MLB Off-season Thread

[Dobbs 3K 0]

Isn't Otsuka possibly undergoing Tommy John surgery?

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Isn't Otsuka possibly undergoing Tommy John surgery?

Apparently not. I have seen no news to that effect.

[devo 0]

Prior signs to a one-year deal with the Padres for $1 million. Incentives could bring it to over $3 million.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3168825

[Bruiser Chong 0]

I hope he gets lit up.

[geniusMoment 0]

Good move on Prior's part, he gets to pitch in an extreme pitcher's park to inflate his stats for a year. They'll be no pressure on him and he'll be close to home. Next year some GM will probably vastly overpay for him based on potential and the half of a good year and you'll have Carl Pavano II.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Meant to post this earlier. BA's Jim Callis gives his personal top ten prospect list.

 

1. Jay Bruce, Cin

2. Clay Buchholz, Bos

3. Joba Chamberlain, NYY

4. Evan Longoria, TB

5. Clayton Kershaw, LAD

6. Mike Moustakas, KC

7. Colby Rasmus, StL

8. Cameron Maybin, Fla

9. Travis Snider, Tor

10. Homer Bailey, Cin

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Good move on Prior's part, he gets to pitch in an extreme pitcher's park to inflate his stats for a year. They'll be no pressure on him and he'll be close to home. Next year some GM will probably vastly overpay for him based on potential and the half of a good year and you'll have Carl Pavano II.

If Mark Prior wants to inflate his stats, taking the mound would be a good first step.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

ESPN classic has the 96 ALCS game 1 in a "That's a bad call" marathon.

 

Jeffrey fucking Meier just caught the damn ball. I hate that kid.

 

 

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

The Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday acquired outfielder Chris Roberson from the Philadelphia Phillies for cash considerations.

 

The 28-year-old spent most of last season with Class AAA Ottawa, where he batted .266 with four home runs, 48 RBI and 19 stolen bases in in 113 games.

 

During two stints with the Phillies in 2007, Roberson batted .286 (8-of-28) with an RBI and two stolen bases in 28 games.

 

A 2001 ninth-round pick, Roberson was named the organization's best minor league player and Eastern League Rookie of the Year in 2005.

 

He gets on the 40 man roster (HA) but it looks like he'll be in Norfolk. Nobody on the OH likes the move and I bet Al here doesn't care..

 

oh well.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

The Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday acquired outfielder Chris Roberson from the Philadelphia Phillies for cash considerations.

 

The 28-year-old spent most of last season with Class AAA Ottawa, where he batted .266 with four home runs, 48 RBI and 19 stolen bases in in 113 games.

 

During two stints with the Phillies in 2007, Roberson batted .286 (8-of-28) with an RBI and two stolen bases in 28 games.

 

A 2001 ninth-round pick, Roberson was named the organization's best minor league player and Eastern League Rookie of the Year in 2005.

 

He gets on the 40 man roster (HA) but it looks like he'll be in Norfolk. Nobody on the OH likes the move and I bet Al here doesn't care..

 

oh well.

It's a minor, organizational move. The Phillies signed So Taguchi and picked up T.J. Bohn on waivers late last season, and after our minor league signees (Brandon Watson) I've got him ninth on the team's outfield depth chart. He's not going to be an Oriole, this is just a move to shore up their own minor league depth. Nothing to get worked up over.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

The Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday acquired outfielder Chris Roberson from the Philadelphia Phillies for cash considerations.

 

The 28-year-old spent most of last season with Class AAA Ottawa, where he batted .266 with four home runs, 48 RBI and 19 stolen bases in in 113 games.

 

During two stints with the Phillies in 2007, Roberson batted .286 (8-of-28) with an RBI and two stolen bases in 28 games.

 

A 2001 ninth-round pick, Roberson was named the organization's best minor league player and Eastern League Rookie of the Year in 2005.

 

He gets on the 40 man roster (HA) but it looks like he'll be in Norfolk. Nobody on the OH likes the move and I bet Al here doesn't care..

 

oh well.

It's a minor, organizational move. The Phillies signed So Taguchi and picked up T.J. Bohn on waivers late last season, and after our minor league signees (Brandon Watson) I've got him ninth on the team's outfield depth chart. He's not going to be an Oriole, this is just a move to shore up their own minor league depth. Nothing to get worked up over.

 

I bet he gets called up at some point in the season. He plays CF which they still dont have anyone other than Tike Redman to play and Im convinced there wont be any more deals made before spring training.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Jay Payton is their top center fielder at the moment, though his defense is questionable.

[tominator89 0]

Phils ship Roberson to O's for cash

 

I don't see the point of this transaction for the Phillies.

[2GOLD 0]

Good move on Prior's part, he gets to pitch in an extreme pitcher's park to inflate his stats for a year. They'll be no pressure on him and he'll be close to home. Next year some GM will probably vastly overpay for him based on potential and the half of a good year and you'll have Carl Pavano II.

 

Prior will sprain his ankle and be out for two years. The guy is made of glass. Damn shame, he had amazing potential at one time.

[Guest My Pal, the Tortoise]

He'll be on the disabled list before the end of spring training. Mark this post. (but not Markie Post.) If you see him at all, it won't be till July 1st at the earliest.

[MrRant 0]

Good lord the M's have done NOTHING this offseason. Besides maybe signing that dude Silva out of Minnesota.

 

Oh for the days of old.

[geniusMoment 0]

Next year they'll probably get Griffey back so he can start his march toward retirement.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Phils ship Roberson to O's for cash

 

I don't see the point of this transaction for the Phillies.

It simply clears a spot on the 40 man roster.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

Per Jim Callis' chat yesterday, the top five farm systems in MLB, according to Baseball America:

 

1. Tamap Bay Rays

2. Boston Red Sox

3. Cincinnati Reds

4. Texas Rangers

5. New York Yankees

 

The remaining teams won't be revealed until the Handbook is realeased next month. This looks about right, but I'd probably have the Reds ranked first, and I am unfamiliar with the Rangers' system.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

Nick Swisher dealt to the White Sox:

 

OAKLAND, Calif. -- The Oakland Athletics made their second major trade in three weeks, sending outfielder and fan favorite Nick Swisher to the Chicago White Sox for three minor leaguers on Thursday.

 

The A's -- who dealt ace Dan Haren to Arizona on Dec. 14 -- received left-hander Gio Gonzalez, right-hander Fautino De Los Santos and outfielder Ryan Sweeney.

 

That's a good haul for Swisher, but I don't understand why they'd trade him. I guess Beane is hellbent on rebuilding their abysmal farm system. I'd fully expect Street and Blanton to get shipped out, too. Really no point in keeping those guys if you are going for a full-on rebuild.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

I like Swisher but I'm not sure if we should have given up three guys for him, especially Gio.

[Bored 0]

Okay now this a shocker as I didn't hear any rumors about Swisher. Don't have time at the moment to look into the names but glancing at BTF it seems the consensus is this is a very good haul for Swisher but holy shit is this team going to be dreadful next year. Might as well tarp off everything except field level seats and bleachers for 2008 as it will be a ghost town.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

My guess is that one of Dan Johnson or Daric Barton becomes the DH, and Jack Cust takes over in right field. It'll hurt their defense but really doesn't hurt the offense. And they did quickly restock their farm system.

 

The White Sox dealt their farm for a player who is stretched defensively in center field. This move could really bite them in the ass two or three years from now.

[CanadianChris 0]

Okay now this a shocker as I didn't hear any rumors about Swisher. Don't have time at the moment to look into the names but glancing at BTF it seems the consensus is this is a very good haul for Swisher but holy shit is this team going to be dreadful next year. Might as well tarp off everything except field level seats and bleachers for 2008 as it will be a ghost town.

I had to read that a couple of times to realize you were talking about the A's and not the White Sox.

[Brett Favre 0]

The White Sox are going to have a pretty good lineup (Thome, Konerko, Dye, Swisher, Fields and Cabrera).

[Guest My Pal, the Tortoise]

Haha, no they won't. Thome is old. Konerko is old. Dye is old. That lineup would've been great in 2005, though.

 

Since when is Nick Swisher a center fielder? I thought he was a 1B/DH. Haha, White Sox.

[Brett Favre 0]

Eh, Thome had a good year last year, and Konerko will be like 32. Dye had a horrible start but still managed a decent year, and Swisher and Fields are both young and productive. Cabrera hits alright for a SS, so they'll be fine. I don't know who's going to start for them though after Buehrle, Vazquez, and Contreras.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

The White Sox are going to have a pretty good lineup (Thome, Konerko, Dye, Swisher, Fields and Cabrera).

 

It's an okay lineup, but they are going to be dreadful on the defense/pitching side and they have literally nothing left in the farm system to make improvements. A little luck on their side and they may finish third. Most likely they finish dead last.

 

Santos is young, but has top of the rotation stuff. Gonzalez is a back-end starter, but should be ready to contribute later this year. Sweeney is just one year removed from being a good prospect, but the power has to show up if he's going to be anything more than a 4th outfielder.

 

The Sox sure love trading Gio Gonzalez too. That's the fourth stop in two years (Sox - Phillies - Sox - A's).

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

Oh, and Matt Clement signed with the Cardinals. I doubt he ever fully makes it back, but it is Duncan and the Cardinals, so maybe we should pencil him in for 15 wins and 3.50 ERA.

[Guest My Pal, the Tortoise]

He'll strike out 15 Cubs over eight innings in his first game against us. Aside from that, I dunno, he'll be okay.