Oh man, I dont think I will be able to stand the Os next year. Holes at 1B and 3B and the best options appear to be Mark Reynolds for 3rd and Carlos Pena at 1st. Granted, both could hit about 35-40 HR in Camden Yards, but otherwise they'll be awful. (Reynolds hit .198 last year, Pena hit .196, both are career .240 hitters).

Are you worried that the lineup may be too heavy on the left side of the plate now?

No

Too bad they couldn't have signed Dunn to DH. All 3 of the main "3 True Outcomes" players in the league. (HR, BB, K)

Jeter’s back, but the Yankees have work to do


On the very day the Boston Red Sox reached across the country to get the player they’ve always wanted, the New York Yankees reached across their clubhouse and got the player who, by some appearances, had been shoved down their throats.

Derek Jeter(notes) is a Yankee again, and history will show he never really wasn’t. And maybe it’s best to remember it that way, as one long and seamless and elegant path, right up until the time someone has to tell Jeter he can’t play shortstop anymore. What’s a little “messy” among friends?

Until then, Jeter resumes his place as the one Yankee the Yankees never had to worry about, which is good, because the Red Sox today have given them plenty of that.

The Yankees will be into Jeter for about $50 million over three more seasons, a contract that could extend to four years until he is 40, and in that time likely will pay for itself. He is 74 hits from 3,000, just that far from one of the grander celebrations the new ballpark will ever see. He will raise his helmet by its earflap, the way he always does, and blink away any notion he is more than a humble servant of the pinstripes and the game. Jeter is wonderful like that, and a winner like that, and proud like that.

The Yankees can only hope that he is still a player like that.

The outcome presided over by St. Steinbrenner himself, it is the contract that had to happen and, if you’ll pardon the melodrama, the destiny that had to be abided. In spite of the cranky rhetoric that spilled from beneath meeting-room doors, Jeter was going to be a Yankee, for better or worse, in sickness and in wealth. The money was never going to damage the Yankee machinery, and neither was Jeter. On opening day, he would trot stiff-legged to the foul line, he would flap his glove at the right-field bleachers, he would inside-out a fastball and the Steinbrenners would applaud from their suite.

The rest, however, remains to be written.

If Jeter proves his poor 2010 was a statistical aberration (career low .270 batting average and .710 OPS), the Yankees win. If Jeter’s legs and bat have irretrievably slowed, then the Yankees exhale and wait for the day the Florida Marlins decide they can no longer afford Hanley Ramirez(notes).

Either way, the Jeter and Mariano Rivera(notes) contracts arrived within hours of each other, momentarily comforting Yankee Universe and clearing Brian Cashman’s desk. As they did, however, a tremor rose from the north, where the Red Sox were recasting a roster that last season was strangled by injury. The Yankees, tending first to themselves, had spent roughly $80 million and weren’t yet better than they were last season, when they finished second in their division and were put to rest by a superior pitching staff in Texas.

On the board still are the best free agents: Cliff Lee(notes), Carl Crawford(notes), Adrian Beltre(notes), Jayson Werth(notes) and Rafael Soriano(notes). As the Tampa Bay Rays fall back, the floor is cleared for the Yankees and Red Sox, and as one divisional executive sighed Saturday morning, “Such is life in the AL East.”

On the eve of the winter meetings, the Red Sox completed their swap of prospects for San Diego Padres first baseman and slugger Adrian Gonzalez(notes), who in their ballpark could become Manny Ramirez(notes) without the act. Leaning against re-signing third baseman Beltre and repositioning Kevin Youkilis(notes) in left field, the Red Sox remain engaged with outfielders Crawford and Werth.

The offseason turns now on a free-agent class that tips toward mediocrity after a handful of players. Even with Jeter and Rivera in, the Yankees are shy at least one pitcher and perhaps a bat, meaning Lee (and, presumably, Andy Pettitte(notes)) and one of those outfielders. They convinced Jeter and Rivera to defer portions of their contracts, in part so they could bear down on Lee, in particular. Lee appears to be not a luxury for the Yankees, but a necessity, as the Red Sox already had the deeper rotation and threaten again to bang with the Yankees.

They’ll all know better come March, when the sides will have been chosen and the money spent. But, for now, what’s best for the Yankees is to know who will lead them, whoever they are by then.

Their captain, of course.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_yl...greement120410

Word is no one wants to play in Baltimore (or Seattle)

Not surprised at the lack of intrest for playing in Seattle since the team basically "gave up" after the bad start to the season and how they couldn't keep Cliff Lee for the year or get Jason Bay.

Meanwhile Cardinals signed Berkman to a 1 year at $8 million deal and Reds keep Arroyo for another 2 years at $23.5 million.

Combined with Andy MacPhail's unwillingness to get hosed in trades or spend a lot of money on FA's.

They'll probably get Reynolds and Pena because there wont be much of a market for either of them.

Bronson Arroyo 2 years at $23.5 million. WOW.

Are you saying Bronson doesn't deserve it?

I thought he'd ask for more.

BTW, just read thar Aaron Harang signed a 1 year del with the Padres.

Yankees sign Derek Jeter!!!!!!!!! unfucking real. Can't wait to see him in pinstripes

Adrian Gonzalez will finally stop hurting the Rockies

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

So while I was away on vacation:

Jeter and Rivera sign.

Red Sox get A-Gon.

Aaron Harang to the Padres.

Rockies go into uncharted waters and sign Tulowitski to mega bucks.

The Cardinals sign Lance Berkman

Adam Dunn to the White Sox.

The great Ron Santo passes away.

Everything else seems kinda minor. It's only gonna get more insane starting tomorrow.

This Adrian Gonzalez trade is going to be great for the Sox. They'll probably have Ortiz bat 3rd, Gonzalez 4th, Youkilis 5th. Plus, if they get Werth, they can have him hit 2nd or 6th. As always, Pedroia leading off. That is "Yankee-like".

And of course, Beckett-Lester-Lackey.

WRONG!

Breaking News:

The Adrian Gonzalez trade has apparently collapsed. Both sides couldn't come to a agreement on a new contract.

<font color=goldenrod>A-Gon wanted 8 years, Red Sox only wanted to offer 6</font>

The trade hasn't COLLAPSED. It can still be done, the only thing that ended was the window given by MLB so the Red Sox and Gonzalez could get an extension done.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/A...ossible-120310

Dude

:|

terrible deal by the Nationals for Werth. no way

<font color=goldenrod>ROFL 7 years/$126 million for Jayson Werth</font>

Guy already got a ring. I don't blame him for cashing in.

Red Sox are cheap shit. If they don't get this done they're not going to get anybody now.

I love that you have Lackey in there but not Bucholz.

Jesus Boston, the guy's 28. Give him the years.

They make me fucking sick dude. Their cheap shit continues

Can't wait to hear Felger tomorrow at 2

Seriously though, if length was the only issue and price was fine, this is the most retarded thing I've heard in a long time.

Especially considering that they are shit out of luck now if they don't get Gonzalez. And because they have money to spend and don't want to, consistently.
So fucking what if they have to eat 2 years. That's the benefit of being a big market team. They like to pretend they're not.

Plus it was well fucking worth it, not only as a baseball move but as a business decision. The tv ratings have gone down by 50% in the past 2 years. This isn't going to make the Boston fans happy at all.

Fuckin Nationals making moves and the Red Sox looking for bargains

I think it had to do with the difference between the 2 years since Red Sox wanted something around a 6 year $120 million deal but his agent wanted something near 8 years at $180 million. His agent was smart with the attempt since everyone was comparing him to Manny who got around $160 - $180 million when he signed.

Either way Red Sox are going to have to spend money since no Gonzalez means they have to give Beltre whatever he wants while Crawford's price rises due to Werth gone and fierce competition for him.

Yea and it should have been spent towards Gonzalez and not for a player like Beltre. I don't think there is any angle that will make me content with this shit unless it's flat out rectified.
They just count on people to be slaves to the team.

The one thing I don't understand is that the Sox must have known Gonzalez would want a Teixeira type deal, maybe they were hoping for a deal but they had to know it would eventually get to that price range. And he deserves it. He's put up the numbers the past 4 years or so in a ballpark that is terrible to hitters and a lineup with no protection.

They look even worse when you figure they were sticking on offering less years and money than Werth ended up getting.

I think it'd be a terrible move for the Sox to sign Beltre now though, especially if he ends up getting a 5 year deal, which you have to think he will. That locks them up with Beltre and Youkilis at 1B/3B for a while.

Smartest move for them would be to get a one-year stopgap type 1st baseman like Lee or Pena and then be prepared to offer money for Pujols or Gonzalez (or Fielder I guess) after the season.

The Red Sox would be foolish to not get it done. They're too deep in to tell the fanbase that it didn't get done.

And lol at Werth. He'll never live up to that deal. He got Holliday money and isn't anywhere near as good

Also, that Werth deal is huge to Crawford.

He should get 8 years easily if Werth was able to get 7.

Jayson Werth getting paid.

Werth is good. He isn't that good.

And neither are the Nationals. And I don't think they will be at all during his contract.

Strasburg is out pretty much all next year, and nothing is guaranteed after that.

Harper is supposed to be good, but as a Cubs fan I know Shawon Dunston, Corey Patterson and so on and so on never really panned out. They were ok for a few years, but they weren't what they were supposed to be.

That said, both sides are going to regret this deal.

That said... I'd rather have Werth than Soriano for the money.

What's Werth going to regret about this deal?

126 million>everything else

Some players don't want to be the franchise guy - like it or not, Werth is that now. Him, Zimmerman and Stratsburg

But he's making $126 million even if he sucks.

He won't regret making that.

Dablack guy lol'ing at Werth. Werth's lol'ing all the way to the bank.

lol

Also lol at the chances of 38 year old Werth being able to produce at an 18 million dollar rate

Can't knock the guy, somebody vastly overpaid him and he took the money. Good for him.

Thats what my brother always says about Milton Bradley.

But yeah I guess he won't regret it, but if he's any kind of competitor, he will be frustrated a lot.

Can't believe the Nationals ponied up the cash for Werth. Scott Boras must have done a pretty good job put that together.

The ball's in Crawford and Lee's court now.

<font color=goldenrod>Red Sox and Padres decided to make the trade without the extension. I'm sure they'll keep working on it, but A-Gon is now in Boston.</font>

Phew

Guess it turned out to be a good day for BoSox fans after all.

When Theo and A-Gon return to the table for contract talks, I'd like to be a fly on the wall in that room.

What a fucking day. I was so fucking angry. They still need to get a contract in place but at least he's here for next year.

10 minutes after the deal went cold my father told me the Yankees signed Cliff Lee and Crawford just to fuck with me

I guess Crawford will go to the Tigers now. Nobody is going to compete with NY for Lee unless Texas opens their wallet.

Jayson Werth to Nationals NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Right, him too.

BTW, to all those going like "LOL at Werth for going to the Nats"...it should be more like "LOL at the Nats for giving Werth all that money, instead of spending it wisely". Werth's fine, he's all right.

...7 years and $126 million...that's a Superstar deal...

I really thought the Red Sox would get Werth. I guess this means the Red Sox will do whatever it takes to sign Crawford. This is a good thing to me because Cliff did seem like a candidate for Washington. But, now I don't think so. They could have easily given Cliff Lee a 7 year contract but after giving a 7 year contract to Werth it looks like they might be out of the mix.

I don't know if they'll do everything to sign him. Detroit will probably pay more. But they could.

Why?

If the Red Sox are willing to shell out the big bucks to sign Crawford, why not go after Cliff Lee instead? To me, it's weird the Red Sox haven't even been mentioned in the "Cliff Lee discussion".

I think it's assumed they won't be putting cash into starting pitching since they already have quite a rotation.

Lackey's no sure thing, neither is Matsuzaka. You'd think they'd AT LEAST be "in the mix" for Lee, but that's not the case. Maybe the Red Sox have total confidence that their starters will play up to their standards.

But it's still weird, TO ME, that the Red Sox haven't been linked to Lee this offseason at all.

I'm not a fan of either but they're bothing making a lot of money. The Red Sox rotation is pretty tied up.
If they hadn't signed Lackey or extended Beckett, they might have gone after Lee.

I still hope they can manage to deal Matsusaka. The Cubs had interest.

They do have about 3 sure things with Beckett, Bucholz and Lester. Their major problem last year was hitting and maybe the bullpen. So I say the Red Sox get one more player maybe Crawford. And then trade for a few bullpen arms maybe and the Red Sox would be pretty much all set.

I think Bucholz and Beckett are gonna have a real good season and I'd be surprised if Lester isn't. You guys may need a new closer too. I think it's about time for Paps closer days in Boston to come to an end especially since 2011 is the last year on his contract if I'm not mistaken. You guys do need a stop gap for this Daniel Bard fellow.

I don't pay that much attention to the Red Sox how good is Bard? How close do you think he is to becoming the new closer of the Red Sox?

Red Sox should get Kerry Wood to set up Papelbon, and if needed (is Papelbon goes through a rough stretch), take over the Closer role.

They have Bard for that and if Okajima gets back to pitching like he did in 2007 and 2008, he would become the setup man. Bard just needs to work on lowering the number of critical HRs he gives up before he can officially become their closer.

Beckett is a strange case since he's been very streaky the last few years and usually you can tell if he will be good or bad based on how large his gut is when Spring Training arrives.

I could of sworn that Wood was all ready signed by someone. I thought he may have have signed with a National League team. *Shrugs* Daniel Bard maybe a better guy for the set up role and take over closing sometimes if Paps should fall into a bad stretch.

Nope, but the Cubs COULD be interested. Id hope, anyway...I miss him.

Also would love to see the Cubs go for Zack Greinke...but I'd like to see the Cubs go for someone...

We'll probably get Carlos Pena...damnit

The Cubs don't seem to have a real plan, and that sucks, 'cause they are my favorite team. But you just don't see them making moves that make any sense...I don't see them having a clear vision about what kind of a team they want to have, not just in 2011, but in the years ahead. No long term plan. They just seem to sign different players every offseason, and hope that something clicks.

Last I heard Wood was one of the many relievers the Os were looking into but I hope that it doesn't come down to him cause I feel as if it would end up being a disaster.

Wait what? where did you hear this that he will go to Detroit?

HAPPY WINTER MEETINGS DAY!

They might have some competition Washington is looking for a first baseman as well. And Pena or LaRoche is at the top of their list.

Price also went up for Pujols. Cards are looking to sign an extension with fat Albert. Have a feeling his $$$ price just went up.

Jason Werth = the new Vernon Wells deal.

Jays sending Marcum to Brewers

Shaun Marcum(notes) went 13-8 with a 3.64 ERA and 165 strikeouts this past season for the Toronto Blue Jays after taking a year off to recover from Tommy John surgery. It looks like the surgery was successful. Not the kind of guy you want to lose, right?

Well, the word from the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel is that Marcum, who turns 29 next week, is moving back to the States; he's been traded to the Milwaukee Brewers though it's not clear for who. The paper notes that the Blue Jays would like to have second-base prospec Brett Lawrie, who just happens to have been born in Canada, as well as some pitching prospects.

[...]

Also, Jays looking at trading for Zack Greinke.

This is good. They do need a more established pitcher on their team. I wonder what they would ask from the Jays. You think maybe Travis Snider or Ricky Romero might have to be part of the deal?

GM Pat Gillick is elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame by the Veteran's Committee...

...George Steinbrenner falls short.

...Really?

Good pickup for the Brewers. Marcum pitched well last year, really.

Droford will be ecstatic to hear the O's got Mark Reynolds and his #1, #2, and #3 records on the single season strikeout list.

The unlucky number of $126 million.

Barry Zito, Vernon Wells, Jayson Werth.

Was really hoping Werth would go to a contending team. Don't blame him for cashing in, though.

Have the Tigers expressed interest in Crawford? Not sure why, but I picture them getting him somehow.

Pat Gillick's top five moves with the Phillies, according to Todd Zolecki:

1. Signing Jayson Werth.
2. Trading Bobby Abreu.
3. Trading Jim Thome.
4. Trading for Jamie Moyer.
5. Trading for Brad Lidge.

http://zozone.mlblogs.com/archives/2...ll_of_fam.html

<font color=goldenrod>Adrian Gonzalez and the Red Sox agree on 8 years, $161 million</font>

<font color=goldenrod>Orioles get: 3B Mark Reynolds

Diamondbacks get: RHP David Hernandez and RHP Kam Mickolio</font>

We have had very little interest in Crawford. So if you guys have heard something about the Tigers getting him do share

See? You don't have to trade away your 5 tool stud to get nice things in return.

According to Jon Heyman of SI.com, the Diamondbacks are "looking hard" at free agent first baseman Derrek Lee.

Make it happen, Towers. DO IT.

It seems like Baltimore is in a permanent identity crisis. Are they rebuilding or not?

SOXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

<font color=goldenrod>Adrian Beltre is 31 and has 1,889 hits. Wow, didn't think he had that many.

If he plays 7 more years and averages around 160, he can make it to 3,000. If he plays longer than that his odds of reaching that get even better.

3,000 seems to be automatic induction. Hard to fathom that Adrian fucking Beltre actually has a realistic chance of getting in.</font>

I don't think he does

The Os didnt have a 5 tool stud to start with. I feel like this is trading 2 cans of spam for some ground chuck. They might be able to turn Reynolds around and have a semi-decent 3B, but at the end of the day they've still got a career avg .240 hitter with 35 HRs thats struck out 200 times 3 straight years.

People are arguing that the ks are fine because he's not hitting into double plays but at the same point if he k's with runners on and 2 outs it ends the inning anyway so it doesnt matter. About the only thing I like about him is that I think he had 80 walks last year which would have led the Os, he had the 5th highest pitch per PA in the majors...

Also from what Ive read, he doesnt want to come to Baltimore which sounds like a recipe for disaster.


The Orioles are just trying to field a team that won't be as embarassingly awful as they were the first half of last year. 3B was definitely a major hole after the Atkins and Josh Bell experiments bombed and they didnt have anyone else in the system, and the same goes for 1B, SS. They have a lot of good young pitchers but they are not all panning out so it would be nice to have a decent veteran SP too.

Would you want to come to Baltimore?

He also started playing when he was 19 so he had a bit of a head start.

Averaging 160 hits every year for 7-8 years (in your 30s) would be hard for a player who has only done it a few times in their career to begin with.

He's more in the 140-150 range at best, and I don't think things are uphill for Adrian Beltre. Last year wasn't really something that's going to happen consistently. It was a nice spike year for a likey-over the hill steroid era player.

Only people who want to come to Baltimore are the Yankees, Red Sox, Blue Jays and Rays to kick their asses 9 times a year.

And Boston/NY fans who go to watch it

Don't see why not. They have a beautiful ballpark, nice uniforms, a young team full of talent, and Buck Showalter as Manager. If you're looking for the right fit, and not necessarily a contending team, then I don't see why you wouldn't go to Baltimore.