Official 2009-2010 MLB Offseason Thread

[DeToxRox]

Originally Posted by stevew

Hopefully Matt Capps gets traded. I wouldn't mind seeing Ankiel get signed to play right field either. I would assume we trade a catcher as well.

The 2010 pirates will invariably suck. But hopefully will get closer to .500.

No return of Jack Wilson either plz k thx.

With how often Wilson came up in rumors related to the Tigers I would be shocked if they didn't make him an offer.

[DanGarion]

HAHA didn't see this one coming...

Lincecum cited for marijuana possession - MLB - Yahoo! Sports

Lincecum cited for marijuana possession

1 hour, 2 minutes ago
SEATTLE (AP)—San Francisco Giants star pitcher Tim Lincecum(notes) is facing misdemeanor marijuana charges following a traffic stop in his home state.

Washington State Patrol spokesman Steve Schatzel said Thursday that the 2008 Cy Young Award winner and former star at the University of Washington was pulled over for speeding on Interstate 5 about four miles north of the Oregon border on Oct. 30.

An officer approached Lincecum’s 2006 Mercedes and smelled marijuana. Schatzel says Lincecum immediately complied with a request to hand over the drug and a marijuana pipe.

The amount measured was 3.3 grams. Schatzel says police consider that a small amount for personal use.

Lincecum was fined a total of $622 for driving at 74 mph in a 60-mph zone, and for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

[Coffee Warlord]

Originally Posted by Vince, Pt. II

Bradley for Rowand, straight up.

One of the few trades where the OTHER team would have to eat money.

I'll be amazed if the Cubs can dump Bradley without eating a decent chunk of cash.

[dawgfan]

Originally Posted by lungs

So who wants JJ Hardy and what kind of pitching could he net? (value is obviously down)

We'll give you Carlos Silva for him.

In all seriousness, I would expect the M's to sniff around Hardy and see if they can work a deal there. His trade value is low right now after a down season, but he's still under club control for 2 more years and still provides value via his glovework. He's close to Jake Wilson as a defender and has more upside as a hitter while being a lot less expensive.

Dave Cameron seems to think Hardy could net Brandon Morrow. We'll see - as an M's fan I would selfishly hope that Morrow holds more value than that, but Cameron is smarter about these things than I am.

Hardy | U.S.S. Mariner

[dawgfan]

Dola - the M's claimed Yusmeiro Petit from the D-Backs. He's still likely a AAAA type player, but it's nice to have cheap starting pitcher options. Petit is a good example of the concept of freely available replacement level talent.

[Vince, Pt. II]

Originally Posted by Coffee Warlord

One of the few trades where the OTHER team would have to eat money.

I'll be amazed if the Cubs can dump Bradley without eating a decent chunk of cash.

This "rumor" has been getting a lot of play on the Giants' message boards and such lately. People are absolutely in love with Bradley's OBP - which isn't surprising, since Pablo Sandoval led the Giants in walks last season.

[lungs]

Originally Posted by dawgfan

We'll give you Carlos Silva for him.

In all seriousness, I would expect the M's to sniff around Hardy and see if they can work a deal there. His trade value is low right now after a down season, but he's still under club control for 2 more years and still provides value via his glovework. He's close to Jake Wilson as a defender and has more upside as a hitter while being a lot less expensive.

Dave Cameron seems to think Hardy could net Brandon Morrow. We'll see - as an M's fan I would selfishly hope that Morrow holds more value than that, but Cameron is smarter about these things than I am.

Hardy | U.S.S. Mariner

Obviously, I'd much prefer Morrow for Hardy straight up, but if Jack Z does want more he does have the advantage of knowing the Brewers' system quite well.

Not sure if they'd match up on a larger deal or not, but of any speculation by writers I've seen so far, Hardy to the Mariners for Morrow is definitely my favorite. No idea how the details would match up as each player has his lumps.

[RomaGoth]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

Oops, sorry, Romagoth, I was avoiding this thread until the World Series was over.

I describe Lackey as a high #2. He can be considered a #1, as he has been here in Anaheim, but I have never felt he really had the pitch to pitch dominance to be a true #1 a la a Sabathia, Greinke, Lincecum, etc. Also, he gets too emotional, and not in the "channel your anger into dominance" sorta way, but more the "blind rage I can't throw a bleeping strike to Jeter" sorta way.

I have never actually heard how Lackey describes himself, although he is generally self-effacing to the media (when he isn't riled up) and wouldn't say he's a #1, no matter what he actually thought. He's a "just one of the guys" sorta guy.

He has stated he is looking for a Burnett style contract, and I actually don't expect a hometown discount. He'll go to the highest bidder, is my guess.

He is actually not a coast guy (either coast), period. He's all Texas. Always made a big deal about idolizing Nolan Ryan. If anyone gets a discount, it will be the Rangers, but they'll still have to be in the ballpark of the other offers. If all offers are close and there is no Ranger offer of note, I think Lackey will go back to the Angels. But my guess is that the Angels will set a ceiling, and it will be a good few million short of what Boston or the Mets might be inclined to give him.

My prediction is, in April, Lackey will be an overpaid starter for one of the bigger money clubs (Top 5-7), but most fans of those clubs won't mind, because he won't be #1 and he will produce.

I thought I heard that he hates New York and wants nothing to do with the east coast. Either way, there are far worse options out there than Lackey.

[Crapshoot]

Apparently Hardy just got dealt to Minnesota for Carlos Gomez. Shit, I thought he was meant to be a Mariner in a Morrow deal; I didn't realize his value was that low.

[Crapshoot]

Originally Posted by Vince, Pt. II

This "rumor" has been getting a lot of play on the Giants' message boards and such lately. People are absolutely in love with Bradley's OBP - which isn't surprising, since Pablo Sandoval led the Giants in walks last season.

Dude, Rowand is a gritty hustling telegenic white guy who's a "GAMER"; if we could make that deal, I'd be dancing on the walls. I don't want to see the pooping AB ever again (Kalifornia knows what I mean; McCovey meme) while he flails away at a slider in the dirt, and I think Nate could play a reasonable CF.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Royals are saying that Teahan trade rumor to White Sox is not anywhere close to a done deal.........

Reports of Teahen trade appear to be premature - KansasCity.com

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

That's funny. MLBTradeRumors just tweeted that the deal is official.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by RomaGoth

I thought I heard that he hates New York and wants nothing to do with the east coast. Either way, there are far worse options out there than Lackey.

Interesting. While that may be the case, I have never heard him talk about that. I have heard him (or heard it intimated about him) that he's looking to get paid this offseason. And, really, if that's true, can't really rule out the East Coast. Or if there's any truth to that, he's not going about it smartly.

[Dr. Sak]

No surprising but Ruben Amaro told Brett Myers that he will not be resigned.

[JPhillips]

Originally Posted by Crapshoot

Apparently Hardy just got dealt to Minnesota for Carlos Gomez. Shit, I thought he was meant to be a Mariner in a Morrow deal; I didn't realize his value was that low.

Wow. Gomez has over 1000 ABs with only a .638 OPS and no year at or over .300 OBP. That's like trading Willy Tavarez for Hardy.

[stevew]

Yeah. But Gomez plus other scrubs=Santana!

[RomaGoth]

Any other Yankee fans on here that are wondering what we will be doing with our pitching rotation next year?

#1 ~ Sabathia
#2 ~ Burnett
#3 ~ ?
#4 ~ ?
#5 ~ Gaudin?

For the love of all that his holy please oh please do not put Joba in the starting rotation again. We have already ridden that train and it derailed almost immediately.

Maybe Petite comes back for another season, but I am not sure if he has enough left in the tank for it or not. Either way, we need 2-3 starters for this pitching staff, and I don't know where they will come from...

[JPhillips]

Jocketty say s the Reds had interest in Hardy, but wouldn't trade in the division. Given that both of them need improvement to compete with the Cards, I really don't understand the fascination with that chestnut.

edit: Should be Milwaukee wouldn't trade in the division.

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

Jocketty say s the Reds had interest in Hardy, but wouldn't trade in the division. Given that both of them need improvement to compete with the Cards, I really don't understand the fascination with that chestnut.

I've never understood that mindset either. If you have faith in your organization and really feel you're making your team better, what the hell is the problem?

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

Originally Posted by RomaGoth

Either way, we need 2-3 starters for this pitching staff, and I don't know where they will come from...

I've got a guess.

[mckerney]

Woohoo, someone was willing to take Carlos Gomez!

[stevew]

Originally Posted by RomaGoth

For the love of all that his holy please oh please do not put Joba in the starting rotation again. We have already ridden that train and it derailed almost immediately.

Was that before or after he posted a 3.50 era through his first 100 innings, or afterwards when they fucked around with his pitch count and he had a 8 ERA from August onward?

He'll be fine.

[Big Fo]

Tim Hudson is expected to sign a three-year deal at around $9m per season.

[lungs]

I'm not thrilled with the return for JJ Hardy, but I guess I have to be realistic. How much can you possibly get for a guy that was demoted to AAA this year?

I'll just cross my fingers that Gomez can learn how to hit a little bit and the money saved by trading Hardy and not re-signing Mike Cameron can yield some halfway decent pitching.

[RedKingGold]

In a most surprising move of this young off-season, the Phillies picked up Cliff Lee's option. Shocker.

[RedKingGold]

Originally Posted by Dr. Sak

No surprising but Ruben Amaro told Brett Myers that he will not be resigned.

Bill Giles told my Sports Law class that there were no plans to re-sign Myers this past March (before the hip injury). I'd been sitting on the news til then.

[JS19]

Originally Posted by Ronnie Dobbs2

I've got a guess.

AAA?

[Vince, Pt. II]

Originally Posted by Crapshoot

Dude, Rowand is a gritty hustling telegenic white guy who's a "GAMER"; if we could make that deal, I'd be dancing on the walls. I don't want to see the pooping AB ever again (Kalifornia knows what I mean; McCovey meme) while he flails away at a slider in the dirt, and I think Nate could play a reasonable CF.

I've been following McCovey Chronicles since it was Waiting for Boof. I've tried registering there three times and my PC craps out each time, and now all my normal handles are off limits because apparently the registration worked, but it really didn't. I gave up trying and I just read. It's one of my favorite websites on the entire internet.

Edit: I would also be absolutely overjoyed to make that trade. Then again, I'd be overjoyed to just simply not have Rowand on the roster any more.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Teahan deal to White Sox was completed...........

Royals trade Teahen for pair of infielders | royals.com: News

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

Teahan deal to White Sox was completed...........

Royals trade Teahen for pair of infielders | royals.com: News

Well, neither team got any better. The Royals got two guys that will fight to make the 25 man roster and the White Sox got a guy that should be a bench player on team with serious playoff hopes and that they'll have to pay up to $5 million for next season.

[k0ruptr]

is there anything good about Teahan? seems like the sox got fucked in this deal. Getz seems to be Teahan's = and then you get a guy who can hit 20 hr a year in Fields. lame

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by k0ruptr

is there anything good about Teahan? seems like the sox got fucked in this deal. Getz seems to be Teahan's = and then you get a guy who can hit 20 hr a year in Fields. lame

Well, Feilds can hit the least productive 20 homers in baseball. Getz seems to have some value defensively, but can't hit at all. Teahen doesn't seem to do anything other than strike out especially well.

Bad trade for both teams.

[Chief Rum]

Can someone who is good with stats tell me if Jeter, again, was the correct choice to get the Gold Glove at SS? Was he really the best fielding SS in the AL? Or does this award continue to be a joke?

Hey, if he deserves it, fine. Just don't have the statistical expertise to tell myself.

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

Can someone who is good with stats tell me if Jeter, again, was the correct choice to get the Gold Glove at SS? Was he really the best fielding SS in the AL? Or does this award continue to be a joke?

Hey, if he deserves it, fine. Just don't have the statistical expertise to tell myself.

Do you really need stats to tell you Jeter has no business winning a gold glove?

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by Atocep

Do you really need stats to tell you Jeter has no business winning a gold glove?

Heh...no, not normally really, but I wanted to be careful and see if I missed something where he might had a strong year defensively for him in what might have been a weak year for SSs overall in the league.

That said, off of the top of my head, I have to think Andrus in Texas and Aybar in LA were better, and that's just in the AL West.

[Atocep]

Dola

It should have gone to Elvis Andrus. He was probably the best defensive SS in baseball this year.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by Atocep

Dola

It should have gone to Elvis Andrus. He was probably the best defensive SS in baseball this year.

Ha! Ruined your dola.

On visual basis, I agree. Andrus was fantastic. I don't have the stats in front of me to back it up, just from what I saw the limited times I saw him.

[lungs]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

Can someone who is good with stats tell me if Jeter, again, was the correct choice to get the Gold Glove at SS? Was he really the best fielding SS in the AL? Or does this award continue to be a joke?

Hey, if he deserves it, fine. Just don't have the statistical expertise to tell myself.

UZR puts AL SS in the following order among qualifiers:

1. Cesar Izturis (BAL)
2. Elvis Andrus (TEX)
3. Adam Everett (DET)
4. Erick Aybar (LAA)
5. Derek Jeter (NYY)

[Atocep]

UZR has Andrus easily #1 and Aybar #2 in the AL. It gave Jeter the first positive score of his career, and since none of the other metrics I've seen really changed I'd consider it an outlier.

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by lungs

UZR puts AL SS in the following order among qualifiers:

1. Cesar Izturis (BAL)
2. Elvis Andrus (TEX)
3. Adam Everett (DET)
4. Erick Aybar (LAA)
5. Derek Jeter (NYY)

Weird. I didn't get all the qualifiers in my first search. Ignore my previous post. This is correct.

[dawgfan]

There's no good reason to put much stock into the Gold Glove awards. For a good example of why, read this blog post by Seattle Times baseball writer Larry Stone:

Larry Stone on Gold Glove voting

For another, any fielding award that doesn't honor Franklin Gutierrez after his phenomenal year in CF this year is one that is flawed.

[stevew]

Do they actually go RF/CF/LF with the awards? Doesn't look like it anyways.

Hoping Mccutchen gets love tomorrow but I'm sure he will have to wait a year. Also Tony Plush better win.

[dawgfan]

Originally Posted by stevew

Do they actually go RF/CF/LF with the awards? Doesn't look like it anyways.

Nope. Often there are multiple CF selected. They don't differentiate though - it's just OF.

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

Ha! Ruined your dola.

On visual basis, I agree. Andrus was fantastic. I don't have the stats in front of me to back it up, just from what I saw the limited times I saw him.

Just wait until Jose Iglesias (the 19yo $6m bonus Cuban the Soc signed) and his quick release make the majors. (Yes, yes, I know, stop hyping the prospects after seeing 4 plays on youtube. But it's the offseason, and you have to admit those are some quick hands.)

[stevew]

I wonder who is going to sign Chapman. Obviously it's going to be a big market team.

[RedKingGold]

Neglected to mention that the Phillies declined the 5.5 million option for 3B Pedro Feliz. It appears that there are several quality third basemen on the market, and Philadelphia thinks it can get a player with a better bat without sacrificing too much on defense.

I hope that the Phillies can get Adrian Beltre (albeit at a reasonable price). Seems like he's young enough and has solid right handed power for a corner infielder. A lot in the media seem to like Mark DeRosa for the Phils, but I'm not sold management is really into him. Had they wanted DeRosa in previous years, I think they could have gotten him with some effort.

Still, it's a risky move, probably riskier than going from Burrell to Ibanez last off-season.

[DaddyTorgo]

How does Jeter still win Gold Gloves? The guy is sad defensively, he has zero range.

That whole award is a total joke IMHO. It's completely based on reputation and non-fielding factors

oh. i see people already railed against that yesterday. haha

[DanGarion]

Awesome Twins commercial for the new stadium!

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by DaddyTorgo

How does Jeter still win Gold Gloves? The guy is sad defensively, he has zero range.

That whole award is a total joke IMHO. It's completely based on reputation and non-fielding factors

oh. i see people already railed against that yesterday. haha

Yeah, complaining about Jeter winning is so 2003. Now all the cool kids are decrying Franklin Gutierrez's (and presumably Nyjer Morgan's) snub.

[Galaxy]

Could the Red Sox be opening the wallet as well this off-season?