The Official MLB Offseason Topic

[Guest FrigidSoul]

According to ESPNEWS. Some people believe it will be announced tommorow, others believe it to be announced on Monday so it doesn't take away from what the Pats have done(John Henry has previously bashed the media for not giving the Pats their due credit).

 

What do I think of it? Well Hicks has dropped his demands to getting $13mill. While doing so its been said in newspapers that he has gone with Scott Boras and restructured A-Rod's contract so $13mill is defered and spread out over the next couple of seasons. So while it makes it all a wash I don't think Henry will sign off on it until Hicks lowers his demands to at most $11mill because the Red Sox want a couple million off on the contract this year to go towards their bench and the raises of other players. I personally believe its close and if it is to be done it will be done so before Christmas, if no deal is done by then consider the deal dead and not happening.

[Bored 0]

The Marlins signed Armando Benitez to a one-year, $3.5 million deal and because of that non-tendered Braden Looper making him a free agent. I know Looper wasn't the greatest closer but that is a pretty big risk to be taking when they probably could have kept him for cheaper.

[the max 0]

I'm surprised about Looper, as he was a pretty popular guy around here.

[Cartman 0]

According to ESPNEWS. Some people believe it will be announced tommorow, others believe it to be announced on Monday so it doesn't take away from what the Pats have done(John Henry has previously bashed the media for not giving the Pats their due credit).

 

What do I think of it? Well Hicks has dropped his demands to getting $13mill. While doing so its been said in newspapers that he has gone with Scott Boras and restructured A-Rod's contract so $13mill is defered and spread out over the next couple of seasons. So while it makes it all a wash I don't think Henry will sign off on it until Hicks lowers his demands to at most $11mill because the Red Sox want a couple million off on the contract this year to go towards their bench and the raises of other players. I personally believe its close and if it is to be done it will be done so before Christmas, if no deal is done by then consider the deal dead and not happening.

Wonderful, so now after this year AROD will get paid about 30 million per year thus handicapping the Sox when it comes to keeping players and getting other free agents.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Where do you get $30 million? I don't think he'll handicap the Sox considering they have a $100 million payroll.

 

On a side note, how much would Derek Jeter be villified if he didn't play on the Yankees. His contract is bigger than Ramirez's at this point, and he's not as good of a player. Yet no one ever mentions his contract as a drain.

[Cartman 0]

If they are deferring 13 million where do you think that money goes to? The back end of the contract. He was going to make 20 mil this year, 25 next, and 27 from then on...if they are deferring money from this year it's going to be added to the other years.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Not necessarily. Its not uncommon for a team to pay the money after the contract period. Part of A-Rod's deal now pays him deferred money from 2011-20.

[Guest FrigidSoul]

John Henry refuses to sign off on the deal until Tom Hicks drops all demands for money saying that they can live with Manny and Nomar just fine. The Red Sox have been adamant about not paying Manny to hit homers somewhere else all along. So if Hicks wants to save money he better do this soon because if the White Sox deal Magglio the deal is off and Hicks is stuck with the contract he no longer wants.

 

This was in the Boston Herald

[Bored 0]

Well after a very bizarre week in A's transactions has finally come to an end with everyone they expected to get. Michael Barrett did agree to a contract with the Cubs today thus allowing them to send Damian Miller to the A's as the PTBNL plus $800k in cash. Also after trading for the guy early in the week and then non-tendering him yesterday, the A's signed Mark Redman to a three-year deal worth reportedly $4 million/year, this according to espn.com.

[Cartman 0]

John Henry refuses to sign off on the deal until Tom Hicks drops all demands for money saying that they can live with Manny and Nomar just fine. The Red Sox have been adamant about not paying Manny to hit homers somewhere else all along. So if Hicks wants to save money he better do this soon because if the White Sox deal Magglio the deal is off and Hicks is stuck with the contract he no longer wants.

 

This was in the Boston Herald

Gee there's a shocker. I have been saying this all along. The only way this stupid deal happens is if Hicks completely crumbles and gives in to Henry.

[MrRant 0]

NEW YORK -- The 58 players who became free agents Sunday when their teams failed to offer 2004 contracts:

 

American League

 

ANAHEIM (1) -- Shawn Wooten, c-inf.

 

BALTIMORE (2) -- Jason Johnson, rhp; Damian Moss, lhp.

 

BOSTON (6) -- Edwin Almonte, rhp; Damian Jackson, inf; Gabe Kapler, of; Lou Merloni, inf; Scott Sauerbeck, lhp; Jason Shiell, rhp.

 

CLEVELAND (2) -- Danys Baez, rhp; Carl Sadler, lhp.

 

DETROIT (2) -- Ben Petrick, c-inf; Andy Van Hekken, lhp.

 

KANSAS CITY (1) -- Kris Wilson, rhp.

 

MINNESOTA (1) -- Augie Ojeda, inf.

 

NEW YORK (2) -- David Dellucci, of; Karim Garcia, of.

 

OAKLAND (3) -- Jeremy Fikac, rhp; Frank Menechino, inf; Mark Redman, lhp.

 

TAMPA BAY (3) -- Marlon Anderson, 2b; Gerardo Garcia, rhp; Jared Sandberg, inf.

 

TEXAS (1) -- Jason Tyner, of.

 

TORONTO (2) -- Trever Miller, lhp; Cliff Politte, rhp.

 

National League

 

ARIZONA (1) -- Rod Barajas, c.

 

CHICAGO (3) -- Michael Barrett, c; Scott Chiasson, rhp; Randall Simon, 1b.

 

CINCINNATI (3) -- Russell Branyan, inf; Ruben Mateo, of; Reggie Taylor, of.

 

COLORADO (4) -- Scott Elarton, rhp; Matt Miller, rhp; Jay Payton, of; Kit Pellow, inf.

 

FLORIDA (3) -- Armando Almanza, lhp; Toby Borland, rhp; Braden Looper, rhp.

 

HOUSTON (1) -- Nate Bland, lhp.

 

LOS ANGELES (3) -- Michael Brohawn, lhp ; Alfredo Gonzalez, rhp; Derek Thompson, lhp.

 

MILWAUKEE (1) -- Jayson Durocher, rhp.

 

MONTREAL (3) -- Hector Almonte, rhp; Orlando Hernandez, rhp; Britt Reames, rhp.

 

NEW YORK (3) -- Pedro Feliciano, lhp; Jeremy Hill, rhp; Scott Strickland, rhp.

 

PHILADELPHIA (2) -- Travis Chapman, 3b; Valerio De Los Santos, lhp.

 

PITTSBURGH (1) -- Mike Lincoln, rhp.

 

ST. LOUIS (1) -- Gene Stechschulte, rhp.

 

SAN DIEGO (3) -- Mike Matthews, lhp; Miguel Ojeda, c; Todd Sears, inf.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Damnit, what is the Phillies obsession with not giving Travis Chapman a chance? A hope this is a legalese move before re-signing him.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Tom Hicks set a Tuesday deadline for the deal. This whole thing reminds me of parents telling their kids "THIS time we'll turn the car around, we mean it!!!", but never actually doing it.

[Guest FrigidSoul]

Tom Hicks set a Tuesday deadline for the deal. This whole thing reminds me of parents telling their kids "THIS time we'll turn the car around, we mean it!!!", but never actually doing it.

This is Tom Hicks' 3rd deadline by my count

[MrRant 0]

Well... I guess that means he counted to 3 and he really will turn the car around now.

[CanadianChris 0]

ESPN.com is reporting that Javy Lopez has signed with Baltimore for $23 million over 3 years.

[2GOLD 0]

ESPN.com is reporting that Javy Lopez has signed with Baltimore for $23 million over 3 years.

 

YES! Finally, a catcher in Baltimore!

 

Now all they need is Ponson and Vlad and they are set.

[CanadianChris 0]

ESPN.com is reporting that Javy Lopez has signed with Baltimore for $23 million over 3 years.

 

YES! Finally, a catcher in Baltimore!

 

Now all they need is Ponson and Vlad and they are set.

If they sign Vlad, the AL East will be the most competitive division in the history of baseball. And Tampa Bay will be lucky to win 50 games.

[2GOLD 0]

ESPN.com is reporting that Javy Lopez has signed with Baltimore for $23 million over 3 years.

 

YES! Finally, a catcher in Baltimore!

 

Now all they need is Ponson and Vlad and they are set.

If they sign Vlad, the AL East will be the most competitive division in the history of baseball. And Tampa Bay will be lucky to win 50 games.

 

Are you crazy????

 

Tampa Bay is the most dangerous of the group!

Look how quiet they have been....a little TOO quiet....it's ALWAYS the quiet ones.

 

Look at them, smug and just sitting there. Not moving to sign anyone. Waiting...Waiting for the perfect moment to spring their trap!

 

Those crafty Devil Rays, what COULD they be up too??

[Dr. Tom 0]

ESPN.com is reporting that Javy Lopez has signed with Baltimore for $23 million over 3 years.

 

YES! Finally, a catcher in Baltimore!

 

Now all they need is Ponson and Vlad and they are set.

And two more starting pitchers, and a reliable bullpen, and...

 

Honestly, I would have preferred Pudge, but he apparently pissed off the Orioles' brass when he claimed he'd been offered a guaranteed 4th year, which wasn't the case. After that, the O's put more money on the table for Lopez and got him signed. I hope Ron Shandler's theory about older catchers and their power spikes remains true for the next 3 years.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

I have some serious reservations on this deal. Three years and $8 million per is an awfully big risk to put in a catcher after one big season. It could come back to bite the Orioles.

 

I think this will be the year that I-Rod fires Scott Boras. Among Major League teams, I can't see many teams seriously interested at this point, certainly not to the tune of a 4 year contract.

 

As far as Lopez goes, I think his production will fall along his career line (287/337/502). Not last year's numbers, but fairly good. Honestly, its the third year that would worry me.

[King Kamala 0]

I think the Devil Rays will win 70 actually. They're a pretty talented group and were much better last year than the record indicated. With another cheap quality power hitter, I think they could compete with the big boys in the AL East.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

I hope Ron Shandler's theory about older catchers and their power spikes remains true for the next 3 years.

 

I looked over the ten catchers most similar to Javy Lopez, and honestly, I don't see much to that theory. None of the catchers had a year any BETTER than one in their 20s. The common theme, and a more prevailent, is an decrease in playing time as they age.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Espn's off-season power rankings.....

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1692140

 

Yankees 25th? What the hell are they smoking? Javier Vazquez is an improvement over Andy Pettitte. They have a good 5th starter now instead of Jeff Weaver. They have middle relievers. They've replaced Nick Johnson with Gary Sheffield. The team looks BETTER than it did last year.

[2GOLD 0]

Espn's off-season power rankings.....

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1692140

 

Yankees 25th? What the hell are they smoking? Javier Vazquez is an improvement over Andy Pettitte. They have a good 5th starter now instead of Jeff Weaver. They have middle relievers. They've replaced Nick Johnson with Gary Sheffield. The team looks BETTER than it did last year.

 

But they lost the playoff experience they had in Clemens and Petitte and Vasquez has yet to be tested in a major market like NYC.

 

Pressure does things, especially when your owner is the insane George.

 

And Sheffield is a nightmare waiting to be unleashed.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

But they lost the playoff experience they had in Clemens and Petitte and Vasquez has yet to be tested in a major market like NYC.

 

And as Anaheim and Florida have shown, playoff experience is CRUCTIAL, no? Besides, its not like Kevin Brown doesn't have playoff experience, if that's what you want. As for pressure, take a look at how much it effected Mike Mussina.

 

And Sheffield is a nightmare waiting to be unleashed.

 

How so? Sheffield's made the playoffs the last two years. I don't think he's a detriment, no matter how many sportswriters don't like him.

[the pinjockey 0]

They might punish them for the Sheffield signing though. They were confused why they didn't wait and get Vlad for only one or two mil a year more.

[The Ghost of bps21 0]

Vlad is getting screwed. IMO he's the best player to become a free agent since A-Rod...and his suitors are Baltimore and Florida.

[HarleyQuinn 0]

Well Baltimore is turning into a decent ballclub...

 

In terms of hitters they have Miguel Tejada, Javy Lopez, Jay Gibbons already. As for pitchers they have Kurt Ainsworth, Rodrigo Lopez, Willis Roberts, Sidney Ponson and Jorge Julio. Granted not the most notable pitching names but still decent to solid nonetheless.

 

Gibbons hit .277, 23 HR's and a .456 SLG.

[2GOLD 0]

Well Baltimore is turning into a decent ballclub...

 

In terms of hitters they have Miguel Tejada, Javy Lopez, Jay Gibbons already. As for pitchers they have Kurt Ainsworth, Rodrigo Lopez, Willis Roberts, Sidney Ponson and Jorge Julio. Granted not the most notable pitching names but still decent to solid nonetheless.

 

Gibbons hit .277, 23 HR's and a .456 SLG.

 

They don't have Ponson yet

 

And Gibbons, I've always been high on him. If they can land Vlad, they say they will still have money for two or three pitchers on the market.

 

The AL EAST is going to be interesting.

 

 

Also for all of those downing Lopez. He is a marked improvement over whatever catcher Baltimore has ever had and he was cheaper than I-Rod. Personally I wanted I-Rod but it frees up money for either pitchers or Vlad by signing Lopez.