MLB Exhibition Games 2013 Thread
 

Lettuce see what's in the newspapers:

Tigers re up Jimmy Leyland
Andre Ethier/Or is on the trading block
Angels trying to trade Dan Haren and Ervin Santana before the option day on Wednesday
Rockies, Marlins, and Blue Jays need head coaches

For the love of God, if the Cubs are starting Travis Wood or Chris Volstad next year, I might cut myself for sick sadistic fun.

I thought you loved T Wood

For like two games. It was like me and your mom.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/j_8Vp5HzyCc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<font color=goldenrod>Japanese CGI news report of the World Series. Incredible.</font>

Is Andre Ethier still pretty good like I think he is? Maybe the Phillies could get him.

Wait he'd be traded not just signed.

That thought was fun while it lasted.

2013 MLB Free Agents

By Tim Dierkes [April 27, 2011 at 10:32am CST]
MLBTR's up-to-date list of 2013 MLB free agents is below. These are players who project to be eligible for free agency after the 2012 season. The player's 2013 age is in parentheses. Players on the 2012 free agent list are not on this one.
If you have any corrections or omissions, please contact us. To see who represents these players, check out our agency database.
Updated 10-30-12

Catchers
Rod Barajas (37) - $3.5MM club option, no buyout
Henry Blanco (41) - $1.24MM mutual option
Gerald Laird (33)
Russell Martin (30)
Brian McCann (29) - $12MM club option with a $500K buyout
Jose Molina (37) - $1.5MM club option with a $300K buyout
Mike Napoli (31)
Dioner Navarro (29)
Miguel Olivo (34)
Ronny Paulino (32)
A.J. Pierzynski (36)
Humberto Quintero (33)
David Ross (36)
Brian Schneider (36)
Kelly Shoppach (33)
Chris Snyder (32) - $4MM mutual option for 2013 with a $500K buyout
Yorvit Torrealba (34)
Matt Treanor (37)


First basemen
Lance Berkman (36)
Miguel Cairo (39)
Jason Giambi (42)
Eric Hinske (35)
Aubrey Huff (36) - $10MM club option with a $2MM buyout
Jeff Keppinger (33)
Casey Kotchman (30)
Adam LaRoche (33) - $10MM mutual option with a $1MM buyout
Carlos Lee (37)
James Loney (29)
Mike Napoli (31)
Lyle Overbay (36)
Carlos Pena (35)
Nick Swisher (32)
Ty Wigginton (35)
Kevin Youkilis (34) - $13MM club option with a $1MM buyout


Second basemen
Yuniesky Betancourt (31)
Brian Bixler (30)
Ronny Cedeno (30)
Mike Fontenot (33)
Orlando Hudson (35)
Maicer Izturis (32)
Kelly Johnson (31)
Adam Kennedy (37)
Jeff Keppinger (33)
Juan Rivera (34)
Freddy Sanchez (34)
Marco Scutaro (37)
Ryan Theriot (33)


Shortstops
Jason Bartlett (33)
Brian Bixler (30)
Ronny Cedeno (30)
Stephen Drew (30)
Alberto Gonzalez (30)
Alex Gonzalez (35)
Cesar Izturis (33)
Munenori Kawasaki (32)
Marco Scutaro (37)


Third basemen
Miguel Cairo (39)
Eric Chavez (35)
Mark DeRosa (38)
Alberto Gonzalez (30)
Orlando Hudson (35)
Brandon Inge (36)
Maicer Izturis (32)
Adam Kennedy (37)
Jeff Keppinger (33)
Jose Lopez (29)
Placido Polanco (37)
Scott Rolen (38)
Drew Sutton (30)
Ty Wigginton (35)
David Wright (30) - $16MM club option with a $1MM buyout
Kevin Youkilis (34) - $13MM club option with a $1MM buyout


Left fielders
Bobby Abreu (39)
Travis Buck (29)
Melky Cabrera (28)
Johnny Damon (39)
Mark DeRosa (38)
Matt Diaz (35)
Kosuke Fukudome (36)
Jonny Gomes (32)
Scott Hairston (33)
Josh Hamilton (32)
Raul Ibanez (41)
Reed Johnson (36)
Andruw Jones (36)
Austin Kearns (33)
Ryan Ludwick (34) - $5MM mutual option for 2013 with a $500K buyout
Darnell McDonald (34)
Xavier Nady (34)
Juan Pierre (35)
Juan Rivera (34)
Cody Ross (32)
Drew Sutton (30)
Shane Victorino (32)
Delmon Young (27)


Center fielders
Rick Ankiel (33)
Michael Bourn (30)
Josh Hamilton (32)
Reed Johnson (36)
Mitch Maier (31)
Angel Pagan (31)
Grady Sizemore (30)
B.J. Upton (28)
Shane Victorino (32)


Right fielders
Jeff Baker (32)
Brian Bixler (30)
Travis Buck (29)
Mark DeRosa (38)
Kosuke Fukudome (36)
Scott Hairston (33)
Torii Hunter (37)
Reed Johnson (36)
Andruw Jones (36)
Xavier Nady (34)
Juan Rivera (34)
Cody Ross (32)
Ichiro Suzuki (39)
Nick Swisher (32)


Designated hitters
Bobby Abreu (39)
Johnny Damon (39)
Travis Hafner (36) - $13MM club option with a $2.75MM buyout
Raul Ibanez (41)
Hideki Matsui (39)
David Ortiz (38)
Luke Scott (35) - $6MM club option with a $1MM buyout
Jim Thome (42)
Delmon Young (27)


Starting pitchers
Scott Baker (31)
Erik Bedard (34)
Joe Blanton (32)
Bartolo Colon (40)
Aaron Cook (34)
Kevin Correia (32)
Jorge De La Rosa (32) - $11MM player option with a $1MM buyout
Ryan Dempster (36)
R.A. Dickey (38) - $5MM club option with a $300K buyout
Scott Feldman (29) - $9.25MM club option with a $600K buyout
Jeff Francis (32)
Gavin Floyd (30) - $9.5MM club option
Freddy Garcia (37)
Zack Greinke (28)
Jeremy Guthrie (34)
Rich Harden (31)
Dan Haren (32) - $15.5MM club option with a $3.5MM buyout
Roberto Hernandez (32) - $6MM club option (Reduced from $9MM after contract was restructured)
Tim Hudson (37) - $9MM club option with a $1MM buyout
Edwin Jackson (29)
Hiroki Kuroda (38)
Francisco Liriano (29)
Kyle Lohse (34)
Derek Lowe (40)
Paul Maholm (31) - $6.5MM club option with a $500K buyout
Shaun Marcum (31)
Jason Marquis (34)
Daisuke Matsuzaka (32)
Brandon McCarthy (29)
Kevin Millwood (38)
Dustin Moseley (31)
Jamie Moyer (50)
Roy Oswalt (35)
Carl Pavano (37)
Jake Peavy (31) - $22MM club option with a $4MM buyout
Anibal Sanchez (29)
Jonathan Sanchez (30)
Ervin Santana (30) - $13MM club option with a $1MM buyout
Joe Saunders (32)
James Shields (31) - $9MM club option with a $1.5MM buyout
Tim Stauffer (31)
Carlos Villanueva (29)
Chien-Ming Wang (33)
Kip Wells (36)
Randy Wells (30)
Randy Wolf (36)
Chris Young (34)
Carlos Zambrano (32)


Closers
Jonathan Broxton (29)
Matt Capps (29)
Brandon League (30)
Ryan Madson (32) - $11MM mutual option with a $2.5MM buyout
Brett Myers (32) - $10MM vesting option with a $3MM buyout
Mariano Rivera (43)
Fernando Rodney (36) - $2.5MM club option with a $250K buyout
Joakim Soria (29) - $8MM club option with a $750K buyout
Rafael Soriano (33) - $14MM player option or a $1.5MM buyout
Jose Valverde (35)


Right-handed relievers
Jeremy Accardo (31)
Mike Adams (34)
Luis Ayala (35)
Miguel Batista (42)
Shawn Camp (37)
Todd Coffey (32)
Jose Contreras (41)
Francisco Cordero (38)
Juan Cruz (34)
Chad Durbin (35)
Kyle Farnsworth (37)
Jason Frasor (35)
Kevin Gregg (35)
Jason Grilli (36)
LaTroy Hawkins (38)
Livan Hernandez (38)
Bobby Jenks (32)
Brad Lidge (36)
Matt Lindstrom (33) - $4MM club option with a $200K buyout
Mark Lowe (30)
Brandon Lyon (33)
Guillermo Mota (39)
Juan Carlos Oviedo (29)
Vicente Padilla (35)
Brad Penny (35)
Joel Peralta (37)
Chad Qualls (34)
Ramon Ramirez (31)
Jon Rauch (34)
Francisco Rodriguez (31)
Takashi Saito (43)
Koji Uehara (38)
Jamey Wright (38)


Left-handed relievers
Jeremy Affeldt (34)
Sean Burnett (30) - $3.5MM mutual option with a $250K buyout
Tim Byrdak (39)
Randy Choate (37)
Dana Eveland (29)
Pedro Feliciano (35) - $4.5MM club option
Brian Fuentes (37)
Mike Gonzalez (35)
Alex Hinshaw (30)
J.P. Howell (28)
Will Ohman (35)
Darren Oliver (42) - $3MM club option with a $500K buyout
J.C. Romero (37)
Hisanori Takahashi (38)


Cot's Baseball Contracts was used in the creation of this list.


Read more at http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2011/0...C1D1tDQyX2K.99

Brian McCann caught my eye there. He ought to be picked up on option, probably the most criminally underrated catcher in the game. Possibly the best not named Wieters.

McCann underrated? I don't think so.

McCann will stay in Atlanta, as will Hudson. Maholm is outta here though!

Would love to see Uggla leave and have Swisher take his place, but that's a pipe dream for sure.

On a positive note, Brandon Beachy will be able to play again after his surgery! Woo Hoo, I like that guy. He's got "IT."

Ugh, do not want Ethier gone. Having said that, he has been struggling mightily.

Ethiers a platoon player at thispoint. He is useless against LHP. I wouldn't want anything to do with that contract,unless the Dodgers are eating half of it.

And, to carry over a convo from the season thread, Darwin Barney should definitely win the gold glove. Though Phillips will likely win it because hes a league fave.

I want Griffey!

how does this work

A lefty playing second base always works.

Volstad got claimed by the Royals. One down.

Yadier Molina is giving you a big FUCK YOU right now.

Uggla just hasn't done much as a Brave and I'd like to see him leave and have a different veteran 2nd baseman try his hand as a Brave. Then again, it's been a while since the Braves had a good all around 2nd baseman.

Swisher isn't a second baseman

<font color=goldenrod>Wright and Dickey will have their 2013 options picked up this week. A lot of Mets fans are calling for both to get traded and just completely blow the team up to continue the rebuild.

If Wright gets his contract extension, it's expected that it'll be the largest contract in team history. In fairness, it'll probably be more than he's worth, especially considering his awful second half and the fact that he'll be entering his age 30 season. But fuck it...the Mets NEVER get to keep a star for his whole career. I'd love for him to retire with all of the Mets' offensive records and get his number on the left field wall someday.

Dickey is so much fun to watch and seems like the nicest guy ever, but I'd be much more open to dealing him. Potential Cy Young Award winner making only $5 million? A lot of insiders are projecting teams would give up 2 top prospects for him - or a solid Major Leaguer with a decent prospect.

One rumor I read had the Angels (who have a ton of outfielders and will soon have rotation vacancies assuming they do dump Haren and Ervin) trading Trumbo to the Mets for Dickey and Josh Thole (who knows Dickey's unique knuckler). I find it hard to imagine the Angels would deal Trumbo for a 38 year old pitcher...but fuck I'd sign up for that in a heartbeat.</font>

Yea, I totally forgot that. Well, fuck it, he can learn.

Dear Pirates,

Do something relevant this off season.

Signed,

Anyone who has watched you over the last 20 years

<font color=goldenrod>The Braves have picked up the 2013 options for all three guys today.</font>

Agreed. McCutchen can't do it all by himself.

Well that's good news! Mostly!

:| Leyland and the whole staff is back :wtf: I'm sure the Los Tigres will win the WS now.

O's free agents are thome, Ayala and eveland. Adios!

They really need a 2b at the least..

Giants-Tigers World Series ended up becoming the lowest ever for ratings on average since they started to track ratings for the WS.

Almost a full point below the previous worst of Phillies-Rays and Giants-Rangers.

Jays retained Mathis and picked up Bobby Wilson. Have a feeling J.P Arencibia might be dealt for some pitching, especially with D'Arnaud waiting in the wings.

wooooo CarGo undeserved Gold Glove

<font color=goldenrod>I feel bad for Wright. Headley is no slouch or anything, but Wright led Headley in every advanced defensive metric and had easily the best defensive year of his career. Ah well. Guess it makes up for the 2007 and 2008 seasons when Wright was pretty terrible defensively yet seemingly won it because of his offense.

Gold Gloves have been pretty pointless for quite some time anyway.</font>

I live like 3 miles from the Blue Jays spring training ground in Dunedin. I've been to one game there. I hate standing for two anthems, plus everyone knows Greenland is the true north strong and free. They should sue! Jays should be better next year. Maybe an 80 win team. Maybe.

<font color=goldenrod>There seems to be a ton of outrage over Adam Jones winning the AL CF Gold Glove over Trout.

One theory being tossed around has to do with the fact that when Peter Bourjos played, he'd be the guy in CF with Trout moving over to LF. Could be seen as Scioscia pretty much admitting that Trout isn't even the best CF on his own team.</font>

Which woud be ok. He seems a bit too out spoken for a guy that's nominal

The Jays former 3B coach nd their 1B coach are off to Bean Town with Farrell

Oh,, also Romero is to have elbow surgery. Jays pitching staff is in shambles

Seeing the O's free agents makes it look like its going to be the same team next year, with the exception of Brian Roberts actually coming back to play. I think he's too old now though, in his thirties and not playing for a few years.

Hey Vito, site are you using to look at defensive metrics? I looked through baseball reference, and they had Headley as the top third baseman in total zone runs.

Royals traded for Ervin Santana

<font color=goldenrod>I was using FanGraphs. They had Wright with a 15.4 UZR as opposed to Headley's 6.0. Also this article breaks it down pretty nicely:

http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/met...n-a-gold-glove

Really though all I care about is Dickey winning the NL Cy Young. I don't think there's an argument to be made against him. Yet I can still see Kershaw or somebody inexplicably winning it.</font>

I think Gonzalez has a legit chance to "steal" the award from Dickey. Kershaw did lead pitchers in WAR, according to bball reference. I don't know, I think Dickey should win the award, but have a feeling he won't.

what they give up

some 27 year old venezuelean minor leaguer

Decent get for the Royals.

Marlins hire everyone's favorite backup catcher, Mike Redmond, to be their manager.

Anyone here remember Pascual Perez?

I do. He was a pitcher for the Expos (maybe other teams too I forget)


Pascual Perez killed in stabbing

Former major league pitcher Pascual Perez, who had a troubled 11-season career that included two suspensions for drug use, was killed at his home in the Dominican Republic in an apparent robbery, police said Thursday.

(link below for rest of story)

http://sports.ca.msn.com/headlines/p...-in-stabbing-1

<font color=goldenrod>Nearly half of the managers in MLB today have big league catching experience. Funny how that seems to work out.</font>

Catchers make the best managers. They're involved in every aspect of the game.

Roberts has one more year on his contract and his failed short comeback pretty much sealed he'all get paid to not play it.

They did decline the team option on mark Reynolds but its entirely possible and probable they resign him to a newer deal for less money, since they really don't have any in system 1b that are even close to ready and 1b fa kinda stink.

I think its more about their ability to handle players.

Catchers are the only position that need to motivate and "coach" other players. a Good catcher keeps his pitchers focused and has to calm them down, etc. Lots of catchers that can handle pitchers make a career out of substandard offense.

Brad Ausmus for example. Im surprised hes not still not catching somewhere. He was an OK Hitter, Very Good Defensively but is an all time staff handler or whatever they call it.

That dude will be an MLB manager within 5 years.

So if my point wasnt clear, I think that experience, coupled with the gameplanning they do makes them the ideal MLB manager.

Looking at today's catchers, Yadier Molina will be a good manager IMHO

Can't wait to see the first manager with neck tattoos.

Yadier Molina is a hall of famer imo. Coming from a Cubs fan, that guy might be the most feared player for the Cubs. Him and Carlos Lee. I swear to god they need to make a statue of Carlos Lee outside Wrigley. I dont think i've seen a game where he didnt crush a bomb to left field on us. But Molina is incredible. Such a defensive force too. The way he hold runners on base. Never lets a first basemen jog back to first after a strike. Dude is just dangerous .

Cubs are interested in Dan Haren

The thing about that is that the Cubs could buy low on Haren, give up a decent prospect, then sell high at the trade deadline next season. That would be a shrewd move. I dont know if Theo has the chops for that. We'll see.

I would give Jackson and Vitters right now. Have'em LA.

Cubs are also talking with Dempster. If they can put together and Dempster, Garza, Haren, Samarijzda, someone, rotation, they could challenge for the division.

Sign Kyle Lohse as a fifth starter

Lose Travis Wood in a desert at Spring Training.

Rangers give the first offer to Josh Hamilton of 1 year, $13.3 million although its less than the money he received last year ($13.75) but allows them a draft pick if he rejects it and someone else nabs him. Already hinted he'll reject it before the November 9th deadline.

Red Sox gave their initial offer to David Ortiz of 1 year $13.3 million to ensure they'd get a draft pick if he leaves although ESPN is saying he won't be leaving and will get a new 2 year contract.

O's Ryan Adams suspended 25 games for next season after testing positive for amphetamines.

Mark McGwire hints he's leaving the Cards hitting coach job to take the same job for the Dodgers soon.

Cubs are nowhere near as good as the Cards, Brewers, our Reds. Theyre a long way from contention.

Red Sox sign Ortiz to 2 year, 26 million.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/1...medium=twitter

Dan Haren for Carlos Marmol?

CUBS WIN! CUBS WIN! HOLY COW!

Trade is hold pending MLB approval. But's a crazy way to kick off free agency.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Source: Marmol would have OK'ed trade to <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23Angels">#Angels</a>, but <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23Cubs">#Cubs</a> pulled deal off table and trade is not happening. Angels talking to other clubs.</p>&mdash; Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/264553640625315844" data-datetime="2012-11-03T02:24:37+00:00">November 3, 2012</a></blockquote>

nvm

O's claimed 2b Alexi cassila from the twins..hmm

More of what they already had at 2b..whatever

Sucks for the Cubs

Though they pulled the deal so they are stuck with Marmol for now.

David Stern vetoed it

Sure do. Guy was a character.

MOTHERFUCKER!

lol Mark Mcgwire gonna be our hitting coach

Jays deal Mike Aviles and Yan Gomes to Indians for Pitcher Esmil Rogers.

Whatever.

ALL I SEE IS A BUNCH OF NON AMERICANS WHO CARES

I hope Bourn stays in Atlanta too. That guy is easily one of the best outfielders available right now.

wtf?

Esmil Rogers better be someone that's good. gimme some stats

Rogers throws hard, like 95 mph, and had decent numbers.

Mariano Rivera informs Yankees he's coming back for one last year since he doesn't want the last moment of his career being that freak injury.

A's resign Bartolo Colon for 1 year, $3 million but won't have him for the first 5 games of 2013 as part of the 50 game suspension he got late last year.

Esmil Rogers is a great dude, but he really sucked here. Gives up a lot of home runs and walks a lot of people as well.

Then again every pitcher who is not Josh Fogg apparently sucks here

For one beautiful piece of a season Jeff Francis didn't suck.

Well looking back on his stats apparently he did kind of suck, I guess I just bought into the dragon slayer moniker.:'(

Josh Fogg was the dragon slayer

but yeah Jeff Francis is probably the best the Rockies can do :'(

All of that fawning over Jeff Francis for nothing.

I do not approve of the astro's new orange jerseys

http://ww4.hdnux.com/photos/16/03/22.../3/628x471.jpg

Nothing like watching the Arizona fall league rising stars game on MLB network

Live baseball still..yay

I do. Too many fucking red teams

MARIANO IS COMING BACK!

Those 'Stros unis are pretty bland. I liked the previous version. Maybe have the modern script with thevintage 80s colors.

Hey, Skip. Wasn't Francis a CY candidate in 07?

He finished ninth in the voting so I suppose he was a bit of a candidate. I love Jeff Francis :'(

For Cleveland. He's been awful his entire career except half a season.

Give me Shaun Marcum back in a Jays uniform, and I will be happy.....

Astro's ought to go back to the Colt .45's. Sad part is that most of America wouldn't support a team named after a firearm, but they are in the perfect place: Texas.

In a friggen heartbeat

Josh Hamilton wants 7-years, $175 mil.

Any takers? Anybody?

<font color=goldenrod>BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA :lol: :lol: :lol:

He'll probably actually get something to close to that, and I will laugh at that team.</font>

Still a better deal than Jason Bay, Vito.

He'll be a Yankee before the season starts.

7 years is too much considering he'd be around 38/39 when its done but the $25 million per year is doable maybe as a 4-5 year deal.

Then again had he been a free agent last year, he could have easily gotten that money with all the huge contracts being given.

No way he can sign with New York. He'd go off the wagon faster you can say Chinese Fire Drill.