MLB Off-Season Discussion

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 2:31 pm

Some notables trying for free agency:

B. Zito, T. Lily, A. Pettitte, R. Durham, A. Soriano (I would love to have this guy), J. Lugo, C. Lee, G. Matthews and B. Bonds.

Also MLB has a new collective agreement for the next five years.

lexbur · Post by **lexbur** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 5:17 pm

Tribe gets a desperately-needed second baseman, Padres get one heck of a hitter:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2654211

Diablo25 · Post by **Diablo25** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 5:50 pm

lexbur wrote:Tribe gets a desperately-needed second baseman, Padres get one heck of a hitter:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2654211

Wow, that surprises me. Barfield had a heck of a first year. My Phillies are looking at Soriano but Gillick is dead set against full "no trade" clauses. If Soriano wants that..bye bye.

On a slightly similar note(s) Ryan Howard wins NL Player of the Year and NL Most Outstanding Player via the Players Choice Awards

Plus he is pretty much Godzilla in Japan right now. 4 bombs in 6 or 7 games. I can't wait for Spring Training!

sfz_T-car · Post by **sfz_T-car** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 5:50 pm

Looks like a good deal for Cleveland on the surface. A 23 year old with a solid MLB season under his belt for two 25 year olds with no proven big league track record.

Kouzmanoff was blocked at 3B by Andy Marte and a bunch of guys at 1B/DH. Brown has a live arm but poor command.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 6:01 pm

MVP awards coming up in a couple of weeks. So what's your call? Jeter in the AL and Howard for the NL is my call.

snate · Post by **snate** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 8:17 pm

I think this is a STEAL for the Indians. Barfield is younger(23), can field, plays a tougher position, can run and has proven himself in the Majors. Kouz has hit a bit in the minors but was old for AAA, is injury prone, is slow and has limited fielding liability.

"Kouzmanoff is considered too slow to play the hot corner in the Major Leagues. With his injury history, he is best suited for designated hitter."

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/ ... &fext=.jsp

sfz_T-car · Post by **sfz_T-car** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 8:59 pm

If I recall correctly, the Indians have a DH

sfz_T-car · Post by **sfz_T-car** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 5:29 pm

Big day in the Hot Stove League

Red Sox win phase I of the Matsuzaka beauty contest

JD Drew/Scott Boras opt out of his 3yr/$33M deal with LA and jump immediately to the head of the free agent class along with Gyroball-san and Soriano. I can understand why Team Drew did this--he's better off locking into a longer term deal now than taking his chances in three years from now when he's 34. Given his injury history, I still think any team giving him a 5 year deal will be played as a sucker, but anything that hurts the Dodgers gets the thumbs-up from me.

Gary Sheffield to Detroit for Humberto Sanchez and two other prospects. Trade depends on whether the 07-09 Sheffield resembles the 04-05 version. Sanchez is no sure thing but he's a decent young arm. It seems odd that the Yankees are trading a veteran bats for prospects. It's a reversal of almost every Yankee deal from the past 20 years.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 5:44 pm

sfz_T-car wrote: Gary Sheffield to Detroit for Humberto Sanchez and two other prospects. Trade depends on whether the 07-09 Sheffield resembles the 04-05 version. Sanchez is no sure thing but he's a decent young arm. It seems odd that the Yankees are trading a veteran bats for prospects. It's a reversal of almost every Yankee deal from the past 20 years.

Especially when they are weak in the outfield department. Maybe they're clearing room to land A. Soriano.

grtwhtsk · Post by **grtwhtsk** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 5:45 pm

sfz_T-car wrote:Big day in the Hot Stove League

Red Sox win phase I of the Matsuzaka beauty contest

Red Sox may have bid between 38-45 million for this guy? Unfreaking real.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2656687

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 5:51 pm

As a Twins fan, this is a depressing time of the year--not exactly fun to watch other teams pick up legitimate impact players while Terry Ryan and the boys make a run at stiffs like Tony Batista...

snate · Post by **snate** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 6:10 pm

What is Detroit thinking?

3 top pitching prospects in the offseason for a high priced aging injured OF that has refused to return. I could rationalize this deal if it was done at the deadline, but now? Why not just sign a free agent?

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 8:48 pm

The Red Sox put up $42 mil for the rights to negotiate a contract for Matsuzaka. That's freaking ridiculous.

snate · Post by **snate** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 8:53 pm

Dave wrote:The Red Sox put up $42 mil for the rights to negotiate a contract for Matsuzaka. That's freaking ridiculous.

Supposedly NESN (which is owned by Sox ownership) is trying to sell itself in Asia. By signing Matsuzaka, it will make them infinitely more marketable in the region. This along with other marketing dollars gained will easily cover the $42 million expenditure. Plus you make your team better and keep him from the Yanks. Seems like a no-brainer to me.

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 8:57 pm

No-brainer or not, the posting fee was higher than the payroll for a couple teams last year. Just another signal about how broken the MLB system is for international players.

There are going to be a TON of horrible contracts handed out this off-season.

fanatic · Post by **fanatic** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 11:33 pm

Where did this come from? The Jays look like they are about to sign Frank Thomas! Good news for us DSP Canucks.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2663691

And about Matsuzaka. I got to see him pitch quite a bit while living in Japan and his stuff is GREAT.

tjung0831 · Post by **tjung0831** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 11:52 pm

fanatic wrote:Where did this come from? The Jays look like they are about to sign Frank Thomas! Good news for us DSP Canucks.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2663691

And about Matsuzaka. I got to see him pitch quite a bit while living in Japan and his stuff is GREAT.

Wow a free agent leaving the A's for more money...who would have guessed that?

fanatic · Post by **fanatic** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 11:56 pm

tjung0831 wrote:
fanatic wrote:Where did this come from? The Jays look like they are about to sign Frank Thomas! Good news for us DSP Canucks.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2663691

And about Matsuzaka. I got to see him pitch quite a bit while living in Japan and his stuff is GREAT.
Wow a free agent leaving the A's for more money...who would have guessed that?

haha yeah...definitely no surprises on the Oakland end. That's gotta be rough...such a good ball club too.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 12:16 am

The question is how much "Hurt" he's still got in him, but if it happens he would be the DH that the Jays missed last season.

tjung0831 · Post by **tjung0831** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 12:36 am

fanatic wrote:
tjung0831 wrote:
fanatic wrote:Where did this come from? The Jays look like they are about to sign Frank Thomas! Good news for us DSP Canucks.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2663691

And about Matsuzaka. I got to see him pitch quite a bit while living in Japan and his stuff is GREAT.
Wow a free agent leaving the A's for more money...who would have guessed that?
haha yeah...definitely no surprises on the Oakland end. That's gotta be rough...such a good ball club too.

Time to start the "Bond's to the A's" rumors...

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 9:52 am

10spro wrote:The question is how much "Hurt" he's still got in him, but if it happens he would be the DH that the Jays missed last season.

He was a beast against the Twins in the ALDS, but I was shocked at just how slow he really is on the basepaths. If he gets a single, it definitely takes three hits to get him home, but if he hits it out of the park 30+ times, I have a feeling people won't mind the speed.

Diablo25 · Post by **Diablo25** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 4:12 pm

Soriano to the Cubs
8 years, $136 Million

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2668465

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 4:21 pm

Diablo25 wrote:Soriano to the Cubs
8 years, $136 Million

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2668465

That is huge for the Cubs.

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 4:23 pm

I had read the Cubs were planning on putting him in CF...do they still have Pierre or is he really going to be in CF, destroying the ERAs of Cubs pitchers?

Really smooth move by Bowden at the deadline last year, holding on to Soriano; hope they enjoy the compensatory draft pick more than a few A- to B-level prospects at the AA or AAA level.

Sully · Post by **Sully** » Sun Nov 19, 2006 4:47 pm

Great acquistion for the Cubs. Awful contract. The guy is already 30 years old.