And So it Begins

[Bruiser Chong 0]

The Red Sox signed some pitcher who talks in 3rd person.

Jimmy?

[The Czech Republic 0]

Leon?

[geniusMoment 0]

Reds sign Ben Weber from Anaheim and David Weathers for their bullpen.

[Guest Failed Mascot]

some interesting things from rotoworld

 

- The Orioles are likely to non-tender Jay Gibbons unless they can get him to agree to a one-year deal before Monday's deadline

 

- Edgar Renteria reportedly passed on offers of $50 million over five years and $44 million over four years to join the Red Sox on a four-year, $40 million contract.

Those offers were believed to be from Detroit and Seattle, though which was from which was unclear. The Cardinals' last offer was for $38 million over four years, but it was probably backloaded. Renteria, who should officially sign tomorrow, receives a $4 million signing bonus with salaries of $7 million in 2005, $8 million in 2006, and $9 million in both 2007 and 2008.

 

- The Twins are planning to offer Jacque Jones and Luis Rivas pay cuts and could non-tender each if neither accepts, sources told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.

 

I wouldn't be surprised to see Jacque Jones head to the Braves and Luis Rivas head to Oakland if they're non-tendered. Jay Gibbons should be placed back in captivity with the rest of the baboons if he's non-tendered.

[Bored 0]

A's traded for Keith Ginter yesterday so they aren't going to pick up a 4th second baseman. Beane wouldn't be interested in a guy who had a .283 OBP last year and a .307 career anyways.

[MikeJordan23 0]

I'm a bit worried about the Cardinals here. They lost the best hitting ss in the National League and their official website said they were relunctant to put Marquis in a trade for Hudson? I hope their plan isn't to use smoke and mirrors again this year with this pitching staff. We need a legit Ace badly. We probably have the 4th or 5th best rotation in the division. Let's get it together...

[The Man in Blak 0]

Actually, I think the Cardinals' over-pursuit of a "ace" in this market has done a lot of damage to their offseason so far. Until the winter meetings concluded, they spent most of the offseason in trade negotiations for Randy Johnson and Tim Hudson, even though they really had no trade material for either team.

 

I think those talks really killed them with Renteria, who Jocketty really lowballed until the very end, for some bizarre reason (perhaps to clear up salary room for Johnson). Plus, by spinning their wheels so intently on those targets, the once-thick market for shortstops has now basically come down to Orlando Cabrera (or maybe even Barry Larkin), which isn't exactly comforting.

[MikeJordan23 0]

Actually, I think the Cardinals' over-pursuit of a "ace" in this market has done a lot of damage to their offseason so far. Until the winter meetings concluded, they spent most of the offseason in trade negotiations for Randy Johnson and Tim Hudson, even though they really had no trade material for either team.

 

I think those talks really killed them with Renteria, who Jocketty really lowballed until the very end, for some bizarre reason (perhaps to clear up salary room for Johnson). Plus, by spinning their wheels so intently on those targets, the once-thick market for shortstops has now basically come down to Orlando Cabrera (or maybe even Barry Larkin), which isn't exactly comforting.

I was under the impression that they had a lot of trade material but wasn't willing to give them up ( Haren, Ankiel and some minor leaguers, couple of good pitching prospects ). I think we are really close and should go for the whole thing now. I'm not for completely trading our future for results for a year a two with Johnson. But for Hudson and Burnett I'd be willing to give up something significant.

 

Losing Renteria hurt but wasn't the worst thing. It saves us a lot of money, plus we aren't hurting for offense. Having a good hitting ss is a luxury. But the aspect of losing Renteria and not getting big pitcher with the money saved is worrisome.

[The Man in Blak 0]

When you consider the Diamondbacks' outrageous demands for Johnson in trade, nobody really has a lot of trade bait.

 

There are still pitchers out there (Clement, Perez) to be had and, given the money that we get by clearing Morris's old contract, along with Matheny and Renteria, off of the books, we really should be able to snag one of them if we pursue them.

[MikeJordan23 0]

When you consider the Diamondbacks' outrageous demands for Johnson in trade, nobody really has a lot of trade bait.

 

There are still pitchers out there (Clement, Perez) to be had and, given the money that we get by clearing Morris's old contract, along with Matheny and Renteria, off of the books, we really should be able to snag one of them if we pursue them.

Yeah, I'd take Clement not keen on Perez though. I still think Morris could get back to his old form.

 

I'd like the rotation next season to be

 

Burnett/Hudson/Clement(One of the three, or Johnson depending on who we give up)

Matt Morris

Danny Haren or Rick Ankiel (Which ever one not used in a trade, or both if we get clement)

Chris Carpenter

Jeff Suppan (Depending on Ankiel and Haren)

 

 

Move Marquis in a trade or put him in the bullpen. and sign Cabrera or someone like that to play ss.

[geniusMoment 0]

You think you are upset, you should see how the people are acting over at the St. Louis Post Dispatch Cardinals forum.

[The Man in Blak 0]

It's funny - the fans are very loyal to the team itself, but there's a very vocal subset of the fans that absolutely despises the Jocketty/LaRussa regime and openly wishes for Whitey Herzog to instigate a coup d'etat for the whole organization.

[MikeJordan23 0]

You think you are upset, you should see how the people are acting over at the St. Louis Post Dispatch Cardinals forum.

Just checked it, yeah they are upset, but accurate.

[Precious Roy 0]

According to the Seattle Times, the Mariners could soon have Adrian Beltre signed to a deal worth $60 million or more.

 

From Rotoworld. Pretty interesting, I didn't think Seattle would be a major player but here they've got Sexson and it seems like they've got a good chance to get Beltre. Put those two and Boone behind Ichiro and they should be scoring a LOT runs, and they usually put together a decent staff. They could be a legit contender in the West with a couple tweaks here and there.

 

Pedro is oficially a Met, the press conference just went down. He criticized the Sox for not locking him up with an extension and waiting til the last minute, says he gave them every chance to keep him in Boston for the rest of his career but they wouldn't pull the trigger.

 

Couple other interesting bits:

 

The Marlins only intend to trade A.J. Burnett as part of a three-team deal that nets them Tim Hudson, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports.

 

The New York Post has learned that the Angels, Dodgers and Yankees are the three teams to which Kaz Matsui would have to accept a trade in the final two years of his contract.

 

The Diamondbacks and Yankees had another unproductive discussion about Randy Johnson yesterday.

 

The Braves, Red Sox and Dodgers are showing interest in Orlando Hernandez, who is seeking a two-year deal.

 

The Mets are preparing a four-year contract offer for Carlos Delgado, Newsday reports.

 

I think it's pretty telling that Arizona keeps reinitiating the Johnson talks with New York, and it's looking more and more like this deal will get done as soon as they get desperate enough to lower their demands, Cashman just needs to wait them out a little bit. My guess is they only signed Glaus and Ortiz because they were confident they could get Johnson off the books and get a significant ammount of cash in the deal.

[The Man in Blak 0]

You think you are upset, you should see how the people are acting over at the St. Louis Post Dispatch Cardinals forum.

Just checked it, yeah they are upset, but accurate.

 

I wouldn't really argue that the "Renteria is a greedy piece of shit" movement is really accurate at all.

 

Of course, the outrage is fueled by the comments that Renteria made to the Globe about "the Red Sox wanting him more", even though the Cardinals essentially tripped over themselves near the end to make a comparable deal to the Red Sox proposal. I think it really gets down to the fact that Renteria wanted to leave, plain and simple. He didn't want to sign an extension early in the year, nor did he want to talk about contracts in the middle of the year. Maybe he felt disrespected by the fact that we declined his option a while back, and then turned around and signed Pujols and Rolen to huge multi-year contracts.

 

Plus, Renteria wasn't greedy - he gets $1 million more than what St. Louis offered over the span of the entire contract. The Red Sox's margin of monetary victory wasn't really that decisive.

 

He left because he wanted to leave and, considering what his asking price was, I think it's better for both parties.

[Bored 0]

Put those two and Boone behind Ichiro and they should be scoring a LOT runs, and they usually put together a decent staff. They could be a legit contender in the West with a couple tweaks here and there.

Boone is washed up and the Mariners were the worst offensive team in the A.L. last year. Sexson and Beltre will certainly help, although Safeco is brutal on right handed hitters, it's doubtful they are better than a middle of the pack team in runs scored. Their staff was horrific last year and they've done nothing to address it. In that division they have no realistic shot at winning it even if Beltre is signed.

[Guest Smues]

Smoltz signs 2 year extension that locks him up through 2006, with an option for 2007. The Amount hasn't been disclosed yet. huzzah Smoltz.

[Precious Roy 0]

I don't think Boone is done yet. He had a horrific first half least year and a down year overall, but he can still hit, and with protection he'll be dangerous.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Boone had a disappointing year, but there are quite a few teams putting worse second basemen on the field.

[Guest Failed Mascot]

according to Gammons the Beltre deal is official. If Sexon is healthy and Beltre isn't a one year wonder then they fixed that offense problem.

[Guest Brian]

What happened to Delgado? I thought he was the number one priority for the M's?

[MrRant 0]

There's always a slim chance they spend the money to get him as well but I would doubt it.

[Brett Favre 0]

Randy Johnson to NY in 3 way trade?

 

Big Unit could be Bronx-bound in blockbuster

Ken Rosenthal

   

Could Diamondbacks left-hander Randy Johnson and Dodgers right fielder Shawn Green become the central figures in a three- or four-team blockbuster that would result in Johnson joining the Yankees?

 

The pieces certainly fit.

Johnson will earn $16 million next season. Green also will earn $16 million. In baseball's current economic climate, such financial matches are necessary for exchanges of high-salaried players. And there are indications that a three-way deal between the Yankees, Diamondbacks and Dodgers is in the works.

 

The Yankees and Diamondbacks have spoken twice in the last three days, according to published reports. The Diamondbacks are working to complete a trade for a power-hitting outfielder, according to the East Valley Tribune. And the Dodgers pursuit of A's right-hander Tim Hudson seems to have lost momentum since the winter meetings.

 

In a three-way deal, Johnson could go to the Yankees, Green to the Diamondbacks and Yankees right-hander Javier Vazquez to the Dodgers. The Diamondbacks almost certainly would want an established pitcher and young players in addition to Green. The Dodgers likely would require cash from the Yankees to cover at least part of Vazquez's remaining $34.5 million in salary over the next three seasons.

 

In earlier talks, the Diamondbacks gave the Yankees a list of 10 pitchers that they coveted from other clubs. The most attainable of those pitchers was Rockies right-hander Shawn Chacon, whom the Yankees could acquire for prospects and include in the deal.

 

Johnson, 41, and Green, 32, both possess no-trade clauses, but Johnson wants to play for the Yankees and Green would be reunited in Arizona with his former agent, chief executive officer-elect Jeff Moorad. Green's .629 career slugging percentage at Arizona's Bank One Ballpark is his highest at any NL park in which he has 50 or more at-bats.

[The Man in Blak 0]

On top of that, some new stuff from Rotoworld:

 

ESPNews is reporting that Tim Hudson has been traded to Atlanta for Juan Cruz, Dan Meyer and Charles Thomas.

[Guest Failed Mascot]

If the DiamondBacks settle on Shawn Greene and prospects for Johnson then Jeff Moorad should be canned immediately and the D-Backs should be auditted.

[Guest The Winter Of My Discontent]

As an A's fan, I like that deal a lot. The Hudson deal.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

Are the M's NUTS? FIVE years for a guy who by all means looks to have had a career season in 2004? Granted, he got the job done in '02, but he was shit in '03 and if I'm not mistaken, he's had some injury issues the last couple of years. He played almost all of '04 on one leg. That's what I don't get about these mammoth signings big teams make. They're almost always involving players who have been injury risks and are getting way too many years and cash in the deal. And in the end, how often does it even pay off?

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

The Orioles are going after Burnett but I doubt it will happen and I doubt he'll pitch well in the AL at Camden Yards.

 

So, it looks like the Orioles are going to sign no players unless they go after Carlos Beltran and overpay for him, which wont happen eitheer.

 

There was also a rumor about the Os trading Julio and Hairston for Sosa but the Orioles aren't willing to pay the $35 million left on Sosa's contract. And Id rather them not make any moves than go after Sosa.

[Guest The Winter Of My Discontent]

The Orioles are going after Burnett but I doubt it will happen and I doubt he'll pitch well in the AL at Camden Yards.

 

So, it looks like the Orioles are going to sign no players unless they go after Carlos Beltran and overpay for him, which wont happen eitheer.

 

There was also a rumor about the Os trading Julio and Hairston for Sosa but the Orioles aren't willing to pay the $35 million left on Sosa's contract. And Id rather them not make any moves than go after Sosa.

A far cry from your prediction of getting Pavano, Delgado, Beltre, and Hudson, huh?

[Bruiser Chong 0]

I'd be more disapointed if I were a Tigers fan. Granted they don't have money coming out the rear, but after being interested in the likes of Finley, Glaus, Beltre and others, and not even really being in the running for any of them, they look pretty stupid.