MLB Winter Meetings

[Guest Failed Mascot]

Red Sox won't give anybody a no-trade clause. If they do then Manny Ramirez, Trot Nixon, and David Ortiz automatically get them too due to writing in their contracts.

 

Tek will get 4 years with the 4th year being voidable if he doesn't reach certain things and I doubt he gets more than $9mill per year too. Nobody is knocking down his door. There's really no market for catchers. The teams that can afford a catcher like Tek already have their high priced catcher. Only exception being LA and they don't seem to care at all.

 

After 2 years Tek becomes a 10/5 guy anyways which is basically a no-trade clause.

 

In slightly off-topic type stuff I wouldn't mind seeing the Red Sox go after Kevin Milwood. After seeing the deals Morris, Williams, and other pitchers not named Kris Benson got you have to believe he could come as cheap as $3-4.5mill.

 

If healthy he would be a very nice #3 or 4 at that price.

[Mik 0]

I'm pretty sure Jose Capellan will be the Braves #4 next year. We'll get to see that 100 mph heater in action.

 

And Al, the Marlins lack a bench NOW... they are looking for bench and bullpen help the rest of the offseason. I have faith in Beinfest to get someone, be it Delucci or someone else.

[Cuban Linx 0]

I'd have expected the Rangers to be showing more interest in improving their main problem of their starting pitching than they are, i guess they're hedging their bets on trying to add Delgado to Soriano, Young, Blalock and Teixeira and winning on sheer offence alone.

[therealworldschampion 0]

And Al, the Marlins lack a bench NOW... they are looking for bench and bullpen help the rest of the offseason. I have faith in Beinfest to get someone, be it Delucci or someone else.

 

Ask Fast Eddie Wade for Ryan Howard. You'll probably only have to give him a can of Pringles for our top prospect.

[Guest Evolution]

I've been out of the offseason loop for quite awhile, too busy with fake baseball, but I'll ask anyway: Any chance of seeing a trade here that sends Sosa out of Chicago, or will any team really want Sosa thanks to the BALCO situation?

 

Good to see that Nomar is sticking around, I'm indifferent to Walker. Anyway, should be interesting to see what the Yankees (as always) and other teams do.

[Precious Roy 0]

I'd have expected the Rangers to be showing more interest in improving their main problem of their starting pitching than they are, i guess they're hedging their bets on trying to add Delgado to Soriano, Young, Blalock and Teixeira and winning on sheer offence alone.

 

Take it with a grain of salt, but ESPN is claiming they might move Soriano for an ace SP

 

Didn't Texas' rotation perform well last season despite the lack of a true ace?

[Bored 0]

Diamondbacks have signed Troy Glaus to a 4-year, $45 million deal. Aren't they trying to dig out of a huge debt? They are going to pay $10 million+/year to a guy who's played 149 games the last two years and who's long term future is probably as a DH but won't be able to DH in the NL. Pure insanity.

[Guest Smell the ratings!!!]

holy shit that's awful. I guess Sexson ain't comin back.

[The Czech Republic 0]

I've been out of the offseason loop for quite awhile, too busy with fake baseball, but I'll ask anyway:  Any chance of seeing a trade here that sends Sosa out of Chicago, or will any team really want Sosa thanks to the BALCO situation?

 

Good to see that Nomar is sticking around, I'm indifferent to Walker.  Anyway, should be interesting to see what the Yankees (as always) and other teams do.

The Mets have soured on Sosa a bit lately with BALCO, but consider this:

 

1)Jim Hendry is a genius of a GM who has worked miracles for building the Cubs, and

2)The Mets are the Mets

 

Me, I'm satisfied with any deal that removes the Dominican albatross off our neck. I don't even want a player in return for Sosa, just take on his contract so we can spend more on getting Beltran. Then you've got a lineup of

 

CF Patterson

2B Walker

CF Beltran

SS Garciaparra

1B Lee

3B Ramirez

C Barrett

RF Hollandsworth/Dubois/Someone

P Wood/Prior/Zambrano/Maddux/Rusch

 

and that satisfies me.

 

Also, the signing of Todd Walker will prove interesting, as Dusty Baker will likely bench Walker (maybe he killed Dusty's dog? or maybe Dusty is just a shitty manager?) and have Nomar just take care of the whole middle infield.

[Bored 0]

White Sox have signed Jermaine Dye to a two-year, $10.15 million deal.

[sfaJack 0]

Tim Purpura said this morning that he thinks January 8 will be the Astros' drop-dead date with Carlos Beltran. At that point, if he's in, he's in and if he's not, he's not.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

Im trying to figure out why the Os are interested in Glaus after the season Mora had at 3rd. But it doesn't matter since it looks like he's signed with Arizona..

 

If the Braves are offering Giles for Hudson, I could see the Orioles offering Hairston for Hudson but they'd probably want someone else. Since they lost Dye, and the Os seem less than optimistic with Gibbons, I guess they could deal Gibbons and Hairston for Hudson. But then that means that the Os would have a hole in RF and 1B (The Os right now are counting on Gibbons to play 1B or RF, whichever position they don't acquire someone to play via FA). I would say if they did trade Gibbons that they should definitely get Delgado since a 1B is harder to plug in than a RF (They could play NEWHAN in RF!)

 

It sounds like things are going well on the Delgado front but Id rather have Magglio Ordonez despite his health concerns.

 

If the Orioles get Pavano/Hudson and Delgado/Ordonez then, *GASP* the Orioles could probably contend for a wild card.

 

Im just salivating over a lineup with

 

Mora

Tejada

Delgado/Ordonez

Lopez

 

in the 2-5 slot.

 

Oh and look at this:

 

Twin Cities Pioneer Press:

 

Former Twins and University of Minnesota pitcher Denny Neagle, released by the Colorado Rockies for alleged illicit behavior, is expected to try to sign with the Baltimore Orioles, his hometown team, which has pal Ray Miller as pitching coach.

 

Uh. No.

[Guest Failed Mascot]

Randy Johnson isn't willing to waive his no-trade clause for anybody but the Yankees. Jeff Moorad is more than likely going to keep him since he wants Vasquez, Gordon, and 2 or 3 prospects for him. Keep RJ isn't a bad thing if you can't get value for him.

 

Cardinals and Orioles are now the front runners for Tim Hudson

 

Orioles would be giving up Eric Bedard, B.J. Ryan, and 2 prospects.

 

Cards would be giving up some combination of Dan Haren, Jason Marquis, Kiko Calero, Rick Ankiel and Daric Barton would have to be involved in the deal. The A's wouldn't get both Haren and Marquis, but they'd have to get one of two and then one or two of the other three.

[Bored 0]

There's speculation that the A's/Cardinals deal will become a three-way deal with the Braves in which Giles comes to Oakland. It looks like I'm going to be wrong about the A's not trading Hudson.

[Bored 0]

Okay already an update off of rotoworld.com:

Cardinals officials are now telling TSN's Ken Rosenthal that no Tim Hudson deal is imminent.

 

It looks like the Orioles and maybe the Braves and Indians are still in the running. Rosenthal also mentions the Phillies, Dodgers, Red Sox, Mets and Yankees as other potential suitors for Hudson. No AL West teams are viewed as candidates because it's assumed the A's won't trade Hudson within the division.

[2GOLD 0]

Twin Cities Pioneer Press:

 

Former Twins and University of Minnesota pitcher Denny Neagle, released by the Colorado Rockies for alleged illicit behavior, is expected to try to sign with the Baltimore Orioles, his hometown team, which has pal Ray Miller as pitching coach.

 

Uh. No.

 

Oh that is just wonderful.

So the veteran pitcher the O's look to sign is the man who tried to bang a hooker that makes Eddie Murphy seem like he has good taste.

As if being Denny Neagle wasn't bad enough.

 

I'm still not sold on Delgado. He was good but now I'm not so sure. It feels like a Albert Belleish move.

[Guest OSIcon]

Cardinals and Orioles are now the front runners for Tim Hudson

 

Orioles would be giving up Eric Bedard, B.J. Ryan, and 2 prospects.

 

No problem with Berdard or even two prospects (Hudson is young himself afterall), but I don't know I feel about giving up B.J. Ryan. He's the first player in a few years that the O'd really groomed themselves who has been able to churn out at least a season of really impressive numbers. He came from Cincy, but spent a half a season in the majors with them before coming to the Orioles. Something just doesn't sit right about trading the first player that as come into as an Oriole in sometime at the first opportunity that presents itself. It isn't like the O's have a strong bullpen without him (they have an *okay* bullpen without him) and it would probably mean another year with Julio as the closer, which isn't good for anybody.

 

Have to wait and see of course....

 

As for Neagle, I'm not feeling it either. To look at any positive side though, Neagle isn't going to be sought after so the O's might be able to pick up him for relaltively cheap. If they can't it isn't worth it at all. As a front of the line starter, there is nothing good about signing Neagle. However, if the O's can still get a Hudson or Pavano as a number one, Neagle wouldn't be terrible as a fourth of fifth (behind Lopez, Ponson, and maybe even Cabrera). It is his hometown team afterall and he is friends with Ray Miller so who knows, it could turn out to be good if a deal were to go throw.

 

All that positiveness aside, I still don't know if I'd want it to happen.

[Precious Roy 0]

I'm still not sold on Delgado. He was good but now I'm not so sure. It feels like a Albert Belleish move.

 

I think Mags has much higher Belle potential. The fact that Boras is canceling workouts and not letting team doctors examine him would scare me off.

 

Delgado had a fine second half last year after the first half slump and he's only 32. As a 1B/DH he'll keep putting up his big power numbers.

 

If Baltimore can put together a lineup of Roberts/Mora/Tejada/Delgado/Lopez and get anything from their pitching staff they'll be a really tough play, and a contender if they were in the central.

[DerangedHermit 0]

Okay already an update off of rotoworld.com:

Cardinals officials are now telling TSN's Ken Rosenthal that no Tim Hudson deal is imminent.

 

It looks like the Orioles and maybe the Braves and Indians are still in the running. Rosenthal also mentions the Phillies, Dodgers, Red Sox, Mets and Yankees as other potential suitors for Hudson. No AL West teams are viewed as candidates because it's assumed the A's won't trade Hudson within the division.

I heard rumblings from somewhere that a deal involving the Mets trading Jose Reyes may go down (forgot where, though)....Any ideas where? (I'm thinking to Oakland in a package for Hudson)

[Guest Smell the ratings!!!]

for the record, I am unoffended by the Dye signing. As opposed to say, Dustin Hermanson.

[treble 0]

Delgado's 2nd half in '04 was probably better than his 2nd half in '03. He just played like shit (and was injured) before the all-star break.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

So much for fiscal sanity. I can't wait for 2006 when the owners start crying again about how player salaries are killing the sport. 4 years, $50 Million for a guy who's played 149 games total over the last two years? $20 Million over two years to a 39 year old center fielder with a .333 OBP? $10 million over two years for an outfielder with a league average OPS?

[Styles 0]

Thanks bravesfan, do post more!

 

O's wishlist:

Hudson

Pavano

Delgado

Ordonez

 

Yeahhhhh baby. No idea why Steve Finley or Richard Hidalgo are listed, eeew.

 

The potential trade for Hudson is VERY interesting. I don't mind giving up Bedard, even though he looks like he could be break out star some day because the O's seem to have "top" pitching prospects every year that never seem to pan out and if it gets us a bonafide top 5 in the majors ace like Hudson it's well worth it.

I too am concerned about trading BJ Ryan though, who proved himself to be possibly the best left handed releiever in the majors last year and is real asset to have in the late innings (possibly as closer). I would seriously try to push Jorge Julio on them instead, but if it takes Ryan to get Hudson at the end of the day I'd do it.

 

Delgado sounds all but signed, and he'll stand for God Bless America.

 

We're pretty much the only ones interested seriously in Magglio at this point which hopefully bodes well for contract negotiations. Im hoping we can seal a incentive laden deal that takes into account injuries and performance.

 

I agree signing Pavano is a longshot with the Sawks and Yankees down his neck but he visited Baltimore this past week and apparently was very impressed with the city and stadium, had private meetings and meals with Os management and we have an in becahse his agent Scott Shapiro is a life long Orioles fan and good friend of Peter Angelos and he's apparently pushing Pavano to really give Balimore a chance.

 

Potential lineup (could be jinxing but I dont care):

 

2B Roberts

3B Mora

SS Tejada

1B Delgado

RF Ordonez

C Lopez

DH Palmeiro

CF Bigbie

LF Newhan/Gibbons/Hairston

 

SP Hudson

SP Pavano

SP Ponson

SP Lopez

SP Riley/Cabrera

 

MMMMMMM....wildcard.....

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Always fun to see the fantasy lineups. Of course, no way in hell they happen, but its fun to dream.

 

Gotta give a thumbs up to the Jeff Kent signing, by the way.

[Guest Failed Mascot]

So much for fiscal sanity. I can't wait for 2006 when the owners start crying again about how player salaries are killing the sport. 4 years, $50 Million for a guy who's played 149 games total over the last two years? $20 Million over two years to a 39 year old center fielder with a .333 OBP? $10 million over two years for an outfielder with a league average OPS?

The smarter teams though aren't caving in to the players and looking for low risk and high reward deals. Some examples would be

 

Red Sox signing Mantei to a one year deal worth $750k

 

Cards resigning Matt Morris to the one year deal worth $2.5mill guarenteed

 

Phillies signing Leiber to a 3 year deal worth $21mill

 

I don't think the Jermaine Dye deal is really all that bad to be honest. If his hand is healthy now then paying the man a little over $5mill a year isn't bad. Remember, he's a former Gold Glover with a cannon for an arm. The Dustin Hermanson deal was real stupid though.

 

Thus far the stupid spenders of the off-season appear to be The Yankees, The DiamondBacks, The Giants, and The Angels if they do make the Finley thing official.

[2GOLD 0]

I think if the O's can nail down either Pavano or Hudson they are in decent shape.

But honestly, I'd move Lopez back into that middle relief bullpen spot. Not that he's not good as a starter, but he was nearly lights out in that middle spot iirc.

 

Cabrera showed me enough that he earned at least the three/four hole. Riley is in his "put up or shut up" year now and hopefully he puts up enough for a five hole. Ponson would be great if he didn't suffer from "gain 100 pounds cause I don't work out in the off-season then slowly lose it and become good again" syndrome. Worse comes to it, Neagle makes a solid five.

 

Ordonez, I don't care about and I've really never been impressed by him. Delgado, I can deal but there is just something about him that is making me iffy. I'd rather not see Ryan leave the bullpen since lefty relievers are still extremely hard to come by.

 

 

As for Beltran, I think he'd be foolish not to go to Wrigley. Not only because I'm a Cubs fan but because he just killed the ball in that ballpark. It was like that park was built for him except it wasn't.

[Styles 0]

Lopez: He doesn't want to pitch out of the bullpen and for 2 out of 3 years has been our best starting pitcher. That's where he thrives. After we took him out the rotation and put him in the pen a 2nd time he was terrible because he didn't want to be there. Lopez has earned his rotation spot.

 

Ryan: I agree, I would HATE to trade him but Tim Hudson is one of the few players that might do it for me. I've heard the Orioles have recently been very interested in signing Steve Kline which might be an indication that they are preparing for the trade.

 

Cabrera: Collapsed in the second half. I peg him more than Lopez as a possible middle relief candidate. He needs to earn his spot just like Riley, Ainsworth and Dubose once again this year.

 

Delgado: There's nothing to worry about. His injury last year was one of the few in his career, he has been one of the most consistent power hitters in baseball for almost a decade. He puts up monster numbers at Camden Yards.

 

Ordonez: I agree I'm iffy on him, and would only sign him for a short, incentive laden deal. I'm hoping if we're basically the only serious bidders we can get him to agree to something like a one year deal, guarenteed 5 million that kicks up to 12 if he's healthy and produces with 2 or 3 option years at the same rate. If he's healthy he could be an RBI machine with our lineup. If someone wants to throw an I-rod like contract at him though, then let them.

[Guest The Winter Of My Discontent]

The O's always somehow suck the ability to do well as a team whenever they sign free agents. Individual players do alright, but the team always stays around the same leve as the Blue jays. And as alkeiper said, its funny to see how O's fans are daydreaming about the impossible notion of signing the 4 more sought after free agents, when at most, they'll get only one of those. I wouldn't be surprised to see them sign none of them.

[Guest Failed Mascot]

I think Orioles fans have alot of hope this off-season because their team was able to net not only Miguel Tejada but also Javy Lopez. Those were two very big names last off-season.

 

I don't think they'll be players for the big names this off-season that were offered arbitration because they had to give up so many compensation picks last season, but they could make a move for Magglio Ordonez, J.D. Drew, or Moises Alou who were all not offered arbitration.

 

I think J.D. Drew would be perfect for their RF. I'd also be pretty afraid to see them add him to their line-up. He would be an awesome #3 hitter which would allow them to move Tejada to 4th, Lopez to 5th, and Palmeiro to 6th in the line-up. That's a very dangerous line-up to have at Baltimore and to take into a place like NY.

[treble 0]

I really don't want Delgado to stay in the AL East, so hopefully he goes to Seattle or Texas. I think I'd even rather he'd go to the Yankees than the Orioles.