2006-07 MLB Offseason Thread

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

I know how that is.

[vivalaultra 0]

Since nobody cares about the Rockies, I'm sure no one's mentioned that they've signed LaTroy Hawkins to a one-year deal.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

According to Will Carroll, Jake Peavy's mechanics are fucked, and his shoulder has burdened far too great of a workload for his age. I know that he's complained at length about shoulder pain in the past, and he needed anti-inflammatory pills to get through his starts at the end of the year. I'm not saying his career is over, but if Kevin Towers knows something we don't about that arm, I could see him trying to move the guy while his value is super high. All that being said, he gets mentioned in trade rumors because every team under the sun wants him. He's not getting traded for Manny, Teixeira or anyone else this winter.

 

EDIT: Check the news history on his player card at espn.com. The whole thing is full of tidbits about arm soreness, skipped bullpen sessions, etc.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Well damn. I didn't know that.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

It might be true, but I don't trust Will Carroll.

[Guest Felonies!]

The Other Sox retained Scott Podsednik for one year at $2.9 million, much to the chagrin of fans, as far as I can tell. I'm guessing that he'll either be moved or stay (boy, that sounds McCarver-y) in left field, as opposed to being relegated to the bench in favor of Ozuna or Mackowiak.

 

It seems like the fans really 180ed on Podsednik between the 2005 Series and the end of 2006. Did he really fall off the face of the planet or something? It's just odd that he's been the most reviled outfielder on the South Side, when you consider Rob Mackowiak's center field follies and Brian Anderson's constant flirtation with the Mendoza Line.

 

EDIT: Hot dog. This was like the most favorable post that I've ever made about the Chicago White Sox. Four lines or so, and I didn't make fun of Ozzie, Kenny, Reinsdorf, Hawk, DJ, Farmer, Polishname, mullets, "demanding a winner," the ghetto, or polo shirts with shorts. Wow.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

Heh..I love this:

 

Finally, the Orioles, Blue Jays and Devil Rays might want to consider signing Julio Zuleta, a 6-foot-6, 240-pound right-handed hitting first baseman who has spent the past 31/2 seasons playing in Japan. Zueleta, 31, has batted over .300 with six career homers off right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka, according to his agent, Mike Nicotera. He also has batted over .300 against lefty Kei Igawa, and his hits include the longest home run ever hit at Hanshin Stadium. The Red Sox are negotiating with Matsuzaka, the Yankees with Igawa.

 

Would have to be better than going with Millar again (which they are).

[Guest Felonies!]

Random Metrodome thought here:

 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but in right field, it's 327 down the line, then you have the hefty bag fence, then a 40-foot-high wall beyond the fence, with space in between. Since the Twins are essentially a pitching-and-manufacturing oriented team, wouldn't it make sense to pad the wall and use that as a 40-foot-high right field fence a la the Green Monster so as to cut down on homers to right from visiting offensive juggernauts like the White Sox and Yankees?

[geniusMoment 0]

Agent Larry O'Brien said the Cubs have offered free agent Ted Lilly a four-year deal.

 

"We've had an offer [from Chicago], and we're considering coming back with another counter offer," O'Brien told MLB.com on Friday. "I'm planning on meeting with [Cubs general manager] Jim Hendry down at the winter meetings in Orlando next week, but we're also going to be meeting with [Toronto general manager] J.P. Ricciardi." O'Brien also intends to discuss Lilly with the Yankees, Orioles, Rangers and Giants. Dec. 1 - 7:24 pm et

[bob_barron 0]

Good, I didn't want Tom Glavine back

[devo 0]

I'm really happy with the Glavine deal, and very interested to see how the rest of the rotation will shape up. Right now, it's looking like...

 

1. ?/Glavine

2. Glavine/?

3. Hernandez

4. Maine (probably)

5. ?

 

There's no doubt in my mind that the Mets will get one more pitcher via trade or signing, and that he'll either be a No. 1 or 2 starter. What I'm most curious about is that No.5 spot. It might come down to Mike Pelfrey and Oliver Perez fighting over it. I'm not even thinking about Martinez at this point, since I have serious doubts about him ever being an effective starter again.

[randomguy 0]

The Red Sox farm system was much better a couple of years ago. Since that time they've traded away a lot of top talent and the talent they kept turned out to not be all that good.

[Guest Smues]

I really wanted to see Glavine get win #300 in a Braves uniform, but I also didn't want use to pay him 10 + million next year, so oh well.

[Mik 0]

I saw on PTI today that Mark Cuban may potentially be interested in buying the Cubs if the Tribune company dissolves some of its assets. I'd love to see if he gets along better with Selig then Stern.

[geniusMoment 0]

Selig would be gone by the time Cuban had the team. He would be a great owner for the team though, I hope he buys them. It's better than the current owners who watch the game from here:

[devo 0]

The Mets offered abritration to Roberto Hernandez and Guillermo Mota, but not to Cliff Floyd, Steve Trachsel, Chris Woodward, and Darren Oliver.

 

I like the offers to Mota and Hernandez, since it's not too big a risk if they accept and the Mets would get three draft picks (two from Hernandez, one from Mota) if they don't. Oliver's the only one I would have offered it to out of those they didn't. Out of arbitration, I seriously doubt he would have gotten much more than a million dollars, which I believe he's worth even though he likely won't come anywhere near last year's performance.

[TheDevilAndGodAreRagingInsideMe 0]

Isn't Mota suspended for the first 50 games in 2007?

[devo 0]

Yeah, he is. Because of that, his salary would be pro-rated, so it's not like the Mets would be paying for a full year and only getting 112 games.

 

Edit: Indians sign Roberto Hernandez.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?sectio...&id=2683620

 

That's for the best. Mets didn't need Hernandez and the draft picks are always nice.

[vivalaultra 0]

The Tribe signed Roberto Hernandez and Aaron Fultz. The Giants are trying to keep their team age north of 37 with their signing of Dave Roberts to a 3-yr/18 million deal; they also resigned Pedro Feliz to a one-year deal...and the Cardinals have met with Jason Schmidt's agent. I think that's it.

[Guest Felonies!]

Wrigley Field will be hosting two Dave Matthews Band concerts over the All-Star break. Insert your own joke, and I'll be judging them.

[vivalaultra 0]

The Winter Meetings start today!!!!!!!!1!1!1!!!!11!!1!!

 

Not a whole lot of recent activity, but...The Braves signed Tanyon Sturtze to a one-year, incentive-based $750,000 contract.

 

The Cubs are looking at the Ageless Kenny Lofton to play center and are exploring getting rid of Jacques Jones.

 

Both the Rockies and the 'Stros are interested in Juan Rincon. If the Astros make a move, the package would likely include Morgan Ensberg. As good as Rincon has been and as good as I think he could be in the NL, I hope the 'Stros don't trade Ensberg for less than a quality #2 starter. Also, there was supposedly a deal in place that would've sent Brad Lidge to the Indians for Jake Westbrook. I think that trade would've been fair and helped out both teams.

 

And the Dodgers and the Sawx have met regarding Manny Ramirez. The supposed package includes Brad "Short Fuse" Penny, James Loney, and Andy Laroche.

[The Man in Blak 0]

If Epstein can get Penny, Loney, and LaRoche for Ramirez with minimal cash kicked into the deal, there's no way that he'll refuse that offer. Not that it's a good deal, mind you - that gives Boston, what, four third basemen? - but it's one I can easily see the Red Sox taking.

[Cartman 0]

Only Third Basemen on the team are Lowell and I guess youkilis although he's garbage. Still wouldn't take that deal either way.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

Only Third Basemen on the team are Lowell and I guess youkilis although he's garbage. Still wouldn't take that deal either way.

 

Since when is Youkilis garbage? He's a cost controlled OBP machine that plays plus defense at two infield positions. If they made that deal, at least two or maybe all three would be sent off in separate deals to either upgrade at 1B or CF, or get the SS or bullpen help they are looking for. Loney, Laroche and Penny is about as good of a package that you could hope for if you're Boston.

[Cartman 0]

Or you could be intelligent and NOT trade the main piece of your offense at all.

 

Youkilis does NOT play 3B all that well. 1B he is above average at best. OBP Machine's shouldn't strikeout that much either. I watch every Sox game(hurt last season) and I just don't see what everyone loves about this stiff. Stats look fine and dandy on paper but seeing is believing.

[Guest Felonies!]

Kevin Youkilis is garbage in the same universe in which TSM hates the Patriots.

[naiwf 0]

A .275/.379/.423 with 13 HR & 72 RBI 162 game average is pretty much junk from a corner outfielder, let alone a corner infielder. Dude's overrated for the position he plays. If he was a 2B that's one thing, but he's not.

[Cartman 0]

So i'm imagining all those weekly posts like "I'll be avoiding ESPN this week" due to the imminent Brady/Patriots love they supposedly air constantly.

 

Felonies! Explain to me what Youkilis brings to the table that makes him any better than average for a 1B/3B MLB Player.

 

Oh.

[CanadianChris 0]

So i'm imagining all those weekly posts like "I'll be avoiding ESPN this week" due to the imminent Brady/Patriots love they supposedly air constantly.

That's not hating the Pats; that's hating ESPN and their blowjob coverage.

[TheDevilAndGodAreRagingInsideMe 0]

Stats look fine and dandy on paper but seeing is believing.