Basbeall Offseason Hot Stove thread...

[Newc]

Toronto GM J.P. Ricciardi is reported to be heading home today, so for any Giants fans out there, Rios is most likely not coming to a bay near you.

 

[daytonirish]

Man it just rips my heart out when other teams aren't as successful at meeting their off-season objectives as mine.

 

[HereComeTheIrish]

Toronto GM J.P. Ricciardi is reported to be heading home today, so for any Giants fans out there, Rios is most likely not coming to a bay near you.

There were some rumblings on the news last night that Cleveland may be a player for Rios...

I remember because the names Cliff Lee and Francisco Cabrera came up with relation to this possibility.

 

[Newc]

There were some rumblings on the news last night that Cleveland may be a player for Rios...

I remember because the names Cliff Lee and Francisco Cabrera came up with relation to this possibility.

Wow..that would be a big pickup for the Tribe, a bat like Rios could really help them out (not like they are in need of it though). With the Tigers move I wouldn't be surprised to seem some big deals in the AL Central now that the competition is heating up so much.

 

[Newc]

You know what, that Rios deal could potentially be huge. Gutierrez is not ready to be a full time outfielder but would make for a great utility player and with Michaels in left he could spell him for a few games as well. With Sizemore and Rios roaming center and right few balls would be allowed to drop into some of those crevices there in Cleveland. Just think, if the Tribe had a guy like Rios, would that ball Grady went after only to have it bounce off his glove after he laid out had been caught by a speedy right fielder potentially propelling the Tribe to the World Series??? I guess we'll never know.

 

[HereComeTheIrish]

Wow..that would be a big pickup for the Tribe, a bat like Rios could really help them out (not like they are in need of it though). With the Tigers move I wouldn't be surprised to seem some big deals in the AL Central now that the competition is heating up so much.

We'll take everything we can get at this point. This could get interesting.

 

[HereComeTheIrish]

You know what, that Rios deal could potentially be huge. Gutierrez is not ready to be a full time outfielder but would make for a great utility player and with Michaels in left he could spell him for a few games as well. With Sizemore and Rios roaming center and right few balls would be allowed to drop into some of those crevices there in Cleveland. Just think, if the Tribe had a guy like Rios, would that ball Grady went after only to have it bounce off his glove after he laid out had been caught by a speedy right fielder potentially propelling the Tribe to the World Series??? I guess we'll never know.

Agreed. Good post.

 

[Newc]

The AL Central will be the best division in baseball next year without a doubt. The competition is going to be insane.

 

[daytonirish]

HCTI, don't come on here and ruin my good day with news like that. But seriosly if the Tribe make that trade it will be a wild summer in the Central Div. And the wierd part is going to be when I see a thread about the Sox's on this site I'll be thinking of the ones with the white ones.

 

[Sureal]

Don't worry about the White Sox. They may make a little noise but not so much...

Good ole Ozzy will be a third base coach for the Pirates in '09.

 

[Newc]

Just to keep those hot stove fires burning: Per John Perrotto from Baseball Prospectus

3:30 p.m. ET: A Minnesota official said Wednesday that he is "99 percent sure" that left-hander Johan Santana will still be a Twin when the meetings end Thursday. The Twins still figure to deal Santana sometime before spring training, though it now seems no longer a complete lock that he will be traded to the Red Sox or the Yankees.

Blue Jays President Paul Godfrey created a stir when he was quoted in Tuesday's editions of the Toronto Globe & Mail as saying Toronto would like add a high-profile Canadian-born player, namely Baltimore left-hander Erik Bedard or Pittsburgh left fielder Jason Bay. However, a Blue Jays official said Wednesday that Toronto hasn't talked to either the Orioles or Pirates during the Winter Meetings, and dismissed the idea that either player is coming home to his native land.

Milwaukee and St. Louis have the framework of a deal set in which the Brewers would get third baseman Scott Rolen from the Cardinals for left-hander Chris Capuano. What is holding the deal up is haggling over other players that might included in the trade, and also how much, if anything, St. Louis will pay of the $36 million left on the final three years on Rolen's contract.

A five-player trade between Cleveland and Pittsburgh has been discussed, and while it likely won't go down in Nashville, the talks could be rekindled at some later date during the offseason. The Indians would send left-hander Cliff Lee, catcher Kelly Shoppach, and outfielder Franklin Gutierrez to the Pirates for Bay and catcher Ronny Paulino. However, the Pirates are said to prefer a young left-hander, either Aaron Laffey or Jeremy Sowers, in Lee's place.

 

[Newc]

That last little piece is interesting for you Cleveland fans (Walsh, HCTI). I'm sure you wouldn't mind seeing Jason Bay in a tribe uni and to be honest, subing Laffey in there for Lee wouldn't be a bad move either.

 

[daytonirish]

Hey maybe my Tigers can get Santana . What do you all think ?

 

[Sureal]

What a let down. I hate the offseason. Bump baseball.

 

[Newc]

Hey maybe my Tigers can get Santana . What do you all think ?

Well, nothing is impossible, but with the Tigers already unloading Miller and Maybin, they really have no one to offer the Twins and to be honest it is going to take a duo such as Miller and Maybin to bring in Santana.

I'm beginning to believe that Santana will be throwing opening day wearing a Twins uni.

 

[Sureal]

Crap.

Man I had my hopes up and look at this. I'm looking to see who we can pick up for a second starter. Not much out there...

 

[Newc]

Alright, just in case some of you haven't grown tired of my avatar and signature picture yet, I've got a little bit of new info from a trusted source who has been reliable from the Sons of Sam Horn site:

Just got an incredible rumor from a trusted New York sportswriter. Stay with me, because this one's crazy. But rest assured that if the source wasn't good, I wouldn't post it.

Minnesota has initiated talks for a three-way blockbuster with the Twins and A's. Here's how it would go down:

Mets send Jose Reyes, Kevin Mulvey, and Hector Pellot to A's
A's send Bobby Crosby and Dan Johnson to Mets
A's send Dan Haren to Twins
Twins send Johan Santana to Mets

Mets get Johan Santana, Bobby Crosby and Dan Johnson
A's get Jose Reyes and Kevin Mulvey
Twins get Dan Haren and Hector Pellot

The source says Haren is exactly the type of player the Twins want for Santana, a cheap frontline starter. It's known the Mets would hate to deal Reyes but they would get some value beyond Santana. Billy Beane is happy because he gets Reyes for one more year than he had Haren plus longtime favorite Mulvey. And, he's out of Crosby's contract.

This would effectively set the baseball world on fire if this were to go down. Supposedly, the guy who was able to find this info was the first to report the Tigers/Marlins trade and list all players involved. Any thoughts?

 

[onenybrother]

Alright, just in case some of you haven't grown tired of my avatar and signature picture yet, I've got a little bit of new info from a trusted source who has been reliable from the Sons of Sam Horn site:

Just got an incredible rumor from a trusted New York sportswriter. Stay with me, because this one's crazy. But rest assured that if the source wasn't good, I wouldn't post it.

Minnesota has initiated talks for a three-way blockbuster with the Twins and A's. Here's how it would go down:

Mets send Jose Reyes, Kevin Mulvey, and Hector Pellot to A's
A's send Bobby Crosby and Dan Johnson to Mets
A's send Dan Haren to Twins
Twins send Johan Santana to Mets

Mets get Johan Santana, Bobby Crosby and Dan Johnson
A's get Jose Reyes and Kevin Mulvey
Twins get Dan Haren and Hector Pellot

The source says Haren is exactly the type of player the Twins want for Santana, a cheap frontline starter. It's known the Mets would hate to deal Reyes but they would get some value beyond Santana. Billy Beane is happy because he gets Reyes for one more year than he had Haren plus longtime favorite Mulvey. And, he's out of Crosby's contract.

This would effectively set the baseball world on fire if this were to go down. Supposedly, the guy who was able to find this info was the first to report the Tigers/Marlins trade and list all players involved. Any thoughts?

The Mets Gm has stated all week that Jose Reyes is not being traded. This post is worthless.

 

[Newc]

Crap.

Man I had my hopes up and look at this. I'm looking to see who we can pick up for a second starter. Not much out there...

Haren is always out there, Bedard (though there is no way the Sox deal within the division) and Blanton have been talked about. And to think, Billy Beene has a HUGE crush on Youklis, sooooooo.....we could always go that route since the A's need outfield help. Coco, Youk and Masterson for Haren then turn around and deal Lester to Arizona for Connor Jackson straight up. Arizona is in BIGTIME need of a pitcher and I doubt they will win the Kuroda (Japanese pitcher) sweepstakes especially since its not a given he even wants to come to the states. This would give the Backs a starter they could plug into their rotation right away and we wouldn't have to worry about Lester coming back and biting us unless we see them in the World Series.

 

[daytonirish]

That trade would defenitly be huge. As far as the mets GM saying Reyes will not be traded. How many times have we heard something like that. You know , we have complete faith in our coach, so&so is untouchable, yada,yada,yada. I'll be waiting to see if this really happens. Hope so, gets Santana out of not only the A.L. but out of the Central. I say make the trade.

 

[Newc]

The Mets Gm has stated all week that Jose Reyes is not being traded. This post is worthless.

I wouldn't be surprised if he is. Minaya needs to make something big happen this offseason after that historical collapse and with Glavine gone that shotty rotation in NY is in big time need of a frontline starter.

If you were Omar would you be comfortable with Pedro (with injury problems and well past his prime), Oliver Perez, Orlando Hernandez, John Maine and Mike Pelfrey?? There isn't a solid #1 on the team. The Mets need to do something and if Reyes in the only thing that will bring back a top of the line starter then you have to atleast test the waters.


And besides, I don't think I would trust anything said by a baseball GM this time of the year.

 

[Newc]

Billy Beene has shot down the idea of the above blockbuster trade stating that the A's would not be improving their situation any. Sooooo...looks like the Johan Soap Opera will continue.

 

[ACamp1900]

Acamp, what do you think your boys are gonna do now? Do they go after Inge or try to deal for Rolen or do you just sit tight and stay with Howie playing third?

Rolen was never a real option from what I have heard... Inge is a last ditch paln D thing... they want Tejada first, A Ram now Second and I have heard whispers of trying to get Kahlil Greene from S.D. which is actually the trade I like... Howie Kendrick has never been seen as a third baseman... Brandon Wood is the kid who can play third...

They are shopping Chone Figgins in a deal for Aramais Ramirez (sp?) right now... i still feel pretty strong that Eck may be back with us this year too... though that's just my gut feeling...

 

[onenybrother]

I wouldn't be surprised if he is. Minaya needs to make something big happen this offseason after that historical collapse and with Glavine gone that shotty rotation in NY is in big time need of a frontline starter.

If you were Omar would you be comfortable with Pedro (with injury problems and well past his prime), Oliver Perez, Orlando Hernandez, John Maine and Mike Pelfrey?? There isn't a solid #1 on the team. The Mets need to do something and if Reyes in the only thing that will bring back a top of the line starter then you have to atleast test the waters.


And besides, I don't think I would trust anything said by a baseball GM this time of the year.

The man has stated through out the off season that Reyes, Wright and Beltran is off the table for any trade. The Met's will be opening up a new stadium next year. I dont see them trading ther most popular players on the field and merchandise selling. Your right we do need a top line starter, but so do about 28 other clubs. The Twins want to have it both ways. Dont spend none of your luxury tax money . Then try to fleece the league when there players about to come up for free agency.

 

[daytonirish]

ESPN is reporting that Andruw Jones has signed with the Dodgers.

 

[Newc]

ESPN is reporting that Andruw Jones has signed with the Dodgers.

Good pick up by the Dodgers. I knew Andruw wasn't going to get a 5 year deal, not after the year he just had, now Torre has a vet to roam center while they continue to develop some of their youngsters to take his place once Andruw's deal is up.

 

[Newc]

With Andruw off the market now, do Cameron and Rowand sign quickly?? Plenty of need out there still for a solid centerfielder and I'm really surprised that the White Sox have not already locked up Rowand as they are in dire need of a CFer.

 

[onenybrother]

With Andruw off the market now, do Cameron and Rowand sign quickly?? Plenty of need out there still for a solid centerfielder and I'm really surprised that the White Sox have not already locked up Rowand as they are in dire need of a CFer.

I think Cameron people is gonna wait until after Santana get settled. The Twins need a center field. The press here been saying that if Santana comes to the Stankees, then Cameron will be on there radar. Everbody feels that Melky Carbera will be part of that trade if it get made.

 

[onenybrother]

Wow what a rip job. Was he drunk.

Wow what a rip job. Was he drunk.

NASHVILLE • The Cardinals depart Opryland this afternoon with Scott Rolen still their third baseman. If that represents a problem, it belongs only to Rolen, according to his manager.

Speaking at length about a topic that has preoccupied the club this week, Cardinals skipper Tony La Russa on Wednesday laid responsibility for an ongoing impasse between him and the Gold Glove infielder squarely on Rolen’s shoulders, insisting that the club should not craft a trade merely to placate Rolen.

"Speaking for me ... there’s absolutely no intention to accommodate Scott," La Russa said. "I mean, that’s not how you run an organization. The idea is to accommodate the St. Louis Cardinals, our team, our responsibility to our players and to the competition. So, no, I don’t want to accommodate Scott."

La Russa and Rolen have not spoken at length since midway through last season. The manager sent a lengthy letter to Rolen shortly after the season but the correspondence was poorly received, leading to further erosion of a relationship that became strained in 2003 and has only deteriorated since.

Shortly after La Russa accepted a two-year, $8.5 million extension, Rolen notified general manager John Mozeliak he would relinquish his no-trade leverage if the club would ship him to a contender. The Cardinals approached a deal with the Milwaukee Brewers earlier this week but talks stalled, causing Mozeliak to predict Rolen’s return in 2008.

La Russa noted the club’s failed effort to move Rolen, saying, "if that deal isn’t one that helps us, (it) should not be made." Advertisement


La Russa’s comments spiced a day in which the Cardinals discussed the availability of several free agent pitchers,
including former AL Cy Young Award winner Bartolo Colon and Kris Benson. The club also retains interest in former Colorado Rockies pitcher Josh Fogg. Once loathe to add another health question to a staff with Chris Carpenter (elbow) and Mark Mulder (shoulder), the Cardinals now are trying to land a veteran to a short-term deal.

Colon has suffered a torn rotator cuff and elbow irritation since winning the 2005 AL Cy Young Award. Benson required shoulder surgery before appearing last season for the Baltimore Orioles, who declined a option $7.5 million option on the righthander for next season.

The Cardinals also have expressed interest in free agent center fielder Aaron Rowand. The Philadelphia Phillies no longer believe they have a chance to retain him.

To prepare for today’s major-league draft, the Cardinals have considered releasing outfielder So Taguchi after six seasons. The Cardinals declined to assume Taguchi’s option for next season but had the chance to go to arbitration with him. Taguchi’s agent, Alan Nero, requested his client’s release earlier in the week.

The Cardinals are also believed close to signing former Oakland A’s lefthanded reliever Ron Flores to a minor-league contract. Flores, 28, is the younger brother of Cardinals reliever Randy Flores. The younger Flores made 17 appearances last season for the A’s.

The team’s activity in the Opryland lobby became secondary news to their manager’s question-and-answer session, as Wednesday, La Russa publicly challenged Rolen during a interview that followed a managers’ luncheon. La Russa described the matter as "very personal."

"It’s very clear that he’s unhappy. And I’m making it clear that I don’t know why he’s unhappy," La Russa said. "I can make a list of 50 respect points that this man has been given by our organization. It’s time for him to give back."

Added La Russa: "He’s got a contract to play, and we need him to play. And he’s going to be treated very honestly.

"If he plays hard and he plays as well as he can, he plays. And if he doesn’t, he can sit. If he doesn’t like it, he can quit."

Wednesday’s remarks seemingly ended any hope for a diplomatic resolution. La Russa believed that possibility vanished when Rolen requested a trade. Mozeliak attempted to broker an uneasy truce without success.

Entering his 30th season as a major-league manager, La Russa said he has never deal with an issue that has baffled him so.
"I’ve said I was mystified, which I am. I’ve been managing a long time. I can’t remember ever being this bothered this much by any situation with any player," La Russa said.

La Russa polled his clubhouse during the season’s final two weeks to gauge support for his return. Rolen was the only dissenter, the manager said. Rolen, who has three years remaining on a contract extension signed in September 2002, has not publicly discussed the matter since leaving the club in September following shoulder surgery. However, Rolen has made clear to associates his frustration with La Russa’s handling of several matters, including his ongoing shoulder issues and what he perceives as double standards within the clubhouse.

La Russa said he does not know first-hand of any issue other than the handling of Rolen’s damaged shoulder in 2005, when the Cardinals attempted to have the player rehabilitate from injury and arthroscopic surgery. When Rolen’s recovery stalled, a Cincinnati orthopedist offered a more serious second opinion. Dr. Tim Kremchek, the Cincinnati Reds’ medical supervisor, performed reconstructive surgery on the shoulder after Rolen’s agents, Sam and Seth Levinson, threatened legal action in order to gain the club’s consent. Rolen prohibited a Cardinals team doctor from assisting during the procedure.

Kremchek also performed a clean-up procedure on the shoulder this Sept. 11.

"I know he had that first surgery by that Cincinnati doctor. Now suppose our guy had done it and he had to go back for a second surgery?" La Russa said. "Scott hasn’t been critical of the Cincinnati doctor. He just went in and did it, like nothing. If our guy had had to go back for a second surgery, based on his comments about the way it was handled, (the doctor) would have been crucified."

La Russa insists the Cardinals are a much better team with a healthy Rolen in the lineup because of support he provides No. 3 hitter Albert Pujols. However, Wednesday’s comments would seem to further complicate any further co-existence.

La Russa laid responsibility for making the situation work on Rolen.

"Based on what I’ve seen somewhere, I think (Rolen is) strong-minded enough that I don’t see his opinion changing on a personal basis. And it’s gotten to the point where I don’t care," La Russa said.

La Russa suggested that Rolen’s status as a player and as a teammate has "slipped," an assertion he also made in his letter to the player, according to a source familiar with it. "He can play mad every day if he wants to. That’s OK," La Russa said.
That possibility may increase, as Mozeliak admitted difficulty stoking the marketplace.

The Cardinals have approached several teams about Rolen but been frustrated in their attempts to acquire multiple players for him. The Brewers apparently drew the line at pitcher Chris Capuano. The Los Angeles Dodgers have an interest but were described by one team official Wednesday as "background noise."

 

[daytonirish]

Great way to get teams knocking on your door about a trade for Rolen. If I'm a GM I just sit back and wait for the remainder of the bottom falling out.I can't see Rolen playing for the card's next yr. after this.