Baseball Winter 2007 Hot Stove League

[sonny10305]

Sonny,at least our Mets(I feel kinda guilty of being a supporter of both New York teams,but in a head to head,Mets every time!)aren't going to have to deal with acquiring A-Rod and the possibility of moving David Wright from third to whatever to fit him at third!David Wright is our third baseman and will win several more Gold Gloves he TRULY will deserve once he steps up defensively especially on his throwing.I heard a rumor that really would be staggering if any truth to it,and after the money spent on A-Rod,think is just a vicious rumor leaked to deflate the sky-high egos of Red Sox Nation.Sit down now,boys and boys and hold on tight to that hottie next to you....Mike Lowell to Yanks,4 years and over $50 mil to play first base.Necessary,hell no...Intriguing,hell yeah!Just because to the Red Sox,and NOT in that nice Robert way! but it's probably like I said a mean,kick in the balls rumor.Again,just because they're the Evil Empire!

Now that the A-Rod talk is going away from the Mets and back to the Yankees I feel a lot better. David Wright can not be moved, he has just begun to wow us at third. Mets fans have said they do not want A-Rod.

David is awesome. I watch him at the plate very closely, and no, not cause he's a babe but because I love watching him hit. He has a great batting stance, always looking for the perfect swing, he knows how important that is for a hitter to have. To many guys think how you stand in the box determines how you hit the ball, I do not agree with that at all. Where you hit the ball on the bat, where you make contact, determines how well you hit the ball and where it travels.
David understands that. He keeps his hands a little higher than a lot of guys and stays on top of the ball.I notice too how long he waits for the ball, he waits as long as he can, then shoots it the other way. I think that's why is so good at two strike hitting, he will choke up,protect the zone and put the ball in play. And that's what it is all about, cause ya gotta put the ball in play.

The Mets can forget about Posada now, I want them to keep Lo Duca but that's not looking so good. The Mets say they are still talking to lo Duca but I think we are going to get Torrealba. We should know soon, he will take his physical and then join the Mets. I'll miss Paulie, like him a lot, especially when he was in the number two hole following Reyes. He calls a good game, intense? oh yes, but a scapper, and a great two strike hitter. Damn, does he love to argue pitches with the umps.
I am not expecting mush more in the way of roster changes, just pitching.
Glavin i talking to Atlanta, I don't expect him back. maybe Willis, I think Florida will be up for the idea of a trade there. Or of course Santana, which would be great one two punch with Pedro playing the whole season next year (I hope)
Then there is Haren, I like his stuff as well.
And wait till you see the year both Maine and Perez are going to have

 

[Absolut]

sonny and Sausy if I may interrupt the fucking Mets and Yanks discussion...



totally kidding... &

anywho, you were right sonny. Scott Rolen and the Cardinals have a distinct possibility of parting ways for the 2008 season...

who will be my new husband to look at and drool over???

General manager John Mozeliak said Tuesday that the Cardinals are open to trading Scott Rolen and called it "a very delicate situation."
"We will explore every means available to explore it internally," Mozeliak said. "Another way to look at it is as a unique chance to better our situation. But it's not a situation where we move him just to move him." The St. Louis Post Dispatch reports that the Cardinals are shopping Rolen in large part because of his poor relationship with manager Tony La Russa. Rolen has three years and $36 million remaining on his contract, but would have waive his no-trade clause to get a deal done.

Is anyone really planning on paying that much??? Possibly....

 

[sonny10305]

Cory, Scott Rolen's relationship with manager Tony La Russa has been strained the last couple of years. Rolen wasn't happy when La Russa signed a two year agreement and hasn't really talked with La Russa since the All-Star break.
He is for sure not happy, I remember when he said he was in "baseball heaven" when he was traded to the Cardinals in 2002. The biggest problem is La Russa, but the cards seem to be unhappy with him as well. It my have started in May ‘05 when Rolen underwent shoulder surgery after that collision with that Dodgers first baseman. Plus wasn’t there some bull shit by the doctor who did the surgery, and that Rolen may not have been told how bad the shoulder was? I think Rolen was gonna sue before he had the second surgery.
Then there was that bullshit in 2006, when Rolen was taken out of the lineup by La Russa cause he was struggling. La Russa acted like a pussy and did not tell Rolen face to face, prolly afraid of how he would react. THAT did not go well. But Rolen survived, in fact, he played in, I think, every game of the NLCS and the World Series and there was like a ten-game hitting streak when the Cardinals won the World Series.
Rolan needs to stay in St Louis, and if he doesn’t, blame La Russa

 

[sonny10305]

I posted this in my Mets thread by mistake. Meant to put it here.

Looks like Mariano Rivera is getting close to making his deal after all. I heard today he is just about ready to finaly re-sign.

More A-Rod fallout for Boras, Kenny Rogers dumped him and is representing himself in his talks with the Tigers

 

[Sausy]

I posted this in my Mets thread by mistake. Meant to put it here.

Looks like Mariano Rivera is getting close to making his deal after all. I heard today he is just about ready to finaly re-sign.

More A-Rod fallout for Boras, Kenny Rogers dumped him and is representing himself in his talks with the Tigers

I was getting just a bit nervous after he took his time with the Yankee offer of three years,$45,000,000(God talking these stratospheric numbers is unreal!)and said he wanted a fourth guaranteed,like Posada.Thankfully he came to his senses!With him being 40 at the end of the deal,it's already a little optimistic he will be the consistent winner he has been...and last year he had his shaky streaks despite generally good year.The same with Posada...four years is a long time to guarantee a 40-year old catcher big money.But the Yankees could have wrapped them both up cheaper when it's conceivable they would have gotten a discount for extensions.They have to stop pushing their own free agents to the last second.

As for Boras,he's representing Mark Teixeira next year and had promised at least $20-25 million for seven years a few months back.Teixeira is great offensively and defensively,but now will teams restrain their bidding to spite Boras?I don't think Boras is crying over Kenny Rogers,one year removed from suckering the Giants to pay Barry Zito 126 million over seven years for complete mediocrity....he's still raking in his share of that contract.Boston really way overpaying for JD Drew,another great con job giving superstar money to a talented but inconsistent injury prone player.But now Boras has blustered and boasted and wound up biting off more than he can chew,seeing him being forced to eat humble pie is a gratifying sight.Let's see with Teixeira and other clients if Boras still has the magic,or is sputtering finding new tricks to pull out of his magic bag.

 

[sonny10305]

Piazza has not completely mad up his mind yet about retiring.
Colorado would be good for him if Torrealba was to leave. If Mike did play for the Rockies, he would prolly come cheap after all the injuries with Oakland. I Think if Mike stays in baseball he more likely to do it as a catcher for the Rockies than for Oakland. Piazza could provide some lightning in a bottle in part time duty with the Rockies while getting to catch in the National League again. Of course, more realistically we could see him in a Angels or Twins uniform. I just hope he continues to play. I would hate to se him gone.

Meantime it looks like Glavine has agreed to an $8 million, one year contract with the Braves. I wish him well, a real class act who never really clicked as a Met.
So today the AL MVP will be announced today. I am sure that A-Rod will win his second MVP award in three years
He hit about.315 with like 54 home run, I’m thinking it will unanimous. Love him or hate, him he had a very impressive season.

 

[sonny10305]

Looks like Mike Lowell is staying with the Boston Red Sox.
He supposedly reached a preliminary agreement on a $37.5 million, three-year contract.

A-Rod got AL MVP, no landslide, but close to it, he got 26 out 28 first place votes.
Ordonez got the other two.

 

[Sausy]

Looks like Mike Lowell is staying with the Boston Red Sox.
He supposedly reached a preliminary agreement on a $37.5 million, three-year contract.

A-Rod got AL MVP, no landslide, but close to it, he got 26 out 28 first place votes.
Ordonez got the other two.

Actually I'm glad that the Bosox re-upped Lowell.I may despise the team,but he is a great talent and quality person.

 

[sonny10305]

Manny is a done deal, the Yankees after Joe got fired were in a bit of a tailspin. It looked like a lot of guys were leaving as well. But things are looking better now. with A-Rod secured along with Rivera, Posada and Abreu.
With these guys set, typically their three, four and six hitters, the Yankees maybe now have the offense that led the game in runs and batting average and on base percentage. Hopefully Matsui is over his knee issues, and we will see if Giambi can stay upright and has anything left at all.

So what’s up with Pettitte, is he retiring? Coming back?

Rivera and Posada, will be together again.

 

[FH1999]

The Mets and Brewers made a trade yesterday:

Brewers get:

RHP Guillermo Mota

Mets get:

C Johnny Estrada

Speculation is that Miguel Cabrera might be traded to one of the LA teams soon for 4 players.

I'm a Cardinals fan and if I'm the Cardinals, I would try to get a trade done with the team that doesn't get Cabrera.

I've heard that the Cardinals are asking for Andy LaRoche and Scott Elbert from the Dodgers for Rolen. Rolen said he would waive his NTC, if he's traded to a contender.

I don't see David Eckstein returning to the Cardinals because he is looking for a 4 year/$36 million contract. I don't see the Cardinals paying him $9 million a year considering their needs for starting pitching help. I've heard that Jack Wilson from the Pirates might be available, if I'm the Cardinals I might look into a trade for him.

 

[chance1]

my 2 cents

yanks overpaid for rivera - 3 years at big money is nutty

posada too

wish arod woulda found another home

im a mets fan btw

glavine back to atlanta - duh - he did ok as a met but was not a ny er

lowell made himself a lotta dough with his season/playoff this year - he's suited for sox/fenway

sox r gonna be killer for years to come
ellison, pedroia, beckett, papelbon, youkilis, papi - sick team

glad the mets got rid of mota - he throws hard but str8 - and post steroids thing - he sucked

 

[sonny10305]

Estrada/Mota trade, the Mets clearly made a good deal here.
Trading a 6th or7th inning relief pitcher (Mota) for a switch hitting catcher I’d say they did well. Estrada hit around .300 the last couple of years, and was an all-star. Estrada spitting time with Castro works for me, One thing though, he comes with some injury concerns, Estrada underwent arthroscopic surgery in October to repair the torn medial meniscus in his left knee and also had a bone spur removed from his right elbow. I guess the Mets definatly traded up from LoDuca.
I also say, good riddance to Mota. He was a flat out disaster and posted dreadful numbers, with an ERA of like 6.00 AND, he positive for steroids. So he obviously was not the same pitcher without the steroids

I have no clue what the Brewers are thinking on this one, I know they’re desperate for pitching, but Mota?
For sure the Mets gotthe better of the deal here.


Jimmy Rollins won the National League MVP award
Well, as a Mets fan I have just one thing to say about that.

: Unfortunatly the vomit smiley was removed, cause this would be a perfect place to have put it.

 

[sonny10305]

So the winter meetings begin in Nashville on Monday.
Who will get Santana?

Omar Minaya, would like to get him but I think Santana is going to fetch something like the deal Zito got, and the Mets don't appear to have the resources necessary to compete with the Yankees, It will also cost em plenty, prolly Milledge or Gomea as well as Fernando Martinez, Pelfrey and Heilman.
Minaya will continue to look for a starting pitcher. what about Haren or Blanton.?

I can’t help but wonder where we would be if the Mets had not let Bannister go after that hamstring injury. In June 2007, Bannister was one of two major league pitchers to win 5 games, going 5-1 with a 2.75 ERA in six starts, including a streak of 18 innings without an earned run, and was named AL Rookie of the Month. He also received the same award in August after winning 4 games in the month.
He threw his first career complete game last year against the A's. He threw 73 strikes.!
I remember the last game he pitched for the Mets, he had gotten two doubles to help his own cause. I thought, gee, this guy can hit! Then just as those words left my lips he limped home to score with a badly strained hamstring.

The Yankees continue to talk to the Twins about Santana, question is just how badly do the Yankees want the him. When will Pettitte make up his mind.?.

If the Yankees believe Santana could be the difference between making the playoffs and making or winning the World Series, they might have to give up a little more than they'd like. But who?
We don’t yet know what the Twins want for Santana but names like Kennedy, Hughes, and Mllky Cabrera spring to mind.

The twins need to trade Santana before he becomes a free agent next year.
My guess is Santana will be in a Yankee uniform next year.
BUT, you never know what Omar has up his sleeve.

 

[syam24]

This is from today's Buster Olney column on espn.com:

The New York Mets apparently aren't out of the Johan Santana Sweepstakes, as the Minnesota Twins continue to ponder what to do with their free-agent-to-be pitcher.

Olney: Santana or Haren?

Teams looking for an ace this winter might be wiser to deal for the A's Dan Haren than the Twins' Johan Santana, both in terms of prospects and money, Buster Olney writes. Blog Insider

Mets general manager Omar Minaya has had talks with Twins GM Bill Smith, a major league executive with knowledge of the Twins' trade talks to 1050 ESPN New York's Andrew Marchand on Wednesday. The executive said the Mets shouldn't be counted out.

Earlier this week, New York Yankees senior vice president Hank Steinbrenner said that discussions between his team and Minnesota for Santana were ongoing but it was too early to tell whether they would lead to a deal. He did not detail how far talks had progressed.

"I don't want to get into that at this point, as far as what they want, what we're willing to give and all that," he said. "It's preliminary right now."

The Star Ledger of Newark, N.J., citing an unnamed source, reported Wednesday that the Yankees have made pitcher Joba Chamberlain and second baseman Robinson Cano off limits, in their negotiations for Santana.

The Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers and Angels also are thought to be interested in Santana, who is far better than any of the starting pitchers available on the free-agent market.

While other clubs, including the Yankees, have more top quality chips to deal, the Mets may have more of a willingness to include more top prospects, which could entice the Twins. A Mets trade for Santana would likely begin with Carlos Gomez, who could be a replacement for Torii Hunter, who agreed to a free-agent contract with the Los Angeles Angels.

Other starters the Mets are investigating are the A's Dan Haren and Joe Blanton and the Marlins' Dontrelle Willis.

 

[sonny10305]

Other starters the Mets are investigating are the A's Dan Haren and Joe Blanton and the Marlins' Dontrelle Willis.

Yeah I forgot to mention Willis, he is a real possibility.
The Marlins are a mess and I would like to see him outa there and join the Mets.

 

[Sausy]

I love Dan Haren,don't like Joe Blanton at all....high ERA,bad hits to innings ratio career wise,far lower potential.Dontrelle Willis ...he's intriguing and if the bad year he had last year can be considered a fluke,he's a real interesting possibility with his previous excellent seasons.I heard Roy Oswalt mentioned as available too....if it's possible,I'd consider him strongly as well.

I don't want to give up Hughes for Santana,but in five years the Yanks could get him back when he nears free agency....he's still only be 26,younger than Santana is now by 2 years.Cabrera would be a definite part of the trade after Torii Hunter left.Aaron Rowand is a free agent....problem conceivably solved.He also is a grinder Yankee fans will love,and a very good hitter with power.But the Yanks SERIOUSLY must get younger,cheaper and more athletic in the next year or so...too many guys already in their lineup 33+ going into next year.

I would not give up Ian Kennedy,who could be a young Mike Mussina reincarnation.Joba Chamberlain I think would best be a dominating closer,but not for the next three years during the duration of Mariano Rivera's new contract...put him in the rotation.

It's going to be a really exciting period starting with the rumors this weekend going through Monday-Thursday's winter meetings.Hopefully the Yankees and the Mets will add strong top pf the rotation ace types that would help improve their playoff chances and bring to one or both teams a World Series appearance in their last year in their present stadiums.

 

[sonny10305]

It's going to be a really exciting period starting with the rumors this weekend going through Monday-Thursday's winter meetings.Hopefully the Yankees and the Mets will add strong top pf the rotation ace types that would help improve their playoff chances and bring to one or both teams a World Series appearance in their last year in their present stadiums.

Sooooo which stadium is gonna host the final game of the 2008 Mets/Yanks WS?


Sorry Cory

 

[Sausy]

Sooooo which stadium is gonna host the final game of the 2008 Mets/Yanks WS?


Sorry Cory

I'm just hoping one of them gets there.I agree with Billy Wagner's asserrtion the Mets haven't done enough.....though his late season failures were certainly one of the problems in their collapse.Including Reyes in any trade would be too steep a price for the Met's future totally agree,even though he did regress badly the last part of the season.

 

[sonny10305]

I'm just hoping one of them gets there.I agree with Billy Wagner's asserrtion the Mets haven't done enough.....though his late season failures were certainly one of the problems in their collapse.Including Reyes in any trade would be too steep a price for the Met's future totally agree,even though he did regress badly the last part of the season.

Reyes never completly got over being pulled from the game when he failed to run on a ball he thought ws going to roll foul and ended up fair, he has had a bug up his ass ever since. BUT he needs to focus next year. He is one of the most exciting players in the game, he just needs to mature, he was helped a great deal by working with Rickey Henderson, as was HoJo. In addition, next year he must continue to hit right handed, I saw a lot of improvement when he switched from left. HoJo also taught him to be more patient at the plate and stop swinging at every pitch. Ryes can do it.

Did see Wagners interview the other day?

Talking about how much Glavin meant to the team and the loss of Lo Duca.
I don't think the front office or Willie were to happy with some of what he said. BUT, I think he was right on about many things. Just his timing was off, maybe better he said those thing in March. Also, since he was being so honest and up front about his feelings, maybe he should have mentioned all those saves he blew.
__________________

 

[sonny10305]

I am thinking more and more like the Yankees really need Santana.
As of now, the ’'08 team won’t be any better than the ’07 team. In fact if Pettitte does not come back, the ’08 team won’t even be as good as the ’07 team.
In addition, the Yankees need to keep Santana away from Boston,
imagine the one two punch of Beckett behind Santana.
Clearly Santana in a Red Socks uniform would be bad for the boys in pinstripes.