2005-2006 MLB Offseason thread

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Great trade for Philly, and I guess this means Konerko is gone for Chicago.

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I would think Philli is paying most of the contract and Thome will be DHing. Konerko could still come back.

 

I don't understand this trade for Chicago. Getting rid of a GG caliber OF that can hit you around 20 homers a year for a guy that could be done.

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With prospects Brian Anderson and Chris Young in the wings, the ChiSox had a glut of outfielders.

 

I like this trade for the most part. The only thing that bothers me is the idea that we had a hole at center field in the first place. Jason Michaels is perfectly competant. Still, this move makes Endy Chavez expendable, which is alright in my book. There really isn't much left the Phils need to do to field a complete team next season.

[the pinjockey 0]

Or Michaels. Bill Conlin mentioned today that the Dodgers had called on Michaels. Maybe this opens up trading him and using Victorino as the 4th OF. I would be interested to see what LA would offer. I like Michaels and love the OBP, but his slugging % the past two years (.415 each year, with only a .111 IsoSlg this past year) for being in CBP is a bit concerning.

 

note: please don't read the above as an Endy endorsement. No matter what they do with Michaels, Endy should not see the field other than pinch running.

[Guest]

LA won't move on Michaels unless they can trade JD Drew. Basically, it's not gonna happen.

[Guest StylesMark]

Bubba is normally a decent fielder, but his bat...uhh...yeah.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

Cubs are about to dump $12 million for another reliever. Looks like they're trying to rip off the White Sox approach of a solid pen and unimpressive offense. These signings just about do in most of the young guys that have been hanging around the club.

[the max 0]

12 mil for who?

[Fökai 0]

3/$11 million for Eyre.

 

3/$12 million for Bobby Howry, who Bruiser was referring to.

[the max 0]

Ouch.

[Cartman 0]

That's just plain stupid.

 

Also, I really hope some way the Sox don't trade Manny. He isnt crazy enough to sit out 2006 if they dont deal him so they really aren't forced to whether he says so or not.

 

I love the Beckett/Lowell deal alot. Yea Lowell is being paid alot more than he has been worth but who's to say he cant be rejuvanated in Boston especially in Fenway. Not to mention he is an astounding defensive upgrade over Youkilis or Mueller even. The left side of the infield is all set defense wise at least. I believe Renteria will look alot better with Lowell to his right with his range. Renteria is a 2 time gold glove SS and I suspect he will show that again in the next couple years.

[the max 0]

If Renteria has another year like last year, I'll be surprised. I don't expect another 30+ error season from him and I think he'll turn his offensive game around.

 

I like Bill Mueller, but his knees have raised a question about his ability to be an everyday thirdbaseman. Lowell can play the position and has more power (Fenway will help him). Even if Lowell doesn't play third and gets moved to first, he's still a better option than Kebah Meelah.

 

I was happy with the Beckett trade as well.

[Cartman 0]

I can't see any way Lowell isnt the Third Baseman all year barring injury. Youkilis is the only other real option and he isnt good defensively in my opinion. At least range wise I mean.

[Failed Bridge 0]

Beckett trade has some things going on with it.

 

Link

 

A deal is still more likely than not, but the trade of starter Josh Beckett and third baseman Mike Lowell from the Marlins to the Red Sox in exchange for three prospects was still in the process of being finalized last night.

   

A 6 p.m. deadline tonight looms as the cut-off time for the 72-hour window the teams agreed upon when the deal was first tentatively struck on Monday. Since then, the Red Sox have been poring over Beckett’s medical records, focusing on the shoulder stiffness and tendinitis problem he experienced in September that led to a pair of MRIs in October.

 

The well-known blister problems on Beckett’s right middle finger that have landed him on the disabled list six times in his career are not thought to be an issue at this time.

   

The Red Sox still had enough unanswered questions about Beckett, according to a baseball source, that the proposed deal could not be consummated yesterday.

   

Besides the likelihood that the deal will go down as originally planned, with the Red Sox absorbing all $18 million of Lowell’s 2006 and 2007 salary and the Red Sox sending shortstop Hanley Ramirez and pitchers Anibal Sanchez and Jesus Delgado to the Marlins, possible scenarios that could develop today include:

   

The teams agreeing to an extension of the 72-hour window; the Sox asking the Marlins for cash to cover some of Lowell’s future paychecks; or the Sox sending a different package of prospects back to the Marlins.

   

After not having any shoulder problems since 2000, Beckett began experiencing stiffness late last season and had to skip his final start of the season. The first MRI was concerning enough that the Marlins requested another from Dr. James Andrews. In mid-October, after the second MRI came back, Andrews cleared Beckett to resume his offseason conditioning program.

   

This time of year, that does not involve throwing baseballs.

    “I was throwing footballs around for 30 minutes today,” Beckett told the Miami Herald yesterday from his ranch in south Texas.

 

“I’m probably more like (Dolphins quarterback) Gus Frerotte than (Colts quarterback) Peyton Manning, which is pretty good for a baseball player.”

   

It is very unlikely this deal won’t get done, but one does not have to go far back in Red Sox history to be stunned. One only has to look back to the last holiday, Halloween, when it appeared likelier than not then that general manager Theo Epstein would agree to a contract extension. Even though they were mostly surprised by Epstein’s decision to walk away, the Red Sox knew there was a chance and accepted that risk.

   

Also, remember way back to December, two years ago, when it appeared certain that Alex Rodriguez was a lock to be traded from Texas for Manny Ramirez.

   

The Red Sox are undoubtedly aware that if this deal should blow up on them, the Marlins will likely find another taker for the 25-year-old who is blessed with one of the finest power arms in the game.

 

I expect the deal to still go through but the Sox getting the Marlins to give them a wee bit of cash(not a significent amount), especially with Hanley Ramirez being the player the Marlins wanted most out of all MLB prospects (least that's what has been said by reporters around here and Mr. Gammons).

[Failed Bridge 0]

Mike Lowell is a right handed version of Corey Koskie. I have no problem with him being the third baseman.

[Cartman 0]

Ok just the slight mention of a snag due to injury worries me a little. I'll enjoy my Thanksgiving with gluttonous eating and football and won't give this another thought until 6pm tonight...

 

*sigh*

[Dobbs 3K 0]

New rumor has Lyle Overbay going to Boston for Matt Clement straight up. I think that would be more realistic than anything involving Manny Ramirez, as Milwaukee had interest in Clement last off-season.

[mike546 0]

All the papers in NY say the Yanks want Jason Michaels, hopefully Cashman can make a trade. He'd be perfect fit.

[Failed Bridge 0]

I'm probably in the minority but I like Matt Clement. He carried the rotation in the first half of the season and come the second half he was just gassed. I also believe his knee bothering him and taking a linedrive off the noodle had something to do with his second half performance.

 

Even though its rumored that Tom Gordon is coming to Boston they still need to work on the bullpen. Craig Hansen and Manny Delcarmen aren't going to be saviors.

[therealworldschampion 0]

All the papers in NY say the Yanks want Jason Michaels, hopefully Cashman can make a trade. He'd be perfect fit.

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I hope the NYPD is ready for him, knowing the whole "cop bopping" story about him this past July...

[mike546 0]

Clements drop in performance had nothing to do with getting hit in the head. In his last four starts before the Tampa start, he gave up 8, then 4, then 6, then 4 runs in consecutive starts.

[Failed Bridge 0]

Which is why I said it was a combination of that and his knee being injured.

[Precious Roy 0]

I'd say Clement's drop in performance was a result of AL batters figuring him out. Dude has sketchy control, you just need to be patient and stay behind his stuff.

 

New rumor has Lyle Overbay going to Boston for Matt Clement straight up.

 

I proposed a Pavano for Overbay trade and Keiper wrote it off because Milwaukee "wants prospects" or something! HA!

 

Fuck Matt Clement, y'all Milwaukeeans want PAVANO! You NEED him!

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

I'd say Clement's drop in performance was a result of AL batters figuring him out.  Dude has sketchy control, you just need to be patient and stay behind his stuff.

 

New rumor has Lyle Overbay going to Boston for Matt Clement straight up.

 

I proposed a Pavano for Overbay trade and Keiper wrote it off because Milwaukee "wants prospects" or something! HA!

 

Fuck Matt Clement, y'all Milwaukeeans want PAVANO! You NEED him!

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It's a funny thing really. Clement went 13-6, easily his best Win/Loss record of his career. His strikeout rate fell but he also allowed fewer home runs. I think Clement's a worthy pitcher for this deal, and he'll probably drop a few points off his ERA next season. After all, it probably didn't help that he was a groundball pitcher with Renteria and Bellhorn up the middle.

[Precious Roy 0]

I think the W-L and homers was a result of pitching for Boston. Only gave up 6 at Fenway.

 

Bottom line on Clement IMO, he's talented, but doesn't have it all together. He's a decent bottom of the rotation guy, but I wouldn't trust him for anything more, just due to his style, too inconsistent, throws too many bad pitches.

 

He'd probably be a good fit for Milwaukee for that reason, they've got some real good starting pitching, Sheets, Davis, Capuano at the top, and Clement can slide into the 4-5 spot without much pressure on him. Kind of like his role in Chicago.

 

But I really want Overbay in pinstripes, SO PAVANO OR BUST!

[mike546 0]

Why in the world should Cashman be wasting his time trying to trade for Lyle Overbay when he doesn't have a CF, and has TWO relievers signed for next season.

[Precious Roy 0]

Because Overbay can play CF and throw relief!

[Bruiser Chong 0]

What a lot of people fail to remember is that Clement was amazing in 2004, but thanks to poor run support (usually the result of going up against the opposing team's number one guy), his W/L rate was poor.

 

And it would the Cubs are trying to take the White Sox approach and build a strong pen, but their offensive issues are what need to be addressed, since for the most part, their pitching was stellar in 2005.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

The Beckett trade is apparently finalized, with some new names attached...

 

Boston gets:

Mike Lowell

Josh Beckett

Guillermo Mota

 

Florida gets:

Jesus Delgado

Hanley Ramirez

Anibal Sanchez

Harvey Garcia

[Precious Roy 0]

Oh Jesus, they got Mota too?

[Failed Bridge 0]

I still like the deal. Garcia right now has nothing but a mid 90s fastball.

 

Thanks Al

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Oh Jesus, they got Mota too?

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If Mota repeats last year's performance, I wouldn't sweat it.