2005-2006 MLB Offseason thread

[mike546 0]

Is this how it feels to be a team with a low payroll? Watching every good FA get signed away, while your team does nothing?

[Failed Bridge 0]

Its not really a bad deal for the Blue Jays, and they've been looking at trading Miguel Batista anyways which clears up more money.

 

The Mets may have just acquired Javier Vasquez for Kris Benson and pitching prospect Brian Bannister. I'm trying to find written confirmation.

 

Edit: ESPN is saying the New York Post has reported the deal but I can't find anything more than that.

[mike546 0]

So were paying Vazquez to pay for the Mets. That can't make George happy.

[CanadianChris 0]

Wow, for a 30-year old closer with only two really good seasons, Ryan sure cashed in, didn't he?

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

I guess the Orioles can add "New Closer" to their Christmas wish list along with First Baseman, Right Fielder and 2 Starters.

 

Or they could just go back to Julio..

 

HA..

[devo 0]

The Mets may have just acquired Javier Vasquez for Kris Benson and pitching prospect Brian Bannister. I'm trying to find written confirmation.

 

Edit: ESPN is saying the New York Post has reported the deal but I can't find anything more than that.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I don't get that trade if it's true. Vazquez is about as good as Benson (I'm of the opinion that Benson is slightly better) so why give up Benson and a prospect for him?

 

Unless he's one of those guys Peterson thinks he can "fix"...

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

I think Vazquez is a better pitcher than Benson. He's got a better K rate and will be vastly improved if he moves to a tougher park for home run hitters.

[Kahran Ramsus 0]

What the hell is Toronto doing? I thought Ricciardi was a Moneyball guy!

[KGB 0]

I'm not that big of a baseball fan although I like to follow the Toronto Blue Jays during the summer, but I remember the last time the Jays blew a shitload of money on a hyped free-agent closer, Randy Myers, and it backfired. They traded him in midseason if I recall correctly.

 

Again, I'm no expert (I know someone will come on here and talk about how crucial it is to have a great closer), but it seems foolish to spend such a huge amount on a pitcher who generally pitches 1 inning every few games and aside from a guy like Gagne, most closers can be pretty unpredictable and inconsistant in their performance. But what do I know, right?

[2GOLD 0]

I think it's great that the Cubs and Orioles are spending this offseason sleeping and enjoying their winter by not doing anything. Well, other than Cubs adding some guys to the bullpen who do nothing for the lack of outfielders (since the farm system can't produce guys who don't strike out 1000 times) and some lack of infielders.

 

I'm not getting it at all.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

I'm not that big of a baseball fan although I like to follow the Toronto Blue Jays during the summer, but I remember the last time the Jays blew a shitload of money on a hyped free-agent closer, Randy Myers, and it backfired.  They traded him in midseason if I recall correctly.

 

Again, I'm no expert (I know someone will come on here and talk about how crucial it is to have a great closer), but it seems foolish to spend such a huge amount on a pitcher who generally pitches 1 inning every few games and aside from a guy like Gagne, most closers can be pretty unpredictable and inconsistant in their performance.  But what do I know, right?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

LOL funny coincidence

 

LHP Randy Myers - 1997 Orioles 2nd highest saves (45) in his career - as a free agent Signs with Toronto for 1998 - bombs out of the league by the end of the year after being traded to SD.

 

LHP BJ Ryan - 2005 Orioles Career High 36 Saves - Free Agent signs with Toronto for 2006 - ????

[CanadianChris 0]

LOL funny coincidence

 

LHP Randy Myers - 1997 Orioles 2nd highest saves (45) in his career  - as a free agent Signs with Toronto for 1998 - bombs out of the league by the end of the year after being traded to SD.

 

LHP BJ Ryan - 2005 Orioles Career High 36 Saves - Free Agent signs with Toronto for 2006 - ????

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yeah, but Myers was 35, and he ended up retiring after that season. At least Ryan has a better chance of having a couple more good years left in him.

[devo 0]

Kinda off topic, but does anyone know when tickets usually go on sale for the 2006 season? I was hoping to buy some as a Christmas gift (specifically two of the games when the Mets are in Pittsburgh), but fear that they won't go on sale in time for the holiday.

[Guest Wart]

Kinda off topic, but does anyone know when tickets usually go on sale for the 2006 season? I was hoping to buy some as a Christmas gift (specifically two of the games when the Mets are in Pittsburgh), but fear that they won't go on sale in time for the holiday.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

It probably depends on the team, but I think the last couple years Astro tickets have gone on sale around February.

[KingPK 0]

Perhaps you can get packages for multiple games, but single game tickets probably won't start selling until the new year.

 

Checking the Pirates webpage, it doesn't say when tickets are on sale, just the prices.

[Guest]

Is this how it feels to be a team with a low payroll? Watching every good FA get signed away, while your team does nothing?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yeah, unless you like a team with a huge payroll that does nothing but sign players like JD Drew and Derek Lowe to large deals.

[Precious Roy 0]

That Ryan deal is crazy, but it doesn't surprise me. Dude is a nasty lefthanded K machine, and he's in his prime. He was in high demand. I'm jealous of the Blue Jays for getting him. I'm also a little surprised, as Miguel Batista seemed to be doing a fine job. I wonder if he'll become the setup man, or go back to starting.

 

And the Cubs are supposedly the favorites for Juan Pierre, and are in on Furcal, so it's not like they're not trying to address their needs.

[mike546 0]

Speaking of 2006, the yanks start on the west coast for six games.

 

ugh.

[Failed Bridge 0]

Hey Al, who do you personally feel will be the biggest value out of FA starting pitchers this off-season? Personally I think it will be Paul Byrd. He's a Class B free agent and probably won't command as much as Kevin Millwood. Still, in the end he could be a 15 game winner on a contending team.

 

What's really funny is that Jeff Weaver is a Type A free agent while the Yankees would recieve no compensation if somebody signed Kevin Brown before Dec 7th.

[Guest]

The Dodgers have to resign Jeff Weaver. He eats up innings.

[mike546 0]

ESPN news breaking headline says Jays GM denies Ryan is signed.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Hey Al, who do you personally feel will be the biggest value out of FA starting pitchers this off-season? Personally I think it will be Paul Byrd. He's a Class B free agent and probably won't command as much as Kevin Millwood. Still, in the end he could be a 15 game winner on a contending team.

 

What's really funny is that Jeff Weaver is a Type A free agent while the Yankees would recieve no compensation if somebody signed Kevin Brown before Dec 7th.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Paul Byrd's quite an underrated pitcher, but he's a finesse guy and an injury risk. The sad thing is that just about every starting pitcher will be overpaid this offseason. The one sleeper I see out there is Jamey Wright. Any ability he has is completely masked by having played most of his career in Coors Field. Plus he battled injuries in 2003-04. Put him in a normal park with good infield defense, and he could become a good starter.

[mike546 0]

How about Jarred Washburn?

[NYU 0]

Peter Gammons is saying the Red Sox are getting sick of looking for takers for Manny and might just go to the Mets and request Carlos Beltran and then agree to take Steve Trachsel(sp?)'s contract to even up the money. Omar Minaya still plans on talking to the Red Sox and then to Manny to see if he can interest him in being a Met.

 

Its interesting because Gammons said on WEEI towards the trade deadline that a Mets source said that Beltran found it difficult to play in New York and wasn't enjoying it. The same source told Gammons that all Mets players would be available except for David Wright.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I just stumbled on this news item. Manny for Beltran and Trachsel would be a terrible trade. In a rotation that looks formidable but not strong, Trachsel plays a part as a valuable #3 starter. They cannot afford to be giving up starting pitchers at this point if they're hoping to make it far this season. Seo has been shaky in his MLB starts, showing off both brilliant starts and terrible ones. Zambrano is just awful. Benson has been underwhelming. Pedro and Glavine both did well last season, but of course, they're getting on in age. In no way should the Mets look to trade someone like Trachsel at this point.

 

If it was a straight-up Beltran for Manny trade, I could see the value in that. Beltran looked weak last season, and that could partly have to do with the uneasiness of playing in New York. Manny has already proven he could play in a big city like Boston, so the move might not have much of an effect on him. While I do think Beltran will be more comfortable in New York this season, I could see the merits of trading him for Manny. But considering the Sox are looking to get rid of Manny so badly, I think the Mets could get away with keeping Trachsel out of the deal -- as they should.

[the max 0]

So you wouldn't make a trade for a future hall of fame player because you don't want to give up a #3 starter?

[NYU 0]

The Mets are not a team that can afford to give up a reliable #3 starter -- especially a guy that could be the most reliable pitcher on the team this season. Their rotation is not strong, and it will turn out noticeably weaker if they trade Trachsel. If they can slip a different pitcher into the deal besides the top 3 of the rotation -- perhaps Heilman or Benson instead, who have both showed good signs at times -- I would be all for it. Otherwise, they can't start sacrificing reliable pitching for good hitting.

[mike546 0]

Wahat are you talking about? The Mets, without Traschel for basically the entire season, were 3rd in ERA in the NL, and 8th in the MLB.

[NYU 0]

Wahat are you talking about? The Mets, without Traschel for basically the entire season, were 3rd in ERA in the NL, and 8th in the MLB.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

They were carried by two big old question marks in Pedro and Glavine.

 

Pedro: 2.82 ERA

Glavine: 3.53 ERA

 

Of course, then there are those pitchers who haven't been able to carry much at all.

 

Benson: 4.13 ERA

Zambrano: 4.17 ERA

 

Seo and Heilman looked decent last season, but they haven't looked like pitchers who can stay strong in the rotation the entire year. Both of them have looked weak after having several starts.

 

The Mets can not rely on the idea that Pedro will be as effective as he was last season, considering he started to falter and lose his superhero status in Boston before he was traded. And although Glavine may have gotten used to the Questec system, at his age, he's one injury away from an abrupt retirement. It would be silly to place any playoff hopes on just these two pitchers. Again, Zambrano is terrible in the clutch. Benson is just underwhelming on the mound. Trachsel is a formidable pitcher who should not be given up -- along with a fine player in Beltran -- for another power hitter who may or may not find success on the Mets. People forget just how the Mets have done in recent years in acquiring these big bats.

[The Czech Republic 0]

How about Jarred Washburn?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Seems like a smoke-and-mirrors pitcher to me, one that might come back and burn you. Glendon Rusch on a larger scale.

[TheDevilAndGodAreRagingInsideMe 0]

Here's some ticket info for those inquiring, the Yankees 2006 tickets go on sale Friday, December 16th at 10:00 am so I'm guessing alot of other teams will be around the same.