The Official MLB Offseason Topic

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

They have one....Aaron Heilman. He bombed last year in the bigs, but he has good minor league numbers.

[2GOLD 0]

Sounds like Vlad wants to go to LA to me and he doesn't really need to rush. He can dangle himself all winter and not have to worry about making a choice.

 

But I wonder how pissed the union will be if he takes the Marlins offer.

[Guest FrigidSoul]

Then let me rephrase that, they have no GOOD young pitching

[JasonX 0]

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=dodg...t&type=lgns

 

Dodgers sign OF Trammell to one-year deal

 

 

January 7, 2004

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) - The Los Angeles Dodgers, who continue to search for offense, took a chance on Bubba Trammell on Tuesday, signing the veteran outfielder to a one-year contract.

 

Financial terms were not disclosed.

 

Trammell was slated to make $2.5 million last year, but left the New York Yankees after just 22 games for personal reasons. He was placed on the restricted list and reached a settlement with the team last month.

 

The 32-year-old batted just .200 last season but is a career .261 hitter in parts of seven seasons. He is just two seasons removed from a career year, when he batted .261 with 25 home runs and 92 RBI in 142 games for the San Diego Padres.

 

"We are very happy to be able to add a veteran righthanded bat with some power to our bench," Dodgers general manager Dan Evans said. "Bubba gives us added depth in the outfield and at first base, and his veteran presence should contribute greatly to the club."

 

Trammell broke in with Detroit in 1997 and also has spent time with the New York Mets and Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

 

Trammell should get at-bats in a Dodgers' outfield that features Shawn Green and Juan Encarnacion. Trammell also could see time at first base.

 

The Dodgers also signed lefthander Troy Brohawn and righthander Bill Simas to minor league contracts and invited them to spring training.

<Trammell was slated to make $2.5 million last year, but left the New York Yankees after just 22 games for personal reasons. He was placed on the restricted list and reached a settlement with the team last month.>

 

Anyone know what the personal reasons where? Or is "personal reasons" code for Trammell finding out he was only acquired by the Yankees in order to keep him from being snatched up by NY's rivals and him wanting out so that he could play instead of being stuck on the bench doing jack shit???

[Guest FrigidSoul]

Hey, I don't remember saying that!

[Guest Anglesault]

They have one....Aaron Heilman. He bombed last year in the bigs, but he has good minor league numbers.

I believe they call that "Quaduple A"

 

Anyone know what the personal reasons where? Or is "personal reasons" code for Trammell finding out he was only acquired by the Yankees in order to keep him from being snatched up by NY's rivals and him wanting out so that he could play instead of being stuck on the bench doing jack shit???

 

Ironically enough, the day he stormed out, he WAS in the lineup.

 

::Insert "Bubba" joke here::

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

They have one....Aaron Heilman.  He bombed last year in the bigs, but he has good minor league numbers.

I believe they call that "Quaduple A"

Not quite. Quadruple A is when you've hit the wall, so to speak. Too good for AAA, but just can't quite advance to become a regular in the majors. Heilman just pitched 65 innings last year, and didn't pitch well. It happens to alot of players. Most of them rebound.

[Guest Anglesault]

Most of them rebound.

Hopefully he won't.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Why? I can understand not cheering for a player. But why actively root against them, especially when they're not in the same league as your team.

[Guest Anglesault]

Why? I can understand not cheering for a player. But why actively root against them, especially when they're not in the same league as your team.

He's a Met.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Palmeiro signs one year contract with Orioles

 

BALTIMORE -- Rafael Palmeiro is returning to Baltimore, where he enjoyed five outstanding seasons before his acrimonious departure in 1998.

 

 

Palmeiro, 39, agreed to terms with the Orioles on Saturday, accepting a one-year contract with a club option for 2005. The first baseman-designated hitter became a free agent after spending the past five seasons with the Texas Rangers.

 

 

 

Palmeiro hit .260 with 38 homers and 112 RBIs last year. During an outstanding career that began in 1986 with the Chicago Cubs, he's hit .291 with 2,780 hits and 528 home runs.

 

 

 

"Raffy is one of the steadiest, most consistent hitters in the game. He's a former team MVP and helped us to the postseason twice," said Mike Flanagan, Orioles vice president for baseball operations.

 

 

After the strike-shortened 1994 season, Palmeiro averaged 40 home runs and 119 RBIs in his final four years with Baltimore. He helped the Orioles reach the playoffs in 1996 and 1997, and made the All-Star team in 1998.

 

 

But Baltimore moved slowly in negotiating a new deal after the 1998 season, and Palmeiro ultimately rejected a five-year, $50 million offer from the Orioles and signed a five-year, $45 million contract with Texas.

 

 

At the time, Palmeiro said the deciding factor was that he wanted to play close to home. The Orioles privately accused him of prolonging negotiations to drive up the Rangers' offer.

 

 

And now, the Orioles and Palmeiro are united again with the same goal: to reach the playoffs.

 

 

"It brings another powerful hitter to the middle of our lineup," Flanagan said.

 

 

Coming off a team-record sixth straight losing season, Baltimore has undergone a dramatic facelift this offseason in an effort to challenge Boston and the New York Yankees in the AL East.

 

 

After hiring Lee Mazzilli as their new manager, the Orioles raided the free agent market and nabbed Palmeiro, shortstop Miguel Tejada and catcher Javy Lopez _ all three of whom are represented by the same agents, Fernando Cuza and Diego Benz.

 

 

The Orioles still hope to add standout outfielder Vladimir Guerrero and pitcher Sidney Ponson, another former Oriole, by next week.

 

 

Palmeiro has played in at least 154 games every year since 1995, although recently most of his playing time has been as a DH. He probably will split time at first base with Jay Gibbons, David Segui and B.J. Surhoff.

 

 

Palmeiro could reach 600 home runs and 3,000 hits before the end of the 2005 season. He has hit at least 38 homers in each of the last nine years.

 

Palmeiro's solid, and improves the Orioles at yet another position.

[Guest Anglesault]

But, fortunately, not in the position that wins you games.

 

Have they found someone to pitch the ball yet?

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Every position wins you games. Right now their rotation looks like Omar Daal, Eric DuBose, Rodrigo Lopez, John Stephens, and Kurt Ainsworth.

[the pinjockey 0]

If they don't get Vlad, what do you think the odds are they bring Ponson back?

[Guest Anglesault]

Every position wins you games.

If your team scores 20 runs and your inept pitching gives up 21, you still lose.

 

I was brought up under the philosophy that the pitcher is the mst important player on the field. I'm also a strong believer that good pitching will almost always beat good hitting

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

The pitching staff isn't going to be as bad as you make it out though.

 

I can guarantee you that Omar Daal will not be starting, regardless of whether or not they sign Ponson back. Ainsworth was the Giants #1 pitching prospect and should be 100% this year after his injury last year. Rodrigo had a good year 2 years ago, but suffered a sophmore slump last year. I think he will have a season more like 2002 this year, especially if the offense scores runs. If they manage to resign Ponson, he's an innings eater and he would also benefit from the improved offense.

There are 3 solid pitchers, none of whom would be in any other rotation higher than a #3 (Ponson could be a #2 but only in a few situations).

 

And the bullpen is slightly above average although Julio is erratic at times.

[Guest Anglesault]

The pitching staff isn't going to be as bad as you make it out though.

 

I can guarantee you that Omar Daal will not be starting, regardless of whether or not they sign Ponson back. Ainsworth was the Giants #1 pitching prospect and should be 100% this year after his injury last year. Rodrigo had a good year 2 years ago, but suffered a sophmore slump last year. I think he will have a season more like 2002 this year, especially if the offense scores runs. If they manage to resign Ponson, he's an innings eater and he would also benefit from the improved offense.

There are 3 solid pitchers, none of whom would be in any other rotation higher than a #3 (Ponson could be a #2 but only in a few situations).

 

And the bullpen is slightly above average although Julio is erratic at times.

Is there anyone on the Orioles that you can trust to beat the Yankes and the Red Sox more times than they lose to them?

[Guest Anglesault]

The pitching staff isn't going to be as bad as you make it out though.

 

I can guarantee you that Omar Daal will not be starting, regardless of whether or not they sign Ponson back. Ainsworth was the Giants #1 pitching prospect and should be 100% this year after his injury last year. Rodrigo had a good year 2 years ago, but suffered a sophmore slump last year. I think he will have a season more like 2002 this year, especially if the offense scores runs. If they manage to resign Ponson, he's an innings eater and he would also benefit from the improved offense.

There are 3 solid pitchers, none of whom would be in any other rotation higher than a #3 (Ponson could be a #2 but only in a few situations).

 

And the bullpen is slightly above average although Julio is erratic at times.

Is there anyone on the Orioles that you can trust to beat the Yankes and the Red Sox more times than they lose to them?

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Every position wins you games.

If your team scores 20 runs and your inept pitching gives up 21, you still lose.

 

I was brought up under the philosophy that the pitcher is the mst important player on the field. I'm also a strong believer that good pitching will almost always beat good hitting

Its a crock, to some extent. Pitching is important, but look at the Los Angeles Dodgers. They have pitchers out their ears, but they don't have anyone to hit the damned ball. You need a 50/50 balance.

 

Besides, outside of Ponson, there's hardly any really good starting pitching to find. I think the Orioles are just looking for the best way to improve their team, and that way is to boost their offense to the point where they can win a slugfest. They also have some spare offense to trade. I'd suggest trading Jack Cust to the A's for Justin Duchscherer.

[Bored 0]

HA! I think Beane's hard on for Cust ended a long time ago.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

He still draws walks at insane rates, and Duchscherer's only 6th on the depth chart.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

The Os are more interested in trading Hairston or Roberts. Rumors I've read say the Cardinals are the most interested and would be trading a AAA pitcher (name escapes me at the moment) for either one. I almost expect a trade to go down for one of the other of them before ST.

[Bored 0]

Ya but they alread have Durazo and Greg Koonce a late blooming, walk machine who is probably the favorite to get the 25th man spot on the team in Spring. "The Duke" (that's what we call Duchscherer since its easier then always having to look up to see how to spell his name) might be 7th on the depth chart by midseason if Joe Blanton progresses as expected. The Duke I think is really just there for now just in case Harden struggles. If Harden pitches fine and there is no problems with Blanton's development then I think you'll definently see him be in a deadline deal to get the bat the A's usually need and that Beane always gets. Just don't think it will be Cust.

[DerangedHermit 0]

Apparently ESPN Radio out of NYC says Vladimir Guerrero has rejected the Mets offer and signed with a mystery team (rumored to be the Angels). Major WTF moment here although it makes sense for them.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Wouldn't be the first. I heard a rumor last month that said the Indians were on the verge of signing Vlad.

[Bored 0]

AP article confirms the rumor:

 

http://cbs.sportsline.com/mlb/story/6996054

 

Ironically enough go read the article and look to the right under "Headlines" and there is an article that is titled "Dodgers might move RF Green to 1B". Now that article says its because of Juan Encarnacion that they'd move Green and Juan did play their exclusively last year but he's played all three outfield positions as a regular at different points in his career. Just seems like interesting timing for that story to come out with the Vlad rumor out there.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

I wouldn't make much of it. They've been considering moving Green since last season. Apparently his shoulder isn't 100%.

[the pinjockey 0]

Maybe the Phillies made a late push and will move Burrell to 3B opening an OF spot.

 

Come on let me wish a little while the rumor is bouncing around.

[Cartman 0]

Vlad to Angels

[Mik 0]

fuck... i had gotten my hopes up.