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MLB Hot Stove Thread 07
- Thread starter MacNut
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The Giants have apparently reached out to Luis Gonzalez, possibly indicating that they don't expect to pursue Bonds.
Not really a 'hot stove topic' but where do team's go in the preseason? Like which team's to certain area's?
YAH 3,000,000!!!!
I got #2,999,999!
YAH 3,000,000!!!!
I got #2,999,999! 
Some do. Most of the players just go home, wherever that happens to be. Some are actively discouraged from playing any winter ball.
I think his question was more about spring training, Im not sure why teams choose to go where they do.
Ok with all that fanfare out of the way lets get back to business.
The Yankees picked up the 13 Million option on Gary Sheffield but he is mad that they didn't allow him to file for free agency, the rumor is that the Yankees are looking to trade rather then just release him.
Don Mattingly was promoted to bench coach in what looks like a move to groom him to be manager in the future.
Arod watch:at the moment the Yankees have no desire to trade Arod, any trade has to get his approval since he has a no trade clause.
The Yankees picked up the 13 Million option on Gary Sheffield but he is mad that they didn't allow him to file for free agency, the rumor is that the Yankees are looking to trade rather then just release him.
Don Mattingly was promoted to bench coach in what looks like a move to groom him to be manager in the future.
Arod watch:at the moment the Yankees have no desire to trade Arod, any trade has to get his approval since he has a no trade clause.
Saw that the Pads officially declined to pick up options on Piazza and Klesko (both were $8 million options), but did pick up Cameron and Branyan's options.
So where does everyone think Soriano going. (Yankees are not an option I think they can only bat 9 people last time I checked the rules)
The Mets seemed interested.
CURRENT LIST OF FREE AGENTS
AMERICAN LEAGUE
BALTIMORE (3) -- Chris Gomez, SS; Russ Ortiz, RHP; Chris Widger, C.
BOSTON (3) -- Gabe Kapler, OF; Doug Mirabelli, C; Trot Nixon, OF.
CHICAGO (2) -- Sandy Alomar Jr., C; David Riske, RHP.
KANSAS CITY (1) -- Doug Mientkiewicz, 1B.
LOS ANGELES (3) -- Darin Erstad, C; Adam Kennedy, 2B; J.C. Romero, LHP.
MINNESOTA (3) -- Phil Nevin, 1B; Shannon Stewart, OF; Rondell White, OF.
NEW YORK (3) -- Miguel Cairo, 2B; Octavio Dotel, RHP; Craig Wilson, OF.
OAKLAND (2) -- Jay Payton, OF; Frank Thomas, 1B.
SEATTLE (1) -- Gil Meche, RHP.
TEXAS (5) -- Rod Barajas, C; Mark DeRosa, SS; Adam Eaton, RHP; Gary Matthews Jr., OF; Eric Young, 2B.
TORONTO (3) -- Frank Catalanotto, OF; Ted Lilly, LHP; Justin Speier, RHP.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
ARIZONA (1) -- Luis Gonzalez, OF.
ATLANTA (4) -- Danys Baez, RHP; Todd Pratt, C; John Thomson, RHP; Daryle Ward, 1B.
CHICAGO (3) -- Henry Blanco, C; Juan Pierre, OF; Kerry Wood, RHP.
CINCINNATI (4) -- Royce Clayton, SS; Todd Hollandsworth, OF; Jason Johnson, RHP; David Weathers, RHP.
COLORADO (2) -- c-Ray King, LHP; Tom Martin, LHP.
FLORIDA (4) -- Joe Borowski, RHP; Wes Helms, 3B; Matt Herges, RHP; Brian Moehler, RHP.
HOUSTON (1) -- Aubrey Huff, 3B.
LOS ANGELES (3) -- Nomar Garciaparra, 1B; Julio Lugo, SS; Ramon E. Martinez, 2B.
MILWAUKEE (3) -- Jeff Cirillo, 3B; Tony Graffanino, 2B; Tomo Ohka, RHP.
NEW YORK (7) -- Cliff Floyd, OF; Orlando Hernandez, RHP; Ricky Ledee, OF; Steve Trachsel, RHP; Michael Tucker, RF; Jose Valentin, 2B; Chris Woodward, SS.
PHILADELPHIA (5) -- Aaron Fultz, LHP; Mike Lieberthal, C; Arthur Rhodes, LHP; Rick White, RHP; Randy WoLF, LHP.
PITTSBURGH (1) -- Joe Randa, 3B.
ST. LOUIS (1) -- Gary Bennett, C;
SAN DIEGO (6) -- Geoff Blum, 3B; Alan Embree, LHP; Shawn Estes, LHP; Dave Roberts, OF; Rudy Seanez, RHP; Todd Walker, 2B.
SAN FRANCISCO (7) -- Moises Alou, RF; Barry Bonds, LF; Todd Greene, C; Shea Hillenbrand, 1B; Steve Kline, LHP; Jason Schmidt, RHP; Mike Stanton, LHP.
WASHINGTON (2) -- Tony Armas Jr., RHP; Alfonso Soriano, 2B.
congrats on 3 mil Barry will probally be either a Dh For The Angels or play for the giants yankees will probally go after more pitching than batting this year and i wont be surprise if the Mets make a Blockbuster deal to Trade Lasting Millage and some one else For Dontrale willis esp since lasting had lukewarm debut
Mirabelli, Nixon, Kapler, Loretta, and Gonzalez file for free agency, Wakefield's option gets picked up.
Awards news:
Hutch Award finalists:
Griffey, Orlando Hudson, Jeter, Loretta, Pujols, Brad Radke, Brian Roberts, Thome, D-Train, Zito.
Other awards:
MVP: I think either Jeter or Mauer, Papi might make top 5 again.
AL Gold glove: 2B: Looking at stats, probably Ellis, but could be Loretta or Grudsdkvlnlwanek.
SS: Gonzalez or Young
3B: Has to be Lowell, but Chavez might have a chance
1B: Probably Teixeira, possibly Sexson, while Konerko and Youkilis are long shots.
C: Pudge (only catcher over 100 games with more CS than SB)
P: who the **** knows
OF: I forget if they do 1 or 3 for this, but in order: Granderson, Russ Johnson, Alex Rios, with Crisp and Nixon at outside shots
AL Cy Young: Is there really any choice? Has to be Santana.
NL awards: I don't care, someone else do it.
So yeah, I'm thinking the Sox DP combo will be Pedroia/Loretta next year. As for the outfield, Crisp will be back, and hopefully Manny. Ideally for right field would be a more durable version of Trot Nixon (and more power couldn't hurt, but it's not really a necessity).
Sox Pitching: Schilling needs to stay healthy, as do Timlin, Foulke, and Wakefield (hell, the entire staff needs to stay healthy). I think they learned last year that "too many starters" can quickly become "not enough". Beckett should be better this year, and I'm looking forward to Papelbon's regular starts.
Awards news:
Hutch Award finalists:
Griffey, Orlando Hudson, Jeter, Loretta, Pujols, Brad Radke, Brian Roberts, Thome, D-Train, Zito.
Other awards:
MVP: I think either Jeter or Mauer, Papi might make top 5 again.
AL Gold glove: 2B: Looking at stats, probably Ellis, but could be Loretta or Grudsdkvlnlwanek.
SS: Gonzalez or Young
3B: Has to be Lowell, but Chavez might have a chance
1B: Probably Teixeira, possibly Sexson, while Konerko and Youkilis are long shots.
C: Pudge (only catcher over 100 games with more CS than SB)
P: who the **** knows
OF: I forget if they do 1 or 3 for this, but in order: Granderson, Russ Johnson, Alex Rios, with Crisp and Nixon at outside shots
AL Cy Young: Is there really any choice? Has to be Santana.
NL awards: I don't care, someone else do it.
So yeah, I'm thinking the Sox DP combo will be Pedroia/Loretta next year. As for the outfield, Crisp will be back, and hopefully Manny. Ideally for right field would be a more durable version of Trot Nixon (and more power couldn't hurt, but it's not really a necessity).
Sox Pitching: Schilling needs to stay healthy, as do Timlin, Foulke, and Wakefield (hell, the entire staff needs to stay healthy). I think they learned last year that "too many starters" can quickly become "not enough". Beckett should be better this year, and I'm looking forward to Papelbon's regular starts.
Sure did. I think they shot themselves in the foot by trading Bronson. Whata bonehead move looking back. Pitching wins championships Boston can look no further than 2004 when they had a sweet staff(side note as a Tigers fan I must update pitching wins championships if your pitchers can toss the ball to a base)
NL MVP - Ryan Howard
Cy Young - Brandon Webb
The Phillies are going to make a run at either Gary Sheffield or Alfonso Soriano to provide protection for Howard. There are also rumors about that Aramis Ramirez has filed for free agency. The Phils will probably make a run at him, since 3B has been a black hole since the Rolen trade. There is also talk the Phils are interested in Japanese 3Bman Akinori Iwamura.
Cy Young - Brandon Webb
The Phillies are going to make a run at either Gary Sheffield or Alfonso Soriano to provide protection for Howard. There are also rumors about that Aramis Ramirez has filed for free agency. The Phils will probably make a run at him, since 3B has been a black hole since the Rolen trade. There is also talk the Phils are interested in Japanese 3Bman Akinori Iwamura.
If, and it's a big "IF", STL decides to buy out Edmond's option at $3M, then they're gonna shake up the OF and, I hope, 2B, unless Belliard decides to get his belly harder. If Edmonds goes, I hope they keep Wilson and Taguchi, let Duncan go and maybe look to get Carlos Lee and maybe bring up a Chip Schumaker from Memphis.
On NL MVP - If Howard doesn't, then it's Pujols for the second year in a row.
On NL MVP - If Howard doesn't, then it's Pujols for the second year in a row.
Only a theory, mind you. I notice that Kenny Lofton isn't among the free agency filers yet, which may mean he thinks the Dodgers are prepared to make him an offer for another year.
I really don't know if there is a better option this fall for the Cardinals for the marginal cost of $7 million.
I'm not a big Preston Wilson fan, although I haven't followed him all that much. It seems like virtually all Cardinal fans are Taguchi fans, myself included. He should stay.
St. Louis' GM Walt Jocketty has a lot of work to do this offseason.
I'm not necessarily down on Duncan, but his defensive foubles in right could have been costly. Maybe that's coachable and correctable, though dad's more concerned about pitchers. Taguchi offers a good glove, if he could just get his hitting up. Encarnación and Belliard, I am pretty negative. Bellieard has had a good career and makes contact, but he just seems so unkept, like he's lost his edge and Encarnación just hasn't delivered.
All the spin about Edmonds will probably come out some time early-md Nov. I thought, at first, Jocketty seemed to be leaning away from forking up the $10M to keep him, but I'm beginning to think you might be right. What they decide with Edmonds will probably dictate how much shopping they do. The only promising upstart out of Memphis is CF Chip Schumaker, but he isn't a power hitter. He hit .306 for the Redbirds last year but with only 3 HR so, it's hard to argue that there's pressure from the Farm Club to move Edmonds.
I can't imagine it's been easy for Duncan to transition to the outfield. He is naturally a first baseman. Obviously he'll never be playing there again...at least for this team.
He does need work on his fielding, and could also use some work on being more patient at the plate. He strikes out too often. Assuming he can work on those two things (the most important of which would be the fielding), I wouldn't be too unhappy with him in the outfield. I'm not a Juan Encarnacion fan either. The Cards could do without him. I expect to see a lot more of Skip (not Chip)
Shumaker in '07. I expect the outfield to be much of a platoon again this next year, with 4 regulars rotating in and out, whoever they may be.A lot of work needs to be done with the pitching staff as well. Marquis is gone. Suppan and Weaver are free agents, and both pitched excellently in the playoffs. Mulder, too, is a free agent. That leaves Carpenter and Reyes as starters, with Wainright possibly making the move to the rotation.