2005-2006 MLB Offseason thread

[ISportsFan 0]

You say that the White Sox "set the tone" when, in actuality, I think the offer was $52 million over 4 years ($13 per year) and Konerko is likely to be offered money well beyond that by Anaheim and, perhaps, Boston (along with other big spenders). Let's be honest here, the overspending will be steep, but it is clearly not due to the White Sox "setting the tone." Reinsdorf will never set the tone in overspending, that's for sure.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

5 years/$50 Million is certainly not the worst contract I've heard of, and it may even be a good value. Furcal regularly produces 20+ win shares a season, and he would still only be 32 at the end of that deal. If there was one player I'd commit 5-6 years to on this market, it's Furcal.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

espn.com reporting that A-Rod wins the MVP. Even though I'm a Boston homer, I can't really argue this choice. His numbers were better than Ortiz.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

ESPN Radio 1000 is reporting that the Cubs are close to acquiring Juan Pierre from the Marlins for a pair of minor leaguers.

 

If this goes through, so much for the pipedreams of Furcal or Giles.

[Mik 0]

Plllllllease be Murton and Pie.

 

If so, I'll be thrilled.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

I'm pretty sure I'll break something if it's either one of those, let alone BOTH. At this point, Murton should be the LF, no question about it. With the market as weak as it is, there's really no reason not to give him a shot.

 

Pie, I've only heard about. I get the feeling if he sticks with the Cubs, he'll be another Patterson, but a star elsewhere. I'd have to imagine they're trading pitching, though.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

I doubt it would be both, certainly not for a one year rental.

[Vern Gagne 0]

I read the Twins have interest in Nomar Garciaparra.

 

They also like Bill Mueller. Who plays third base. With Jason Bartlett, not sure where Garciaparra would play, if Mueller signs.

[The Czech Republic 0]

If Mia Hamm didn't like Chicago, she's not gonna like the Twin Cities.

 

We really need to keep Nomar. MY GOD, CONSIDER THE ALTERNATIVE.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

We did. And re-signed him for two years.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

The Braves and Cubs are among the teams that reportedly have contacted free agent Alex Gonzalez.

I hope by "contacted" they mean told him never to even think about playing in Chicago.

[Fökai 0]

The Braves and Cubs are among the teams that reportedly have contacted free agent Alex Gonzalez.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Maybe it was to make sure he was doing well. You know, checking up on him and nothing to do with a contract.

 

Please let that be it.

[sfaJack 0]

If anything comes of that Gonzalez rumor and/or Nomar leaves, I'm going to have to really hope the Cowboys do something special this season to get much enjoyment out of professional sports this year. Sigh.

 

The Astros have reportedly, behind the scenes, encouraged Roger Clemens to make an announcement about next season on or around Dec. 1. I'd guess that means they don't want to potentially miss out on free agency like last year while they sat around waiting for Beltran.

 

Or maybe they're scared of Clemens' potential arbitration figure, if it comes to that.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

The Braves and Cubs are among the teams that reportedly have contacted free agent Alex Gonzalez.

I hope by "contacted" they mean told him never to even think about playing in Chicago.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

He can't possibly be the worst Alex Gonzalez to play for the Cubs.

[Mik 0]

Some Chicago radio guy has admit he may have stretched the truth with the Pierre rumor.

 

Man, these guys should be fired.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Attention prospect hounds. The first step in 2008 Olympic qualifying begins today. Team USA battles Guatemala at 3pm ET, and mlb.com is carrying the audio feed. The team carries players such as Jeff Mathis (LAA), Lastings Milledge (NYM), Shane Victorino (PHI), Jarrod Saltamacchia (ATL), Billy Butler (KC) and Brandon Wood (LAA). Jared Weaver of the Angels is on the roster, but Cardinals' prospect Chris Lambert will start today's game. Davey Johnson is the club's manager.

[Guest Leelee]

Al, can the US team qualify this year.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Al, can the US team qualify this year.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

If you're asking about the technicalities, not quite. Advancing from this tournament will simply place them in the next qualifying tournament, late next summer. There will be twelve teams in that tournament, of which two will advance automatically, and the next two vieing for a third spot the next year.

 

The next tournament is the tricky one, as there are single elimination games and teams that while not quite as good as ours, are good enough to pull an upset, as we saw in 2003. It will be very surprising if the U.S. loses out here. There are six teams, of which four advance. We have the US, Canada, Mexico, Panama, Nicaragua and Guatemala. I don't have the other rosters handy, but some of the other countries likely have a few prospects of their own.

 

EDIT: The Canadians do indeed have Orioles' prospect Adam Loewen, Phillies' prospect Scott Mathieson, and Dodgers' prospect Russell Martin.

[treble 0]

This doesn't seem right.

 

TORONTO -- Pitcher Josh Towers and the Toronto Blue Jays agreed to a $5.2 million, two-year contract.

 

Towers gets $2.3 million next year and $2.9 million in 2007 under the deal reached Monday. He made $358,000 last season, when the 28-year-old right-hander went 13-12 with a 3.71 ERA, and was eligible for salary arbitration for the first time.

 

In addition to his base salary, Towers would earn $50,000 bonuses for winning the Cy Young Award, a Gold Glove, the World Series MVP or the league championship series MVP.

He was probably the Jays' best starter all of last season because Halladay got hurt. He doesn't walk a lot, but gives up a lot of hits and this seems dumb based on one good season.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Towers has always had good control. Besides, this is a very low risk contract.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

The Braves and Cubs are among the teams that reportedly have contacted free agent Alex Gonzalez.

I hope by "contacted" they mean told him never to even think about playing in Chicago.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

He can't possibly be the worst Alex Gonzalez to play for the Cubs.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yeah, but why would we want to have the second worst? Not like we can dump him on Montreal.

[geniusMoment 0]

Cubs and Cardinals both want Adam Dunn, and the reds are listening. But, their asking price is said to be very high.

[mike546 0]

Yankees are close with Matsui, around 4 years 50 mill. How much are they over paying him Al?

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Yankees are close with Matsui, around 4 years 50 mill. How much are they over paying him Al?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It's an awfully large contract for a player who did not top a .500 slugging percentage last season. Still, it is probably a good signing since the only alternative is Brian Giles, who may command a higher salary.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Team USA leads Guatemala 23-0 in the seventh inning. Unless the Guatemalans score 13 in the bottom of the inning, this game will be called via the mercy rule.

[Guest Leelee]

Are you watching this exciting game, Alan?

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Are you watching this exciting game, Alan?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I was listening to it on MLB's internet radio. Easily the most one-sided ass kicking I've ever listened to, but fuck it, it's baseball.

[mike546 0]

Doesn't the mass amount of money Matsui brings in from Japan basically make the contract not as bad as it seems?

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Yes, there are merchandising receipts to take into consideration.

[The Czech Republic 0]

Some Chicago radio guy has admit he may have stretched the truth with the Pierre rumor.

 

Man, these guys should be fired.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm surprised it was a guy from AM 1000, they're not as awful as The Score. I thought it was a Score guy that had the Pierre rumor.