Supposedly the Nat's ownership group is worth $3-5 billion. This is nothing for them.

http://americansportsblog.files.word...pg?w=440&h=350

Oh Fuck, that Werth kid took all my money

<font color=goldenrod>Looks like the Mets are gonna sign Ronny Paulino to be their backup catcher. Fine by me, he had great numbers against lefties. Nice compliment to Thole.

The main focus should still be to get a starter. Unfortunately Alderson said the price is steep right now at 1 year, $5 million for Chris Young and Jeff Francis.

$5 million steep for a NY team? Christ. I knew they weren't going to spend much this offseason, but goddamn. Madoff really must have fucked the Wilpons worse that they're willing to admit.</font>

Ty Wiggington to the Rockies. 2-years, $8 mil. with an option for '13.

Jays trade Shawn Marcum to the Brewers for 2b Brett Lawrie their top prospect.
AA is the best young up and coming GM in baseball.

ESPN is reporting the team and the owners are currently being sued by another group responsible for refunding money stolen by Madoff. Supposedly one group from the Mets managed to make a profit off of the ponzi scheme.

http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/m...ory?id=5895743

lol Mets

<font color=goldenrod>I'm not entirely sure what the problem is. Sounds like they withdrew the money from that fund before anybody was aware that there was a Ponzi scheme going on. How could they get sued for that?

Guess that means anybody who happened to make money and withdrew early can get sued despite not doing anything wrong.</font>

This group might of had insider knowledge into the scheme or deal and found out it was a scam but took their money out before telling anyone else it was a fake deal. The only other way is if they were stupid enough to be in the lawsuit claim against Madoff and now got exposed for not loosing money.

Yankees and Mets got their hands on Russell Martin's medical records.

I'd sign off. Take some pressure of Posada, and we can wait on Montero just a bit longer.

<font color=goldenrod>I don't think they were aware it was a scheme, otherwise they would have withdrawn more than just that fund.

Anyway, from what I'm reading - sounds like anybody who made money on the scheme even without knowing it's a scheme are being forced to return some of the money so that people who were on the tail end can get some money back. Mets probably refused initially and so here's the lawsuit.

Can't blame them for refusing since, again, they didn't know it was a Ponzi scheme and had no way of knowing that they were actually getting money from people on the lower end. They'll wind up reaching a settlement or something.</font>

<font color=goldenrod>I'd be interested in Martin. He wants to play on the East Coast. Sounds like Paulino is the main catcher the Mets are targeting though and he'll come cheaper. Either one is fine by me.

Also sounds like the Mets are close to signing DJ Carrasco. Decent enough reliever, the only head-scratching part is that it's a 2 year deal. I figured Alderson would stay clear of all 2-year deals for relievers but my guess is he realized everybody is getting at least 2 so he'd get squeezed out.</font>

I think Martin is going to play in Toronto.

Montero/Martin behind the plate would be a solid fit. Montero has yet to catch a full season still so I imagine they'll be easing him in next year. If anything Martin is an upgrade from Cervelli and if he starts hitting anywhere like he was a couple years ago he'd be a huge upgrade.

Cashman has said that Posada is the everyday DH next year and would be a third option for catcher.

<font color=goldenrod>Wow. So apparently Cliff Lee has two 7-year offers on the table. It's not the Yankees, Rangers, or Nationals.

Business is about to pick up!</font>

I find it kinda hard to believe. Cashman was interviewed and said he has yet to even put an offer in because Lee's agent was waiting on bids. Yet the ever present mystery teams are offering 7 year deals already.

The Reds are the mystery team. At least one of them. I'm pretty sure. They don't have the money budgeted but I know the money's there if they could get Lee. But they're keeping it tight because if they don't get Lee they don't want the fans thinking the Reds are going to spend that money elsewhere. It's Lee or nothing.

From what I heard, Yankees offered a 6-year deal but Lee either wants more money or an extra year.

Rangers rumored to go after Greinke if they lose out on Lee since.

Pujols agent wants something in the range of A-Rod money ($200+ million) and is using the "best player in MLB/NL" that a lot of experts say about him as the leverage. Cardinals worried more about the deal being 7 years and if Pujols begins to decline after 3 years.

In other news:

Judge in California rules that Jamie and Frank McCourt are Co-owners of the Dodgers. Neither get full control of the team.

Well, that should make the divorce just as messy. Who's calling shots in that club?

OMG, if all the Jays had to give up was Travis Snider, I would faint.

I did say "Part of the deal" this is Grienke we're talking about he's a great pitcher just would work out better on a small market team with his problems.

Grienke would cost the Jays Drabek and Snider. I'd still do that deal.

Jays apparently looking at Carlos Pena. Lol Jays will lead the league in hour again this year and be last in avg again if this happens. It'd be better than Lind playing first that's for sure. Their lineup would be a home run machine.

lol @ the divorce shit going on with the Dodgers. God damn. We also signed Tony Gwynn Jr..... Thanks a lot Colletti!

Tony Gwynn Junior is the second best baseball player at all his family events. Imagine being a pro and not even being the best player at your dinner table.

that can be said for alot of 2nd generation players. jsut was crazy to think about. Liuke you do this amazing feat but am still 2nd fiddle.

Still better than being Cooper Manning

All of 'em except Bonds and Griffey Jr.

Carlos Pena agrees to a deal with the Cubs. 1-year, $10 mil.

Matt Diaz ends up with the Pirates with a 2-year deal.

I'm not really a fan of this move, tbh.

I know he's forward thinking and all, but Marcum is worth more than a prospect.

There are always thoughts of insider information when this type of thing happens. It's big time illegal. That stuff is always investigated.

Derek Jeter admits he was angry with Yankees

TAMPA, Fla. (AP)—Derek Jeter(notes) can admit it now: He was definitely getting steamed at the New York Yankees.

While Jeter tried to keep talks quiet as the sides negotiated, the Yankees went public with suggestions his increasing age and decreased numbers should result in a pay cut.
At one point, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said the 36-year-old shortstop should explore other options if he was dissatisfied with New York’s offer.

“I was pretty angry about it, and I let that be known,” Jeter said Tuesday after finalizing a $51 million, three-year contract that cut his salary. “I was angry about it because I was the one that said I didn’t want to do it. I said I was the one that wasn’t going to do it.”

[...] http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_yl...-yankees-jeter

<font color=goldenrod>Yeah but they had a ton of other funds that they kept in there and lost a shitload on. The decision to honestly move one of their funds cost them.

Like I said though, doesn't sound like they're the only people getting sued over this. Gonna be mad settlements.</font>

<font color=goldenrod>Figures for the new Mets signings are in. Ronny Paulino got 1-year for $1.3 million, DJ Carrasco got 2 years for $2.5 million

Wasn't a big fan of the two years for Carrasco but its a very low base salary so it's not that big a deal. Need to get some lefties in the pen now.</font>

Paul Konerko back with the White Sox. 3-years, $37.5 mil. Pierzynski and Dunn took backloaded deals so they could bring him back in.

Looks like Jeff Francoeur is headed to Kansas City.

Normally I'd say yeah, but Lawrie is projected to be damn good. Trading a #2 starter who I believe has reached his ceiling for a infield prospect who can hit for avg, power and has speed is pretty good, especially with the Jays having almost no infield prospects aside from Hechivarra.

I was hoping the Rockies would sign Konerko as part of their weird sign every available infielder this off season strategy.

Braves are trying to unload Kenshin Kawakami. Pirates are interested, but Atlanta wants them to eat some salary.

Dennys Reyes is on his way to Philly.

Big Vito, would you trade Beltran for Dice-K?

<font color=goldenrod>No thanks. Matsuzaka had a great 2008 but other than that he's been shit and he's under contract for 2 years at $20 million.

I'd be more open to trading Beltran for Scutaro. Beltran is a better player but Scutaro is a decent stopgap at 2B and it'd eliminate potential drama in whether or not Beltran will play RF. Plus Scutaro can play all around the infield and if he has a good year he can be brought back on an option. It'd also be another reason to send Castillo packing.

Beltran's 2011 salary is listed at $18.5 million but it's really $13 million since $5.5 million per year gets deferred. Maybe the Mets could send $5.5 million to the Red Sox to help them pay for the eventual deferrment. Scutaro's only making $5 million next year so it's a nearly even swap. Plus the Mets don't want to move Beltran unless they gain payroll flexibility for this year, which they would in my scenario.</font>