The official MLB offseason thread!

[DaveWadding]

No, he's not. He's going to the Cubs :) [/wishful thinking]

[VonErich Lives]

All the talk is Mets... knowing Borus, I wouldn't be shocked if he's just using the Mets and he goes to the Yanks.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

he's going to the Mets as of this afternoon

7 years, 119 million

[Loose Cannon]

Subway Series WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[Terra Ryzin]

its unofficial but reports are the Mets and Beltran have reached and agreement, he will take his physical tommorow and the signing will be monday. its up on mlb.com

and as a Mets fan i just need to add.....OH FUCK YEAH!!!!

[Loose Cannon]

lol, real Mets fans

[Terra Ryzin]

i dont think the mets are done yet either, i wont be surpised at all if they sign Delgado by the end of the week or make the trade for Manny.

[John la Rock]

Meet the Mets, meet the Mets, come on in and Meet the Mets!!!

[BCWWF]

The Mets still wouldn't be amazing I bet though, look at A-Rod on Texas, a few superstars cant do it all, you need a solid team of all good players. They need Shinjo back.

[House of Pancakes]

the mets needed beltran. they needed a franchise player, and they got one. i'm no mets fan, but signing pedro and beltran is certainly a good off-season. they won't be great nxt year, but they should be competitive and return to .500 form, and prepare themselves to make a couple more moves next year. they're still a handful of players away from being a great team. their bullpen still sucks, and anybody other than beltran in the lineup is a liability.

[BCWWF]

What is their starting rotation?

[DaveWadding]

Pedro-Glavine-Trachsel-Benson-Zambrano

[BCWWF]

Thats not a bad rotation actually

[MVP]

I had no idea Mets picked up Zambrano.

[Excellance of Execution]

I had no idea Mets picked up Zambrano.
Not sure if you know, but i think they have Victor Zambrano, whom they got from Tampa Bay last year. Carlos Zambrano is still with the Cubbies.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Mets :cool:

Damn, their lineup is actually looking pretty solid.

Jose Reyes at SS, David Wright at 3B, and Carlos Beltran at CF are the future of the team for a long time.

Plus, Cameron at RF and Floyd at LF isn't horrible. Matsui should hopefully fit in well at 2B. Piazza's gonna be the full-time catcher again, and he can still produce if he stays healthy.

Now the only question is 1B, will they make another signing and get Delgado? Let Jason Phillips start again and hope he can return to his 2003 ways? Focus on the future and go with Craig Brazell?

They've got a solid rotation, and they are also working on their bullpen.

I can't wait.</font> :cool:

[VonErich Lives]

Well, Randy Johnson had a memorable start to his Yankees career.

what an ass.

[MrMeJW]

Well, Randy Johnson had a memorable start to his Yankees career.

what an ass.
Looks like he will fit right in.

[House of Pancakes]

<font color=goldenrod>Mets :cool:

Damn, their lineup is actually looking pretty solid.

Jose Reyes at SS, David Wright at 3B, and Carlos Beltran at CF are the future of the team for a long time.

Plus, Cameron at RF and Floyd at LF isn't horrible. Matsui should hopefully fit in well at 2B. Piazza's gonna be the full-time catcher again, and he can still produce if he stays healthy.

Now the only question is 1B, will they make another signing and get Delgado? Let Jason Phillips start again and hope he can return to his 2003 ways? Focus on the future and go with Craig Brazell?

They've got a solid rotation, and they are also working on their bullpen.

I can't wait.</font> :cool:

the mets still have so many questions.

will david wright, jose reyes, and kaz matsui produce? floyd is injury-prone, cameron sucked last year, piazza is on his last legs. aside from beltran, they have no other guarantees in their lineup.

pedro will probably do well, but he's always a question. glavine is 38 and had a horrible second half [like he always does], zambrano has no control. their bullpen is a piece of shit, and braden looper can't close.

[MrMeJW]

http://www.newyorkpost.com/img/front011105.gif

[The Outlaw]

lol RJ is the man

Big ass redneck but he is the man

[John la Rock]

http://www.newyorkpost.com/img/front011105.gif

that was uncalled for but I'm glad he apologized

can't wait to see Randy pitch at the Dome against my Jays :cool:

[VonErich Lives]

that was uncalled for but I'm glad he apologized

can't wait to see Randy pitch at the Dome against my Jays :cool:

Can't wait for opening day in Fenway Park.

Just hope Schill is healthy...

Schill v. Johnson, opening day at fenway, sox get the rings and raise the flag...

[Loose Cannon]

NEW YORK. WHAT!!!!

[VonErich Lives]

NEW YORK. WHAT!!!!

Nice Avatar... :love:

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

How could he even be mad there. It was one camera and you just signed a 32 million dollar extension. I could see if there was tons of cameras, or they were really "invading" his space, but he was just walking down the street in public.

[Excellance of Execution]

I found this on Yahoo Sport's about Carlos Beltran's contract. Baseball Contract's make me sick!! :rant:

Beltran Contract Details


January 11, 2005
NEW YORK (AP) -- Details of the $119 million, seven-year contract Carlos Beltran and the New York Mets agreed to Tuesday:

Signing bonus-- $11 million ($7 million payable upon approval, $2 million each in January 2006 and January 2007)

2005-- $10 million

ADVERTISEMENT


2006-- $12 million

2007-- $12 million

2008-- $18.5 million, of which $8.5 million deferred

2009-- $18.5 million, of which $8.5 million deferred

2010-- $18.5 million, of which $8.5 million deferred

2011-- $18.5 million, of which $8.5 million deferred

Deferred money


Will accrue 1.17 percent compounded interest

Award bonuses


MVP-- $500,000

Second MVP-- $1 million

Third MVP and all MVPs thereafter-- $1.5 million

MVP 2nd through 5th place-- $200,000

All-Star-- $100,000

Most All-Star votes in league-- $100,000

Postseason All-Star or player of the year-- $100,000

World Series MVP-- $250,000

League championship series MVP-- $150,000

Gold Glove-- $100,000

Silver Slugger-- $100,000

Hank Aaron Award-- $100,000

Perks


Best available 15-person luxury suite for all home games

[MVP]

Not sure if you know, but i think they have Victor Zambrano, whom they got from Tampa Bay last year. Carlos Zambrano is still with the Cubbies.
I figured it was Victor actually.

[VonErich Lives]

Someone tell me about Shea Stadium, cause it seems every new signing has a luxury suit clause.

I loved A-rods, I think he had or tried to have a "private office" at the ball park for his/his peoples use.

[BCWWF]

Victor isn't bad though, if he is the Mets 5th starter then they have a really deep starting 5. They only have one really strong guy, but they have no real weak points.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Yeah, Victor did great in his only full start as a Met, so I'm not too worried.

I haven't noticed many control problems in said start, but hopefully Rick Peterson can cure them if they're still there.</font>

[Loose Cannon]

I don't know. The Mets rotation seems shakey to me. You got Glavine, who's hasn't pitched well the last two seasons. You got Benson, who's not the most realiable guy. And then Zambrano is another ?. The rotation looks decent on paper, but I can see it just collapsing.

[BCWWF]

Look who's talking though

[Loose Cannon]

yeah, but when you have an offense that can score 15 runs a game, I can talk :)

[BCWWF]

Touche

[The Outlaw]

Glavine has had like one bad year the past 5. Which was 2003. Last year he pitched very well from what I remember. 3.60 ERA or so, that isn't too bad.

[DaveWadding]

yeah, but when you have an offense that can score 15 runs a game, I can talk :)
Hey, when the Yankees start scoring 15 a game, call me.

[Loose Cannon]

hmmm, thinking about taking a trip home April 3rd.

[MVP]

Mets now looking to obtain Delgado.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=mlb&id=1966460

He's worth at least $100 mil this year. I'm surprised to see the Mets capitalizing on so many valuable free agents. I doubt it's gonna help them out in the long run. Marlins are also looking at Delgado, I'm curious to see where this goes.

[Yashamaga]

I don't know. The Mets rotation seems shakey to me. You got Glavine, who's hasn't pitched well the last two seasons. You got Benson, who's not the most realiable guy. And then Zambrano is another ?. The rotation looks decent on paper, but I can see it just collapsing.


Glavine had a very good year

[BCWWF]

It looks like Delgado got a real good offer from Texas now. If he goes they have a real, real solid batting order, but they still need to address their pitching inadequacies. I heard in the past they might trade Soriano for pitching, if they got Delgado and moved Taxiera to second or else short and moved Young back to second...I dunno

[John la Rock]

Delgado has signed with the Florida Marlins, 4 year 52 Million

[BCWWF]

I kind of wish he'd gone to Texas, but meh. Twins singed some new minor league pitcher today!!!!!!!!!!!!

[House of Pancakes]

Glavine had a very good year

no, glavine had a very good half-year, then realized he was 39 and fell apart in the second half.

[FakeLaser]

Florida is gonna be the shit this year, well, if their pitching stays healthy. Pretty sick lineup. Beckett, Burnett, Willis, Leiter and Valdez is a pretty decent rotation too. Could take the NL East.

[BCWWF]

Oh I forgot about them, the Mets are going to have to overachieve

[Terra Ryzin]

reports are Mets and Sox have a deal to send Doug Mientkiewicz to NY for a for a Class A minor leager.

I like the move. It adds a great defensive 1b to a young infeild of Wright, Reyes and Matsui. They should be fun to watch together.

[BCWWF]

You are the first guy I've seen who spells it right!

Anyway, I liked Mienkie on the BoSox, I'm not seeing him in the Mets uniform yet. I look at a guy like Doug as a gruff scrappy ball player and I look at the Mets as a civilized big city team. They should trade him again to the Indians or Reds.

[Astley316]

Ive allready put some money on the marlins to win the world series at 50/1 they didnt look a bad bet, they got speed and power in their line up with Castillo and Pierre, then you got power with Cabrerra, lowell, LoDuca, and now Delgado, plus with Alex Gonzalez who will always get you a few home runs a season, we look like last years problem where runs were a factor in us missing out on the playoffs is sorted, and though i think we will miss Pavano, if Beckket and AJ Bunrnett can step up and have a big year, as well as the Dtrain, hopefully we should give the braves some comeptiton

[VonErich Lives]

yeah, I hear douggie going to the Mets.

Word is Millar has been working on his defense all offseason.

If Millar can step up and be a good (not great) but good 1B then you gotta keep him and his bat.

[Loose Cannon]

Word is Millar has been working on his defense all offseason.

LOL, what is this an uncommon thing for him? Doesn't everybody practice during the offseason? I mean you do it since Little League.

[BCWWF]

Know who I completely forgot about so far in the offseason...Magglio Ordonez, if he ends up on the Mets too that would be a huge step for mankind.

[VonErich Lives]

LOL, what is this an uncommon thing for him? Doesn't everybody practice during the offseason? I mean you do it since Little League.

Not everyone does and it's all different levels.

That being said, Wade Boggs was a horrible fielder and made himself a gold-glover.

Millar is a horrible fielder, will be interesting to see how he improves.

[House of Pancakes]

Ive allready put some money on the marlins to win the world series at 50/1 they didnt look a bad bet, they got speed and power in their line up with Castillo and Pierre, then you got power with Cabrerra, lowell, LoDuca, and now Delgado, plus with Alex Gonzalez who will always get you a few home runs a season, we look like last years problem where runs were a factor in us missing out on the playoffs is sorted, and though i think we will miss Pavano, if Beckket and AJ Bunrnett can step up and have a big year, as well as the Dtrain, hopefully we should give the braves some comeptiton

how does paul lo duca supply power?

[The Outlaw]

Yeah seriously. He had one good year when he hit 20+. He doesn't even average 10 a year. :|

[BCWWF]

He probably just mistyped, but Lo Duca is a very solid catcher to have. I would rather have him then most catchers in the league. Not Joe Mauer though :)

[Astley316]

I Just think with all his RBi's last season Lo Duca, can only help us, last year we got our starting three, on base, then it kinda went flat, and we wern't able to drive them home, Lo Duca helped with that problem as we were able to stay comeptitive once he signed, im not saying he's gonna be huge or anything, but after the loss of Pudge, we really struggled at the catcher postion, and now he's signed up i think he'll help,
but hey i only catch three weeks of baseball a year, cause im english so maybe im wrong

[DaveWadding]

hey i only catch three weeks of baseball a year, cause im english so maybe im wrong
Sucks to be you. Baseball is my life from March (cause I live where they do Spring Training) to October.

[Astley316]

yeah, it's gonna be mine too, when i move to the states, just a pity i wont arrive, til the world series, ah maybe ill shell out the cash and get the games on mlb.com

[BCWWF]

http://espn-att.starwave.com/media/mlb/2005/0128/photo/sosatraded_ft.jpg

[Excellance of Execution]

Man, with the Orioles possible getting Sosa, it's going to make the A.L. East a very competitive division. You have a revamped Yankee's team, Champion Red Sox team and know a very dangerous looking lineup for Baltimore. THe only thing there missing (and i think will be the reason they won't win the east) is pitching. I can't wait for this year to begin.

**On an off note, does anybody know when yahoo fantasy baseball starts?

[BCWWF]

That sucks for the Devil Rays, because they have a really promising young lineup but for them to ever even make the playoffs is such a long shot. If they didn't play in the Tropicana Field I would have more sympathy though.

[John la Rock]

Man, with the Orioles possible getting Sosa, it's going to make the A.L. East a very competitive division. You have a revamped Yankee's team, Champion Red Sox team and know a very dangerous looking lineup for Baltimore. THe only thing there missing (and i think will be the reason they won't win the east) is pitching. I can't wait for this year to begin.



what about the Jays? :(

If Halladay is healthy and Wells and Koskie are able to carry the offence. They could be competitive

[BCWWF]

Koskie can't carry an offense

[The Miz]

Sosa sucks

[BCWWF]

So the Tigers just signed Magglio Ordonez. I don't know why more teams didn't go after him this offseason, he is an elite outfielder. If the Tigers young pitching breaks through, they could really sneak up on some people.

Pudge, Carlos Guillen, Fernando Vina, Rondell White, Dmitri Young, I dunno, if nothing else they might be able to fill some seats in their stadium for a while.

[VonErich Lives]

Talked to a friend who lives in MD.

They're saying the Sosa deal had little to do w/ trying to win.

It didn't cost the O's much and it's helping them sell seats, people will pay to see Sosa and the team is worried about the Washington team taking fans/money.

[Loose Cannon]

^^BINGO. Funny, I did a marketing presentation last semester on the Nationals moving to DC and I was talking about the pros and cons for both the Orioles and Nationals. One of the things I said was that the Nationals would NEED a standout player, which fans would pay to see. I was thinking Sosa as one of thse guys at the time and the Orioles get him. Good move though

[PsychoSport]

That sucks for the Devil Rays, because they have a really promising young lineup but for them to ever even make the playoffs is such a long shot. If they didn't play in the Tropicana Field I would have more sympathy though.

The Devil Rays are retarded. They have a shitload of young players, but instead of giving them playing time, they sign a bunch of has-beens like Alomar and never-wases like Bautista and Gonzalez.

[Adder]

I want some baseball. :mad:

[House of Pancakes]

what about the Jays? :(

If Halladay is healthy and Wells and Koskie are able to carry the offence. They could be competitive

how the hell is toronto gonna be competitive?

halladay is great when he's healthy, but they have no bullpen and no starters after halladay [lilly is decent]. wells and koskie carrying an offense? koskie's never hit more than 25 homeruns in his life and he's an aging third baseman, and though wells is good, he had a fluke year in 2003. they lost delgado and they now have nothing but bare bones left. i can see the blue jays winning 60 games this season.

[BCWWF]

Koskie is much more of a defensive third basemen, take that from a guy who watched him everyday.