2010 MLB offseason - Page 2

And still play in a division with the Yankees and Red Sox.

Yeah, too bad they couldn't take the Expos' place in the NL east. Expos were great, themselves...

How is signing a free agent as bad as Alex Gonzalez filling a hole?

Way to go, Jays. Really stepped it up for the fans on that one.

No need to be grumpy. Gonzalez provides solid, up-the-middle defense. He's no Ripken, but even Boston writers like Ryan and Shaugnessey have pointed out teams could do worse.

except they already have solid defense at that position. the knock on mcdonald is that he doesn't hit. and they just signed a guy who also can't hit, and who might have worse defensive skills at this point. they didn't fill a hole, they just cloned a hole they already had.

good god subotai, you are a terrible baseball fan. you're probably a nice guy, but you remind me of princess kate mixed with someone who reads the daily news once every five weeks. you can form sentences about the sport and spell most everyones name right, but nothing else about what you say really makes any sense. i feel bad for the other yankee fans on the board, having you as the loudest of their number.

I wouldn't say the Jays are filling a hole at that position since they have McDonald, but they are adding some depth to it, especially if they have to move McDonald over to third if they're not happy with the way Encarnacion plays. I'm not sure anyone really knows what they have with Encarnacion because he started off rough with the Jays, looking weak defensively and at the plate, but as his time with the team wore on he looked better. The Jays are going into this season knowing they're going to tank and that it's a developmental year for their pitching staff, and hopefully Travis Snider hits his stride as well.

In other news, I just read that Jeter was named sportsman of the year by Sports Illustrated. I've never been a big fan of the Yankees, but I always thought Jeter exuded class, so I'm glad he's being recognized for the good year he had.

That's unkind. I'll chalk it up to Red Sox/Yankee animosity.

Yea, he's one of a kind. Being the same age, it's been fun following his career in 'real-time'.

Again, like Mo Rivera, Yankee fans better be thanking their gods for DJ. Having two studs at such important positions for so long is beyond spoiled.

The Yankees are truly lucky they have the payroll to keep these guys. The SI editor said today Jeter's the best shortstop ever, which is a pretty wild stretch, but to succeed in the Bronx pressure cooker with Lyla Garrity's eyes on him every game is pretty remarkable. Remember when the Mantle/Mays/Snider debate of the 90s was Garciaparra/Jeter?

On the topic of the Jays, it's a shame Gillick has said he'd only work for a west coast team.

Nomar was SO GOOD before getting hit on the wrist (and stopping the 'roids perhaps?). His demise has been painful to watch. It was so wonderful having such a talented young player on the Sox. Back in the days when there weren't many things to be all that excited about. Poor Nomar. I wonder if he wipes the tears away with $100 bills while banging Mia?

It was amazing seeing Nomar, Derek and ARod as young SS studs, tearing up the AL.

It is too bad about Gillick, but they need someone competent in there stat. I'm no Blue Jays fan, I just feel bad for their fans.

Toronto probably has one of the larger Red Sox fan bases outside of Mass; Eastern Canada loves the Red Sox, and also likely due in part to Toronto's couple of stints as Boston's AAA team back in the day.

The best games to go to are when the Jays play the Yankees or the Red Sox, just because it's a lot more fun to go to a game where there are actual butts in the seats. It's a completely different atmosphere at those games.

I would have liked to see Gillick come to Toronto, but none of the reports seemed reliable, so I didn't get my hopes up on that one.

Philadelphia's also a good team to watch the Jays play. Toronto's still a hockey town at heart; try watching a post-season game in a pub when the Leafs are playing. The empty seats are a bummer; part of me thinks Jays fans were spoiled having Cox and Gillick at the helm. With them the Jays were AL east contenders early on, back in the Mid-80s, when Steinbrenner and Billy Martin were having a decade-long lover's quarrel.

But speaking of empty seats, I always loved the Expos, especially Tim Raines and Tim Wallach, back in the day. It's hard to believe, thinking back at those last games in Montreal with 6,000 gate attendance, but there was a time when an Expos ticket was a hot ticket. Broke my heart when they folded. Move to Washington? What the fuck's the point? If football can work in Montreal, baseball surely can...maybe.

I never understood that one either. I don't see much different between the Nats and the Expos, so why in the world move in the first place? 1994 was the the most heartbreaking for Montreal fans, though. That team was loaded and well on the way to the best record in baseball. Worst. Timing. Evah.

Interestingly enough, the 2nd best team in 1994 was the Yankees (4 games behind the 'Spos). No Jeter yet, but the beginnings of the dynasty are there (25 year old Bernie and 31 year old O'Neill), along with players such as Jimmy Key, Wade Boggs (ugh), and Jim Leyritz. 1995 would bring in Jeter, Fruit Bat, Dumbo, Wetteland, and David Cone. In 1996*, the remaining pieces would arrive in Tino Martinez and Joe Girardi.

Speaking of Cone, the top-4 in the AL Cy Young in 1994:
1. David Cone
2. Jimmy Key
3. Randy Johnson
4. Mike Mussina

Key was the only Yankee at the time, but they'd all eventually turn to the Dark Side. Thought that was interesting.

*I find it fascinating that Dwight Gooden, Darryl Strawberry and Steve Howe all got World Series rings in 1996. I also felt bad for Donny Baseball, as he retired after the 1995 season, just before the dynasty began. The only Yankee I could stand when I was a kid (I LOVED Don Mattingly). At least Tim Raines cashed in twice with the '96 and '98 teams.

Red Sox consider moving Dustin Pedroia over to SS:

http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/mlb...ory?id=4702985

While I usually don't like to mess with what works, but I actually love this idea. Never thought about it before, but he's a converted SS already, and he's a ridiculously competitive guy who relishes a challenge.

Plus it could also be Boston simply stating to the SS market to be prepared as they may not be the players everyone thinks they are.

Always did seem like the safer position, physically.

Anyway, I’m still trying to get over that best shortstop ever comment from SI. Derek Jeter is a very good offensive shortstop, and the fact that he’s maintained that ability for this long is, without a doubt, Hall of Fame worthy (let alone the intangibles that make him a first ballot no-brainer). But, serious question, has there ever been a season where Derek Jeter was the best shortstop in baseball?

He needed AROD to switch positions to even be considered the best shortstop in the American League, and historical arguments tend to begin and end with Honus Wagner.

Yea, there's no one better than Honus at SS. There may never be again.

1999 would be the year put up as Jeter's best, but I'd still take Nomar's year that year. And Omar Vizquel won the Gold Glove.

Jeter's a stud first-ballot HoF'er, but no way is he the best SS ever.

The award's the equivalent of Sean Connery's Untouchables Oscar. Fifteen years of Yankee glory. Although I do give Jeter credit for apparently doing a shitload of work in the off-season to improve his fielding ability and not simply spending it in Tahiti with Minka Kelly.

Also, John Henry's take on revenue sharing:

http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/12/01/j...cial-proposal/

Oh yea, Jeter's really improved his D, which is remarkable considering his age and the career he's had. A true gamer.

That Henry article should make you feel better, Subotai. It's definitely pro-Yankee and makes a lot of great points.

Rob Neyer's response:
http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/po...ues-for-change

A good quote:
"Please. Baseball owners operate as a collective monopoly, tightly controlling their "industry" with all sorts of rules and agreements that operate expressly in opposition to competition and the free flow of capital that supposedly exemplify "the ideals this country was built on." Baseball should be treated as a business? OK. Tomorrow, let's abolish the amateur draft, invite new franchises to compete in New Jersey and Brooklyn, and stop blackmailing municipalities into spending many hundreds of millions of dollars to support "businesses" that generate little tax revenue and a paltry number of full-time jobs."

A poster on SoSH responds:
Gotta say Neyer has a point. That said, Henry's stewardship has been remarkably fair-minded versus Harrington's; Henry abandoned the idea of getting Boston/Mass to pay for part of New Fenway Park, and has been paying for renovations with exclusively private funds. So, while Neyer's criticism of ownership rings true to me, I don't think Henry should bear the brunt of it. Selig should.

I just want to say, without hyperbole, John Henry is a genius. Not just for this article, but for this:

That takes balls, and it paid off.

What a fantastic story! Great find. What's funny is it almost sounds like fiction, based on the wealth and power involved. I cannot imagine living life like that.

It looks like the Braves signed Billy Wagner:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4705811

I'm sad to see him go as he was a great addition to the bullpen, but this was Theo's plan all along, and it worked out beautifully. He turned Chris Carter and a couple of million into a few months of great relief pitching and the 20th pick in the 2010 draft (and another compensation pick in the 40s). Good job Sox.

Looks like Boston's gonna sign Marco Scutaro:

http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/mlb...ory?id=4711874

Initially after hearing this, I didn't like it. However, sitting on it for a bit, it's the best move we can do (short of getting Hanley back, which ain't gonna happen). This will bridge the gap to Iglesias, who should be ready by late 2011 or 2012. Hopefully Jed Lowrie can come back healthy, kick some ass in AAA (and maybe a limited sample with Boston), and be traded.

Giving up a first for Scutaro really sucks, but I don't think the Sox will do that. Rumors have been swirling of Jason Bay signing with Seattle, possibly helping the Sox go hard after Matt Holliday. Adrian Beltre is on the list as well, and Roy Halladay is always on the radar.

not really psyched about it, although you're right about all that. i just don't trust the revolving door anymore. maybe this is the year it will work!!!....

I'm a bit surprised at how much Boston gave Scutaro, but the Sox can afford it and the length of the contract should give them enough time to develop talent or wait out the market. Interestingly enough, the A's apparently offered more money and a longer term.

In other news, Chone Figgins is on the verge of signing with the Mariners. I know he had a pretty terrible postseason, but I generally like the way he plays and I thought more teams would be pursuing him aggressively.

2 years @ $11.5 million is a steal and a no-brainer for Scutaro. There's a 3rd year dual-option that could make the full contract worth $17 million if the Sox pick it up, and even if they do it is still a great contract. To put it into perspective - 5 Yankees will make $17 million+ EACH next year. Wanna talk about spending too much? The Sox will be paying freakin' Julio Lugo $4 million MORE than Scutaro in 2010 to play for the Cardinals. Not only was that POS the worst move Theo's ever made, but the #1 pick the Sox gave up for Lugo could have been Rick Porcello. Just awful.

And yes, the A's did offer more money and a guaranteed 3rd year, but Marco came out and said.

"I took a little less money to come here and win rings".

Bold and ballsy. Me likey.

It should be fun watching the runts at SS and 2B turn (hopefully) a ton of double plays. I would love for the Sox to sign Beltre to play 3B to really shore up the D. What a vast improvement that would be.

I like the Figgins signing. Not only is he a good player, but taking him away from your biggest AL West rival is smart baseball (the rumors of Lackey signing in Seattle still are out there, and if that happens, how huge would these signings be, in regards to taking good players from your main rival??). Should be interesting watching him and Ichiro at the top of the lineup all year.

I love what Seattle's doing in assembling a remarkable defensive club. Their biggest problem is they still don't have anyone to drive in any runs. Having a historically good defense doesn't do you a whole lot of good when you're losing games 2-1. As I said above, rumors have been swirling about Jason Bay signing with them (he lives just outside of Seattle), but he'd be pretty bad out in that spacious LF. Still, Bay was the best offensive OF in baseball last year, and the Mariners have something like $40 million coming off of the books (not counting the new Figgins contract), so I could see Bay playing some LF and some DH.

Scutaro should do until Derrik Gibson matures in a couple of years.

Must-watch: Dock Ellis & The LSD No-No

Yankees on the verge of trading for Curtis Granderson.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4725108

If so, I love this deal for the Yanks. Basically a younger, cheaper version of Damon (better defender as well) and you really aren't giving up anybody MLB ready other than Coke. I would much rather have Granderson at $8 mil than Bay or Holiday at $16 mil +.

Subotai, you can never bitch again about a team not having to give up anything for a player (like you did about Halladay earlier). This is a ridiculous steal for the Yankees.

I'm not a huge fan of the deal from a Yankees perspective. Unless Austin Jackson isn't the stud he's been rumored to be. I like Coke. Is Granderson the type of player I need to watch everyday to truly appreciate?

Well considering he's one of three members of the 20 Home Runs, Stolen Bases, Triples and Doubles club in a single season, yeah I'd say he's a solid pick up.

Austin isn't he stud he's rumored to be. Coke is an easily replaceable reliever. Ian Kennedy is a joke.

Granderson's an all-star Centerfielder who hit 30 homers last year...with the vast majority to right. A Yankee wet dream.

An absolute steal for the Yanks. I really don't know what AZ and Det are thinking here, but not every team is run by smart people.

Arizona is thinking Edwin Jackson could be an all-star in the National League. Detroit is thinking it needs to cut payroll and picks up a potential stud in Scherzer who throws 99mph.

And yes, Granderson is worth it. He was hitting in a pitcher-friendly park. Stick him #2 in the Yankee Lineup and let him hit at Yankee Stadium and watch his production go up.

My problem from Detroit's point of view is how did they only get basically Scherzer in return for Jackson and Granderson? And about the salary, Granderson was only gonna make $5.5 million this year, and something like $8.5 next.

AZ got 100% jobbed. A terrible trade from their side.

Hey, a Red Sox fan should never tell anyone to never bitch, period.

Problem with Granderson is he can't hit lefties for shit, and his stats have faltered over the last couple of years. But the big plus for him is the batters around him. Granderson won't have to worry about carrying the lineup. As Poulson says, Austin Jackson looks promising, but hell, so did Bam-Bam Meulens once upon a time. Strikes out way too much (remember I said that when Jackson hits an ALCS-winning HR against the Yankees in a couple of years).

Bill Simmons and his Yankee-loving buddy JackO had this conversation a couple of times this summer - Ian Kennedy and Phil Coke are nice guys (I liked Ian Kennedy especially, but it was heavily rumoured he struggled with the NY pressure cooker), but when you have the opportunity to get someone like Granderson, someone who can do this , can pull the hell out of the ball, and bring the median age of the team down, hell yeah. Is the deal too good to be true? We'll see how these young pitchers shake down in a few years. Detroit is getting some quality arms.

Also, I see Peter Gammons is leaving ESPN. I wish him well and hope he keeps up the admirable charitable work.

I'll be sad to see Peter go as well. Good luck, Gammo.

As for Granderson, another reason the Yankees will love him:

http://www.hittrackeronline.com/park...09_scatter.jpg

I'd put that graph in my post, but it's kind of big. It shows where Curtis likes to his his homers. Ridiculous.

They are getting Scherzer + A. Jackson + Salary relief. Jackson may or not be great, time will tell. I believe I read that Granderson makes something like 25 mil over the next 3 years and E. Jackson was due for a raise.

I actually dont mind the deal for AZ. Jackson was very good last year before he tailed off late in the season a bit, and going to the NL is only going to help him. A rotation that starts with Webb, Haren and E. Jackson is pretty damn good, especially in the NL West.

And don't worry, you will be doing backflips when the Sox trade Clay Buckholtz for Miguel Cabrera.

Indeed I would.

I wish I were kidding about that. It only makes sense that the Sox make a big splash, they almost have to because I don't think they are better than TB at this point. There is really nobody in that lineup that absolutely frightens anybody. Pedroia is a good player and Youkilis can get hot at times but after that...

Detroit is obviously in fire sale mode so you could probably get Cabrera relatively cheap (prospect-wise). Only a couple of teams could handle Cabrera's salary (Sox being one of them). It is a need position for them because Lowell is old. And everybody seems to thing Buckholtz is really good when the reality is he's crap, so the Sox won't mind parting with him. The Sox will have to throw in a few more pieces, but would you rather pay Cabrera $20 mil a year or a guy like Holiday/Bay $20 mil a year.

Wonder what Gammons has in the pipeline. Didn't seem like he was retiring, from the statement.

Will Milton Bradley be coming to your AL team
Better hope it's not your team.

He hasn't written a book in about 5 years, and he's really into the music.

Correction: He's jumping to MLB.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/nation...Viewed+Stories)

Makes sense. That's why I was curious: while I know he has other interests, I figured he'd state them. The way he worded his departure, it essentially screamed: "I'm going to another network." Otherwise, why be coy?

Well, iirc he had some serious health problems a few years back. Thankfully he recovered.

The Mets are rumored to be making a serious play for Jason Bay, and I can’t say I’m pleased. Matt Holliday, simply put, is the better player, and unless this is a financial decision, I’m going to be pretty fucking pissed if this goes down and Holliday goes for anywhere near the same amount.

What happened to Monkaholic, anyhow? Did he change his monicker or split the site?

and NESN! hooray!


on an opposite note:
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4730311

sox apparently trading mike lowell to the rangers. bummer. sad to see him go, though it's probably necessary with his health and contract (dude can stilll rake at times though). also probably has a lot to do with a potential signing of beltre, or trade for cabrera. the latter, especially, would be definitely welcome.

ETA: also, the sox acquired Boof Bonser. who has a wonderful name.

After loving the Millwood salary dump to the O's for Chris Ray and the money to sign Harden, I'm baffled by the potential(because it hasn't gone through yet) Lowell deal. They must be planning on trading one of Michael Young, Chris Davis or Justin Smoak, otherwise this seems like a waste of time.

It's possible he'd mostly be DHing, but I'd much rather have Josh Hamilton and Nelson Cruz splitting time with RF/DH while having Borbon in CF and DMurph in LF. But they don't seem to have faith in Murph or Borbon for that to happen.

As for Max Ramirez, I've always kept reading and hearing he's a sub-par catcher and better suited for 1B/DH, but from his time in the majors, he's looked solid behind the plate to me.