Now its a 12 man deal

Under terms of the deal, the Mets would get Putz, outfielder Jeremy Reed and reliever Sean Green from Seattle. The Mariners would receive reliever Aaron Heilman, outfielder Endy Chavez and first baseman Mike Carp from the Mets. They'd also get Franklin Gutierrez from the Indians and minor leaguers. The Indians would get reliever Joe Smith from the Mets and infielder Luis Valbuena from Seattle.

<font color=goldenrod>The problem with Smith is that he really can only get righties out. Manuel has said he wants more transition guys in his bullpen who can get both lefties and righties out....hence why I feel that one of Feliciano or Schoeneweis will still be dealt.</font>

Done deal.

Welcome to Citi JJ Putz, Jeremy Reed and Sean Green

Royals reach an agreement with Kyle Farnsworth. 2-years, $9.25 mil.

Yankees are talking with the Brewers about a trade for Mike Cameron.

Marlins release Catcher Matt Treanor.

Tigers aquire Edwin Jackson from the Rays for Matt Joyce

Current offers to Mark Teixeira:
Nationals: 8-years, $160 mil.
Orioles: 7-years, $140-$150 mil.

<font color=goldenrod>Keith Law called Jeremy Reed a “a defensive specialist who makes a lot of contact but lacks power or patience” and then called Sean Green a “right-handed ground-ball machine”.

So it seems Omar traded Aaron Heilman, Endy Chavez, and Joe Smith for JJ Putz, Endy Chavez, and Joe Smith

Heilman for Putz 4tw</font> :shifty:

Sean Green is the Gem in that deal guys. I'm totally floored that Seattle gave him up. You guys who didn't get to see much Mariner ball or Green, are in for a nice surprise. And Putz? Wow. one bad injury plagued season and they let him go. I expect a big bounce back from him. Not sure though about him as a set up man, he's a real deal closer still. Trade KRod!

PPutz has been public about wanting to remain as a closer. Just read that the Meta talked to him about his new role as a set up man and that Putz was excited to go to New York. Chance to win it all seems to soothed his desires.

Update.

Yankees get Mike Cameron and MAYBE Bill Hall
Brewers get Melky Cabrera.

Still getting worked on, but damn. I'd rather send Ian Kennedy over instead. Gonna miss the Melk Man if this does go through. :'(

Shawn Green is still a yamaka wearing douchebag who sucks at life and baseball. Whoever let him pitch should probably be shot.

I know it's not the same guy. :shifty:

Gonna miss Melky, but getting him away from Cano will get Cano focused again

The Padres have had enough. According to yahoosports.com, the Padres told the Cubs they got until the end of the day to make this this Jake Peavy trade go through. All the other teams are set, but the Cubs don't wanna give up Jason Marquis. It's the only hiccup halting this trade.

<font color=goldenrod>I want to see the Mets trade one of Feliciano/Schoeneweis, both of whom were great against lefties but got toasted beyond belief by righties...sign Everyday Eddie to provide a lefty serviceable against both sides of the plate...and sign Chad Cordero as a low risk/high reward.

K-Rod
Putz
Cordero
Feliciano/Schoeneweis
Everyday Eddie
Sanchez
Brian Stokes

Not only is that a much better bullpen then last year...if guys like Cordero and Sanchez regain their old form...christ. That bullpen could keep the Mets in the game.</font>

It's a day of dying deals.

The Yankee-Brewers Cameron for Cabrera trade is waning as the Yanks tried to get Milwaukee to take Igawa.

The Peavy to the Cubs deal is officially dead, Kevin Towers told reporters. Makes sense. The Cubs rotation would have been too dominant. Can't give those Cubs fans too much hope now, can we?

Endy Chavez :mad: and Mike Carp was supposed to be our future 1B

<font color=goldenrod>He was, but that was like 2 or 3 years ago. He's fallen off tremendously. And he was so horrid at 1B that they've had him learning the outfield despite there already being a logjam of OFs.

And I love Endy...but his playing time was decreasing to almost nothing. He didn't even play much at all last year with Alou and Church out. Jeremy Reed is supposed to be similar.</font>

Everybody is flying home, a few odds and ends going on right now.

Cameron/Cabrera deal is back on right now. They got past the speedbump T.N. mentioned a few couple post above.

Brian Cashman is en route or is already in Texas to talk to Andy Pettitte. The mission is simple: He'll offer Pettitte what could be the last rotation spot for $10 million. Take it, or leave it.

<font color=goldenrod>HOLY SHIT Ramirez agrees to terms with the Royals</font> :eek: :|

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/..._meetings_2008

Well Jesus Kev, how big do you think the market was for Horacio?

Phillies agree to terms with OF Raul Ibanez on a 3-year deal. I've always like Ibanez, but he is 36 years old and will be 39 when his contract is up. I'm interested to see how the Phils' lineup will look at full strength with their 3-4-5 hitters all lefties.

<font color=goldenrod>Burnett agrees to the Yanks' contract offer - 5 years, $82.5 million

My pick to be Carl Pavano revisited.</font>

Happy about getting CC. Contract is ridiculous but whatever, Yankees needed him badly. The opt out thing doesn't really bother me. Worst case scenario is he leaves after 3 years and the Yankees get him for his prime pitching years. Unless he completely bombs and the Yanks have him for 7 years, I guess that is the worst case scenario. Anyway, happy no matter what about that deal.

Not a fan of giving Burnett such a ridiculous offer though. Doubt it works out well but what can you do. Although a rotation of Sabathia-Wang-Burnett-Pettitte-Joba does look pretty great. Hopefully they get Pettitte back for this next season. That way Hughes starts in the minors and comes up when Burnett gets hurt. Then next year he can slide into the rotation when Pettitte's gone.

I'm with both of ya. I too seeing Burnett being Carl Pavano 2.0, and we gave him way too much. Should have let Atlanta take him and work on Lowe and Sheets.

Mike Cameron talks have been put on the back burner at the moment.

Burnett at 16.5 million a season ?
People thought the Jays were crazy when they gave him 10 million a season.
Not to sound bitter, but I do hope he's injury plagued.

Burnett is going to make Carl Pavano look like a bargain in a couple years. But Ben Sheets isn't much of a better option. He has been more injury plagued than Burnett. I also think Sabathia is not going to like NY as much as he thinks he will and will opt out after 3 years.

Mets trade Scott Shoeneweis to the D-Backs for Conor Robertson and cash considerations.

Kerry Wood to the Indians - 2 years $20 million

I thought the K Rod deal was steep but holy shit. $10 mil a year for a closer with Wood's injury history? Yikes.

<font color=goldenrod>Angels offer 8 years, $160 million for Tex. They are hoping he takes their offer, which is less than what the Nationals are offering, for the chance to compete.</font>

The Yankees are likely out of the Lowe sweepstakes, says Crasnick, considering the $243 million they've already committed to the rotation. By process of elimination, Crasnick names the Mets as frontrunners for Lowe's services.

I do like me some Derek Lowe, as long as the price comes down.

Really like the Raul Ibanez deal the Phillies got done. Raul puts up quiet good numbers. He's going to be another big weapon for the Phillies.

Yeah I would love to see what Ibanez can do on a good team. It's amazing that this guy didn't get a full season in as an every day player until he was 30.

But yeah great move the Phillies. They get a better, cheaper replacement for Burrell and the only sacrifice is a 4 year age difference.

K Rod's already talking shit to the NL East:

"Of course, we're going to try to win the division. Of course, we're going to be the front-runner. Of course, we're going to be the team to beat."

This worked when Rollins said it a couple of years ago but then Rollins went and backed it up with an MVP award. Mets-Phillies is slowly becoming the 2nd best rivalry in baseball and you gotta love adding fuel to the fire this early.

<font color=goldenrod>Yeah, I normally HATE it when players talk shit early on even after they blew it the previous year, but it seemed to fire the Phillies up when Rollins did it so we'll see.

K-Rod will probably wind up blowing his first save chance of the year against the Phillies :o Much like how Rollins caused the error to give the Mets the win in the first Mets/Phillies meeting of 07 after his comments.

2 more months until pitchers and catchers</font> :(

Phillies loading up on arms.

They re-sign Jamie Moyer, and sign Chan-Ho Park.

Yankees/Brewers talks for Mike Cameron resume today. They're still arguing about who's gonna pay who.

Brewers are close to re-signing Chris Capuano to a minor league deal.

Orioles and Cesar Izturis reach an agreement.

Rafael Furcal and A's are back in talks.

According to Ken Rosenthal, the Braves and Rafael Furcal are closing in on a deal

Crasnick says the preliminary agreement is done.

Welcome home, Rafey. Now we just have to figure out where to put you.

<font color=goldenrod>Jamie Moyer, eh? Guess I have to post the mandatory pic:</font>

http://espn.go.com/photo/2007/0501/moyer_HOF.jpg

Fuckin Furcal. Hope you choke just like you did in the playoffs last year.

Manny to the Angels...?

Cubbies sign Joey Gathright.

Yankees are reportedly about to go hard after Manny Ramirez and are willing to give him 3 years. It just never ends.

For the record:

I DON'T WANT MANNY RAMIREZ IN NEW YORK!

Thank you.

<font color=goldenrod>Watching K-Rod's press conference :love: Love the press conference after a big signing.

Looks weird seeing him wear #75 tho. Hopefully he ptches a million times better than the only other #75 in baseball.</font>

Rafael Furcal agrees to a 3-year, $30 mil. deal with the Dodgers. Let's see if he burns this bridge.

Catcher Matt Treanor has agreed to a deal with the Tigers.

Brewers/Yankees talks for Mike Cameron may be all but dead.

Frank Wren will probably be replaced within a year or so. He's no Schuerholz, but everybody knew that. Lots of Braves fans are clamoring for Manny now, but I just don't see that happening.

Trot Nixon and Chris Duffy sign minor league deals with the Brewers.

Other than that, no decent news.

WILL MANNY CUT HIS LOCKS TO JOIN THE YANKEES?!?!?!?111///1/1/1/1

You know what Cubs blunder doesn't get talked about nearly enough? They sold Josh Hamilton to the Reds for $100,000.

It doesn't really work like that. The Reds bought the Cubs' pick in the Rule 5 Draft for $100,000. But officially, the Cubs have to draft somebody then trade him to the Reds. So the Reds tell the Cubs who to take. But yeah it does suck that all those other teams never took a flyer on Hamilton.

lmfao @ the Furcal shit.

According to Buster Olney and Peter Gammons...

Scott Boras wants $195 million for Mark Teixeira. Scott Boras denies this though.

Dock Ellis passed away yesterday at 63. RIP

:(

Nationals sign Daniel Cabrera.

Maybe he'll get his shit together there. Thought maybe the Jays would grab him and put him in the bullpen.

<font color=goldenrod>Really hope Tex signs somewhere soon because Boras' other big clients aren't signing anywhere until the Tex deal is done with.

Really want the Mets to get Lowe...I get the impression he's more concerned with the dollar amount than with the number of years. Perhaps he could be had for 3 years with an option.</font>

Come back to LA , Derek :(

Derek belongs here, at home.

Angels withdraw offer to slugger Teixeira

LOS ANGELES (AP)—The Los Angeles Angels have pulled their eight-year offer to Mark Teixeira and will no longer go after the first baseman.

Team spokesman Tim Mead confirmed Sunday the Angels have withdrawn their offer and are “out of the Mark Teixeira derby.” The team made its offer, reportedly worth about $160 million, during the winter meetings in Las Vegas earlier this month.

The Red Sox said last week that they “are not going to be a factor” in signing the 28-year-old Maryland native. Washington and Baltimore have expressed interest in Teixeira.

The Angels obtained Teixeira from the Atlanta Braves in late July. Playing in a combined 157 games with the Angels and Braves, Teixeira had 33 homers and 121 RBIs along with a career-best .308 average.

****

Now this could just be postering, but you have to wonder if Boras is taking too long for the likes of some of these teams.

Agent dares Braves to boycott his players

Arn Tellem, lead agent for the Wasserman Media Group, on Thursday evening dared the jilted Atlanta Braves to boycott his players, a heading he said would defy baseball policies as well as national labor laws.

In a seven-point statement, the usually well-regarded Tellem disputed the Braves’ claim they’d been duped during negotiations with the agents for shortstop Rafael Furcal, who agreed Wednesday on a three-year contract with the Dodgers. The Braves believed they had come to an agreement 36 hours earlier.

In the aftermath, Braves president John Schuerholz called the agency – and, presumably, Tellem and fellow agent Paul Kinzer, in particular – “despicable” and “unprofessional,” according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. For the most part, Kinzer handled the Furcal negotiations.

Both Schuerholz and general manager Frank Wren said they no longer would deal with players represented by the Wasserman agency, whose clientèle includes Chase Utley, Hanley Ramirez, Aramis Ramirez, Hideki Matsui, Carlos Lee, Nomar Garciaparra, Frank Thomas and Francisco Rodriguez, among others. Tellem also represents Randy Wolf, a free-agent pitcher the Braves might have considered for their rotation.

“The Atlanta Braves will no longer do business with that company – ever,” Schuerholz said.

The dispute perhaps boils down to a conversation late Monday night between Wren and Kinzer, along with the authority held by a term sheet. During that discussion, Kinzer apparently requested the Braves fax him a signed term sheet. The Braves complied, believing an agreement had been reached.

According to Tellem’s statement, “the Braves were fully aware that Furcal was not prepared to make a decision but had requested an opportunity to sleep on it, before deciding.”

“Moreover,” the statement read, “the Baseball rules which all agents and teams operate under are clear that no deal exists between a player and a team unless and until: (i) there is a signed and executed player agreement or; (ii) the Player’s Union and the Commissioner’s office have otherwise confirmed the deal. Neither occurred here.”

Several general managers and agents contacted by Yahoo! Sports said Thursday the term sheet constitutes a handshake agreement, and they couldn’t recall a situation when such an agreement was broken.

“I’d be furious,” an American League general manager said.

Tellem further stated he would continue to engage the Braves regarding his clients, and he expected the Braves to be receptive.

“If it serves our clients, we will continue to present opportunities to the Braves, which in accordance with the rules governing Major League Baseball, the Braves must entertain. We hope that once emotions have subsided, the Braves will act in a manner consistent with not only their obligations under the Collective Bargaining Agreement and The National Labor Relations Act, but also the best interests of the franchise. In short, we would not want this incident to color their better judgment.”

Furcal was signed by the Braves and broke into the big leagues with them in 2000. Following six productive seasons as their shortstop, he became a free agent and signed a three-year deal with the Dodgers before the 2006 season. A free agent once again this offseason, he ultimately faced a tough choice between his two former teams, a situation that resulted in confusion and rancor.

****

In case anyone hadn't been following the Furcal nonsense. Sounds to me like Furcal and/or his agent walked away from an agreement in principal. Doesn't make Furcal or the agency look good, not against any law, but still some bad business.

The agent and Furcal keep coming out with statements trying to act like its the Braves fault when the Braves are probably one of the classiest organizations in baseball, and wouldn't do anything like boycott an entire agency unless it was something serious. John Schuerholz of all people was probably the most respected GM in the league when he was with us. The fact that he came out to the media about all of this shows how serious an issue it was to our team.

Sweet. Yankees lock up Wang for another 3 years.

I wonder how Boras's other clients feel because they have to wait for Teixeira to sign in order to let the market develop. No big time hitters have signed yet, and the market is pretty much at a stand still.

Boras is a huge fucking asshole.

SI reports Yankees are on the verge of signing Mark Teixeira to an 8-year $180 million contract. Here we go again.

<font color=goldenrod>$423.5 million for three players. :|

What pisses me off is that this might force the Red Sox to step it up and overpay like shit for Derek Lowe.</font>

HOLY SHIT

I did not see this coming, I honestly though Teix was a pipe dream and didnt want it to happen.

Why did they trade for Swisher?

Maybe We will see Swish and melky platoon in CF. Damon in Left, nady in right, and Matsui at DH.

Wow.

They arent spending that much in the end, Since Teix and Burnett combined make the same or less yearly than Giambi and Abreu did coming off the books.

So really they only raised their payroll the difference between Mussina and CC, and since they let Pettite walk overall their payroll could be down.

The shitty thing is though is that the Yankees and Mets got NYC to give them tax money in order to finance the new stadium, while they're spending a combined half a billion dollars on players in the past three weeks.

Party time in the Bronx.

I totally thought that Teix would be going down to D.C. or Boston either late today or tomorrow. Anyhow, according to a few sources, he's got a full no-trade clause and he can't opt out. Joel Sherman reports that the Yankees may now try to trade off one of either Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui, Xavier Nady, and Nick Swisher. I guess the bright side of this is that the Yankees are gonna be under $200 mil per season for payroll.

Don't worry, Selig just handed Hal a tax bill for $26.9 million.

Word going around is that your Mets are in deep talks with Lowe. Here's for a late birthday gift, my Hat City brother.

lol I love the Yankees but this offseason just seems a little...

excessive :shifty:

They didn't give up anything for Swisher really. They saw that they could get him for cheap and jumped on it. I think with Swisher they were looking more towards after next season when most of our outfielders are FA - Matsui, Damon and Nady will all probably be gone so Swisher can slot into LF or RF.

I hope they trade Nady now. He has the most value out of him, Damon and Matsui. They could probably get something decent back for him.

It doesn't matter. The Yankees will still not win the World Series.

Umm, You cant predict anything like that. Who would have thought that Tampa would do what they did.

This doesnt guarantee anything, but they are Yankees, and you cant count them out until l the end, and they just landed 3 of the top 4 Free Agents.

Also, The Dodgers wont even win their Division.

Tax bills don't mean shit. They pay A-Rod more than that. The luxury tax is useless because the teams who can afford to go over the luxury threshold can also afford to pay the luxury tax.

But especially when you see New York State taxing soda and itunes, people in the city have to pay more taxes for the new stadiums. The Yanks and Mets claim that they are in desperate need of the relief in building their stadiums, but then go off and spend half a billion dollars this winter.

Depends on if we get Manny back.

Nationals signed LHP Gustavo Chacin to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.

He's still way better than Joe Blanton.

Yankees sign Kevin Cash to a minor league deal.

At some point if baseball wants it's smaller markets to survive, they're going to have to implement a real cap.

:love:

<font color=goldenrod>Yeah, now I'm hearing a deal is almost in place. 4 years, $13-14 mil a year. However, it might wind up being 3 years with a 4th year option (which I kind of hope it is).

But yeah. Johan/Lowe/Maine/Pelfrey/5th guy is pretty good.

Hopefully they can sign a couple low-end starters to compete for the 5th spot with Jon Niese and Bobby Parnell. I wouldn't be opposed to giving Pedro a shot so long as it wasn't a guaranteed roster spot.</font>

Randy JOhnson signed with the Giants. 1 year deal @ 8 million.

that's a big :foc: :foc: :foc: to D'Backs ownership.

The Big Unit to the Giants. Wow. I'm with Dave on this. I too thought that he would call it a career in Arizona. Maybe the Giants think he could mentor Zito? :shifty:

Did you know that New York times own 17.5 percent of New England Sports Ventures, who owns the Red Sox?

Me too, but the tightasses over here decided that 2 shitty players (Felipe Lopez and Scott Schoenejew) were a better use of their money than the best player in franchise history on the road to 300 wins.

Johnson is atleast a # 3 in anyones staff, still.

He was very good last year in the second half. I was kinda hoping the Jays might somehow get him.

Reds sign Willy Taveras to a 2-year deal.

LOL Taveras sucks.

Red Sox close to a 1-year deal with Brad Penny.

... and a deal with Josh Bard. Not my choice as the Sox's next moves, but it fills some much needed holes.

SONS OF BITCHES

1. Good riddance to Brad Penny.

2. ARE WE SERIOUS ON TRYING TO SIGN DUNN?! We can't get Manny back so we are gonna pursue Dunn? GTFO with that shit.

Blue Jays sign Mike Barrett to a minor league deal.

Interesting tidbit from SI.com. The Red Sox reportedly tried to re-acquire Hanley Ramirez from the Marlins after failing to get Teixeira. That would have been huge if it went through. The Marlins reportedly asked for Clay Buchholz and/or Jacoby Ellsbury. I would have done it if I were the Red Sox. Ramirez is a bonafide star, and Ellsbury is replaceable.

Hanley is a top player. Big time talent. That would have been huge. Yeah, all due respect to Ellesbury and Buchholz, but this trade would have been a no brainer for me.

I would have done it, you sure Lester wasn't involved? If he was I wouldn't have done it, Lester is going to be an All-Star pitcher real soon (maybe even this year)

ROFL @ Andruw Jones to Mets rumored deal. Why the fuck would anyone trade for that fat piece of shit.

They also own one of the big papers here too, I think the Boston Herald.

Your Dodgers liked him well enought to sign him to big money.

Andruw could be a useful player if his offense became sub-par again. His defense was and will probably always be immense.

He's just stubborn. He never listened to Braves hitting coaches and developed a horrible batting habit. He can't get much worse than he's already gotten though.