting 3-4. And it's not unproven shit either....it's no doubt smack their face insanity real shit

[Hardkore Kidd J]

WOW, I am sure glad that the Yankees don't play in the central or West division.

[Splaya]

Hey Texas, you want Darvish, that's fine...we will take Fielder...LIKE GET THE FUCK OUT

[Emperor Smeat]

Has anyone else in the AL Central improved this offseason because its almost a lock for the Tigers to win that division or lose it if they screw up big time (ala Red Sox of last year)?

AL West is basically between the Angels and Rangers with the Angels a lot stronger than last year while the East could be won by anyone except maybe the Os.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

Following in Daddy's footsteps. I like it.

I don't know why, but I still never think of Detroit as a big market team. But they've got 3 $20 million a year players on their roster now.

[Splaya]

Start believing right now

[Droford]

LOL the most the Os wanted to do for Fielder was supposedly 140/7

http://www.fangraphs.com/not/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/orioles-flowchart.jpg

[Supreme Olajuwon]

omg so true

[Droford]

Cordero to the Blue Jays...

1 more year of Kevin Gregg as closer! WHOOHOO!

not to mention 19 games to beat up on Cordero in the 9th! yeah

[Droford]

New Zealand teenager Pita Rona has secured a seven-year deal with Major League Baseball franchise the Baltimore Orioles.
The Auckland youngster, who has represented New Zealand in softball, switched codes late last year to focus his attention on baseball.
Rona was picked up after scouts from the franchise came to New Zealand this week to look at the country's top young talent and will link up with the Orioles development programme in Australia.
Story continues below...

The 17-year-old said he watches a lot of MLB and to know that he could play there is 'crazy'.
Rona will be given leave from the programme in November to focus on his Under-19 softball commitments for New Zealand.
Baltimore Orioles Director of International Scouting David Stockstill said the team is looking to make the scouting mission an annual trip on their international calendar.
"The Orioles are working hard to expand our search for potential Major League players to new areas," he said in a statement.
New Zealand has never had a major league baseballer with ex-Atlanta Braves minor league player Travis Wilson the closest to making it.7 year deal to teenager from New Zealand who's barely played baseball.. Awesome..thats the kind of move that has made the Baltimore Orioles the losers for the last 14 years and will continue that tradition for another 14.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

so you wanted Cordero as your closer, but now you're happy he's on another team because he's terrible

huh

[ClockShot]

Has anyone else in the AL Central improved this offseason because its almost a lock for the Tigers to win that division or lose it if they screw up big time (ala Red Sox of last year)?

AL West is basically between the Angels and Rangers with the Angels a lot stronger than last year while the East could be won by anyone except maybe the Os.

Twins did a few things here and there, but they're in rebuilding mode. Lost alot of people this offseason. ChiSox had their fire sale a few weeks back and extended Danks. It's pretty much a safe bet the Tiggers got the Central locked up, for now.

[Droford]

so you wanted Cordero as your closer, but now you're happy he's on another team because he's terrible

huh

I didnt want Cordero cause he's worse than Kevin Gregg. I think I said something along the lines of "I can't believe they managed to go after someone thats worse than Kevin Gregg"..

[Triple Naitch]

Tigers are gonna have a problem that teams would kill for in 2013 in trying to get Cabrera, Prince, and Victor in the same lineup.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

Somebody's gotta suck it up and play left field.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

Cabrera probably

[Triple Naitch]

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/398455_10150493082756006_7331091005_9067848_1388176220_n.jpg

Sick Zebra Cubs pants.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>I feel like they're going to wind up trading V-Mart. They might not get a whole lot for him coming off of surgery but I have a very hard time seeing Cabrera switching positions again.</font>

[ClockShot]

Evening round-up (from mlbtraderumors.com):

Well, we already talked about the big news of the day. Hat tip to Vito for breaking the news. Congrats to Splaya and his Tigers doing what everyone thought was impossible/never expected.

The Freak stays in San Francisco for the time being. 2-years, $40.5 mil.

O's sign Wilson Betemit to a 2-year deal with a vesting option for '14. $3 mil. guaranted, he can get up to $6 mil.

Jon Heyman reports J.D. Drew is "very likely" to retire.

EDIT: Tony La Russa will be back to manage the NL squad for the All-Star Game. He joins John McGraw as the only managers to retire from the game, but come back to manage an All-Star Game.

[Droford]

no hat tip to me for breaking the Wilson Betemit hot news? Hes likely to be the Os DH..

[screech]

Late to the party, but I love the Fielder move for Detroit. That offense is going to be amazing.

[Hanso Amore]

How does Wilson Betemit have a job? Just let a kid have the spot.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>.285, 8 HR, 46 RBI

Great DH numbers right there.</font>

[McLegend]

Lol I just saw the biggest contracts ever in baseball, and lol I just saw A-Rod is contracted until 2017. That is truly great. I love that contract.

[McLegend]

Yeah Ryan Howard is contracted until 2035.

Yeah well Fuck you guys

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>I don't think the Mets have ANYBODY legitimately under contract past 2013. :o There's guys who will still be arbitration eligible, under team control, or have 2014 options...but no contracts locked in stone.

Going to be a weird couple of years.</font>

[ClockShot]

Blue Jays tried to aquire Koji Uehara from the Rangers. But, Koji got himself a limited no-trade clause and Toronto is one of the 6 teams on his list.

REJECTED!

[Innovator]

Lol I just saw the biggest contracts ever in baseball, and lol I just saw A-Rod is contracted until 2017. That is truly great. I love that contract.

ITS AN AAAAAAAAABOMB.

[ClockShot]

Evening round-up (from mlbtraderumors.com):

MLB has granted Yoenis Cespedes AKA "The next big thing that defected from Cuba" free agency status. He recently gained residency in the Dominican Republic.

Red Sox have made offers to Edwin Jackson AND Roy Oswalt. No word on developments.

Reds aquire Wilson Valdez from the Phillies for Jeremy Horst.

Marlins sign Austin Kearns to a minor league deal with an invite to spring training.

Rockies excercise Rafael Betancourt's 2013 mutual option and tack on an option for '14. So, let's call it an extension for now.

[Droford]

How does Wilson Betemit have a job? Just let a kid have the spot.
They dont have anyone better in the minors at this point.

.285, 8 HR, 46 RBI

Great DH numbers right there.

Well first of all, Vlad's DH #'s last year weren't THAT much better in way more ABs (13/63/.290 in 592 ab)...Betemit got those stats in only 323 ABs..but the best part is he also had 105 Ks in those 323 AB. I used to complain about Guerrero swinging at everything that even came close to the plate but he only struck out 56 times. They've already got one guy that could K 200 times in 600 abs (Reynolds). Betemit's never had more than 373 ABs in a season (and that was 2006 between the Braves and Dodgers).

The one thing they do like is that he can play every position but Pitcher/Catcher, but as it stands he will likely be the regular DH, though he will play the field to spell whoever needs a day off so he could be a regular player and get 500+ ABs for the first time in his career..

[Triple Naitch]

I'd give Josh Bell one more chance before signing Betemit.

[Droford]

Josh Bell sucks, Ive seen enough of him. 2 years, 78 Ks in 220 AB, .200 hitter, 3 HR (all in 2010)..

[Triple Naitch]

Nelson Cruz, Alex Gordon, and Mike Morse all needed time in the majors too before they fully developed.

[Droford]

I really do like the Os lineup..

2B Roberts(if he actually plays)/Andino
SS Hardy
RF Markakis
CF Jones
C Wieters
3B Reynolds
1B Davis
DH Betemit
LF Reimold

I dont think the Offense should be a problem..but the projected Rotation?
Guthrie (obvious #1, all the rest can be anywhere from 2-5, I have no clue really)
Arrieta
Britton
Wei Yin Chen
Tsuyoshi Wada

I think Koji comes back so he can have 2 Japanese teamates to talk with on the bench lol

Heres Wei Yin Chen from 2009
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/2FqQXZCGC8c" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Heres Tsuyoshi Wada from 2010
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/OhzxuFPiNio" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Triple Naitch]

Wei Yin Chen is from Taiwan. Way to be culturally sensitive. :y:

[Hanso Amore]

Thats just Droford

There is only American, Blacks, Japanese and Mexicans in his mind.

(yes, he only considers Whites AMERICAN)

[Droford]

he played in Japan..whatever

[ClockShot]

Evening round-up (from mlbtraderumors.com):

Nats sign Brad Lidge. 1-year, $1 mil. plus incentives.

Quiet day today.

[ClockShot]

Evening Round-up (from mlbtraderumors.com):

Red Sox sign John Maine to a minor league deal.

Phillies avoid arb. with Hunter Pence. 1-year, $10.4 mil. They also sign Juan Pierre to a minor league deal with an invite to spring training.

Astros sign Zach Duke to a minor league with with an invite to spring training.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Mets sign Matt Tuiasosopo to a minor league deal, no Spring invite. Could have sworn he was a highly touted Mariners prospect at one point.</font>

[ClockShot]

Evening round-up (from mlbtraderumors.com):

Alot of the sports media outlets jumped the gun saying Roy Oswalt was on his way to the Cardinals today. That's not the case, GM John Mozeliak said he got no deal on the table for him yet.

Edwin Jackson has a few 3-year offers on his table right now.

Finally, new news on the Dodgers sale. Bidding has moved into round 2. Mark Cuban and the group headed by Orel Hershiser are out of the running. Notables making it into the 2nd round are Stan Kroenke, Magic Johnson's group, Joe Torre's group, and former Dodgers owner Peter O'Malley.

[ClockShot]

Evening round-up (from mlbtraderumors.com):

Yankees are in "serious" talks with utlity man Bill Hall. No deal on the table, yet.

Pat Burrell is calling it a career.

Rangers reward manager Ron Washington with another extension. He's staying there until 2014.

[MVP]

Blue Jays signed Francisco Cordero out of the bargain bin for 1 year, $4.5 million.

[Innovator]

Rangers reward manager Ron Washington with another extension. He's staying there until 2014.

Deadspin gets to keep the coke jokes acoming.

[Emperor Smeat]

Looks like Red Sox won't be able to avoid arbitration with David Ortiz with nothing set until at least next week for the earliest date between both groups. Alfredo Aceves is the only other player on the team with arbitration rights although the team is still undecided on to give him an offer, go to a hearing, or just release him.

MLB is having problems finalizing the new playoff structure to be ready for the 2012 season although both sides think a decision will be made before the final March 1st deadline.

[ClockShot]

Evening round-up (from mlbtraderumors.com):

As MVP stated, it's pretty much bargain bin shopping until the last 2 big free agents, Edwin Jackson and Roy Oswalt find homes. Well, that and who's gonna pony up for Cespedes. Here's the notables.

Micah Owings to the Padres. 1-year deal.

Yankees sign fromer Cubs GM Jim Hendry to the front office. He's a "special assignment scout".

[Droford]

Os signed Casey Fossum to a minor league contract.

DD must have a crush on him or something...

[weather vane]

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/398455_10150493082756006_7331091005_9067848_1388176220_n.jpg

Sick Zebra Cubs pants.

ZUBAZ PANTS MAN

[Droford]

Edwin Jackson to the Nationals, 1 year for 10 million

Os were offering 3 years and the guy takes 1 year from the Nats. ugh

[Dragon]

Nice deal for only 1 year. Can't believe the Red Sox wouldn't up their offer to $10M when its only a one year deal.

I can't imagine Lester-Beckett-Buchholz-Bard-Aceves strikes a ton of confidence in Red Sox fans.

Nationals have a nice rotation - Strasburg-Zimmerman-Gonzalez-Jackson-Lannon/Wang/Detwiler.

[Droford]

The most annoying thing ever is that Peter Angelos can sit back and watch the Nats slowly turn into a playoff contending team while the Orioles somehow keep finding ways to sink further down into the depths of "out of contention by the end of May" hell and he still makes money off the Nats because of the stupid MASN contract.

[OssMan]

Nats are not turning into a playoff contending team

[Droford]

I could see it happening, if not this year next year definitely

[Supreme Olajuwon]

NL East is pretty loaded this year.

#lolmets :'(

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Yeah, I really can't see how the Mets avoid the cellar this year. Everybody else in the division has improved, especially in pitching. The Mets have easily the worst rotation in the division and even though they keep saying they expect Johan to go on Opening Day, a bunch of writers are expecting him to be out until like July...just because it's the Mets and their medical track record is horrid.

Gonna be a rough year. Hopefully the Giants can win on Sunday and tide me over until September.</font> :o

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>In more important news, Josh Hamilton had alcohol on Monday and relapsed. Damn. There goes his long-term deal.</font>

[Innovator]

Stop it, do not drag Big Blue into your hopes on the Mets. DO NOT DO THAT TO ME.

[Hanso Amore]

Reading some articles on Hamilton. Legit want to kill these fucking bloggers and reporters. No compassion.

[Evil Vito]

Stop it, do not drag Big Blue into your hopes on the Mets. DO NOT DO THAT TO ME.

<font color=goldenrod>You have the annual Yankees playoff appearance to look forward to whether the Giants win or not...I don't. :mad:

Go Big Blue</font>

[Supreme Olajuwon]

#NewYorkProblems

[Innovator]

#ALLIN

[Droford]

The LA Times (http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-0205-baseball-free-agents-20120205,0,4931350,full.story) has this to say about the Best/Worst FA Starting Pitcher contracts:

Starting pitcher

Best: Wei-Yin Chen, three years, $9.3 million, Baltimore.

A sleeper pick, the Taiwanese left-hander has a 93-mph fastball, a hard, slurve-like breaking ball and the potential to be a No. 3 starter. Chen, 26, pitched in Japan last season, with a 2.68 earned run average in 1642/3 innings for the Chunichi Dragons (http://www.latimes.com/topic/sports/football/new-york-dragons-ORSPT000196.topic).

Worst: Yu Darvish, six years, $56 million in salary plus a $51.7-million posting fee, Texas.

The lanky right-hander has ace-like potential, but the Rangers (http://www.latimes.com/topic/sports/baseball/texas-rangers-ORSPT000029.topic) are sinking $108 million — the most spent on a free-agent right-hander — into a player who has never thrown a big league pitch.

Some think Darvish, 25, who played most of his games in domed stadiums, will struggle to adjust to sweltering Texas summers.

I cant believe that DD and the Os made an actual sensible FA contract..of course they get panned for signing Betemit in the same article despite the fact that hes not playing 3b and there were only 3 FA 3B that signed major league contracts so far..

[ClockShot]

Pfft. They obviously forgot about Kei Igawa.

You guys hear what's going on with Brian Cashman?

[Triple Naitch]

Looks like Cash was a naughty naughty boy.

[Damian Rey]

Rockies hose the O's for Jeremy Guthrie, giving Baltimore Jason Hammel and Matt Lindstrom as compensation. What a terrible, terrible deal for the Orioles.

Rockies made good here. Guthrie has put respectable numbers despite pitching in a supercharged division. Coming over to the NL will help shave his ERA down. Add to that he gets to pitch in 3 of the best pitcher parks (Dodger Stadium, AT&T and PETCO) and it looks even better. I could see him knocking nearly an entire run off his ERA.

Meanwhile, Baltimore loses it's most reliable pitcher for a starter who's only going to get worse pitching in the AL East, and middle reliever who throws hard and could be a setup man. I am baffled as to what the point of this was. Hammel and Lindstrom have about as much team control as Guthrie, and while Guthrie makes more money, he's far more reliable and the Orioles got zero long term value for their best pitching asset.

[Skippord]

woooooooooooooo Guthrie

WAR DAN O' DOWD

[Skippord]

also praise Satan for getting rid of Jason Hammel

[Droford]

Rockies hose the O's for Jeremy Guthrie, giving Baltimore Jason Hammel and Matt Lindstrom as compensation. What a terrible, terrible deal for the Orioles.

Rockies made good here. Guthrie has put respectable numbers despite pitching in a supercharged division. Coming over to the NL will help shave his ERA down. Add to that he gets to pitch in 3 of the best pitcher parks (Dodger Stadium, AT&T and PETCO) and it looks even better. I could see him knocking nearly an entire run off his ERA.

Meanwhile, Baltimore loses it's most reliable pitcher for a starter who's only going to get worse pitching in the AL East, and middle reliever who throws hard and could be a setup man. I am baffled as to what the point of this was. Hammel and Lindstrom have about as much team control as Guthrie, and while Guthrie makes more money, he's far more reliable and the Orioles got zero long term value for their best pitching asset.

Guts is a curse to the offense on the day he pitches. Just you watch.

People are pointing out that Hammel pitched better on the road than at Coors Field, his ERA was almost full run lower (4.28 vs 5.20). Not sure if that matters much since OPACY is probably on even par with Coors Field..

[ClockShot]

Evening round-up (from mlbtraderumors.com):

Since there hasn't been anything newsworthy these past few days look for this to start winding down as Spring Training gets closer and closer. I'll still get the major bits in.

Just that one trade went down today. Here's a few other dodads.

Brad Penny is taking his talents to Japan. Signed a 1-year, $4.5 mil. deal with and extra $3.5 mil. in incentives. There's also a $4.5 mil. option attached. It's mutual for now, but if he hits 150IP or wins 12 games it becomes a player option.

Mariners sign Hong-Chih Cuo to a 1-year major league deal.

Finally, Yankees are in serious discussion with Raul Ibanez. He'll take less money to come play. That should wrap up their offseason if they get a deal with him.

[Droford]

I cannot believe the Os are considering Manny Ramirez.

http://www.prospectnation.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/machado.jpg

The only Manny that should be coming to baltimore.

[Damian Rey]

I'm guessing that's Machado. And why is Guthrie a curse? This how I looked at the trade before deciding I liked it (A LOT) better for the Rox;

Guthrie has been a steady innings eater with decent or slightly better numbers pitching in not only a hitter's park but a ridiculously talented division and was arguably the O's most reliable pitcher.

Hammel, despite getting to throw in a division stacked with pitcher friendly confines, has put up lackluster numbers to the point that he was demoted to bullpen duty last year and was a non tender candidate waiting to happen. He's not going to all of a sudden do even marginally better in a much more demanding division.

I read that the O's GM feels that Hammel will replace Guthrie's innings, even though Hammel has never even totaled 180 innings in a single season.

[Triple Naitch]

I would rather see the O's put Tommy "Big Game" Hunter in the rotation and put Hammel in the pen.

[Droford]

If I had to guess, the Os rotation will now probably look like this:

Britton/Hunter/Wada/Arrietta/Chen rotation now if I had to bet with Hunter/Britton flip flopping depending on whether Buck wants to reward performance (Britton) or experience (Hunter) with the #1 spot.

Outside of Chen/Wada who have 88 starts in Japan each, Hunter has 55 career starts and Eveland has 59 starts..but I doubt Eveland sniffs the rotation out of ST, all the rest have way fewer.

[Innovator]

Britton is no joke

[Droford]

Thinking about it, if Im Eveland/Galaraga/Hammel and I can't even make the Os rotation out of ST, I think I might just retire lol.

[ClockShot]

Evening round-up (from mlbtraderumors.com):

Yoenis Cespedes may have residency at the Dominican Republic, but the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control still has him blocked. As of now, he can agree to a major league deal. But he can't sign one.

Dodgers and Clayton Kershaw avoid arb. 2-years, $19 mil.

Yankees sign Bill Hall to a minor league deal. He gets a $600k salary if he makes it to the bigs plus incentives on plate appearances. He can opt out if he isn't on the major league roster on April 4th.

Finally, Beaneball continues in Oakland. A's GM Billy Beane and President Mike Crowley have agreed to extensions that will keep them in Oakland (or San Jose if the stadium deal goes through) until 2019.

[Droford]

Os are close on Nick Johnson to a minor league deal.

*shakes head*

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Rich Harden out for 2012 following shoulder surgery. Why does he even bother trying at this point? Probably should just retire.</font>

[Supreme Olajuwon]

hey if people would wanna keep throwing those guaranteed MLB contracts at me, I'd keep playing too

[Triple Naitch]

If Mark Prior is gonna keep trying, why not Harden?

[Triple Naitch]

Forgot about Brandon Webb too. That fucker fell off the face of the planet.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

Ben Sheets

[Triple Naitch]

Gorgeous Mark Mulder