MLB Off-season Thread

[Mik 0]

I heard a rumor that Bob DuPuy is none too happy with Jeff Loria and David Sampson and is wondering where all the money is going.

 

Sanctions may be in order.

 

About fucking time... if true.

[Brett Favre 0]

Must have been that interview he had with Mike and Mike that got him thinking.

[treble 0]

If they offered Rios for Lincecum or Cain, they probably did the same for Bedard, although I don't know if Rios would play right in Baltimore (Markakis).

Yeah, I figure Rios would probably be involved in that, but I think it would take more than just him to get Bedard. And if he's traded, he'll probably end up as that team's CF. He'd be playing there now if it weren't for Wells.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

If they offered Rios for Lincecum or Cain, they probably did the same for Bedard, although I don't know if Rios would play right in Baltimore (Markakis).

 

Hey Al, is Brian Wilson from SF the real deal?

I'm not certain. He has the stuff, but his control hasn't followed since he hit AA.

[Guest RyechnaiaSobaka]

I heard a rumor that Bob DuPuy is none too happy with Jeff Loria and David Sampson and is wondering where all the money is going.

 

Sanctions may be in order.

 

About fucking time... if true.

 

Usually they wait until they win a World Series to trade away the team's best players. They've only done that twice in like ten years, so how come that didn't raise the warning flag before?

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

If they offered Rios for Lincecum or Cain, they probably did the same for Bedard, although I don't know if Rios would play right in Baltimore (Markakis).

Yeah, I figure Rios would probably be involved in that, but I think it would take more than just him to get Bedard. And if he's traded, he'll probably end up as that team's CF. He'd be playing there now if it weren't for Wells.

 

Not necessarily. With Lincecum you get five cost controlled years, but Bedard only has two left and is going to want a fat extension. Even if he's the superior pitcher, you don't want to give up a lot of premium talent for a guy who might not stick around.

 

This is why people are saying that the Cabrera deal hurt the chances of Santana being moved. The Tigers get four cost-controlled years for those guys as opposed to just one for Johan.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Interesting turn of events in Philadelphia. The third baseman for 2008 may be Tad Iguchi after all. There have been some rumors circulating on the subject, most recently Todd Zoleki's column with Iguchi's agent stating a deal is 80% done. There are some roadblocks due to the issue of arbitration, the Phillies could not offer it due to the terms of Iguchi's contract.

 

I am really surprised Iguchi hasn't gotten a solid offer to play second somewhere. I welcome him back with the Phils. He's an upgrade on our third base situation and performed well last season.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

Jayson Stark reporting that the two best offers received for Erik Bedard came from the Red Sox and Blue Jays. However, Angelos has demanded that the team does not him to trade him within the division.

 

Don't know how this will play out. It seems that if you are committed to moving a player, you should try to get back the best possible package of players regardless of where they come from. Is it really in the best interest of the team to take an inferior trade just so you don't have to face the player in the future?

 

Peter Angelos is an idiot. As long as he continues to involve himself in baseball decisions, this team will never be successful.

 

Id rather not have the Os face Bedard 4-6 times a year if they could help it, especially when there will eventually be better offers available. Especially if he goes to Boston and then the Red Sox fans trot down to Camden Yards with their new Bedard jerseys.

[Bored 0]

So the Barry Bonds to the A's rumors are picking up. There had been prior reports that they were close on a deal before the indictment came down and then they broke off talks but with the a trial unlikely to happen until after the season it seems like they might be picking up again. I'll wait until he actually signs before making any lengthy comments on this but beyond the obvious issues he really doesn't fill a hole for the A's. They already have a player with a similar skill set in Jack Cust (left handed power hitter, draws a lot of walks, liability defensively), mind you not as good as Bonds. I'd just prefer they not bother with the freak show and it's not like Bonds is the missing piece of the puzzle to win a World Championship as the A's are no where close to that at the moment.

[geniusMoment 0]

To give everyone an idea of just what the O's want for Bedard, here is what they asked Cincy for according to Reds beat writer C. Trent Rosecrans:

O's give Bedard

 

O's receive: SP Homer Bailey

OF Jay Bruce

1b Joey Votto

CF Josh Hamilton

 

 

The Reds haven't gotten back to them on that and won't, as the O's say that's all they'll even discuss.

[Mik 0]

There's a reason why the Orioles are doomed to suck forever.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

I dont like that deal anyway.

 

 

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

There's a reason why the Orioles are doomed to suck forever.

Boston and New York in the same division..

 

oh..and Peter Angelos.

 

Everything right now is on Andy McPhail though..

[Smartly Pretty 0]

I dont like that deal anyway.

 

What the hell else do you want?

[Guest RyechnaiaSobaka]

So the Barry Bonds to the A's rumors are picking up. There had been prior reports that they were close on a deal before the indictment came down and then they broke off talks but with the a trial unlikely to happen until after the season it seems like they might be picking up again. I'll wait until he actually signs before making any lengthy comments on this but beyond the obvious issues he really doesn't fill a hole for the A's. They already have a player with a similar skill set in Jack Cust (left handed power hitter, draws a lot of walks, liability defensively), mind you not as good as Bonds. I'd just prefer they not bother with the freak show and it's not like Bonds is the missing piece of the puzzle to win a World Championship as the A's are no where close to that at the moment.

 

Part of it is also that they know California is where Bonds wants to play. Remember when he said he would refuse to play for the Red Sox because Boston is racist? Yeah. The Bay Area is the only place he won't get booed like crazy every time he shows his face. I don't see the point in blocking Jack Cust again, frankly. The guy was super good last year, and maybe it was an aberration, but at least give him a shot when he comes in with no expectations such as he did and ends up totally awesome.

 

Also, to the person above me who said that Andy MacPhail is who it's all on right now - that would be the case if Angelos wasn't the one demanding that Bedard not be traded within the division. Angelos keeps getting his stupid self involved in baseball decisions, and the Orioles continue to be terrible. There is a connection between these two things.

[Dobbs 3K 0]

Sounds like Eric Gagne is going to the Brewers:

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=AgRY...o&type=lgns

 

Not sure how I feel about this. Gagne was of course once one of the best closers in the game, but he didn't exactly light the world on fire with Boston at the end of last season. Milwaukee seems to be taking a "the more, the merrier" approach with their bullpen right now, having just signed David Riske and then trading for Salomon Torres yesterday.

[snuffbox 0]

I like this kind of Milwaukee Brewers.

[Guest RyechnaiaSobaka]

trading for Salomon Torres yesterday.

 

Salomon Torres is considering retirement in the wake of Friday's trade sending him to Milwaukee.

 

"It's a giant move, and I have to make a decision if I want to go forward," Torres said. "This is going to change my life, my family's life. If I leave them here, they're going to have to be without me for a full year. If I take them with me, they're going to be affected." What makes this bizarre is that Torres actually asked for a trade during last season, and now he's upset even though he was sent to a team that isn't so far away from Pittsburgh and will play three series there next year. It's unlikely that Friday's trade would be overturned if Torres does choose retirement. He said he's not close to making a decision.

[Mik 0]

Aaron Boone meets his new teammates

[Steve J. Rogers 0]

I heard a rumor that Bob DuPuy is none too happy with Jeff Loria and David Sampson and is wondering where all the money is going.

 

Sanctions may be in order.

 

About fucking time... if true.

 

Usually they wait until they win a World Series to trade away the team's best players. They've only done that twice in like ten years, so how come that didn't raise the warning flag before?

 

Who knows, maybe its because its both Cabrera and Willis in the same deal rather than piece-by-piece.

 

Plus you can argue on some of those deals they got major league talent rather than straight prospects.

[Smartly Pretty 0]

The Dugout hasn't been any good since it moved

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Sounds like Eric Gagne is going to the Brewers:

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=AgRY...o&type=lgns

 

Not sure how I feel about this. Gagne was of course once one of the best closers in the game, but he didn't exactly light the world on fire with Boston at the end of last season. Milwaukee seems to be taking a "the more, the merrier" approach with their bullpen right now, having just signed David Riske and then trading for Salomon Torres yesterday.

Look at the Brewers' bullpen the last few years. They pulled a great year out of Dan Kolb, pulled a great year out of Derrick Turnbow and snagged Francisco Cordero for cheap after the Rangers let a few bad outings influence their thinking. They are Exhibit A on why acquiring proven closers are overrated.

[Guest My Pal, the Tortoise]

Eric Gagne is too listy for me. Take him. I feel the same about Brian Roberts, by the way. He's way too listy. Between Palmiero, Tejada, and Roberts, there's clearly more than just one kind of shooting going on in Baltimore.

[snuffbox 0]

I'd rather Gagne close than Turnbow.

[Dobbs 3K 0]

I don't think the Brewers had really been considering Turnbow as a closer for 2008. All this talk from Melvin has just been another bluff.

[tominator89 0]

Al, any thoughts on the Phillies rejected trade of Scott Nestor for Wes Helms?

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Al, any thoughts on the Phillies rejected trade of Scott Nestor for Wes Helms?

I don't see why they should have taken it. Helms is much, much better than he showed in 2007. Nestor lacks control and I seriously doubt he'll have an MLB career.

 

Looking over news, I see Rotoworld.com criticized the non-move, citing Pat Gillick's "unwillingness to admit mistakes" and Helms' 2007 batting line. And what, a new third baseman is going to materialize out of thin air?

[Guest RyechnaiaSobaka]

Al, any thoughts on the Phillies rejected trade of Scott Nestor for Wes Helms?

I don't see why they should have taken it. Helms is much, much better than he showed in 2007. Nestor lacks control and I seriously doubt he'll have an MLB career.

 

Looking over news, I see Rotoworld.com criticized the non-move, citing Pat Gillick's "unwillingness to admit mistakes" and Helms' 2007 batting line. And what, a new third baseman is going to materialize out of thin air?

 

Yeah, well, they also criticize the hell out of Abraham Nuñez there, so they clearly don't think he's an option. Maybe they think that Tadahito Iguchi is going to sign to play third base for the Phillies even though Dan O'Dowd just managed to move Jamey Carroll without having to eat any of the salary? Yeah, I don't think so. Iguchi will probably go play second for Colorado now and slug .539 with 31 doubles.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

To give everyone an idea of just what the O's want for Bedard, here is what they asked Cincy for according to Reds beat writer C. Trent Rosecrans:

O's give Bedard

 

O's receive: SP Homer Bailey

OF Jay Bruce

1b Joey Votto

CF Josh Hamilton

 

 

The Reds haven't gotten back to them on that and won't, as the O's say that's all they'll even discuss.

 

Article

 

When the Reds left the winter meetings in Nashville on Thursday, there was a sense that their mission had failed.They had gone to Nashville expressly to get a starting pitcher. The effort focused on getting Erik Bedard.

 

Though Bedard remains a Baltimore Oriole, the Reds have not given up on him.

 

<img style="display: none;" alt="ADVERTISEMENT" border="0" height="7" width="69">

OAS_AD('ArticleFlex_1'); In fact, there are people in the organization confident that the deal will get done. One rated the chances at 75 percent.

 

General manager Wayne Krivsky let trade talks rest Friday. He planned to make calls Saturday night and today.

 

"We're still talking," he said. "There are still some things out there."

 

The Reds will have to give up a lot to get Bedard. Ownership is steadfast that Jay Bruce will not be included in any deal. Though Krivsky says there are no untouchables, there's no deal that will pry Bruce away.If Bruce isn't in the deal, Homer Bailey probably will be. One of the reasons the Reds are willing to part with Bailey and not Bruce is a lot of people in the organization rate Johnny Cueto as highly or more so than Bailey.

 

The Reds don't have an outfielder in the minor leagues in Bruce's class.

 

But it will take more than Bailey to get the deal done. The Reds would have to include someone like Joey Votto or Josh Hamilton as well as a prospect.

 

Should the Reds trade away so much of the future to try to win in 2008?

 

 

The proposed deal on the OH from the trade rumors site is Bedard for Bailey, Cueto and Votto.

 

 

 

 

 

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

Eric Gagne is too listy for me. Take him. I feel the same about Brian Roberts, by the way. He's way too listy. Between Palmiero, Tejada, and Roberts, there's clearly more than just one kind of shooting going on in Baltimore.

 

Are you insinuating that B-Rob's 18 HRs in 05 were the result of steroids? He still managed to hit 12 this year you know, which still aint bad for a leadoff hitter that also stole 50 bases and 180 hits.