2006-07 MLB Offseason Thread

[Brett Favre 0]

I heard he's looking for a one year contract with a player option too, which is perfect. Adding Andy would give us some stability in the rotation without locking up a ton of money for many years, and in case anyone goes down, we'd still have the youngins.

[Guest Felonies!]

Hawk Harrelson is a finalist for the Ford Frick award. Let's just sit and think about that one.

[The Man in Blak 0]

Given the current state of broadcasting in baseball, this doesn't really surprise me.

[vivalaultra 0]

Well, it was a result of fan balloting and since Hawk is the biggest homer in baseball, I can see where he'd get a lot of Sox fan support.

[Guest Felonies!]

Hall of Fame broadcasting:

 

Here's Paulie. C'mon Paulie. Good guys down 2. Say, DJ, let me tell ya. These are some bad calls. If these Carmines beat us, well, they really didn't. These umps beat us today.

 

STRETCH! STREEEETCH! C'MAWN GIT AWN BACK DERE! You can putitonthe BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAARD......YESSSSSSS!

 

(Darrin Jackson: "....ESS!")

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Well, it was a result of fan balloting and since Hawk is the biggest homer in baseball, I can see where he'd get a lot of Sox fan support.

 

No one likes Hawk.

[Guest Felonies!]

Well, it was a result of fan balloting and since Hawk is the biggest homer in baseball, I can see where he'd get a lot of Sox fan support.

 

No one likes Hawk.

http://www.heavethehawk.com

 

Isn't DJ's contract up soon? A Hawk Harrelson/Ed Farmer booth would be magical.

[Guest NYankees]

The Yankees offered Pettitte a 1 year 15 million dollar contract. The Astros countered the contract. There are rumors of the Mets looking at Julio Lugo and Barry Zito.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

Nate Silver mentioned today that next year's PECOTA projections will include adjustments for the differences in difficulty between the American and National leagues. As an example he cited Ted Lilly, who projects as a 4.90 with Toronto, and 4.08 for San Francisco (some of that is park/DH adjustment).

[naiwf 0]

When does the next labor deal expire? It's almost a mortal lock that there will be some strife and/or strike talks if these ridiculous salaries keep escalating. The more things change. . .

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

When does the next labor deal expire? It's almost a mortal lock that there will be some strife and/or strike talks if these ridiculous salaries keep escalating. The more things change. . .

 

I think they just renewed for another five years, which would make it 2011.

[naiwf 0]

Geez, by 2011 the league average salary might be $8 million per.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

What's everyone's take on the lack of interest in Barry Bonds as a free agent? Are GMs worried about a potential fan and PR backlash if they sign him? Are they worried about the legitimate chance that he ends up in jail before the season's out? A collective stance to keep him out of the game and away from the home run record? It just strikes me as odd that all these teams would be looking for impact hitters but yet no one has even approached him.

[Guest]

I want him to play for the Angels so I can go to games and boo the shit out of him.

 

I'm glad nobody's signed him.

[devo 0]

Are they worried about the legitimate chance that he ends up in jail before the season's out?

 

That's probably the main reason, with the probable bad PR being a lesser yet still significant one.

[Guest NYankees]

What's everyone's take on the lack of interest in Barry Bonds as a free agent? Are GMs worried about a potential fan and PR backlash if they sign him? Are they worried about the legitimate chance that he ends up in jail before the season's out? A collective stance to keep him out of the game and away from the home run record? It just strikes me as odd that all these teams would be looking for impact hitters but yet no one has even approached him.

 

 

I thought Barry was holding out to resign with the Giants. I remember hearing on Mike and the Mad Dog that Barry's agent claimed that he had dozen of teams interested in him.

[devo 0]

The J.D. Drew deal is done. Five years, seventy million.

 

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/base...dsox/index.html

[Guest]

That's terrible.

 

By the way, the Dodgers are talking to Luis Gonzalez.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

SI.com is reporting that the JD Drew to the Red Sox deal is done at 5 years/$70 million. If it's true, I don't really like this that much. All week, reports were that the deal was four years/$56 million with a fifth year vesting option. The hold up in signing the deal was working out the language for the fifth year option, but that all seems to be out the window now.

 

Manny Ramirez trade talks are dead, according to SI as well. This doesn't surprise me. The further we got into trade talks, it became apparent that the Sox didn't really want to move Manny, but since everyone seemed to think they were they played that out to see what might be available. When nothing suited their needs, they pulled him back.

 

The Red Sox are Julio Lugo's first choice. He was offered a contract to play second for the Mets, or CF for the Cubs. The Sox are offering less money, but Lugo wants to play shortstop. Lugo is okay if you ask me, but this definitely strikes me as a reflection of the team not having any other SS options. Losing the first round pick is a poison pill I don't want to swallow.

 

Eric Gagne seems to be down to the Indians and Red Sox as choices. Both teams are willing to hand him the closer role immediately, which is something he covets.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Lugo's one of the better shortstops in baseball.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

Lugo's one of the better shortstops in baseball.

 

But that's probably more of a reflection of a weak shortstop class right now than a justification of Lugo's ability. He's been a solid, but not spectacular hitter for several years but he's entering his age 31 season and the likelihood of a decline is fairly high. He's passable on defense, but not elite. I would jump on a 3 yr/$24 million deal, but 4/$40 just seems extreme to me.

[Cartman 0]

Not a Lugo fan but i'll take him over the other options out there.

 

Drew will be a great #5 hitter behind Manny and Ortiz because, as I said several times, Manny is staying put and all this is media driven garbage. Drew is a great pickup despite the huge contract and past injury history. At least I garauntee he will play more than Trot Nixon over these next 5 years.

 

Sign "Dice" and a reliever or two and i'm happy.

[naiwf 0]

So, how close is Boston now to passing the Yankees for # 1 in the league in payroll?

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

Os News!

 

- Angelos turned down Brian Roberts/Hayden Penn for Marcus Giles/Adam Laroche because he likes Brian Roberts and Roberts is a fan favorite.

 

- OPACY is supposedly getting an HD videoboard to replace the old one. YAY!

[Guest Felonies!]

- OPACY is supposedly getting an HD videoboard to replace the old one. YAY!

Sub-.500 high-cost-per-win baseball...IN HIGH DEFINITION! Come to the park to watch TV!

[vivalaultra 0]

So, with the JD Drew signing, does that mean that Wily Mo rides the pine again?

 

Down in Astroland, Andy Pettitte's agents have refuted claims that a deal was "close" with the Yankees, calling it erroneous and saying "There is nothing within striking distance with the Yankees," Hendricks said. "He first has to decide if he wants to play. He hasn't decided that." Other reports say that Pettitte's leaning towards pitching again in 2007 and the Astros are his primary choice. As far as Roger Clemens, he said today that he's planning on going to Astros' Spring Training in Kissimee to "work with the kids" but beyond that, he doesn't know yet. Even if Clemens and Pettitte B.F.F. do come back to Houston, I still hope that something gets done to land a mid-level starter via trade.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

So, how close is Boston now to passing the Yankees for # 1 in the league in payroll?

 

Not very. These newest contracts are going to change things up again, but the last I heard they had actually been passed for #2 by the Cubs and the Mets. Matsuzaka, Drew and SS/2 relievers are probably going to cost $30-40 million in AAV. By my estimates they'd enter next year somewhere around $135 million, or roughly $70 million short of the Yankees expected payroll. Again.

[Guest NYankees]

The Yankees will be out of Payroll Hell by 2009. By then Mussina, Pavano, Johnson, Giambi and Posado will all be gone. That is like 60-70 million off of the books. The Yankees and the Knicks might have simliar payrolls by 2010,2011.

[CanadianChris 0]

The Padres signed Greg Maddux for one year, $10 million.

[Conspiracy_Victim 0]

So, with the JD Drew signing, does that mean that Wily Mo rides the pine again?

 

Down in Astroland, Andy Pettitte's agents have refuted claims that a deal was "close" with the Yankees, calling it erroneous and saying "There is nothing within striking distance with the Yankees," Hendricks said. "He first has to decide if he wants to play. He hasn't decided that." Other reports say that Pettitte's leaning towards pitching again in 2007 and the Astros are his primary choice. As far as Roger Clemens, he said today that he's planning on going to Astros' Spring Training in Kissimee to "work with the kids" but beyond that, he doesn't know yet. Even if Clemens and Pettitte B.F.F. do come back to Houston, I still hope that something gets done to land a mid-level starter via trade.

 

Looks like that would be either Peavy or Jennings if it happens. Probably Jennings. Peavy's got a very reasonable contract (until 2009 IIRC) and would probably need a ton to get in trade. Jennings might be had for Burke (if the Astros want to trade him, although apparently they don't) and spare parts.

 

If Pettitte goes to NY, look for the Astros to make a fast push for Schmidt. Apparently his contract demands aren't anything huge, and would fit in well with the Astros budget.