The Official MLB Offseason Topic

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

The Mets have come up w/ a deal that exceeded the Oriole deal, 3 years guaranteed 30 mil, he has a complete out after 3 years to get to 13-15 mil he has to get 400 abs in the season, and the 4th and 5th are the same options. All incentive = 5 years 72 mil. But the standards are he has to get 400 Abs a year. 30 mil guaranteed, ability to walk away after the 3rd year, but options for the 4th and 5th year are on the table.

 

The Mets deal actually is better than the Os deal as long as Vlad stays healthy the entire 5 years and takes the two option years after the 3rd.

[2GOLD 0]

I don't think it makes much sense. Not that it wouldn't work with two catchers, but it doesn't make sense to lock up two players long term at a single position.

 

Besides, I think Vlad will end up with the Orioles. He's holding out for a better offer, but nothing's coming down the pike. No one's offering as much as the O's, or for as many years. I think he'll sign.

 

I'm confused that the O's seem to be more focused on signing older vets when it failed the last time they tried this.

 

I don't mind Vlad but I get the feeling he really doesn't want to play in Baltimore or any city for that and I'd rather see the money that they plan to toss at IRod go towards some pitchers such as Ponson since Lopez has already signed.

 

I understand the logic but I don't understand who they are going to have throw at the catchers.

[Dr. Tom 0]

That's a dashed interesting proposal.

 

Get to work, Beattie and Flanagan. Give him a 6th year if that's what it takes to get the deal done. I really don't expect Guerrero to have any problems with his back.

[2GOLD 0]

I think they are too worried he'll be Belle version 2, but Belle went down with a rare hip disorder so I don't know why they are overly concerned

 

It sounds like if they give him six that he might sign.

 

Plus, I didn't think Vlad wanted anything to DO with NYC?

[Guest FrigidSoul]

ESPN.com is saying the Orioles may abandon going after Vlad and work towards signing Pudge. Then Pudge and Javy would share duties between C and DH. Orioles might be more interested in going after Carlos Beltran next year or Magglio Ordonez.

[2GOLD 0]

I think it would be hilarious if both the Mets and the O's pulled their deals and Vlad landed in Detriot.

 

If a city ever needed a name, it's the Tigers.

 

O's should focus in on pitching now and if Pudge wants to sign, then sign him.

[Bored 0]

I see Peter Angelos hasn't learned the mistakes of the past he's made of just throwing money around without any rhyme or reason.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

I think they are too worried he'll be Belle version 2, but Belle went down with a rare hip disorder so I don't know why they are overly concerned

 

It sounds like if they give him six that he might sign.

 

Plus, I didn't think Vlad wanted anything to DO with NYC?

I think after the 2000 offseason, teams are wary of giving anyone a long term deal.

 

As for NYC, I've stated from day one that Vlad would go wherever the good offer came from.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

I see Peter Angelos hasn't learned the mistakes of the past he's made of just throwing money around without any rhyme or reason.

well, the Os did need a catcher (signed Javy Lopez) and they did need a SS (signed Tejada), so for the most part so far thats not the case.

 

They still plan on going after Ponson to improve the pitching a bit. IMO thats more needed than signing Palmeiro or Irod but we'll take em as they come.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Cardinals sign 2B Marlon Anderson to a one year deal. Good move, as Brent Butler and Bo Hart aren't exactly good, for lack of a better term.

 

Interestingly, they've also signed Ray Lankford to a minor league deal with a spring training invite. He just might be good enough to start on the team (seriously, who else?). In all seriousness, he's probably done, but it would be nice to see him on better terms with the Cardinals this time.

[Guest OctoberBlood]

Cardinals sign 2B Marlon Anderson to a one year deal. Good move, as Brent Butler and Bo Hart aren't exactly good, for lack of a better term.

Neither is Marlon Anderson.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Cardinals sign 2B Marlon Anderson to a one year deal.  Good move, as Brent Butler and Bo Hart aren't exactly good, for lack of a better term.

Neither is Marlon Anderson.

True. I looked up Anderson, and his career OBP is .316, about the same as Hart's. I truly thought it was higher. Since Marlon bats lefty, and Hart righty, perhaps a platoon would work well for the Cards.

[CanadianChris 0]

Very interesting...

 

Houston has offered a one-year contract to Roger Clemens. Now he just has to decide whether he wants to accept.

[Guest Anglesault]

Very interesting...

 

Houston has offered a one-year contract to Roger Clemens. Now he just has to decide whether he wants to accept.

Oh fucking Christ.

 

Oh FUCKING CHRIST.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Well, we've always known the interest was there, and it was all up to Clemens anyway.

[Guest Anglesault]

Why does baseball hate me?

[the max 0]

To be fair, everyone hates you.

[Guest Anglesault]

Yeah, but baseball used to like me.

 

All of a sudden the Yankees become a punchline and we lose our pitching staff to HOUSTON AND SAN DIEGO?

 

Baseball has gone ass backwards.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Yeah, but baseball used to like me.

 

All of a sudden the Yankees become a punchline and we lose our pitching staff to HOUSTON AND SAN DIEGO?

 

Baseball has gone ass backwards.

Sometimes old players retire. Other times they find new teams.....

 

You guys got Kevin Brown and Javier Vazquez. Will nothing make you happy?

[Guest Anglesault]

Yeah, but baseball used to like me.

 

All of a sudden the Yankees become a punchline and we lose our pitching staff to HOUSTON AND SAN DIEGO?

 

Baseball has gone ass backwards.

Sometimes old players retire. Other times they find new teams.....

 

You guys got Kevin Brown and Javier Vazquez. Will nothing make you happy?

You know what will make me happy.

 

And I'm at a loss as to how we could replace a 40 year old pitcher with a bad back and bad attitude

 

with a 38 year old pitcher with a bad back and bad attitude.

 

At least Wells had proven himself to me.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Well, the 38 year old pitcher probably has the most vicious slider in the game.

[DerangedHermit 0]

Baseball has gone ass backwards.

Nah...just the Yankees.

[NYU 0]

I thought Anglesault would be interested in this.

 

Devil Rays Hire Zimmer as Advisor

espn.com

 

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Don Zimmer is happy to be back in baseball -- if not the dugout -- after leaving the New York Yankees because of a strained relationship with owner George Steinbrenner.

 

 

 

 

 

Zimmer was hired Friday as an adviser by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, who will have him in uniform as a coach for spring training and pregame workouts at home games and on select road trips during the regular season.

 

 

 

Zimmer, who turns 73 on Jan. 17, has been in baseball 55 years -- 33 as a major league coach or manager. He spent the last eight seasons as bench coach for Yankees manager Joe Torre and is grateful for the opportunity to continue his career just a few miles from his Treasure Island home.

 

 

 

He said if he hadn't received a job from the Devil Rays, or another team he did not identify, he would have officially retired. He will not be in the dugout during games because Tampa Bay already has a full coaching staff.

 

 

 

"It's a good feeling to be wanted," Zimmer, who left New York after complaining Steinbrenner treated him unkindly, said during a conference call.

 

 

 

"I left because I wanted to leave. Still, it's not the way you want to say goodbye to somebody, except him. It was tough leaving the Yankees, but I just had enough. I left because of him and no other reason."

 

 

 

With the Devil Rays, Zimmer will hold the title of senior baseball adviser and will assist the team in community affairs. He said he had always taken some ribbing from friends about his title.

 

 

 

"I've never been nothing but a broken down coach," joked Zimmer, who managed 13 seasons in the majors, compiling an 885-858 (.508) record with the Padres, Red Sox, Rangers and Cubs.

 

 

 

He also managed the Yankees the first 36 games (21-15) of the 1999 season when Torre was recovering from prostate cancer. He owns six World Series rings -- four as a coach with the Yankees, and two as a player for Brooklyn in 1955 and Los Angeles in 1959.

 

 

"Don brings a tremendous amount of experience to our

 

 

organization," Devil Rays general manager Chuck LaMar said.

 

 

 

Zimmer's falling out with Steinbrenner wasn't the only spat that landed Zimmer in the headlines last season.

 

 

 

In Game 3 of the AL championship series, Zimmer was involved in a melee in which he was tossed to the ground by Boston pitcher Pedro Martinez. Zimmer tearfully apologized the next day for his actions and was fined $5,000 by major league baseball.

[Guest drdrainoscott]

Mora is playing 3B as far as I know so they arent worried about that right now.  I've heard the Os were interested in trying to get Eric Chavez next year but I doubt that will happen.

They are apparently high on Larry Bigbie, and think he can be a star someday.

Uh... Bigbie is an outfielder. While I think he has the potential to be a good player, I doubt very much that it will be at 3rd base.

No, I heard that they are going to move him to third. Their outfield is loaded with Mora, Matos, Gibbons and hopefully Vlad.

[Guest Smell the ratings!!!]

Vlad to...the Marlins?!

 

espn.com

[2GOLD 0]

Apparently he really just wants to stay in the NL and I think the O's are now out of the Vlad race. Can't say I'm shocked since I've had a feeling that deal was dead when Vlad still hadn't signed by Jan. 1.

 

It'll only be a one year deal by the Marlins and it'll enable Vlad to prove his back is ok for other teams next season, possibly even a return to the Expos if they become a full time Rico team.

 

Interesting, very interesting.

[Mik 0]

YES!

 

*fingers crossed*

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

However, the offer left one insider skeptical about the Mets' chances, since it pales in comparison to the Orioles' five-year, $65 million bid. "If that's the case, it's not going to get it done for them," said a source close to Guerrero, who also cited union pressure.

 

The players' union would frown on Guerrero agreeing to inferior financial terms, and is believed to already have encouraged agents Fern Cuza and Diego Benz to accept the most lucrative offer.

 

However, Guerrero clearly has reservations about Baltimore, or else he would have accepted its offer by now. He's believed to prefer a National League city with a sizable Dominican population and appears poised to wait on the Dodgers, whose ownership transition has delayed their offer.

 

Gotta love the MLB players union..

[Guest drdrainoscott]

On one hand I think its great that a player is making his decision based on something other than money, but for some reason, Vlad is really rubbing me the wrong way. It seems like he has been saying a lot of fluff and then contradicting himself since the free agent signing period started. First he said that Baltimore was his top choice to play in. Now he doesn't like the city. Then he was after more money than Baltimore was offering. Now he is going for less. Make up your mind for crying out loud!

[Guest FrigidSoul]

Mets offered a 5 year deal worth $72mill(if Vlad can reach the plate appearences incentives). I think he's headed there which basically gives the Mets an OF of Floyd, Cameron, and Vlad.

 

But they have no young pitching