2005-06 MLB Offseason Thread

[geniusMoment 0]

The reds just wanted to get rid of Casey. Now, they have his contract off the books, can move Dunn to first, and play Griffey, Pena and Kearns in the outfield. I would have traded Casey for a bag of baseballs, so I consider this a good deal. It solves many problems.

[Guest OKCoyote]

ESPN reporting Grady Little to be new Dodgers Manager.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2250256

 

Red Sox fans can begin the laughter now.

[The Man in Blak 0]

Benson heading to K.C.

Dec 6 - The Mets are about to trade right-handed starter Kris Benson to the Royals for left-hander Jeremy Affeldt and right-hander Mike MacDougal, reports ESPN's Peter Gammons, who says the deal could get done Tuesday night.

Earlier, the Newark Star-Ledger reported that Mets GM Omar Minaya had spoken with several teams about Benson -- including Baltimore, San Francisco and Kansas City.

 

I'm googling for Walt Jocketty's cell phone right now. If they're willing to take Kris Frickin' Benson for Affeldt and MacDougal, then Walt needs to stick his nose into this trade.

 

If this deal goes as it stands, the Mets could come out as big-time winners. MacDougal might be a little unstable but, when he's on, there's nobody in the league that can hit him. (I believe the story goes that, in 2003, he struck out Frank Thomas, Albert Pujols, and Barry Bonds - all of them looking.) And Affeldt is just talent that's dying to get out of Kansas City, where they've bent over backwards to screw his career up.

 

Kris Benson is a league average starter at best with alarmingly bad peripherals. He could very well put up a 5.00 spot with that defense behind him, maybe even worse if DeJesus gets hurt again. Why the Royals are even considering trading for him, especially since he's married to a PR vortex of suck, is truly beyond me.

[the pinjockey 0]

Rotoworld notes:

Talks are "percolating" tonight on the proposed three-team deal sending Edgar Renteria to Atlanta, Andy Marte to Tampa Bay and Julio Lugo to Boston, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Confirming the Globe's report. The Braves also discussed a three-team deal with Colorado and Tampa Bay that would have put Lugo in Atlanta and Johnny Estrada in Colorado, but those negotiations cooled some as the other trade talks began heating up. Dec. 6 - 11:00 pm et

Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution

 

If the Devil Rays can turn Julio Lugo into Andy Marte, I will love them forever for getting Marte out of the division.

 

The Dodgers are close to acquiring Alfonso Soriano for reliever Jonathon Broxton, ESPN's Peter Gammons reports.

That would be a considerably smaller price tag than expected and more in line with what Soriano is worth. Broxton, one of the game's best relief prospects, could turn into a quality setup man for the Rangers as soon as the second half of next year and he has closer potential. Dec. 6 - 10:09 pm et

 

With how overrated Soriano is, I would have to figure they could get more than a relief prospect for him.

[mike546 0]

How is Soriano overrated? Beside the fact he Ks a lot and doesn't walk much, his road/home splits were an abbreviation last year, as he hit a shitload better on the road as a Yankee. Hes still a SECOND BASEMAN whos going to give you 30+ Hrs, 100+ RBIS, and 20+ SBs.

[Guest OKCoyote]

Rotoworld notes:

Talks are "percolating" tonight on the proposed three-team deal sending Edgar Renteria to Atlanta, Andy Marte to Tampa Bay and Julio Lugo to Boston, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Confirming the Globe's report. The Braves also discussed a three-team deal with Colorado and Tampa Bay that would have put Lugo in Atlanta and Johnny Estrada in Colorado, but those negotiations cooled some as the other trade talks began heating up. Dec. 6 - 11:00 pm et

Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution

 

...wait. Do we WANT Julio Lugo over Edgar Renteria?

[Bored 0]

He's better and cheaper than Renteria.

[Mik 0]

I can't believe the Braves would move their #1 prospect for Edgar Renteria.

[the pinjockey 0]

How is Soriano overrated? Beside the fact he Ks a lot and doesn't walk much, his road/home splits were an abbreviation last year, as he hit a shitload better on the road as a Yankee. Hes still a SECOND BASEMAN whos going to give you 30+ Hrs, 100+ RBIS, and 20+ SBs.

 

Last year's (2004) road split: .244/.291/.444/.735. I don't see how 700 PAs over the past two years are going to be an aberration. He has to hit .290-.300 for his OBP to be even respectable. Maybe the Yankees got his best years, maybe he changed his swing when he got to a bandbox like Arlington, but the fact is he has been mediocre at best on the road for two years now and many people still see him a big time game changer. And he is about to get very expensive to boot.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

Hey..the Os are also looking into Nomar..either to play 1B or OF.

 

But conspiracy theorists would say that its because Tejada supposedly wants to be traded if the Os don't start winning.

[mike546 0]

I honestly cannot see how the Philies want either Cano or Wang for Jason Michaels. I mean, I know the Yankees are despeate, but the Philies already have Rowand, Victarino, Abreu, and Burrell, plus if you resign Lofton. Stop being so greedy and take Henn.

 

 

Also, it seems like Bernie won't agree to not accept arbitration, so his Yankee career is basically over. Thanks for the great 15 years Bernie.

Edited December 7, 2005 by mike546

[MikeJordan23 0]

I honestly cannot see how the Philies want either Cano or Wang for Jason Michaels. I mean, I know the Yankees are despeate, but the Philies already have Rowand, Victarino, Abreu, and Burrell, plus if you resign Lofton. Stop being so greedy and take Henn.

 

 

 

If I was the Phillies I'd rather have Henn then Wang.

[mike546 0]

The only thing I see him as is a lefty guy out of the bullpen, and they might already have one of those in Matt Smith. Henn looked horrific in his only three starts. He could eventually become succesful, but nothing he did showed me any promise in his starts.

Edited December 7, 2005 by mike546

[Guest]

Rotoworld notes:

Talks are "percolating" tonight on the proposed three-team deal sending Edgar Renteria to Atlanta, Andy Marte to Tampa Bay and Julio Lugo to Boston, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Confirming the Globe's report. The Braves also discussed a three-team deal with Colorado and Tampa Bay that would have put Lugo in Atlanta and Johnny Estrada in Colorado, but those negotiations cooled some as the other trade talks began heating up. Dec. 6 - 11:00 pm et

Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution

 

If the Devil Rays can turn Julio Lugo into Andy Marte, I will love them forever for getting Marte out of the division.

 

The Dodgers are close to acquiring Alfonso Soriano for reliever Jonathon Broxton, ESPN's Peter Gammons reports.

That would be a considerably smaller price tag than expected and more in line with what Soriano is worth. Broxton, one of the game's best relief prospects, could turn into a quality setup man for the Rangers as soon as the second half of next year and he has closer potential. Dec. 6 - 10:09 pm et

 

With how overrated Soriano is, I would have to figure they could get more than a relief prospect for him.

Alfonso Soriano, welcome to 3B or the outfield.

[the pinjockey 0]

Aren't they rumored to move Kent to 1st if they get a 2B or is that not the case?

[Guest]

Kent's already being moved to 1st with the acqusition of Furcal, and Izturis should take over 2nd. Unless Izturis can play 3rd, Soriano won't be playing in the infield anymore.

[Big McLargeHuge 0]

Juan Pierre to the Cubs for Mitre and prospects:

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2250647

[the pinjockey 0]

Nice, the asking price from the Yankees for JMike just went up.

 

Pinto and Nolasco put up some nice numbers in AA this season. With all the arms they've stockpiled this offseason, I don't see how Florida ends up without at least one or two of these guys becoming a solid 2 and 3 behind Dontrelle.

 

One more trade to go for Fla. in Villone.

[UZI Suicide 0]

Rotoworld notes:

Talks are "percolating" tonight on the proposed three-team deal sending Edgar Renteria to Atlanta, Andy Marte to Tampa Bay and Julio Lugo to Boston, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Confirming the Globe's report. The Braves also discussed a three-team deal with Colorado and Tampa Bay that would have put Lugo in Atlanta and Johnny Estrada in Colorado, but those negotiations cooled some as the other trade talks began heating up. Dec. 6 - 11:00 pm et

Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution

 

If the Devil Rays can turn Julio Lugo into Andy Marte, I will love them forever for getting Marte out of the division.

 

The Dodgers are close to acquiring Alfonso Soriano for reliever Jonathon Broxton, ESPN's Peter Gammons reports.

That would be a considerably smaller price tag than expected and more in line with what Soriano is worth. Broxton, one of the game's best relief prospects, could turn into a quality setup man for the Rangers as soon as the second half of next year and he has closer potential. Dec. 6 - 10:09 pm et

 

With how overrated Soriano is, I would have to figure they could get more than a relief prospect for him.

Alfonso Soriano, welcome to 3B or the outfield.

 

 

Oh shit, if Coletti could pull that off my opinion on him would totally change.

[The Czech Republic 0]

If Juan Pierre plays as well with us as he played against us, welcome to the team. This fire sale is making me positively giddy, by the way.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Alfonso Soriano reminds me all too much of Juan Samuel. Another undisciplined slugger whose only qualification as a second baseman was that someone put him there. The worrysome part is that Samuel fell off the table offensively mid-career. Soriano has some nice skills, but he just put up a .309 OBP, in Texas.

 

Loaded Glove, this is NOT the move you want the Dodgers to make. Jeff Kent is a superior second baseman, both offensively and defensively. If you move Kent to first, you're replacing Hee Seop Choi, who had the same OPS+ as Soriano last year. Granted Soriano brings 30 steals to the table, but it is not a significant upgrade to the offense. It is certainly not worth giving up a valued prospect.

 

The difficulty of Soriano is that like Samuel, he lacks an obvious role. He's a powerful hitter for a second baseman, but he's awful defensively. He's an absolute speed-burner, but his OBP is much too low to bat leadoff. He's not so much a great hitter in a corner outfield spot. He could be valuable as a center fielder, but he's objected to moving in the past. He's overrated because his perceived value exceeds his actual value. That doesn't necessarily mean he's not a good player.

[Fökai 0]

Anyone else's head spinning from all of the recent moves and rumors? I can't keep up right now.

 

Blue Jays, Brewers talkin' swap

Dec 7 - Milwaukee and Toronto are discussing a deal that would send first baseman Lyle Overbay to the Blue Jays for infielder Shea Hillenbrand and pitcher David Bush, a source told ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick.

 

Overbay hit .276 with 19 homers last year in Milwaukee. By moving Overbay, the Brewers would free up first base for top prospect Prince Fielder. Hillenbrand would be a defensive liability at first base, but he's a .288 career hitter. He hit 18 homers and drove in 82 runs for the Blue Jays last season.

 

In that same Globe report, it's saying that the Renteria trade could presumably involve Marte, as well as another player. Guess I'll have to keep my fingers crossed, because I don't see any other guys that Schuerholtz would part with (I figured Marte was safe, you know?). Renteria is only two years removed from a .330/.394/.480 career year where he broke every career mark except for stolen bases (41 in '98, 34 that season). I'll defer to Al on this trade, obviously.

[The Czech Republic 0]

Picking up the bloated contract of a veteran who just underachieved doesn't sound like a Schuerholzy thing to do, does it?

[Cartman 0]

The deal rumored is apparrently Marte and an A catching prospect who is very highly rated for Renteria and the Sox to pay a portion of his contract.

 

I know Marte is great and the Catcher is apparently a phenom but I don't like that deal. I think renteria is going to be real good over the next 3 years for Boston, but that's just me.

 

Not to mention they would need to deal for another SS.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

Seems like maybe we gave up a bit much if you want to look at things long-term, since I don't see Pierre as anything more than a one-year fill-in. Still, it didn't seem like Mitre's had a good number of chances to make the leap from good AAA pitcher to good MLB pitcher and it never really happened. One wonders what becomes of Korey now.

[The Czech Republic 0]

hopefully, to anywhere but the Cardinals, because fate mandates that he is suddenly worth a damn under La Russa's watch.

[Kaertos 0]

Apparently, the Reds just traded Sean Casey to the Pirates for pitcher Dave Williams. Anybody out there from the Pitt know anything about this guy?

 

Personally, this sucks as the Mayor is my favorite player, but I know why they did it. Good for them if they get a good to great starter out of it.

 

But I have to say that my interest in the Red's 2006 season just dropped and I am a lifelong fan.

[The Man in Blak 0]

The deal rumored is apparrently Marte and an A catching prospect who is very highly rated for Renteria and the Sox to pay a portion of his contract.

 

I know Marte is great and the Catcher is apparently a phenom but I don't like that deal. I think renteria is going to be real good over the next 3 years for Boston, but that's just me.

 

Not to mention they would need to deal for another SS.

 

Okay, the Marte for Renteria deal was ridiculous enough. If they're talking Marte and Saltalamacchia (presumably the "phenom" catching prospect), this might as well come off of SOSH, it's so ridiculous.

 

Another note about Soriano - somebody mentioned that his home/road splits were an aberration, as he performed well during his Yankee years. While it's true that his home/road splits were much better back then, there was/is a lot of statistical evidence that strongly suggests that Soriano may not have been able to maintain that level of performance (K/BB ratio, K/PA, dipping SLG before last year). There is a possibility that the ballpark in Texas masked a declining skill set, one that may dip further in pitcher-friendly Dodger Stadium. And Al has already mentioned his defense, which has to be seen to be believed.

 

Though, if that LA/Soriano deal were to come to pass, it would put the A-Rod trade in an awfully funny light, wouldn't it? Let's trade one of the top three best players in baseball to the Yankees (and pay them to keep him on their roster, no less) for a couple of seasons of Soriano and a relief pitching prospect.

[The Czech Republic 0]

That was a dumb trade by Cincy. They should have traded Dunn, Griffey, Kearns, or Pena.

[MikeJordan23 0]

Steve Phillips on Cold Pizza said there's discussion of Austin Kearns for Jason Marquis. I'd like that trade as a Cardinals fan.