2008-09 MLB Offseason Thread

[RaiderInNY]

Yeah, I just don't understand the Angels approach in all of this. Now you hear that if they can't get Teixeira, they'll go hard after Manny.

I am not getting my hopes up on C.C. I know that the Yankees will do whatever they can in terms of compensation, but it scares me whenever I hear that crap about "friends saying he'd prefer the west coast/NL, likes hitting, etc." I know that after the season, he said that he'd play anywhere, but you don't know what's true and what isn't. I've heard that the Yankees intend to offer him a 6 year/$150M contract. That trumps Santana's contract, and not one team would come remotely close to that offer. We'll see. As I've always said, if deep down he doesn't wanna come here, I wouldn't want him anyway.



The Mets have to go for K-Rod, I think. Can't let Wagner dictate the way they think. He improves their weakest area big time. It really seems like a match made in heaven. Just like Teixeira and Sabathia being the perfect fit for the NYY, K-Rod is for the Mets. Lowe would be nice for the Mets too. You interested in Burnett? Manny? I can't believe that the Mets won't be involved in the Manny sweepstakes at all. They need OF help too.

I don't like Burnett's make-up, and it seems like the only time she has very good years, they come on his walk year of his contract. I'll be leery of giving that guy any type of multi-year deal. Plus, he is injury prone, I'm not forgetting about that. I can totally see him inking a 4-5 year deal, and being on the DL for half the season with tendinitis. A move back to the NL would probably help, but he is looking to cash in and with age, and the way he throws, I would be scared to fork over the cash.

I would rather settle in on Lowe or even bring back O.Perez, who himself is looking to cash in on his age, potential and being on the right track again. Look, I like Ollie, but his agent is going to try to get him a dump load of coin, and Minaya what type of pitcher he is. He won't overspend on Perez.

As for Manny; if you tell me you can have Manny for 2-seasons and $20+ Mill. and he'll be happy, I'm down. Put him in the OF with Church, Beltran and have Chavez on the bench with Tatis -- no problem. But the guy wants 4-years. And I dont blame him. Plus, the Mets dont play in the AL, where they can afford to put him at DH. He has to be out there. And 3 years, 4 years down the line, how do I know he is not going to pull off the same crap he did in Bos., and whether or not he'll be a huge liabilty out there on the field on a game-to-game basis. Heck, maybe you can give him the 4-years, try to win in the next two with him, and then move him to the AL in his final two years...I dont know.


If they could somehow put together a deal for Jenks and Dye and bring them both in, that would kill two birds with one stone. Give up their top OF prospect, Heilman (which many teams covet, God knows why) and some other ML.

I know they like Ibanez and a guy like Church could be traded this off-season to make room for someone out there next to Beltran.

[Jigeneh]

I don't like Burnett's make-up, and it seems like the only time she has very good years, they come on his walk year of his contract. I'll be leery of giving that guy any type of multi-year deal. Plus, he is injury prone, I'm not forgetting about that. I can totally see him inking a 4-5 year deal, and being on the DL for half the season with tendinitis. A move back to the NL would probably help, but he is looking to cash in and with age, and the way he throws, I would be scared to fork over the cash.

I would rather settle in on Lowe or even bring back O.Perez, who himself is looking to cash in on his age, potential and being on the right track again. Look, I like Ollie, but his agent is going to try to get him a dump load of coin, and Minaya what type of pitcher he is. He won't overspend on Perez.

As for Manny; if you tell me you can have Manny for 2-seasons and $20+ Mill. and he'll be happy, I'm down. Put him in the OF with Church, Beltran and have Chavez on the bench with Tatis -- no problem. But the guy wants 4-years. And I dont blame him. Plus, the Mets dont play in the AL, where they can afford to put him at DH. He has to be out there. And 3 years, 4 years down the line, how do I know he is not going to pull off the same crap he did in Bos., and whether or not he'll be a huge liabilty out there on the field on a game-to-game basis. Heck, maybe you can give him the 4-years, try to win in the next two with him, and then move him to the AL in his final two years...I dont know.


If they could somehow put together a deal for Jenks and Dye and bring them both in, that would kill two birds with one stone. Give up their top OF prospect, Heilman (which many teams covet, God knows why) and some other ML.

I know they like Ibanez and a guy like Church could be traded this off-season to make room for someone out there next to Beltran.

Actually, the Mets are in a position where they can pass on a high ceiling pitcher. I tend to forget sometimes that they have an ace for the foreseeable future. Other than Maine, who would you fill out the rest of the rotation with, including FAs? I know Lowe, but who else?

Do you see a reason that the White Sox would be willing to trade Jenks?

And I have no idea what Manny will settle for at this point. He is an enigma. I know what he is looking for, but I have no idea where he would like to play ideally, if he wants to go back to the AL, wants to stay in the NL, west coast, east coast, or anything. The guy has no allegiance whatsoever it seems.

[Jigeneh]

Meh, for what it's worth...

Yanks To Make Offer To Sabathia Tomorrow: MLB Rumors - MLBTradeRumors.com

Yanks To Make Offer To Sabathia Tomorrow
By Tim Dierkes [November 13, 2008 at 10:46am CST]

According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the Yankees will "aggressively extend a proposal" to C.C. Sabathia tomorrow. He believes the Yankees will go to "a financial region that no other franchise would even consider" to lure the ace. Sherman's guess is an initial bid in the six-year, $150MM range (and that may not be the final offer).

If the Yankees are successful in signing Sabathia, they hope to add A.J. Burnett or Derek Lowe next.

And as for the Angels...

Angels will let K-Rod go; Arte Moreno likes Manny Ramirez - Los Angeles Times

Angels will let K-Rod go; Arte Moreno likes Manny Ramirez
Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times

Francisco Rodriguez is one of the top right-handed relievers in the game, but the Angels appear to have exhausted their efforts to retain the free agent.
Angels owner indicates that Ramirez could be pursued if the team can't sign Teixeira.

The chances of the Angels retaining record-setting closer Francisco Rodriguez went from slim to virtually none today, with owner Arte Moreno saying, "We're turning the page on this one."

Moreno did not rule out the possibility of the Angels pursuing Dodgers slugger Manny Ramirez if they are unable to sign free-agent first baseman Mark Teixeira, who is the team's top priority this winter.

[trur8r]

Imagine the Angels signing Manny away from the Dodgers. That will be crazy. But the Dodgers slept on Vladdy when the Angels picked him up in 04 and things might repeat themselves again. If I was the Angels I would rather sign Texeira though.

[trur8r]

I give the Angels credit for not bringing K-Rod back. Don't be fooled by the record saving statistic. The guy is a roller coaster on the mound and not worth all that money he wants. If I'm the Angels i will let Arredondo close.

[Jigeneh]

ESPN - Sources: New York Yankees acquire Nick Swisher from Chicago White Sox

Sources: Yankees acquire Swisher for minor leaguer

By Jerry Crasnick
ESPN.com
(Archive)

Updated: November 13, 2008, 3:48 PM ET

The New York Yankees have acquired center fielder-first baseman Nick Swisher in a trade with the Chicago White Sox, baseball sources tell ESPN.com.

Minor league pitcher Jeff Marquez is headed to Chicago in the deal, the source said. It's uncertain if any other players are involved.

Swisher, 27, hit .219 with 24 home runs in 153 games with Chicago this season.

Jerry Crasnick covers Major League Baseball for ESPN.com.

Hmmm, not a bad under the radar trade for the Yankees. Swisher provides OF depth at least, power, OBP, and is a good clubhouse guy. And Marquez is not a bad price IMO. He has been a volatile prospect and the Yanks have a ton of pitching talent in the minors making him expendable.

[Clubber Lang]

I like this deal, I can't wait for the vault to open tomorrow and see what the Steinbrenners do next.

[BillyJoeHobert]

Imagine the Angels signing Manny away from the Dodgers. That will be crazy. But the Dodgers slept on Vladdy when the Angels picked him up in 04 and things might repeat themselves again. If I was the Angels I would rather sign Texeira though.

The Dodgers didn't sleep on Vladdy. Vlad actually signed with the Dodgers and the owners said they would not approve the signing because the sale of the team wasn't complete. Anyway, who cares, Vlad is one of the most overrated players in baseball history.

[trur8r]

The Dodgers didn't sleep on Vladdy. Vlad actually signed with the Dodgers and the owners said they would not approve the signing because the sale of the team wasn't complete. Anyway, who cares, Vlad is one of the most overrated players in baseball history.

Do you have a link for that? Because I never heard that in my life and NO he's not overrated. I would take him any day of the week over any player the Dodgers currently have.

[josdown]

I hear the Yanks offered C.C 136 million for 6 years. If he doesn't take that then he will either be a Dodger or Angel IMO.

[JRaider17]

CC... just sign!

[Jigeneh]

Apparently, the talks between the Padres and Braves/Cubs have broken off. Now Towers is turning his attention to the Yankees and Angels to see if they can work out a trade for Peavy.

With the Yankees, I would have to guess that any deal would have to involve Phil Hughes as the centerpiece. Like last year, if I were in charge of the Yankees, I would do it in a heartbeat. Now, the huge difference between these negotiations and last year's involving the Twins' GM is that first, the two teams are in different leagues, and second, Cashman and Towers supposedly have a very good relationship.

So, IMO, there is a bit more of a possibility of a potential Pads/Yanks trade going down versus a potential Twins/Yanks trade going down last year.

Oh, and C.C., how long does it take to "mull" over the richest contract proposal EVER given to a pitcher? I am starting to get turned off to the idea of Sabathia on the NYY.

[BillyJoeHobert]

Do you have a link for that? Because I never heard that in my life and NO he's not overrated. I would take him any day of the week over any player the Dodgers currently have.

The ugliness in his game is grossly exposed in the playoffs. If he had more holes in his swing, he'd fall through. Regular season pitching plays right into his strength. Besides, his body is about 40 years old.

The Dodgers should have fired that damn GM, but I guess he's not trading Russ Martin now. They better get on the ball and get CC, Manny, Tex, or someone. Spend some damn money, especially while the division guts itself.

[trur8r]

The ugliness in his game is grossly exposed in the playoffs. If he had more holes in his swing, he'd fall through. Regular season pitching plays right into his strength. Besides, his body is about 40 years old.

The Dodgers should have fired that damn GM, but I guess he's not trading Russ Martin now. They better get on the ball and get CC, Manny, Tex, or someone. Spend some damn money, especially while the division guts itself.

As a Dodger fan I would agree that he had choked in the playoffs before but he came through this year. He did pretty good against Boston and his knees are all f*cked up because of his days in Montreal and playing in that AstroTurf. Dodgers need to bring in C.C. or Manny back because I wouldn't be surprised like I said Arte spending the money to take the limelight away from the Dodgers again.

[BillyJoeHobert]

As a Dodger fan I would agree that he had choked in the playoffs before but he came through this year. He did pretty good against Boston and his knees are all f*cked up because of his days in Montreal and playing in that AstroTurf. Dodgers need to bring in C.C. or Manny back because I wouldn't be surprised like I said Arte spending the money to take the limelight away from the Dodgers again.

All he did in the Boston series was hit singles. No power because Boston knows how to put him away too well. That's why he's crap in the playoffs, his swing is ugly as hell. CC isn't going to be a Dodger, the Yankees are showing they don't even want to negotiate. Colleti isn't shelling out $140 mil because he only likes signing ****ty players to short, inflated deals.

I think we should sign Adam Dunn. He's not as dangerous as Manny, but he'll be half the price and is an OPS machine. That leaves money go go after Furcal, Orlando Hudson, and maybe even a big time starting pitcher.