2005-06 MLB Offseason Thread

[the pinjockey 0]

I guess beggars can be choosers. They might have been able to pry Cano away from them before it got to full scale fire sale mode, doubtful but possible. But why would anyone give them a good, young major league player (who is better than Pierre right now anyway) at this point when you know they are going to get rid of him?

 

According to Rotoworld:

The Royals appear close to signing Todd Pratt to act as John Buck's backup.

An agreement might already have been reached, but the Royals would want to wait until after the arbitration deadline to announce it. It's a tactic they're already using with Elmer Dessens.

 

If they have a deal imminent/in place, the Phils have to offer arb to Pratt. He won't accept and come in as the 3rd/4th string C, and you might be able to get a low level prospect from KC if they aren't willing to give up their 2nd round pick.

Edited December 3, 2005 by the pinjockey

[Vampiro69 0]

Amazingly, The Twins have gotten into the act, trading for Luis Casttilo for two minor league pitching prospects. The Twins really needed a second baseman.

[Vern Gagne 0]

The Twins now need to get a couple bats for the middle of the lineup.

[Brett Favre 0]

How about Sheffield for Torii Hunter?

[Vern Gagne 0]

What does Sheffield make?

[mike546 0]

12 million.

[Precious Roy 0]

What does Sheffield make?

 

around 13mil

[the pinjockey 0]

Baseball America has their Rule 5 preview up. Link

 

Is it a good thing or a bad thing when your team has no one "worth a look".

 

And from Stark's latest column:

So the matches are minimal. But get ready for rumors about the Cardinals (for Jason Marquis), Orioles (for Erik Bedard), Yankees (for Chien-Ming Wang), Giants (for Jason Schmidt), Astros (for Chad Qualls and Brandon Backe), Diamondbacks (if Javier Vazquez would agree to go to Philadelphia) and A's (for Zito, if there was a way to even out the money). One of them just might come true.

 

Ugh, decent starting point if plenty more is coming back, ugh, ugh, are you fucking kidding me?!?,when did Vazquez get decent again?, and Zito+CBP=Miltonesque HR totals.

 

Another from Stark:

 

OK, it's true Bradley isn't a threat to appear on the cover of Model Citizen Monthly. But he is A) still only 27 years old, B) not half as volatile as he's made out to be and C) a heck of a talent. So he will be traded -- and probably sooner than later. The Dodgers have had nibbles from the Yankees, Astros and Cubs. But the team most interested is (surprise) Oakland, which has never met a talented bargain it didn't like.

 

I didn't realize that he was that likely to get moved. With the Furcal talks, looking like they are going to be desperate and overpay someone, why move a fairly cheap talent like Bradley?

Edited December 4, 2005 by the pinjockey

[Guest]

Moving Milton is a good PR move, just not a good one on the field.

[mike546 0]

Vazquez in that ballpark is a match made in hell.

[the pinjockey 0]

One thing Bradley is a tool about is wanting to play CF, isn't it? I wouldn't mind seeing him come back if Burrell or Abreu were moved, but not if he is going to whine about playing CF (IMO, if you have a Rowand in CF you don't move him from that position).

[Guest]

He's not a bad guy at all, just misunderstood. He's willing to play anywhere in the outfield, but not for a team and organization in such disarray as the Dodgers are. They'd have to get Burrell or Abreu back though, so it likely won't happen.

[Brett Favre 0]

I don't think this was posted.

 

Furcal a Dodger: 3 Years, $40 Million

By Steve Henson, Times Staff Writer

 

 

Free agent Rafael Furcal has agreed in principle to a three-year contract with the Dodgers that would make him one of the highest paid shortstops ever, a source close to the negotiations said Saturday. The deal would guarantee Furcal, 28, nearly $40 million.

 

He is expected to take a physical Sunday and a news conference could be held in Dallas on Monday, the first day of baseball's winter meetings.

 

Furcal, who has played his entire six-year career with the Atlanta Braves, is a fleet switch-hitter with excellent range and a strong arm. He has a .284 lifetime batting average and last season had 46 stolen bases, 31 doubles, 11 triples and 12 home runs. He has averaged 107 runs scored the last four seasons.

 

Furcal chose the Dodgers over the Braves and the Chicago Cubs, who offered slightly less than $50 million over five years. The Braves wouldn't go higher than $36 million over four years.

 

The $13-million average annual value of the deal is significantly more than the $40-million, four-year deal the Boston Red Sox gave shortstop Edgar Renteria a year ago. Shortstop Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees makes nearly $20 million a year and Miguel Tejada of the Baltimore Orioles makes $11 million a year.

 

Alex Rodriguez signed a 10-year deal for $252 million in 2001 to play shortstop for the Texas Rangers, but he has since moved to third base with the Yankees.

 

Dodger shortstop Cesar Izturis, who won the Gold Glove award in 2004, is recovering from Tommy John surgery and is not expected to play until July. With Furcal in the fold, Izturis is expected to move to second base and Jeff Kent would play first base.

 

Izturis will be in the second year of a three-year contract and Kent has one year left on his contract.

 

Landing Furcal is a significant coup for new Dodger General Manager Ned Colletti, who only three days ago was spurned by free agent outfielder Brian Giles. Giles resigned with the San Diego Padres for nearly $5 million less than the Dodgers were offering over three years, citing family considerations.

 

The Dodgers plan to remain aggressive in the free agent market. They are expected to sign either Bill Mueller or Joe Randa to play third base and have made offers to several free agent starting pitchers. Obtaining a power-hitting outfielder is also a priority.

 

http://www.latimes.com/sports/baseball/mlb...ack=1&cset=true

[the pinjockey 0]

I would do Burrell for Bradley straight up. At worst there would be a minor production decrease, while saving $5-6 million.

Edited December 4, 2005 by the pinjockey

[Brett Favre 0]

The Yankees should sign Nomar and covert him into an outfielder. I think Michael Kay suggested that. That would be interesting.

Edited December 4, 2005 by Cena's Writer

[UZI Suicide 0]

13 million a year for RAFAEL FURCAL?? Un-fucking-believable. This franchise is so screwed. Is it too late to become an Angels fan?

[The Czech Republic 0]

Furcal a Dodger: 3 Years, $40 Million

 

d'oh

 

 

Nomar, don't say it's too late.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

13 million a year for RAFAEL FURCAL?? Un-fucking-believable. This franchise is so screwed. Is it too late to become an Angels fan?

Furcal's a tremendous shortstop. He's 28 now, so he's hardly likely to decline over the course of the contract. This is a much better deal than the $9-10 Million some closers have gotten in the market.

[The Czech Republic 0]

Well, we gotta get Nomar back now, because nobody is gonna tolerate Neifi Perez, Starting Shortstop. Neifi at short, and Murton-Patterson-Grieve as the outfield. That's unacceptable. Duh. But at least we locked up Ryan Dempster forfuckingever, and have added Bobby Howry to our pen. Hmph.

[MikeJordan23 0]

AJ Burnett apparently go to the Cardinals if they gurantee a 5th year.

[The Czech Republic 0]

Really cockteased Toronto, didn't he

[Bruiser Chong 0]

Man. Can't say I blame the Cubs for not trying to match such a ridiculous offer, but considering that Furcal was really the last key offensive player on the market, they're in some trouble. Not getting Giles was fine if they got Furcal. They didn't. I agree they need to re-sign Nomar for at least a year, because fuck Neifi starting. It's only December, but the only way they're really gonna improve the offense now is through a trade.

[Failed Bridge 0]

Paul LoDuca could be headed to the Mets shortly.

[Mik 0]

That's just insanity. Maybe if they packaged LoDuca and Delgado they could have gotten Milledge. Now LoDuca is going to bring back some marginal guys no doubt.

[The Czech Republic 0]

The Marlins will still win 83 games, God knows how

[Guest]

13 million a year for RAFAEL FURCAL?? Un-fucking-believable. This franchise is so screwed. Is it too late to become an Angels fan?

Furcal's a tremendous shortstop. He's 28 now, so he's hardly likely to decline over the course of the contract. This is a much better deal than the $9-10 Million some closers have gotten in the market.

We don't have a manager yet so this is a pressing concern. We needed a guy that can get on base so it's not a big deal.

[bob_barron 0]

The Dodgers are retarded.

 

13 mil for Raffy?? Good one

[Guest]

3 years.

[bob_barron 0]

I meant million, my bad.

[Guest]

It's not that bad. Wagner and BJ Ryan's contracts are much, much worse.