2006-07 MLB Offseason Thread

[naiwf 0]

I don't disagree with your points cheech, but it's not like the Yankees are struggling to turn a profit and need MORE revenue. If they win the bid I'm hoping that Matsuzaka is a bust because they already spend $100 million more than anyone else, and probably make $500 million more in annual revenue than anyone else.

 

Also, I wouldn't pay a dime for Liriano right now because of his impending elbow surgery, but I get the point. At least we were able to see Weaver and Verlander pitch against MLB hitters for half or all of a season. Matzuzaka's gonna be making top dollar for pitching in the WBC. $70 million upfront just seems like a lot if he doesn't turn out to be on the Santana/Schilling when healthy/Halladay level AL starter.

 

Now if the Mets had won the bid, I'd have a completely different hope for the kid, but that's just because we NEED pitching with Pedro out for most of next year, Glavine getting older than old, Trachsel sucking ass and not much else that we can count on for 2007. We can't have a rotation of Glavine/Duque/Maine/Pelfrey/Heilman or Perez or something like that and contend for a championship. The Yankees could land Matsuzaka and still try and get a Zito or Schmidt if they want to because Daisuke will pay for himself as you said.

[devo 0]

I'm not thrilled with the D'Backs' new jerseys (posted earlier in this thread) but I like the new logo (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/photo;_ylt=Aiz...105&prov=ap) quite a bit.

[tominator89 0]

I don't disagree with your points cheech, but it's not like the Yankees are struggling to turn a profit and need MORE revenue. If they win the bid I'm hoping that Matsuzaka is a bust because they already spend $100 million more than anyone else, and probably make $500 million more in annual revenue than anyone else.

 

Cashman already said that the Yankees are losing money.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2557770

[The Man in Blak 0]

I'd rather they ditch the awful "D-Backs" text on the front of the jersey and go with pinstripes and that new logo. As they are today, I think viva nailed it - these look like they were pulled straight out of the Wal-Mart.

[devo 0]

I don't disagree with your points cheech, but it's not like the Yankees are struggling to turn a profit and need MORE revenue. If they win the bid I'm hoping that Matsuzaka is a bust because they already spend $100 million more than anyone else, and probably make $500 million more in annual revenue than anyone else.

 

Cashman already said that the Yankees are losing money.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2557770

 

That's misleading. I have no doubt that the Yankees as a team might not be turning a profit, but with the revenue they get from merchandise, the YES network, and other areas, I don't believe for a second that the organization as a whole isn't making money.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

I don't disagree with your points cheech, but it's not like the Yankees are struggling to turn a profit and need MORE revenue. If they win the bid I'm hoping that Matsuzaka is a bust because they already spend $100 million more than anyone else, and probably make $500 million more in annual revenue than anyone else.

 

Cashman already said that the Yankees are losing money.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2557770

 

For accounting purposes, they might be losing money, but rest assured the Yankees are making money. The revenues they receive from the YES network, which are not subject to revenue sharing, keep them in the black. Plus they are going to throw all the stadium costs on the ledger in the near term and show great losses when the true cost is likely amortized over the life of the project.

[Precious Roy 0]

I don't disagree with your points cheech, but it's not like the Yankees are struggling to turn a profit and need MORE revenue. If they win the bid I'm hoping that Matsuzaka is a bust because they already spend $100 million more than anyone else, and probably make $500 million more in annual revenue than anyone else.

 

Also, I wouldn't pay a dime for Liriano right now because of his impending elbow surgery, but I get the point. At least we were able to see Weaver and Verlander pitch against MLB hitters for half or all of a season. Matzuzaka's gonna be making top dollar for pitching in the WBC. $70 million upfront just seems like a lot if he doesn't turn out to be on the Santana/Schilling when healthy/Halladay level AL starter.

 

Now if the Mets had won the bid, I'd have a completely different hope for the kid, but that's just because we NEED pitching with Pedro out for most of next year, Glavine getting older than old, Trachsel sucking ass and not much else that we can count on for 2007. We can't have a rotation of Glavine/Duque/Maine/Pelfrey/Heilman or Perez or something like that and contend for a championship. The Yankees could land Matsuzaka and still try and get a Zito or Schmidt if they want to because Daisuke will pay for himself as you said.

 

Hoping a player doesn't pan out because he goes to a team you don't like is beyond petty. There's just so much wrong with that. Matsuzaka being a star would be great for baseball, whichever team he ends up on. Root for teams to lose, root against a bad guy or cheater like Bonds or Sosa, don't root against a guy making the jump from Japan for no fucking reason other than him not being on your favorite team.

[naiwf 0]

So you're saying that every time a free agent you put a bid on signs with some other team, you should hope he does well for the good of the sport? Puh-lease.

[Precious Roy 0]

You don't have to hope he does well, but it shouldn't matter to you. If you're actively rooting against a guy because your team doesn't get him, you need to either grow up or get a life. That's selfish as hell. These are real people, why would you want to see anyone fail at their profession on a national stage?

 

David Wells signed with the Red Sox....I still wanted the guy to succeed. Clemens, Pettite, Soriano etc. etc. I'm always happy to see ex-Yankees do well. I was thrilled with the postseason performance of Jeff Weaver, it was nice to see a guy redeem himself like that. I root against teams collectively, not for individual players to underperform.

[vivalaultra 0]

Good news for Cubbie fans as they resigned Wade Miller to a one-year deal. Now, if Kerry Wood signs, that's 3/5 of the starting rotation for 2007 set: Prior, Miller, and Wood.

 

Yeah, but seriously, I was a really big Wade Miller fan back in the early 21st century, but, man...injuries have taken a toll on him. And speaking of Astros that looked like they'd be perennial All-Stars in the early 2000s, Richard "Doggy" Hidalgo is playing Winter League ball for the team managed by the director of the Astros' Latin American operations, so I expect him to get a tryout for the 'Stros in Spring Training, if not a ML spot if Carlos Lee, Vernon Wells, Adam Dunn, Jose Guillen, Alfonso Soriano, Aramis Ramirez, etc. don't pan out. From what I hear, Hidalgo's slugging in VWL and I'd love to see him come back to the 'Stros and hit 45 homeruns and drive in 130 runs again. He'd be a Hell of alot cheaper than anybody else.

[Brett Favre 0]

Yeah I rooted for Jeff Weaver too.

[naiwf 0]

You don't have to hope he does well, but it shouldn't matter to you. If you're actively rooting against a guy because your team doesn't get him, you need to either grow up or get a life. That's selfish as hell. These are real people, why would you want to see anyone fail at their profession on a national stage?

 

David Wells signed with the Red Sox....I still wanted the guy to succeed. Clemens, Pettite, Soriano etc. etc. I'm always happy to see ex-Yankees do well. I was thrilled with the postseason performance of Jeff Weaver, it was nice to see a guy redeem himself like that. I root against teams collectively, not for individual players to underperform.

 

It's wrong to root against an individual guy because my team didn't get him, but I can hate on 25 players collectively because they comprise a rival team? I'm just trying to get the "rules" straight here. I'm not wishing injury on anyone, but I don't see the difference between hoping Matsuzaka sucks and you hoping that Josh Beckett and Curt Schilling doesn't each go 20-3 next year and that the Yankees beat the brains out of Boston every time they play.

[the max 0]

Good news for Cubbie fans as they resigned Wade Miller to a one-year deal. Now, if Kerry Wood signs, that's 3/5 of the starting rotation for 2007 set: Prior, Miller, and Wood.

 

They'll be an awesome rotation...until mid-April.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

So one day later on Matsuzaka and this is what we've heard:

 

-Poster on NYYfans (who is very well-sourced) says the Yankees won with $27 million

 

-Dallas radio station says that the Rangers won with a bid of $25 million

 

-NESN reported that the Angels won with a bid in the low 20s

 

-A rep from the Phillies stated the Mets won with $26 million

 

-A Japanese newspaper says the Diamondbacks won with something in the low teens

 

-A MLB representative says the numbers are right, but no one has correctly guessed the winning team

 

So... we know nothing still! I am shocked that this thing has been kept under wraps for so long. Seibu has a board meeting at 12ET Friday morning... hopefully we know something by then. This has been a very interesting process to say the least.

 

And on a sidenote, I think it is bad for baseball if the Yankees lat Mats and he is a success. The Yankees and Mariners are the only teams with any visibility in Japan. It just further skews the disadvantages to the large market teams if the posting system remains the way it is and the big keep getting bigger (still secretly hoping the Sox win the bid - shh).

[naiwf 0]

No one won with a bid in the low teens. It's got to be at least $22.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

I'd rather they ditch the awful "D-Backs" text on the front of the jersey and go with pinstripes and that new logo. As they are today, I think viva nailed it - these look like they were pulled straight out of the Wal-Mart.

 

They probably aren't the ideal design, but considering that their old uniforms were by far the worst in all of baseball, it's hard to complain too much.

[the max 0]

No one won with a bid in the low teens. It's got to be at least $22.

 

22 dollars? Perhaps more than that, Jim...

[Brett Favre 0]

I don't understand why it takes so long. You look at the freaking bids, and announce that shit. It's like less than 30 bids; it shouldn't take this long.

[naiwf 0]

No one won with a bid in the low teens. It's got to be at least $22.

 

22 dollars? Perhaps more than that, Jim...

 

It's only obvious we'd been talking about millions.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

I don't understand why it takes so long. You look at the freaking bids, and announce that shit. It's like less than 30 bids; it shouldn't take this long.

 

It's even simpler than that. Seibu doesn't even look at all the bids. MLB calls them up and says "the high bid is xxx. Do you accept?" Shouldn't really be any hand-wringing over it, unless the bid is too low and they decide that it makes more sense to keep him. I don't see that as a likely scenario. But this guy is a megastar in Japan, so perhaps the team has to at least put up the facade that they aren't selling out their best and most recognizable player for a few extra yen in their pockets.

[Precious Roy 0]

You don't have to hope he does well, but it shouldn't matter to you. If you're actively rooting against a guy because your team doesn't get him, you need to either grow up or get a life. That's selfish as hell. These are real people, why would you want to see anyone fail at their profession on a national stage?

 

David Wells signed with the Red Sox....I still wanted the guy to succeed. Clemens, Pettite, Soriano etc. etc. I'm always happy to see ex-Yankees do well. I was thrilled with the postseason performance of Jeff Weaver, it was nice to see a guy redeem himself like that. I root against teams collectively, not for individual players to underperform.

 

It's wrong to root against an individual guy because my team didn't get him, but I can hate on 25 players collectively because they comprise a rival team? I'm just trying to get the "rules" straight here. I'm not wishing injury on anyone, but I don't see the difference between hoping Matsuzaka sucks and you hoping that Josh Beckett and Curt Schilling doesn't each go 20-3 next year and that the Yankees beat the brains out of Boston every time they play.

 

I'd rather the Red Sox play well, win a lot of games and give the Yankees a tough fight than see them out of it by Sept. 1st with their pitching staff in shambles. What fun is that?

[Guest Felonies!]

Good news for Cubbie fans as they resigned Wade Miller to a one-year deal. Now, if Kerry Wood signs, that's 3/5 of the starting rotation for 2007 set: Prior, Miller, and Wood.

 

They'll be an awesome rotation...until mid-April.

LOLs all around!

 

Wood is coming back in middle relief if he does, and Prior won't be ready until June.

[vivalaultra 0]

I imagine Wood will at least be good in relief. Hell, he was lights out in relief when they had him in that role. Hopefully he does well and can get into closing. I like Wood. He's a Texas guy. What, exactly, is wrong with Mark Prior? Is it just his whole arm in general or is it something specific? He's had so many various injuries the past few years that it's hard to keep up. It's all Giles's fault.

[2GOLD 0]

I imagine Wood will at least be good in relief. Hell, he was lights out in relief when they had him in that role. Hopefully he does well and can get into closing. I like Wood. He's a Texas guy. What, exactly, is wrong with Mark Prior? Is it just his whole arm in general or is it something specific? He's had so many various injuries the past few years that it's hard to keep up. It's all Giles's fault.

 

Prior has been hurt so many times, we are just going with he's hurt and he's going to remain hurt. Next year I expect him to go into his wind up and his arm to go flying into the stands.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

Hey viva, what's the status on Brad Lidge? Are the Astros looking to move him this offseason? What are they expecting back in return?

[vivalaultra 0]

Cheech-

 

The 'Stros aren't moving Lidge, at least from what I hear. Earlier in the offseason, there were a few rumblings that they might trade him for either Adam Dunn or to the Red Sox for....I forget who, but I haven't heard him mentioned in that regard for a couple months. I also remember hearing that they thought Lidge would accept a demotion back to the 7th/8th inning without too much of a problem and they'd use either Wheeler or my pick to come up huge for the Astros in 2007, Fernando Nieve to close out games. Personally, I think Lidge'll be back to himself next season; he just couldn't ever get anything going in a positive direction this past year for any length of time. I think he's working on throwing a 2-seamer and working in a split, so hopefully he'll be harder to figure out next year. And I'm pretty sure that Larry Dierker's gonna be the pitching coach...he'll straighten Lidge out...or ruin his arm like he did to Wade Miller.

[Guest Felonies!]

What, exactly, is wrong with Mark Prior? Is it just his whole arm in general or is it something specific?

"Genetic looseness."

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

J.D. Drew has opted out of his contract, making him a free agent. Drew gives up $33 million over three years with this move. Drew's largely been labeled as a disappointment, but he played 146 games last year and owns a career .905 OPS.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

J.D. Drew has opted out of his contract, making him a free agent. Drew gives up $33 million over three years with this move. Drew's largely been labeled as a disappointment, but he played 146 games last year and owns a career .905 OPS.

 

Quick prediction: JD Drew is a Red Sox next year.

[devo 0]

That's pretty interesting. I don't know how much interest the Mets have in an outfielder (whether or not they trust Chavez with a starting job is yet to be seen), but if they are, there's plenty of talent out there with the likes of Carlos Lee and J.D. Drew on the market.