Official MLB Offseason Thread

Metsblog is speculating the same thing, and I think you (and Cerrone) might be right. That said, 3 years for Pettitte?!? Ugh. Not a huge fan of that. He's only 36, and has a very strong track record of health, but it's a positively ancient 36 when you consider that he has a full season's worth of postseason starts under his belt; that "big game" tag goes both ways, you know.

I'd be okay with 2 years at $25M or so for him, maybe with an option for a 3rd year, but 3 guaranteed years seems like a LOT.

 

Furcal has agreed to a multi year deal w/ the Braves. The terms of the deal are not mentioned in the article. Does this mean the Braves move Yunel Escobar now, and make a stronger push for Peavy?

link

EDIT: The original link is a bit misleading... Maybe not to the Braves after all??? The Dodgers are still in it to get Furcal?

link

 

Yeah I hear your feelings on Pettitte's age. That said, we would likely have to give 35 year old Lowe a 3 or 4 year deal as well or give inconsistent Ollie that deal and watch him lead the league in walks again for the foreseeable future which would drive us all positively insane. Ideally I think we would like the deal to be two years with a team option for the third year.

 

I was stunned when I read that Pettitte was 36. I thought for sure he was 38 or 39. I guess I shouldn't be completely aghast at a 3 year deal; his numbers haven't fallen off much, and his K rate is actually trending slightly upward, but he just seems like he's been around forever.

 

Pettitte has hardly been hurt and pitching with the Yanks all but 3 years since he was 23. He has gotten plenty of exposure which makes him seem like he has been here for ever.

 

Really hopin the Angels can re-sign him. Kills 2 birds with one stone. They keep their offense and don't go after Manny.

 

I love it, furcal has picked the dodgers over braves according to this: FOX Sports on MSN - MLB - Sources: Furcal picks Dodgers over Braves

 

Per Espn, mets and Tribe looking at Ohman:
The interest in Will Ohman has picked up considerably since the winter meetings, with the Mets, Cleveland and several other teams making inquiries, reports ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick.

The Mets, already in the market for a lefty reliever to complement Pedro Feliciano, could be ready to step up their efforts for Ohman now that Philadelphia has added lefty hitter Raul Ibanez to its lineup. Cleveland, which has already acquired Kerry Wood and Joe Smith this winter, continues to try to upgrade its bullpen.

Ohman, 31, posted a 4-1 record with a 3.68 ERA in 83 appearances with Atlanta this season. He struck out 53 batters in 58 2/3 innings, and held lefties to a .200 average and a .314 slugging percentage. He's looking for at least a two-year deal.

 

Youkilis and Bosox talking contract extension:
Kevin Youkilis' agent, Joe Bick, said the Red Sox have engaged with him in preliminary negotiations on a long-term deal for the infielder.
"We’ve had some what I would term early-stage conversations," Bick said. "That’s really where it is. To predict which way it’s going to go at this point in time would be pretty tough to do." Having already gotten a deal done with Dustin Pedroia, it appears that the Red Sox are open to long-term contracts for Youkilis and Jonathan Papelbon. Papelbon appears content to go year to year, but perhaks Youkilis would be open to a four-year deal worth $10 million-$11 million per year. The 29-year-old could make about $8 million in arbitration next year. He'll be eligible for free agency after 2010.
Source: Boston.com

 

Huh...

 

I wonder why this is so. I'd think him having a good experience in Anaheim would help the Angels. And Boston already screwed him once, why give them a chance to correct their past mistake?

Unless they blow the Angels offer away, I hope he liked what he saw in Anaheim enough to want to stick around for 8 years instead of taking a risk that he wont be happy in Boston.

Of course I say this as a homer.

 

sure glad Oakland didn't get Furcal

 

Money talks baby, money talks. I do seriously question the whole 'Boston screwed him' angle that some reporters are using as to why he wouldn't pick them. It was over 10 years ago and it had nothing to do with the current ownership group, not to mention that stuff like that happens multiple times in each draft every year. The Sox said they won't go higher than 8 years so if LA gives him 9 or 10 I'm sure they have a good shot.

I honestly have no idea where he's going to end up but could the freakin' guy make a decision so I don't have to keep checking rotoworld, espn.com and mlbtraderumors every 15 minutes at work?

 

Thank God. That was an abysmally stupid idea by the Brewers in the first place.

 

Some new news per rotoworld:

Tigers signed catcher Matt Treanor, who had been with the Marlins, to a one-year contract.
Released by Florida last week, Treanor will back up Gerald Laird after hitting .238/.306/.301 in 234 plate appearances last season. His signing signals that Dusty Ryan will begin the season back in the minors.
Related: Dusty Ryan


Gregg Zaun-C-Blue Jays Dec. 18 - 10:59 am et
According to the Baltimore Sun, Gregg Zaun may now be the Orioles "primary catching target."
Baltimore talked to Matt Treanor, but he's on the verge of signing with Detroit. Zaun would likely be brought in to back up top prospect Matt Wieters, who'll be given every opportunity to win the starting job coming out of spring training. Paul Bako is another option.
Source: Baltimore Sun
Related: Paul Bako

Mark Teixeira-1B-Angels Dec. 18 - 10:57 am et
Despite an ESPN.com report to the contrary, Orioles president Andy MacPhail said Wednesday that the team may increase its initial offer to Mark Teixeira.
"We have indicated before that we have flexibility," MacPhail said. "I don't think anyone expects [agent Scott Boras] to lean over and accept the first proposal. Until we are told he is signing somewhere else, I don't think you can take yourself out of it." Baltimore's initial offer is said to be worth at least $140 million over seven seasons, which may actually put them no better than fourth in the running for Teixeira.
Source: Baltimore Sun

General manager Kevin Towers said Wednesday that David Eckstein, Omar Vizquel and Mark Grudzielanek are on the Padres' radar because "we certainly need middle infield help."
"We provide opportunity, but to be financially aggressive on players right now, we can't do it," Towers said. "Our hope is that the later we get in free-agent season, there will still be inventory out there and people who need jobs."
Source: San Diego Union Tribune
Related: Omar Vizquel, Mark Grudzielanek

According to New York Newsday, the Yankees "have yet to make an offer to either" Manny Ramirez or Mark Teixeira.
The newspaper quotes "one person familiar with the Yankees' thinking" as saying that they "have not even discussed Ramirez at any length," which of course completely contradicts Wednesday's report in the New York Daily News quoting "one baseball official" as saying that the Yankees are "going hard" after him.
Source: New York Newsday
Related: Mark Teixeira

 

I really don't believe any of the Manny to NY rumors as it makes no sense but if he did sign it would be very interesting to say the least.

 

Seems like Manny's best option is for the Angels to miss out on Teixeira. I wouldnt mind Manny in Anaheim on a couple year deal. It'd make the annual Boston/Anaheim playoff match up a bit more dramatic lol.

 

Actually what I am quietly hoping for is for the angels to resign Tex, the yanks to view a guy like Carlos Lee as a lower cost/lower maintenance alternative to Manny, and for the Mets to swoop in and snag him for 2/50 with a 3rd year vesting option at say 300 games played over the first 2 years.

Reyes (SS)
Beltran (CF)
Manny (LF)
Wright (3B)
Delgado (1B)
Church (RF)
Schneider (C)
Pitcher
Slapstillo (hopefully eventually Murphy boots him out) (2B)

Now thats a lineup that could make the '28 yankees proud.

 

Is Carlos Lee a F/A? Didnt he just sign a big deal with the Astros, or are they shopping him?

I'm fine with you scenario though, as long as Tex is an Angel I'll be happy. If we "settle" for Manny I wont cry.

 

Lee is signed for another 4 years I believe but the Astros have been looking for every way possible to cut payroll without dumping Oswalt. They didnt offer wigginton arbitration for that very reason even though he was the one who keyed Houstons late season surge when lee was out and Tejada was sucking wind.

In other news, and this is pretty sore-loser-ish....

In the wake of Rafael Furcal's potential return and exit, the Braves have decided to stop doing business with the player's agents, the Wasserman Media Group.
The Braves already have one player on the team's client list, that being Peter Moylan. Moylan, though, won't be eligible for arbitration until next year at the earliest, so he'd seem to be a non-issue for now. Free agents represented by Arn Tellem's Wasserman Group include Randy Wolf, Nomar Garciaparra, Jason Giambi and Craig Monroe. It's safe to assume the Braves won't consider any of them.
Source: SI.com

 

And Heylman's article where he gives odds of where Tex ends up:

180 range for the Sox. Just go to the Nationals so I never have to hear about you again lol.

 

A couple of things:

I think if Manny were to go to LAA, I just get a picture Scosia putting Manny in 'time out' which consists of Manny sitting indian-style on the LF warning track facing the wall with his back to the team for one of Manny's weekly brain farts. Either way I think Scosia has a heart attack having to deal with him, as he seems like an intense no non sense type of guy.

For selfish reasons I hope the Mets signs Manny because I still want him in my life (even if he's dead to me) and being close to NY I could keep track of him and would love to listen to his sound bites on WFAN, plus I wouldn't feel dirty cheering for him.

 

Selfish. First you want to take Teixeira from the Angels now you wont even let us have Manny

 

True and believe me I do like the Angels a lot too. I just don't think Manny fits in with LAA personality wise. He's not a typical Angel player. But yes I wouldn't mind Manny going to LAA either. Just saying away from the Yankees just because I don't want to hate him.

 

Interesting report coming out of Boston:

SportsCenter 5's Mike Lynch is reporting that Red Sox owner John Henry, CEO Larry Lucchino and GM Theo Epstein are in Texas meeting with Scott Boras, the agent for Mark Teixeira, and are hoping to close a deal late Thursday or Friday.

It is a Boston-based report, so perhaps there's some wishful thinking going on here. Still, it wouldn't be that much of a surprise if it's going down just like Lynch says. The Red Sox were reportedly around $180 million for eight years in their offer to Teixeira.

If this is true then you'd have to think a deal will get done.

EDIT: Buster Olney and Peter Gammons confirm Lynch's report. ESPN has heard from major league sources that Boras may soon meet with Red Sox executives. Olney and Gammons heard from another team's executive who expects the offer to be for "about $22MM" per year for eight years, or about $176MM in total.

 

From what I can recall (I am in Houston working right now) from the sports radio here, although the Astros are indeed looking to dump payroll, Carlos Lee has a no trade clause I believe.

 

....it's looking good for your Sox bro.....but I gotta keep hoping my Halos can still get it done somehow...at least until I hear it's official.I realize Tex and wife would prefer to be on the east coast,so it's a real uphill battle for the Angels....btw better he goes to you guys then the Yanks...

 

Nah I'd much rather him sign with the Yankees. I hate the Red Sox with a passion. The Celtics I hate, the Patriots. I hate Boston with a passion that cannot be bridled.

 

Same here.

 

...to each his own bro...