Well, rumors are we're the favorites, with Tampa bay, so far. We're starting out with Morrison and Nolasco. I wouldn't mind adding in Nunez and either Ceda or West. If we get desperate, the MAYBE James, but we would have to think about that.
I haven't even heard Tampa Bay talked to Arizona. They certainly have enough prospects to get a deal done, I would think. Not sure the Marlins would be able to unless they included both Stanton and LoMo. Not sure how much value West or Ceda really have and not sure why Arizona would want Nolasco who's hitting his arbitration years soon and will start to get expensive. I don't think a package of LoMo, Nolasco, Ceda, West and Nunez gets it done. It's more quantity than quality.
No way we include Stanton and Morrisson. That's just dumb. Right now, with the package of Morrison and Nolasco, we are the favorites. So, we have something with Nolasco and Morrison apparently. Now, we have to go from there and see what else we could add.
Just give them some quality pitching and I'm sure they would trade him in a heartbeat. Hell, throw in Nunez while they're at it. They need all the pitching they can get.
Where have you heard the Rays on the Upton sweepstakes? Only way I could see that happening is if Ben Zobrist is included on the trade, and that would go against everything this TB regime is about, with their buy low sell high bible. We have the prospects. But with so many guys a free agent this year, we need all the prospects we can get.
I haven't heard anything on TB being involved. And I haven't heard much about the Marlins being serious players either. But who knows. I still don't think Upton gets moved but what else are we suppose to talk about in November right?
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/florida_marlins/index.html There, it states the early favorites are the Rays and Marlins. Also, it says it might take a package of at least 4 or 5 players, with 3 being big league ready. Morrison, Nolasco, and Nunez are big league ready.
I don't think I do that deal if I'm the Marlins. Morrison looks like a nice player, and he's under control for what, 5 more years? Meanwhile Upton will be due a nice salary a couple years. Besides, Morrison is a lefty who hits lefties. That is a very valuable commodity in today's game, and they already have a power hitting RF'er in Stanton. (Unless they would move Upton to CF) And why the D-Backs would want Nunez I have no idea. EDIT: Upton just signed a contract in May of this year. My bad.
King Felix wins the Cy Young award. David Price, CC Sabathia, Jon Lester, Jerad Weaver and Clay Buchholz round out the Top 6. Looks like the writers are finally 'getting it'.
Marlins trade Uggla to Braves for Omar Infante is interesting (Uggla gets #26 - Brooks Conrads #) Yanks send Juan Miranda to the Diamondbacks for pitching prospect Scott Allen Colorado has traded infielder Clint Barmes to Houston for right-hander Felipe Paulino. FA signing...former Ray, Joaquin Benoit passed his physical on Thursday and officially signed a new three-year, $16.5 million contract with the Tigers.
According to Jordan Bastian, MLB.com’s new Indians beat writer, South Korea defeated Taiwan 9-3 on Friday in the final of the Asian Games. Tribe outfielder Shin-Soo Choo should now be exempt from Korea’s required two-year military service. Astros owner Drayton McLane has retained the services of the investment bank Allen & Company to assist in the sale of the team, according to two people with knowledge of the arrangement. Jonathan Papelbon “is poised to ask for $11.5 million” in his final year of arbitration, according to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe. That would be a raise of slightly over $2 million from his 2010 salary, which Papelbon earned while having the worst season of his career. He blew nine of 46 save opportunities…
No writer packs more valuable information into a Sunday notes column like the Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo. He’s at it again today with details on a variety of big time free agent and trade options. Let’s review: Though he’s unlikely to be moved this winter or even next summer, so far the White Sox, Cubs, Orioles, Nationals and Red Sox have shown trade interest in San Diego first baseman Adrian Gonzalez. The 28-year-old hit .298/.393/.511 with 31 homers in 2010 and is entering the final year of his tenure with the Padres. Diamondbacks outfielder Justin Upton has been dangled on the trade market this winter and is drawing interest from the the Mariners, Blue Jays, Marlins, Red Sox and Royals. It’s going to take a serious package of prospects to lure him away from Arizona’s grasp, but enough clubs are intrigued and it’s quite possible that he is moved this offseason. The Dodgers have a bunch of holes to fill this winter but are seeking one major thing: leadership. That could come in the form of veterans like Juan Uribe, Johnny Damon and A.J. Pierzynski. Brewers GM Doug Melvin has set a deadline for extension talks with first baseman Prince Fielder. If talks don’t progress by the end of spring training, the big man is likely to be on the trade market next summer. Rays shortstop Jason Bartlett is drawing trade interest from the Giants, Orioles and Nationals. Bartlett was a disappointment in 2010, and Tampa is prepared to go with Reid Brignac at short. The Angels have already engaged in serious talks with free agent outfielder Carl Crawford and appear to be the front-runner for his services. He’s thought to be seeking a contract worth north of $100 million. The Brewers and Nationals are moving “swiftly” on free agent starter Carl Pavano. He registered a 3.75 ERA and 1.19 WHIP over 32 starts this year for the Twins. Three teams are interested in signing Mark Prior, but he’s not totally set on a comeback. That decision should come soon.
The Royals may be more motivated to trade Zack Greinke than we first realized. The Royals, in the words of the executive, are “spooked” by what happened to David DeJesus . They had a deal worked out with the Rays as the trade deadline approached last season, but on July 23, DeJesus tore tendons in his right thumb and the deal had to be scratched. “They can’t afford Greinke to have a mental relapse or a physical issue and his value to go to zero,” the executive said. Greinke has a well-documented battle with anxiety in his past.
Weekend worthy of news . . . The Mets hired Terry Collins as their new manager. Wally Backman fans have to be pretty upset that the Mets went with an intense, potentially polarizing candidate and it still wasn’t even their guy. It strikes me that the Derek Jeter saga is putting lie to that notion that baseball is truly cracking down on teams and agents using the press to negotiate this winter. The Pirates designated Zach Duke, Delwyn Young and Andy LaRoche for assignment. If you write about baseball for a living you may as well start your “the Indians sign Zach Duke, Delwyn Young and Andy LaRoche to minor league contracts” story now to beat the rush. A team is interested in Kaz Matsui. I don’t care if it’s a Japanese team. That’s still pretty nuts. The Red Sox apparently offered Victor Martinez a two-year, $21 million contract. He rejected it, obviously, as he certainly can expect better than that on the market. I don’t think I’m being a hater, however, in observing that he’s not necessarily worth much more than that. Joel Zumaya is going to be ready for spring training. That means the pool is open, fellas. I got my money on “arm flies clean off; injures fan in second row.” Jim Leyritz is acquitted of manslaughter charges. No joke here. Just don’t mess up the second chance you’ve been given, Jim. Domonic Brown is learning that just because you’re sent to play winter ball doesn’t mean you actually get to play winter ball. Oliver Perez is stinking up the Mexican League. This is probably a good thing. If he was pitching well down there the Mets would be tempted to start fresh with him next spring to see if he could snag a job. Now it’s way easier to simply release the guy. The Marlins and Nats are both courting Javier Vazquez. It’d be nice if he stayed on the east coast this year, because if he gets to pitch in Citi Field it will allow some Yankees fans additional chances to boo him. 90 Things to Love about Stan Musial. ” . . . Jezebel went forty days drinking nothing but Perrier. Dinah drove her Chevrolet into the San Francisco bay . . .” The bidding for Cliff Lee is expected to start at $120 million. I got this image of that “Saturday Night Live” sketch from the mid 80s when Christopher Guest was the auctioneer and he threatened to suffocate hamsters and shoot himself if the bidding didn’t go higher. I may be one of six people who remember that sketch. Speaking of bidding, the Oakland Athletics are apparently like those people who go to an auction only to watch or to put $5 bids on things that they know will go for $500, just so they can say that they were there. Omar Minaya has multiple offers. Remember this when a player you like is desperate to catch on with a team — any team — in late January.
Seriously try not to post links to Cafardo's articles. They're scary bad and laughable. He mails in every article he's written with the Globe since they gave him tenure. He hasn't broken a story in years and I honestly can never remember reading an article by him that I didn't walk away thinking it was good.
And every 3rd column or so he'll have an update on Gary Sheffield and a few quotes from JP Riccardi, since those two are the only ones that would actually talk to him. Plus, and obviously I have no proof, but I would bet good money that his 'sources' are just voices in his mind making stuff up to fill the article.
Victor Martinez is signing with DET for 4/50. I'm a little upset he's leaving but the Sox say they're committed to a defensive catcher and Martinez wasn't that. I enjoyed the short Victor Martinez Era with the Sox.
It definitely weakens the Sox offensive for sure but DET is planning on using him as a DH/back up C/back up 1B. I think that's a little high as Martinez, although he's a very good hitter doesn't put up 1B/DH numbers to justify the contract. Don't get me wrong I wanted to resign him but his catching was suspect at best and I was hoping the Sox would be able to live with it for 2 more years and then let him DH the final year, as I wouldn't have given him a contract longer than 3 years. As for DET, they have money to spend and are loading up on players. The positives for the Sox is that they get DET's #19 pick in the draft (assuming DET doesn't sign Lee, Crawford, Werth, Soriano or Jeter) and that's one less team the Sox have to compete with to try and sign Adrian Gonzalez next season since they will be locked into the 1B/DH position for awhile.
It was obvious the Red Sox weren't going to give that kind of money to a catcher on the wrong side of 30 with defensive issues. That said, his bat will sure be tough to replace. On a positive note, it looks like a lock that we'll be receiving the top unprotected pick in next year's draft as compensation.
Tigers Reach Agreement With Victor Martinez By Tim Dierkes [November 23 at 9:52am CST] The Tigers added a middle of the order bat today, reaching an agreement with catcher Victor Martinez on a four-year, $50MM contract. Martinez was widely regarded as the best offensive catcher available, though he may see significant time as Detroit's designated hitter. Martinez, 32 next month, hit .302/.351/.493 in 538 plate appearances for the Red Sox this year, earning his fourth All-Star nod. As a switcher-hitter, Martinez provides the left side protection the Tigers craved. He also logged 904 innings behind the plate, a number that should decrease in Detroit due to the presence of Alex Avila. Though the Red Sox hoped to re-sign Martinez, they can take solace in receiving the best available draft pick as part of their compensation. The Tigers must surrender their #19 draft pick next year to the Red Sox, unless Detroit also signs Jayson Werth later. Regardless, the Red Sox will also receive a supplemental draft pick. According to Ignacio Serrano of El Nacional, who broke the story, Martinez turned down a four-year, $48MM offer from the Orioles and a three-year, $48MM contract from the White Sox. The Tigers have been baseball's most aggressive team this offseason. Prior to the Martinez agreement, they committed $39.25MM to Brandon Inge, Jhonny Peralta, and Joaquin Benoit.
And it looks like it's a lock that Varitek will be back next year for better or worse (obviously for worse). I guess this shouldn't be shocking news as Theo and Co made it clear last week they were comfortable with Saltalamacchia as a starter next year.
I dont get why they didnt sign him....12.5 is peanuts for him...he can still hit very well... unless they have something bigger in mind.....
Like you said, there was never really evidence that the Sox were interested in bringing him back into the fold, unless it was on their terms (a significant discount relative to the market). This just seemed inevitable.
Because he's not a very good defensive catcher and certain teams like Texas and TB had field days running on him. Plus most of the teams talking to him didn't view him as a full time catcher so 12.5 million a year for a DH/back up catcher is a lot, plus yeah Martinez's bat is way above average as a catcher but it won't play up as a DH/1B. It's all about value and he doesn't have a lot of value if he's not catching. And I doubt the Sox have someone bigger in mind, all the good catchers are locked up and those teams have no reason to deal any of them. The Sox are probably looking for a good defensive catcher (really not sure if Saltalamacchia fits that or not but I know the Sox were impressed with his arm) and the catcher's spot is one of the positions that you can afford to give up some offense for defense.
Yeah they definitely weren't comfortable giving him a long term deal. Which I can't kill them for, as his bat doesn't play up enough at the DH/1B spot to justify spending 12.5 million a year. I think it speaks volumes that DET doesn't even view him as a full time catcher.
Fun fact: DET has spend 90.25 million dollars this off season so far on Martinez, Benoit, Peralta and Inge. Let's just say holding on to some of that money might not have been a bad idea. My question is are people going to complain about DET spending money like they do when the Yankees/Red Sox do? Or is DET considered a small market to them or not?
For me it not about spending the money, its the Amount and frankly on THESE bodies!! Outside of Victor...yuck...wasteful!
Oh yeah I agree. If I'm DET I'd gamble on Martinez but not the others, certainly not for the years and dollar figures they got. By the way apparently the Sox told Martinez's agent they had no plans of going past 3 years for him.
Anyone find it odd that Victor took 4yr 50MM (whats the second M - in MM mean?) and passed up 3yrs 48M from W-Sox?
Finyank posted it.....http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2010/11/tigers-reach-agreement-with-victor-martinez.html Though the Red Sox hoped to re-sign Martinez, reportedly offering him a choice of three years and $36MM or four years and $42MM. They can take solace in receiving the best available draft pick as part of their compensation. The Tigers must surrender their #19 draft pick next year to the Red Sox, unless Detroit also signs Jayson Werth later. In that case the Red Sox would get the Tigers' second-round pick. Regardless, the Red Sox will also receive a supplemental draft pick. According to Ignacio Serrano of El Nacional, who broke the story, Martinez turned down a four-year, $48MM offer from the Orioles and a three-year, $48MM contract from the White Sox.
Oh thanks, I definitely miss that one. No clue why he did. Maybe he didn't want to play in Chicago? Maybe he valued that extra year for some reason? I'm surprised the White Sox offered that to him, I didn't think they had much money to spend.
Yeah, here's one thats says it was only 2yrs by Red Sox http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/11/23/report-the-tigers-are-close-to-signing-victor-martinez/ And I agree with this article that Victor is not without risk. Tigers take $50 million risk that Victor Martinez is rare catcher to age well into his mid-30s
