MLB 2009-2010 Off Season Thread
 

<font color=goldenrod>YES!!! THE 2009 SEASON IS OVER!!! :cool:

Well then, now that I've made the thread, may as well use it when we get around to discussing offseason matters. 15 days until free agency. :shifty:

C'monnnnnn Matt Holliday</font>

YANKEES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NL ROY should be Happ

DODGERS

Winter begins. :(

<font color=goldenrod>Haven't ROY already been decided? Pretty sure Happ and Beckham won it.</font>

I thought they didn't come out until after the World Series like the rest of the awards.

Was listening to Mike & Mike this morning and Buster Olney was saying that small market teams are going to try to save money this offseason by simply releasing players instead of giving them arbitration. So what we're going to have are a bunch of 24-26 year old free agents.

<font color=goldenrod>Holliday and Cardinals discussing a 6-year, $96 million deal

But the sense is that Boras will convince him to go on the market and sign with whoever gives him that guaranteed 7th year (because invariably some team WILL offer it).

Holliday turns 30 in December. If the Mets get him, a 7-year deal might start looking really bad once he hits 35/36 and is playing the spacious left field at Citi...but they kinda are in a position of need because I can't see them contending next year without a true power bat in ADDITION to Wright getting his power back.</font>

<font color=goldenrod>Yeah I had read something about that. Gonna be ridiculous. Might be some good bargains out on the market...nothing earth shattering, but good value. I've heard the Royals will probably be dumping guys like Teahen and Buck.</font>

Well as most are saying, I believe Matsui's last Yankee game was last night. What a way to go out though. He may sign with Seattle to play with his little buddy.

Damon is back.


Our pitching really worries me....again. Obviously we got AJ and CC, but after that it's like :wtf: I think Pettite got another good season left in him. I dunno what Wang will be. Joba and Hugues are ???? as Starters.

If we do anything this year, it will be for a pitcher and an outfielder.

I think if anything, The Phillies are in great shape. I easily can see them making a run for the Series for the next 3-4 years

<font color=goldenrod>It's an "I'll believe it when I see it" kind of thing but most seem to think the Yanks aren't willing to take on another huge, long-term, mega deal. Not so much a budget thing, but A-Rod, Teix, and CC all are getting raises (explains why their payroll was actually LOWER this year than '08) plus their are all signed through like 2015, 16, 17, etc.

Plus if Mo has a great 2010 he might decide to keep going...and Jeter's deal ends after 2010 and he has many great years left in him so he could charge the Yanks whatever he wanted.

That beiung said, Holliday has said the Yanks are his top choice, with the Mets being second. So if anything I could see the Yanks being used as a means of getting the Mets to pony up a 7th year.</font>

<font color=goldenrod>Definitely agree with this, unfortunately.</font> :(

Doc, AJ came here and got a ring...think about it

yea, next year is going to be interesting to see what they do with Jeter. Obviously, they are keeping him. But how long will they give him?

and I thought about Roy. Could they even afford him. That would be really sick to have AJ, CC and Roy. Now he kind of fell off a little bit at the end of last year, so it will be interesting to see if his value might of fallen a little. He'll still get a ridiculous contract from someone though.

So is Predro done on the Phils?

<font color=goldenrod>Funny I mentioned Mark Teahen in that other post...cause we now already have the FIRST TRADE OF THE OFFSEASON:

Mark Teahen to the White Sox for Chris Getz and Josh Fields

Kenny Williams is high</font>

I'd guess Pedro is done with the Phillies, probably done in general

I'm hoping the Yankees rotation is just CC-AJ-Andy-Joba-Hughes. Then resigning Gaudin and restructuring Wang's contract if he's gonna miss time from the injury. Those five along with Gaudin, Wang, Kennedy and others from the minors (McAllister) should be enough depth. Maybe sign a cheap starter that could eat up some innings/pitch out of the pen.

saw Josh Fields a lot when he played for the Sox's minor league team (Charlotte Knights). He was really good in the minors, but I haven't followed him too much in the majors

Tigers are going to have a real interesting offseason. Rumors persist that Polanco is gone and we are going to be starting Sizemore at Second base. Carlos Guillen is going to be the starting left fielder :(. It's just going to be a mess

Dodgers declined a 10 mil option on Garland. Good.

is Carl Crawford available this year? I thought they mentioned him being available on Mike and Mike

I think Matsui is best served going back to Japan. He'll have left America at the top and will get the national hero treatment back home. And that should equate to some $$$ that he might not see here.

The talk has stirred up again about where you put Mariano and Jeter on the list of all time Yankees. I've heard Rivera as high as 4th in front of Mantle and Berra.

Rays have the chance to pick up the option. Its only 10 mil, but there is a possibility they pick it up and deal him if they fall out of the race come trade deadline.

definately in the top 10 I would put them both. Are we counting A-Rod yet? Pettite?

There is talk that the Rays might not pick him up at all and he would become a free agent. He would make a great splash in Detroit, but there is no way the Tigers will pick him up for the type of money that he wants

Teahen didn't have as terrible year as he has been last year. He's way better than the two guys they traded for. Fields is a complete bust and Getz is nothing special.

Dimaggio
Gehrig
Ruth
Jeter
Mantle
Berra
Rivera
Munson
Reggie
Mattingly

IMHO

Red Sox reportedly get Jeremy Hermida.

Well that could mean adios to Rocco. Or could be the plan for LF if they don't resign Bay.

I like Hermida, he hasn't panned out yet but hes only 26. I think he can thrive in Fenway with that RF. Good trade for the Sox.

Exactly what I think, but don't think they'll settle for Hermida in left. I'd say the Red Sox wind up with at least one of Jason Bay, Matt Holliday, Prince Fielder, and Adrian Gonzalez.

Bobby Abreu takes a deal with the Angels. 2-years, $19 mil.

White Sox get Mark Teahen from the Royals for Chris Getz and Josh Fields.

White Sox resign Mark Kotsay.

Braves sign Scott Proctor.

And, IMO, the big opening day news for the offseason. The Rays trade Akinori Iwamura to the Pirates for Jesse Chavez.

As far as the Yankees are concerned. Here's what I want for next season/needs to be addressed.

1. Retain Matsui for 1-year. Let's face it, the man did major damage in the DH hole this year (last night being a perfect example.) But as we all know that his knees are shot to shit and the Yankees wanna rotate out the DH spot to the vets.

2. The outfield. Johnny Damon got a great bat but a horrible glove. He wants to come back, but I'd really sit back and think about 1 more year with him. Keep Swisher in RF, and we know he's doing extra credit this offseason with Long and Eiland. So that's a plus. CF is the tricky part. Do we go with Gardbrera another season, go in house, or aquire from trade/free agency.

3. Starting pitching. 1 & 2 are set. But I'd like 2 to get his act together during the offseason. Again, we play the waiting game with Pettite. Same contract as this year if he wants back in. I'd let Joba, Hughes, Wang, Gaudin, and Kennedy fight for the 4 and 5 spots. Not much in the market for starting pitchers. Lackey, Garland, Lee, and Wolf. But all eyes are on Aroldis Chapman.

If Bay falls through, I think Gonzo is Red Sox bound. Even if they do retain Bay I wouldn't be shocked to still see them land him. I really think they have the prospects it takes to entice the Pads.

Can move Youk to 3rd for good, and you can move Lowell and Ortiz for one more season at DH.

Somehow, I see Aroldis Chapman as a huge bust. The next Jose Contreras. He's a thrower, but doesn't know how to actually pitch.

The stats he's put up in the league he was in really weren't even impressive. Apparently all he has is a big fastball, with no secondary pitches and no control.

Doesn't exactly intrigue me too much.

And one of the big teams is going to throw 50+ million at him. I pray to god it's not my favorite Major League Baseball organization.

The Yankees have said they want to get a little younger however they can but I don't think there's much they can do. There really isn't much options for LF since I don't see them throwing big money at Bay or Holliday. If there was a decent LF available on the market I could understand letting Damon go but there isn't one that won't cost them a huge contract. I'm assuming Damon will be back unless they make a trade for a LF.

The whole Gardner/Cabrera thing has worked out pretty well. I think they stick with that for CF and maybe get Jackson involved later in the year.

I wouldn't mind having Matsui back if its in a role similar to this year and maybe a little reduced. He could be the DH except for days when Posada needs a day off from catching. I'm not sure who else they'd want to give DH time to besides Posada, Damon if he's back or maybe A-Rod.