MLB Season 2010

[MizzouRah]

Looks like the Cards are going to try and sign Pujols before spring training and as early as Christmas. I still question whether this is the right move. I would think he's on the back end of his career and they'd be paying him more for what he's done than what he'll do four or five years from now.

But paying Pujols for 6 years, when you will likely get 4 really damn good MVP type years is worth that investment, even if the last two are suspect. You simply cannot let him leave. It's not like he's going to be a .250 hitter ever...he'll just lose a little of his power. Pretty much what's happened to Chipper recently (except for his really bad year two years ago, right after he wins the batting title). The only risk with the superstars is just health related really. The Cards will be fine. Pay the man.

Agree.. he cannot leave!

[GTHobbes]

Looks like the Cards are going to try and sign Pujols before spring training and as early as Christmas. I still question whether this is the right move. I would think he's on the back end of his career and they'd be paying him more for what he's done than what he'll do four or five years from now.

But paying Pujols for 6 years, when you will likely get 4 really damn good MVP type years is worth that investment, even if the last two are suspect. You simply cannot let him leave. It's not like he's going to be a .250 hitter ever...he'll just lose a little of his power. Pretty much what's happened to Chipper recently (except for his really bad year two years ago, right after he wins the batting title). The only risk with the superstars is just health related really. The Cards will be fine. Pay the man.

Agree.. he cannot leave!

I also wholeheartedly agree -- time to pay El Hombre. Best all around player I've had the pleasure of seeing in my lifetime -- would be terrible for him not to play his whole career as a Card.

[greggsand]

Looks like the Cards are going to try and sign Pujols before spring training and as early as Christmas. I still question whether this is the right move. I would think he's on the back end of his career and they'd be paying him more for what he's done than what he'll do four or five years from now.

But paying Pujols for 6 years, when you will likely get 4 really damn good MVP type years is worth that investment, even if the last two are suspect. You simply cannot let him leave. It's not like he's going to be a .250 hitter ever...he'll just lose a little of his power. Pretty much what's happened to Chipper recently (except for his really bad year two years ago, right after he wins the batting title). The only risk with the superstars is just health related really. The Cards will be fine. Pay the man.

Agree.. he cannot leave!

Agreed x 1 million. The "back end" of his career will still be better than 80% of the players out there. You pay him his money. He's a great player, extremely focused, competitive, not an ego-maniac, and a major crowd-draw. You'd prefer they not sign him & what? Sign Prince Fielder for a few million less? No way.

[wco81]

They wouldn't only be paying him for performance.

If they didn't sign him, season ticket sales might take a hit, if fans think the team is going cheap, not trying to put out the best team.

[vinny-b]

any Kansas City fans, on the site?

wondering, cuz the Royals have always been my 2nd fave team. Am hoping Grienke isn't traded this off-season. Wondering what the chances are, however..

[matthewk]

any Kansas City fans, on the site?

wondering, cuz the Royals have always been my 2nd fave team. Am hoping Grienke isn't traded this off-season. Wondering what the chances are, however..

I can't see rooting for a team that perpetually has no chance of winning anything.....oh, wait....I like the Brewers. Nevermind.

I hated the Royals growing up because they were somewhat of a rival for the Brewers. That was when the Brewers were in the AL and both teams were competitve for a number of years.

I always hate it when I see poor teams stars go to the rich teams. I think it's ineveitable that he'll end up with one of the "haves" sooner rather than later. I can't see him sticking with the Royals based on the support he's gotten the past few years.

[vinny-b]

I can't see rooting for a team that perpetually has no chance of winning anything.....oh, wait....I like the Brewers. Nevermind. I hated the Royals growing up because they were somewhat of a rival for the Brewers. That was when the Brewers were in the AL and both teams were competitve for a number of years.
I always hate it when I see poor teams stars go to the rich teams. I think it's ineveitable that he'll end up with one of the "haves" sooner rather than later. I can't see him sticking with the Royals based on the support he's gotten the past few years.

feel you, Matt. I prolly mentioned before (not like it matters) i were a complete Brewers fanatic from birth until 1998. Ashamed to admit, as a kid my room looked like a Merle Harmon's store. And may have passed as a Louisville Slugger recycling center with all the broken bats from the 1987/88 teams. After Trebelhorn was let go, their move to the National League, changing of their uniforms & logo, and the team leaving County Stadium, it motivated me to switch allegiances to a different team.

anyway, from past experience i know well the predicament facing small market teams and fans.

[wco81]

Poor Derek Jeter.

Yankees won't offer him more than 3 years at $15 million per, after getting over $22 million this year, batting .270 at age 36.

[Gangrel]

sigh... The Nationals let Adam Dunn walk to the White Sox. I mean, why would you want to keep a slugger after all?!?

All I can say is I hope they sign someone else with Power, else Ryan Zimmerman will have a tough year with nobody protecting him. I can't think of another power hitter in the organization that's ready to play.......

Course, with Strasburg out all of next year, maybe they've already given up.

[RobVarak]

RIP Ron Santo. He's beloved beyond all reason by many Cubs fans, but despite (and partly because of) his flaws as a broadcaster, he's left an indelible memory in the minds of so many. In an age of cookie-cutter former athlete color guys, he was refreshingly honest and genuinely funny.

As for his playing career, it's only the pettiness and selfish agenda of Joe Morgan and his cabal that denies us the proper epitaph for the brilliant 13-years that he put together. Nevertheless, he's a hall-of-famer by every measure that matters.

[10spro]

Poor Derek Jeter.

Yankees won't offer him more than 3 years at $15 million per, after getting over $22 million this year, batting .270 at age 36.

He'll be signed. If be boss was still around he would have been signed by now, giving him 4 years and an option is probably the right thing to do. Mariano Rivera is close to returning, once his contract is finished they'll focused back on their Captain.

[Diablo25]

I'm a Jeter fan but I gotta say, I'm with those who feel he is being unrealistic.

[wco81]

No other team is going to offer him even $10 million for those kinds of numbers and he's not going to sell tickets to justify that kind of money.

He should be glad the Rockies locked up Tulawitski or the Yankees might not even have bothered offering him a new contract.

[snaz16]

I'm not a Yankee or Jeter fan,,but can't help but think that you make this deal just to keep continuity in Yankee nation. This deal will get done.

[Diablo25]

Looks like the Sox are going to get Adrian Gonzalez. Wow, if they can get him and sign Werth or Crawford -

http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/mlb/ne ... id=5882356

[10spro]

Looks like the Sox are going to get Adrian Gonzalez. Wow, if they can get him and sign Werth or Crawford -

http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/mlb/ne ... id=5882356

And you wonder why the Jays will never have a chance in the Eastern division with the likes of Bosox & Yankees around. With Pedroia healthy again, that mid batting order will look awesome.

I am just surprised that no other major leaguer is going the other way.

[dougb]

I love the game of baseball but the professional sport is just an absolute frigging joke! Franchises with absolutely no chance of even making the playoffs never mind win the world series year after year. A few big franchises basically cornering the free agent market with smaller market teams having no chance of hanging on to talent they worked to develop into stars.

I figure the Jays will be in Toronto for maybe 10 more years before declining interest and attendance gives them the excuse to leave for warmer pastures. Without a hard salary cap and revenue sharing baseball will eventually lose out to other sports more interested in maintaining a competitive environment - as they already have to the NFL.

Best wishes,

Doug

[Rodster]

I'm not a Yankee or Jeter fan,,but can't help but think that you make this deal just to keep continuity in Yankee nation. This deal will get done.

The deal is reportedly very close on a 3 year deal with an option for 2014. I like Jeter staying in NY. Although his numbers were off last year he can still play and has always been a class act. Besides when you look at his career numbers they don't look like someone who took PED's to get there, in other words no red flags.

They need to sign Moe as well.

[wco81]

Yeah but Yankees aren't winning it every year and once in a while, teams like the Marlins and the Giants win it all.

Even without a salary cap, there seems to be a wider distribution of championship teams than say the NBA.

[10spro]

I figure the Jays will be in Toronto for maybe 10 more years before declining interest and attendance gives them the excuse to leave for warmer pastures. Without a hard salary cap and revenue sharing baseball will eventually lose out to other sports more interested in maintaining a competitive environment - as they already have to the NFL.

Best wishes,

Doug

Actually, for the past couple of years the team has given me reasons to believe and rekindle those early 90's memories. The problem is the huge contracts given to players that have under-performed and even though they still have inked V. Wells for a few more years, the only way to succeed in this division is to start fresh like the Rays did. The team will always stay in TO especially with Rogers trying to control the Sports empire in Canada. The only way for the Jays to have a decent chance at making the playoffs is to move to another division. You look at their record for the past few years and it would have been good enough to make a statement anywhere else, but with the Yankees and Bosox continuing to throw $$$ around to buy championships it will be hard to play catch up.

[vinny-b]

“As for Theo Epstein, it is probably time for his detractors to acknowledge him as one of the Top 3 GM’s in baseball. In this trade Boston acquires a perennial Triple Crown and Gold Glove candidate in Adrian Gonzalez, at the expense of Casey Kelly and other prospects. Kelly who was once believed by many to be the next Roger Clemens, may still prove to be a fine #2 starter in the Padres system. This is Peter Gammons with Diamond Notes.”

[vinny-b]

Buster Olney of ESPN.com reports that the Red Sox likely won't go through with the Adrian Gonzalez trade. It's up to Agon and his agent to decide and since he has all the leverage its not looking good from a Boston standpoint...

[GTHobbes]

Would've liked to see them give him 2 years, but I absolutely love the Cards getting Lance Berkman. The guy's always been a Cardinal killer. I was a little surprised he's only 34, which is why 2 years would've been perfect. Still, this is one Cards fan who was thrilled to see the news. Nice early Merry Christmas present from Mo and DeWallet.

[vinny-b]

Jason Werth to the Nationals. wow



before the music stops, Boston had better hurry up and sign Carl Crawford (before the Angels do)

[dbdynsty25]

Jason Werth to the Nationals. wow

Obviously Werth only cares about money. I love him there...he basically just signed his death certificate as far as a relevant Major Leaguer.