Red Sox negotiating with 1B Adam LaRoche as a backup plan should the Napoli deal fall apart because of the big concerns over his hip.

Should the Nats sign LaRoche then the Red Sox willing to make a deal to get Michael Morse from them. Probably wouldn't involve any high level prospects or draft picks since the Red Sox need both to rebuild their farm system.

If I'm the Nats I say goodbye to Laroche. He was a nice player for them last year, but at his age, how many more years like are left in the tank? I think they'd be better off with a younger, cheaper Morse.

The Nats have zero left handed power without Laroche.

except Bryce Harper

I like a lot of those new batting practice hats. Might get an A's one

Laroche is tied to draft pick compensation isnt he? That gives the Nats a considerable advantage.

Agree. I also like the Astros and Nationals caps. Kinda reminds me of the old Expos hats.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8081/8...743eabdc63.jpg


http://www.cheapsnapbacksclubs.com/images/3046_p.jpg

<font color=goldenrod>Draft pick compensation is why teams have been weary of signing guys like Soriano too. A first round pick for a closer is pretty difficult to justify unless he really is the final piece.</font>

For the Tigers, though, I think Soriano is the final piece. They have everything except for a dominant closer. I wouldn't trust a 300 lb. rookie closer for a championship caliber team, but then again I've never managed in the big leagues.

Thought you guys were talking about Alfonso Soriano and got really confused.

Think you pretty much nailed it here. I would think their confidence would be higher in someone like Soriano, especially for a team of Detroits caliber, who is only missing someone competent in that spot.

Plus, they have the money to pay him. I think risking a 1st round pick for the possibility of a championship or two is worth it. The team is young enough and constructed to be good enough for a few more years. Rolling the dice is something I would do here.

h8 the white C on the Cubs BP hats. like the new DBacks one though, even though I just scored the old one for $10.

Always was a fan of the expos logo. Never was a big jersey purchaser but I love my powder blue Andre Dawson Expos road jersey.

Get lots of odd reactions when I sport it.

Feel burned out on baseball right now which is odd. Can't remember the last time I felt like this. Every time I've tried to read an article or column over the last couple of weeks I just can't bring myself to finish it or absorb its contents.

Edit:

Wrong thread. Disregard.

Yes, this thread is such a hotbed of activity right now that a random baseball musing deserved to get shat on.

What?

Supposedly the Marlins have finally put Stanton on the trading block.

Can't even to begin to imagine how much he's going to cost. More than the Mets could possibly offer.

Oh, NOW they put Stanton out there. Yankees should have gotten in on him the minute the Blue Jays worked out their deal.

If that's true then Suprme can you please turn up the temperature on this f'n thread

ESPECIALLY if this is true:

http://m.espn.go.com/mlb/story?storyId=8789519

Uggie "Human Torch" Urbina

Endy Chavez signs a minor league deal with the Royals.

Red Sox haved worked out Bobby Abreu down in Venezuela and did some work at first base. It's said to be a "due diligence" move. *chuckles*

Sounds like they probably are close to screwing up the potential Napoli and LaRoche deals considering Abreu never played 1B before.

Good thing there isn't a wall or warning track he'll have to frequent if playing First base.

Royals sign Miguel Tejada to a 1-year, $1.1 mil. minor league deal. With $400k in incentives.

Here's the catch. There's no room on the 40 man roster for him right now, as soon as their is, it gets converted into a major league deal.

I think something snapped in Dayton Moore's head ever since he made that deal with the Rays.

Triple U!

Booo. Sox should already have gotten him.

Hate the nationals stupid walgreens logo

Indians sign Brett Myers to a 1-year deal.

Rays and David Price avoid arbitration. 1-year deal.

Signing all those former orioles..Guthrie, Chen, George sherrill, tejada, endy chavez

Kc is like the Midwest orioles..

I think they should give first consideration to a reliever they already have in the bullpen who performed way above and beyond Valverde’s shitty efforts in the postseason. I’ve been thinking it could be a good idea to try Phil Coke as a closer. He did pretty well as I recall.

I liked Phil Coke as a NYY. He probably deserves at least a look.

Astros-Rangers got chosen for the national Sunday night game on Opening Day this year.

The other choices were Red Sox at Yanks and Dodgers at Giants (LA refused since original plans was Giants at LA before MLB wanted a switch because SF was the champs).

Astros are not ready for this in-state rivalry MLB cooked up. Maybe in a few years, but not yet.

Not to be a homer, but Sox/Yanks is always a safe bet. Yeah the games go about 5 hours, but still.

I can understand the branding of a "new rivalry," but that as the Primetime kickoff game is complete poppycock.

Damn, I forgot.

It was 40 years ago today.......

Rangers sign Jason Frasor 1 year 1.5 mill. Good reliever. Just can't handle pressure.

I can see the Jays finishing ahead of the Yankees this year.

http://i.imgur.com/xgE10l.jpg

<font color=goldenrod>MLB Network really needs some more progressive minds to go along with Brian Kenny. Also Billy Ripken must be Dusty Baker's biggest fan.</font>

Nothing like Matt Vasgersian's brand of humor, I really like the guy. As for Kenny, I think I would like him more if he didn't portray himself so authoritatively and unquestionably right due to sabermetrics. I think there's a place for them in baseball, but they are not the be all and end all.

I don't understand how you can be mad at a statistic.

Bill James is a modern day Galileo.

Not the statistic, but the God-complex attitude people that spout off the statistics. Sabermetrics are fine but are not law and people who think that ONLY sabermetrics matter are very condescending. That's my only issue.

Rangers sign Lance Berkman to a 1 year. $10 million with an option for a second year. Will play mostly as a DH for the Rangers this season.

Apparently the DBacks are talking to the Padres about Justin Upton for Chase Headley. :|

apparently Justin Upton is going to be traded to every team before he's traded to one

The Headley/Upton trade was updated as not being a fit. Thank God. That wouldve ben a lateral move for both teams. I'd love Upton, but not for Headley.

Dude, Justin Upton hit a HR to the upper deck of the Western Metal Supply Co. and you would rather have Chase Headley? :|

I said I wouldn't trade Headley for Upton. One homerun means nothing. And really how does a team get better by trading one good player for another? The Padres don't get better making that move, so I wouldn't make it. Now, if they're adding Upton to a team that still has Quentin and Healey, I'm all for it, depending on who they have to give up.

Justin Upton is a future MVP. Chase Headley has had one good season.

I agree. But he's under contract for one more year longer than Headley is under control through arbitration. The Padres, adding Upton in exchange for Headley, are not any better than they were with Headley and without Upton.

The Padres might, MIGHT compete in one of the next three years, if their prospects pan out. I doubt they have the funds to sign Upton to a deal over 5-7 years worth $20 mil/year when his current contract is up. Not worth it unless Upton is being added on to a team with Headley still on it.

It Stinks!

LaRoche signs with the Nats for two years. Good deal for Washington since they stuck to their guns on a two year deal and got who they wanted for what they wanted.

Rangers expect Ian Kinsler to remain at second base; Profar likely headed for minors
0 10

comments (3)
By Evan Grant/Blogger
egrant@dallasnews.com
9:04 pm on January 7, 2013 | Permalink

ARLINGTON – In addition to announcing the signing of Lance Berkman on Monday to be the team’s primary DH, Rangers GM Jon Daniels also tried to clear up the muddled roster picture.

Here’s the breakdown on what he said:

1. Ian Kinsler, who was at one point likely headed for a move from second to first, will almost certainly remain at second base.

2. Mitch Moreland will get a shot to play first base full-time.

3. Jurickson Profar will get a shot to win a job this spring, but the club is open to returning him to the minor leagues if such an opportunity doesn’t present itself.

“We’ve got a lot of different guys and a lot of different attractive options,” Daniels said shortly after introducing Berkman. “The reality is that we have a really attractive young option in Profar, but we will let things play out. If it happens naturally that things play out that way, that’s usually better. We’re not going to try to manipulate anything.”

In mid-December, Daniels indicated the team was leaning towards having Kinsler do a considerable amount of work during spring training at first base with the idea he could be the team’s regular first baseman. That would have created an opening for Profar and left Moreland in limbo.

Moreland, who will play the majority of the season at the age of 26 in 2013, has never gotten a full-time opportunity. He has been hurt for significant amounts of time in each of the last two years and when healthy, he’s had very few at-bats against left-handed hitters. Moreland is a left-handed hitter, had only 46 at-bats vs. lefties in 2012. He hit .239 with a .280 OBP. For his career, he is a .239 hitter with a .298 OBP and four homers in 177 career at-bats vs. lefties.





STUPID

<font color=goldenrod>The Mets have sent out invoices for All Star Game festivities. Everything (game, HR derby, Futures Game, Softball game, etc.) is being sold together as a package deal.

Fucking $723 for the worst seats at Citi Field</font> :|

How many did you buy?

In honor of tomorrow being the day the 2013 Baseball Hall of Fame inductees are announced, here is my 2013 Baseball Hall of Fame ballot:

1) Barry Bonds

2) Roger Clemens

3) Sammy Sosa

4) Curt Schilling

5) Jeff Bagwell

6) Craig Biggio

7) Mike Piazza

8) Rafael Palmeiro

9) Edgar Martinez

10) Fred McGriff

Bagwell, Biggio, Piazza, Edgar Martinez, Larry Walker.

Clearly you aren't on any Posting Enhancement drugs with this list. :)

Edgar's would be better if Schilling was included. #BloodySock.

As a Yankees fan I am genetically unable to even utter that man's name.

That's who I'd vote for.

But out of those ten, I think only Craig Biggio and Mike Piazza have a shot at making it later today.

And maybe Schilling.

<font color=goldenrod>None, the ASG would be fun to go to but I'm not shelling out that much for a glorified exhibition game.</font>

<font color=goldenrod>If Piazza doesn't get in, I fucking riot. Don't see how he couldn't be considered a first ballot guy unless the crotchety old voters decide that everybody who played in the 90's/early '00s automatically roided. Which given that Bagwell is inexplicably already on try #3 at getting into the Hall, it wouldn't be too surprising.</font>

<font color=goldenrod>The voters would be well advised to at least let some guys in this year, considering that next year there already figures to be more of a logjam (Maddux and Glavine are locks plus you have Thomas and Mussina to get debate as well).</font>

Frank Thomas is not a debate, the man is as close to a sure thing as you can get in the steroids era. His stats are nuts, and he's a naturally big, genetically freaked Bo Jakson type of guy. I remember when he was in Toronto and in the on-deck circle he would swing a 40lb rebar bar rather than a bat. Dude is just a monster

Love Frank Thomas. So good.

Agreed. But tell that to voters who will be all like. "A DH in the Hall? NOPE!!!" The HOF is mostly bulllshit at this point.

But, it counts now!!!

Nobody made it this year for the Hall. Craig Biggio was the closest at 68%.

Schillings did better than Clemens who did better than Bonds but all three did better than McGwire in the first year.

Terrible.

Disgusting.

Shut down the HOF. It is officially pointless.

What a joke.

These voters mean to tell us that no player who's in the HOF already used PED's back in the day, when they weren't illegal? That's a joke. I'm sure we have HOF'ers who used.

Figured Jack Morris would make it in. Next year is his last.

But yeah, crazy NOBODY is going in this year.

Everyone is outraged about these hats and yet no one is talking about the HOF

MLB To Introduce “Interview Caps.” You Know, For Interviews.

http://deadspin.com/5974474/mlb-to-i...for-interviews



http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/17sm.../avt-small.jpg Barry Petchesky

How funny! I was just saying to myself the other day, "MLB needs more caps. Sure, they've got home caps, road caps, alternate caps, throwback caps, second alternate caps, batting practice caps, road batting practice caps, fashion caps, and playoff caps for each round, but that's not nearly enough caps. If only someone could make some more caps."
Someone heard my prayer, because Uni Watch's Paul Lukas is reporting that MLB will be introducing "Interview Caps" for every team. The Mets' cap, seen above, is the only one to come out so far, so we'll leave the style critiques to the experts (it's hideous). Instead we'll ask: What the hell is this thing for?
According to MetsBro, a blogger who first leaked the design yesterday,

"From what I hear its purpose is to be worn during interviews and off-the-field stuff (charity events, blood drives, etc.). Unlike the NHL's version, however, it will not be mandatory for players/coaches to wear the cap during interviews. It's more if just a ‘Here if you want it' type of thing."

As pointed out, the NHL already has specific caps for players to wear when meeting with the media, and the NFL will fine anyone who doesn't wear officially licensed gear. So the fact that MLB's interview caps aren't mandatory would seem benevolent. But then—why bother at all? To have more caps, dummy! It'd be foolish to have fewer caps, and to keep the same number of caps? Well, that's no solution at all! More caps! More caps is the only way! Caps available for sale at your team's clubhouse store, or online at MLB.com. Caps! Caps for everyone! Buy more caps and support America!




http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/18ay...g/original.jpg

Fitted trucker caps with a pre-worn bill! Hell yeah! Best day ever.

So if a player is taking batting practice during spring training, and a reporter asks for a quick interview, he's gonna run into the clubhouse, get his "interview cap", and come back out?

if they wanna look fly they will

you know that's right

Pretty pathetic nobody got in this year. They need to expand the people who can vote. They should include more members of the media other than just nerdy baseball writers.

I would just have HOF members vote. They know what it takes to do Spring Training, play 162 games (or 154), play the LDS, LCS, and World Series. They know what it takes to have a HOF career.

I don't want fucking Howard Bryant turning in an empty ballot as he did this time around. That's a joke.

I do not like the rumored 3 team trade where the orioles get some scrubs from the cubs, the tigers get jj hardy and the cubs get porcello

Think they already do that with the Veterans Committee and end up just like the writers when it comes to be stringent towards new members.

Then again I think they are worse overall unless its a specialty year the MLB promotes (ex. Negro Leagues year, etc).

Kosuke Fukudome goes home to Japan. Signed with the Hanshin Tigers for 3-years, $5.5 mil.

Can't remember the last time so many players picked up sticks and went to play for Japan. Alot of Japanese born players are going back and and good chunk of MLB talent is going over as well this offseason.

Good, Andruw Jones is not welcome here.

As for the HOF voting today, I have to say I knew something like this would happen and I don't begrudge voters for punishing these guys for a year or two, because eventually most will probably get in. Peeved at how they treated Biggio, Bagwell, Piazza and Edgar but it is what it is. As for Morris, Murphy, Schilling and Mattingly--- they are just not good enough. I was against Santo and Jim Rice going in because I feel you have to draw a line where there are best players NOT in the HOF, and the velvet line starts with guys like that. The exclusivity of MLB's HOF is what makes it more special than the others. No-name guys and filler go into the NFL's because they have to have 7-8 guys every year and it diludes the accomplishment. The MLB might be strict, but I would rather that than include guys like Chris Hanburger, Charlie Wehrly and Charlie Sanders like the NFL has done. Anyway, Clemens, Bonds will get in eventually as will the other guys I mentioned (and hopefully Larry Walker) but it is what it is and I'm not going to cry about it, even Bernie Williams not making the 5%.

So dumb that some of these guys aren't getting in. Ridiculous.

http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/red-s...-got-hall-call

According to Curt Schilling, he believes that voters didn't elect anybody this year because they wanted to punish those who are believed to have used PED's as well as those that didn't, but didn't do anything to point out that PED use was going on.

I don't like it. These voters aren't supposed to send any messages. Their job is to elect those players whose numbers warrant being in the HOF. That simple. Any voter that wants to send a message can go write a blog.

You want to know how "seriously" these writers take voting people into the HOF?

Pete rose will get in before any of these guys just because he's probably gonna die first

Pete Rose is the best

Free Pete Rose!

If Pete Rose was ever reinstated, I'm sure these writers wouldn't vote for him the first time he appears on the ballot.

You know, just to send "a message".

Jack Morris should be in. One of the best if not the best big game pitchers of his era.

3.9 career era, 5k/9 career. Morris doesn't belong anywhere near the Hall. Schilling on the other hand, deserves the nod. As did Piazza and Biggio.

I hate the way things go down, making people wait,but until a newer, more modern writers get in, I think the current trend of guys waiting despite being worthy will continue.

If Pedro doesn't get in on the first ballot in 2015 I'm going to fucking riot.

Morris:
254-186
Three World Championships
World Series MVP.
5-Time All Star (before it became a fan-infected popularity contest)
21-win season in his 16th year in the league.

Deserves it.

No he does not. Career numbers are decent, at best. Schilling blows him away in postseason stats. Morris was a good pitcher on great teams. But he's not one of the best ever. The only arguments people can make for him are cherry picked stats (see above post) and made up characteristics, aka intangibles.

BIGGIO DOESN'T DESERVE TO BE LINKED TO THESE GUYS FOR YEARS TO COME AS A FOOTNOTE OF "WHO GOT IN WHEN THE OTHERS.....[\]"

FOR THAT REASON I'M HAPPY HE DIDN'T GET IN THIS YEAR.