2005-2006 MLB Offseason thread

[The Czech Republic 0]

So who else do we need? Reggie Sanders, Sidney Ponson, Kirk Reuter, Livan Hernandez, Kenny Lofton, Bill Mueller...

[mike546 0]

If the NY papers are true, Ryan is using the yankees as a negotiating tactic, and doesn't want to set up for Rivera.

 

Why do I just have the feeling this bullpen is going to absolutley suck next year?

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

If the NY papers are true, Ryan is using the yankees as a negotiating tactic, and doesn't want to set up for Rivera.

 

Why do I just have the feeling this bullpen is going to absolutley suck next year?

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Because the Yankees will not free Colter Bean.

[Fökai 0]

I don't know why he'd use them as a negotiating ploy - he's bound to be grossly overpaid by somebody regardless of what he does.

[Precious Roy 0]

Hey, I would have liked to pick up Eyre, and his numbers don't look that flukey, it was his best year yeah, but he's been pretty consistent this decade....but fuck, that's a lot of money for a specialist reliever

[Bored 0]

Turns out it's a three-year, $11 million deal, not two years.

[2GOLD 0]

Unless the Cubs someone sign Jesus Christ to play in the outfield, that group out there really worries me. Although I can live with Hairston in left, but I can live with any version of a lead-off hitter when it comes to the Cubs.

 

I have no problem with Eyre over three years, but two years would have made me question their sanity.

[mike546 0]

I'm just haunted at the thought of a Matsui/Giles/Sheff outfield.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Just as a courtisey, I'm not going to mention that the Cubs lose their first round draft pick to the Giants for signing Eyre.

 

I'm just haunted at the thought of a Matsui/Giles/Sheff outfield.

 

From the quality of their offense or lack of defense?

[Bruiser Chong 0]

I'd imagine lack of defense.

[bob_barron 0]

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-b...ov=ap&type=lgns

 

Chipper Jones is a great man

 

I really hope the Braves can pick up Trevor Hoffman. Given our horrible bullpen, I think having a dependable closer will help.

 

I still think Furcal is gonna leave though.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

Yeah, taking on an aging one-inning guy who is demanding everything but the moon seems like a logical move for the always cost-cutting Atlanta Braves.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

That's what I was thinking. There's a reason the Padres aren't falling over themselves to retain Hoffman's services.

[Brett Favre 0]

How bad is Brian Giles on defense? Because he would make this one hell of a lineup.

[bob_barron 0]

Yeah, taking on an aging one-inning guy who is demanding everything but the moon seems like a logical move for the always cost-cutting Atlanta Braves.

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Well we need a closer, and if he's the only one available, go for it.

[Failed Bridge 0]

There are quite a few other closers available

 

B.J. Ryan

Billy Wagner

Jose Mesa

Bob Wickman

Ugeuth Urbina

Braden Looper

 

Octavio Dotel is also a FA, and supposedly he's recovering from TJ surgery pretty fast.

[mike546 0]

Newsday is reporting Pavano is miserable in NY, and wants to be traded.

 

Give him his wish Cashman.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

There are quite a few other closers available

 

B.J. Ryan

Billy Wagner

Jose Mesa

Bob Wickman

Ugeuth Urbina

Braden Looper

 

Octavio Dotel is also a FA, and supposedly he's recovering from TJ surgery pretty fast.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I think for the time being, it's fair to count out Urbina.

[Failed Bridge 0]

Newsday is reporting Pavano is miserable in NY, and wants to be traded.

 

Give him his wish Cashman.

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That's not news. He told I-Rod that he was miserable in NY back when the Yankees played at Detroit.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

How bad is Brian Giles on defense? Because he would make this one hell of a lineup.

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Giles has played 36 games in center field over the last four seasons. Considering he turns 35 in January, I doubt a return full time would do him good. Besides, how many more runs do the Yankees need when they already finished second in the league last year? Their outfield defense was their big problem last year, as it exacerbated their pitching woes. A real center fielder could shave a few points off the team ERA as a whole.

 

There are quite a few other closers available

 

B.J. Ryan

Billy Wagner

Jose Mesa

Bob Wickman

Ugeuth Urbina

Braden Looper

 

Octavio Dotel is also a FA, and supposedly he's recovering from TJ surgery pretty fast.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Like another person said, count out Urbina. Wickman also is unlikely to sign outside of Cleveland. I wouldn't count on Mesa, as his ERAs have been below league average for two of the last three years. I would add Tom Gordon to the list however. He still has good stuff and past closing experience.

[TheDevilAndGodAreRagingInsideMe 0]

Newsday is reporting Pavano is miserable in NY, and wants to be traded.

 

Give him his wish Cashman.

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That's not news. He told I-Rod that he was miserable in NY back when the Yankees played at Detroit.

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Isn't this the kid from Conneticut who is fulfilling his boyhood dream of donning the pinstripes?

[mike546 0]

I think it was just his parents that were Yankee fans.

[Mik 0]

Big rumor out of Miami that the Marlins may trade Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell to the Rangers for Hank Blalock and Thomas Diamond. I will throw up in my mouth if that happens. Blalock is awful away from their launching pad and the Marlins have no less than 5 pitchers in the minors who are more likely to be MLB stars than Diamond will ever be.

 

Luckily, no one out of Texas has said anything about it..so I'm thinking it's garbage. It has to be, for my sanity.

[Brett Favre 0]

Damn, I'd love Josh Beckett on the Yankees. I didn't know he was available.

 

Great trade for the Rangers if it's actually being talked about.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Big rumor out of Miami that the Marlins may trade Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell to the Rangers for Hank Blalock and Thomas Diamond. I will throw up in my mouth if that happens. Blalock is awful away from their launching pad and the Marlins have no less than 5 pitchers in the minors who are more likely to be MLB stars than Diamond will ever be.

 

You think so? I'd rank Scott Olsen above Diamond, but that's it.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

I think the deal would be a winner for the Marlins just so they could dump Lowell's bloated contract.

 

Cards have told Brian Giles that they're looking at pitching now, so I guess that'd make the Yankees the frontrunners to get him and improve that lousy offense. They could afford the loss of defense, anyway.

[Mik 0]

Big rumor out of Miami that the Marlins may trade Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell to the Rangers for Hank Blalock and Thomas Diamond. I will throw up in my mouth if that happens. Blalock is awful away from their launching pad and the Marlins have no less than 5 pitchers in the minors who are more likely to be MLB stars than Diamond will ever be.

 

You think so? I'd rank Scott Olsen above Diamond, but that's it.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

May have been slightly exaggerating with 5, but

 

1) Olsen

2) Josh Johnson

3) Chris Volstad

4) Aaron Thompson

 

The last two are just a guess, but both project just as highly as Diamond - especially Volstad.

 

I hate the trade.

[Brett Favre 0]

Matsui did play center in Japan, but I really would have liked someone like Milton Bradley, Brad Wilkerson, or Jeremy Reed though. Bradley is the total package.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

May have been slightly exaggerating with 5, but

 

1) Olsen

2) Josh Johnson

3) Chris Volstad

4) Aaron Thompson

 

The last two are just a guess, but both project just as highly as Diamond - especially Volstad.

 

I hate the trade.

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I notice your list is numbers two through five of Baseball America's rankings of the Marlins' system. Josh Johnson is the closest match. He's got the same level of control as Diamond. But Johnson's career minor league strikeout ratio is 7.29 per 9 innings. Diamond's ratio is 10.86. Diamond's practically unhittable, his mediocre AA debut aside. As for Thompson and Volstad, I haven't seen them personally, but I can not possibly justify rating two pitchers with a cup of coffee apiece in the NY-Penn League above a hurler with nearly 200 professional innings above his belt. Volstad and Thompson may be very good, but it is a long way to the major leagues. Diamond's a better bet.

 

Matsui did play center in Japan, but I really would have liked someone like Milton Bradley, Brad Wilkerson, or Jeremy Reed though. Bradley is the total package.

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I'm convinced Marlon Byrd is the perfect fit. His batting line last year would look closer to 270/330/400 outside of RFK Stadium, and when you really need a fly chaser, he could be a tremendous asset, for pennies on the dollar. All he needs is an honest chance.

[Failed Bridge 0]

Blalock for Beckett straight up should be fine. If I'm Texas then I don't want to get rid of Diamond, nor do I want Lowell's contract. Texiera just won a glove at first base but his natural position was third base. He could always go back to third and they can have Adrian Gonzales play first base.