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MLB Hot Stove 2008

IJ Reilly said:
I really doubt this would happen. The Dodgers would certainly prefer to give up cash, but I question whether even that would be necessary. A number of teams were interested in Pierre two years ago when the Dodgers signed him, the value of free agents continues to climb, and the three years left on his contract is certainly more manageable than four. I know how much you dislike Pierre, but I think you'll find that if the Dodgers do decide to move him that he won't be a boat anchor. Andruw Jones, now there's a boat anchor.
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I think that when the Dodgers signed him, he was overpriced even by the market standards of the time. And he's less of a player now than he was then. In negotiating terms, the Dodgers are also in a position of weakness, since other teams know he wants out and is taking up payroll. I'm not saying they shouldn't bite the bullet, just that it annoys me that they might be paying again to get rid of him. Then again, I also thought they'd never get rid of Kevin Brown, and they managed to do that.

The Jones situation is interesting. And by "interesting" I mean both strange and excruciating. Would he take a buyout and sign for peanuts with another team so he can prove that he deserves a big contract again? Or sit on next year's guaranteed money while playing sparingly and getting booed each time he takes the field? From his standpoint, there are pros and cons to each option.
 
Every time someone is signed, somebody says they were "overpriced." By definition, the team which gets the player has made the highest offer. Is that overpriced? All I can say about Pierre (or any other free agent) is that the Dodgers would not have got him for less than they paid him -- so by definition, that was his market value at the time. When you consider that they paid Jones twice as much, I hope you would admit that maybe, just maybe, your personal feelings about the guy are influencing your judgement. Besides, we could easily assemble a list of players getting around $9 million a year with less obvious production value than Juan Pierre.

In any case, we may well find out who is closer to right about this in the next couple of months, so maybe we should defer this particular topic until then.

Jones just has to go, one way or another. He has no place on the roster.
 
just got an ESPN MLB text message... Joba Chamberlain was arrested for DUI in Nebraska.
 
zioxide said:
just got an ESPN MLB text message... Joba Chamberlain was arrested for DUI in Nebraska.
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LINCOLN, Neb. - New York Yankees pitcher Joba Chamberlain has been arrested for allegedly driving under the influence, speeding and having an open container of alcohol in his vehicle.

Deborah Collins is a spokeswoman for the Nebraska State Patrol.

She says Chamberlain was stopped for speeding on U.S. 77 near his hometown of Lincoln at about 1 a.m. on Saturday.

Collins says Chamberlain was taken to the Cornhusker Place Detox in Lincoln, which she says is the normal protocol.

Chamberlain was lodged at the center on charges of driving under the influence, having an open container of alcohol and speeding.

Collins says the county attorney likely would file formal charges on Monday.

An e-mail sent to Chamberlain's agent Saturday was not immediately returned.
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http://www.newsday.com/sports/ny-spjoba1019,0,4582570.story
 
So he was drunk, speeding, and had an open container in the car. What a ****ing idiot. He's lucky he didn't kill anyone.
 
I wonder how many moves will be made before Manny or Sabathia sign. Some free agents may be waiting until they set the market for their respective positions. On the other hand, what if those two wait until others sign so there's less of a market for their services?
 
Can someone confirm a rumor that the Dodgers are offering Manny 2 years @ 30 million a year.
 
MacNut said:
Can someone confirm a rumor that the Dodgers are offering Manny 2 years @ 30 million a year.
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The local media today was saying that the Dodgers hadn't talked to Boras yet. If that's true, then there's no offer yet. But those numbers are consistent with what the Dodgers' people have been saying the past few weeks, that they'd give him the salary but not the years. They also seem willing to let him get away to a team that would offer him a long-term deal.

They're also wrestling with how they might trade Pierre and Jones, who both want out. In practical terms, Jones is a grossly-paid person who practices within the organization, but Pierre DOES have a roster spot and is the backup outfielder. If they trade Pierre, then presumably there is more pressure to keep Manny.
 
MILWAUKEE -- Ken Macha gets to manage again. That's because Milwaukee Brewers general manager Doug Melvin is a big believer in second chances.

The 58-year-old Macha was hired Thursday as the manager of the Brewers, taking over the role from Dale Sveum following the team's first postseason appearance since 1982.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3672684
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NEW YORK -- Manny Ramirez, Mark Teixeira and Ben Sheets wasted no time in filing for free agency.

The trio were among 65 players who filed on the first possible day. Thursday began a 15-day window in which approximately 180 players can become free agents.

Eligible players may file through Nov. 13, and teams can start negotiating money with players the following day.

A trio of pitchers -- Milwaukee's CC Sabathia, Toronto's A.J. Burnett and the Los Angeles Angels' Francisco Rodriguez -- figure to be among the most prized free agents in this year's group. Burnett is expected to opt out of the final two seasons of his $55 million, five-year contract with Toronto, forgo $24 million in remaining salary and enter the market.

Ken Griffey Jr. became eligible Thursday when the Chicago White Sox declined his $16.5 million option. Griffey is owed a $4 million buyout, which completes a $116.5 million, nine-year contract that he agreed to with the Cincinnati Reds before the 2000 season.

The 38-year old hit a combined .249 with 18 homers and 71 RBIs in 143 games last season for the Reds and the White Sox, who acquired him July 31. Chicago also declined a $2.25 million option on backup catcher Toby Hall, who gets a $150,000 buyout.

Detroit declined an $11 million option on shortstop Edgar Renteria, choosing to give him a $3 million buyout.

Mets outfielder Fernando Tatis, who had been eligible for free agency, agreed to a $1.7 million, one-year contract.

Washington declined a $5 million club option on outfielder Wily Mo Pena, who then exercised a $2 million player option. Nationals reliever Chad Cordero also refused an outright assignment to the minors and elected to become a free agent. The right-hander appeared in six games before undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3674008
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DETROIT -- The Detroit Tigers declined the option on shortstop Edgar Renteria's contract Thursday, choosing to give him a $3 million buyout instead of bringing him back at an $11 million salary.

The Tigers previously announced plans to part ways with the 33-year-old Renteria, who hit .270 with 10 homers and 55 RBIs this season -- well off his career averages of .290 and 77 RBIs over 13 seasons in the majors.
Detroit acquired the five-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove shortstop shortly after the 2007 season from Atlanta for pitcher Jair Jurrjens and outfielder Gorkys Hernandez.

Detroit also rehired bullpen coach Jeff Jones, promoted Bruce Tanner to major league scout and outrighted the contracts of pitcher Gary Glover and catcher Dane Sardinha to Toledo.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3672970
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That should get us started.:)
 
The Milwaukee Brewers have opened up the bidding for free-agent ace CC Sabathia.

Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said Monday that the team made a contract proposal to Sabathia over the weekend but wasn't willing to discuss terms of the offer or assess the team's chances of keeping its prize pitcher.

"It's in their hands," Melvin said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press. "He hasn't really had a chance to talk with other teams."
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3680796

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DANA POINT, Calif. -- If Mike Mussina decides to pitch next year, the New York Yankees could make room for him in their uncertain starting rotation.

Mussina turns 40 next month and is coming off the first 20-win season of his career. While he needs just 30 wins to reach 300, at the end of the year he sounded as if he was leaning toward retirement.

"We just obviously have needs in the starting rotation. He certainly could be one of those guys that fills a need, without a doubt," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said Monday as the GM meetings began. "I just know that we need starting pitching, and it's not just one. We're not going to be one and done. We need multiple."
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3681338
 
Free agents aren't even allowed to talk to other teams for 15 days after the end of the World Series. So here's a trivia question for everyone. How often have free agents signed with the last team they played for during the 15 day exclusive period? I don't know the answer myself, but I'll bet it's darned few.

Small item: The word now is that Greg Maddux is likely to retire.
 
IJ Reilly said:
Free agents aren't even allowed to talk to other teams for 15 days after the end of the World Series. So here's a trivia question for everyone. How often have free agents signed with the last team they played for during the 15 day exclusive period? I don't know the answer myself, but I'll bet it's darned few.

Small item: The word now is that Greg Maddux is likely to retire.
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I would think that the only reason that would happen is if the player wanted to stay with his team all along and only filed for free agency to force them to negotiate. But yeah, most of the time I think the player goes through the motions of filing and talking to other teams with the intention of re-signing.

The two-week exclusive window is pretty useful though. Each team can get an idea of what the new players might cost and the players can figure out if their team is serious about keeping them or not. It's not as if the whole winter isn't enough time to sign everyone.

The rumor now is that Boras wants to sign Ramirez and Teixera before negotiating the deals of his other clients so that a new market benchmark can be set. So we could see the big dominos falling before Thanksgiving.

In other rumornews, somebody is claiming that the Dodgers might be interested in signing Varitek and/or trading Martin. This strikes me as a very stupid idea.
 
$28m?
I know he's an elite hitter, I've watched him for the last however many seasons (well, except the end of 06, and 07 was a down year...), but since you need to take defense into account (especially in the NL where he doesn't have the option of being the DH, and won't have the Monster behind him to stop balls hit over his head), I don't see how he is worth more than A-Rod.
 
aloofman said:
In other rumornews, somebody is claiming that the Dodgers might be interested in signing Varitek and/or trading Martin. This strikes me as a very stupid idea.
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If you sign Manny it probably wouldn't be too bad. Varitek will help your pitching out quite a bit and is good defensively, and with Manny you wouldn't have to worry a whole lot about his offense. He might have a better year this coming season as he had a fair amount of personal matters to deal with this season (divorce I believe, though he said that wasn't an affecting his performance). I think Jason will probably end up being too expensive for the Dodgers though, Boras, the snake he is, is rumored to want a Jorge Posada like deal of $52 million and four years. I doubt he'll get that, I'd bet on a two year $15-$23 million deal.
 
Manny's D away from Fenway has always been nothing special,even when he was with the Sox. I'd be shocked if Boras takes anything less than three years with an option for a fourth.My gut still tells me he ends up with a New York team.Wherever he ends up,the fans there will be the greatest he's ever played for and he will love them with all his heart and soul...

As far as Varitek goes,he's definitely on the back nine.He's coming off two horrendous offensive years.He calls a great game, granted, but that's just one aspect of catching. He's allowing more passed balls,even though a lot get scored as wild pitches..He can't throw and he can't hit his weight any more. And as the Sox pitching staff matures, his pitch calling becomes less significant. Beckett and Dice K, don't need a great pitch-calling catcher. Lester can think on his own too, and as far as Bucholtz goes, how much worse could he have been this year with Cash calling the game?
 
Counterfit said:
$28m?
I know he's an elite hitter, I've watched him for the last however many seasons (well, except the end of 06, and 07 was a down year...), but since you need to take defense into account (especially in the NL where he doesn't have the option of being the DH, and won't have the Monster behind him to stop balls hit over his head), I don't see how he is worth more than A-Rod.
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The word now is that it's a back-loaded deal, $20 million in the first year, the balance ($35 million??) in the second, with an option for a third. Boras is already saying that the length is not enough -- which I think we expected. He's making comparisons to Bonds' deal with the Giants, which I think it precisely the problem for the Dodgers. Still, he must realize that his guy isn't going to get more than three years from any NL team. Right now I don't see him as a defensive liability, but in two or three years he could be.

rhsgolfer33 said:
Dodgers though, Boras, the snake he is, is rumored to want a Jorge Posada like deal of $52 million and four years. I doubt he'll get that, I'd bet on a two year $15-$23 million deal.
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He's already been offered better by the Dodgers...
 
rhsgolfer33 said:
If you sign Manny it probably wouldn't be too bad. Varitek will help your pitching out quite a bit and is good defensively, and with Manny you wouldn't have to worry a whole lot about his offense. He might have a better year this coming season as he had a fair amount of personal matters to deal with this season (divorce I believe, though he said that wasn't an affecting his performance). I think Jason will probably end up being too expensive for the Dodgers though, Boras, the snake he is, is rumored to want a Jorge Posada like deal of $52 million and four years. I doubt he'll get that, I'd bet on a two year $15-$23 million deal.
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Considering that he's an old catcher who can't hit anymore, his benefits are very limited. Martin already calls a good game. I'm not sure what Varitek brings to a team besides a black hole in the 8 spot, no speed, and an overpriced contract. There's no real upside. He has more status for his leadership in Boston, but the Dodgers haven't seen any of that first hand.
 
I hope the rumors of trading Martin aren't true (I believe they've been denied by the Dodgers), but the fact that it's even being whispered about in some quarters points out the dilemma each of the Dodgers' young players presents. In Martin's case it's problems throwing runners out, and what is now looking like a chronic drop-off in batting in the second half of the season. For Loney, it's looking like little power, not a plus for a first baseman. For Kemp, it's a lack of discipline at the plate. For Ethier, it's an open question about his ability to produce without hitting in front a of a slugger like Manny.

A year ago, I would have insisted that none of these players were expendable. Now, I'm not so sure.
 
IJ Reilly said:
A year ago, I would have insisted that none of these players were expendable. Now, I'm not so sure.
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Yeah, when you see each of them have great moments over the course of the last couple seasons, you naturally want to imagine them being the core of the team for years to come. But that rarely happens, especially in this era. This isn't the '70s, when you could bring up Garvey, Russell, Lopes and Cey. That was unusual even at the time.

After seeing so many young players come and go, you kind of have to shake yourself and say, some of these guys are never going to be great players, or even really good. And some of them the Dodgers will trade, and some of those trades won't work out. The question isn't whether all of these guys are good, it's whether the Dodgers will choose the right ones to keep and for how long. Adrian Beltre is now a good player, but it took a lot of years of struggling to live up to expectations (and one fluke year) to get there, and the Dodgers have to be very happy that they aren't paying his salary right now. Raul Mondesi looked like he might be a superstar someday, but he never made the leap, and it turned out that we traded him at just the right time.
 
Matt Holiday to the A's? Early report from Jon Heyman.

NEW YORK -- Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Evan Longoria is the American League Rookie of the Year, and Chicago Cubs catcher Geovany Soto is the NL winner.

Following a season of breakthroughs for the AL champion Rays, Longoria became the first Tampa Bay player to win a national award from the Baseball Writers' Association of America. He was a unanimous winner Monday, receiving all 28 first-place votes.

Soto, who helped the Cubs win the NL Central title, got 31 of 32 first-place votes. The other went to Cincinnati's Joey Votto.
 
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