This post is for all of MLB’s off-season trades and signings in the first week of free agency. How about Matt Holliday being traded to Oakland? Who will wind up with Jake Peavy? Will any other big named be dealt? Prince Fielder? Roy Oswalt? Roy Halladay? Once free agents hit the open market, who will be the first team to make a big splash? Who will end up with Manny, Tex, CC and K-Rod? Where do the Red Sox fit into all of this? Which Japanese stars will be coming to American, and where will they land? JBS brought up the possibility of the Sox signing Trevor Hoffman, would that be a good move? If not, how to improve the Sox ‘pen? This post is for discussion of all moves around major league baseball before and after they happen. Chime in on what you think may go down and share your opinions on transactions that are made. This is perhaps my favorite sport of all: hot stove baseball!Tuesday, November 11, 2008
MLB Trades & Free Agency
This post is for all of MLB’s off-season trades and signings in the first week of free agency. How about Matt Holliday being traded to Oakland? Who will wind up with Jake Peavy? Will any other big named be dealt? Prince Fielder? Roy Oswalt? Roy Halladay? Once free agents hit the open market, who will be the first team to make a big splash? Who will end up with Manny, Tex, CC and K-Rod? Where do the Red Sox fit into all of this? Which Japanese stars will be coming to American, and where will they land? JBS brought up the possibility of the Sox signing Trevor Hoffman, would that be a good move? If not, how to improve the Sox ‘pen? This post is for discussion of all moves around major league baseball before and after they happen. Chime in on what you think may go down and share your opinions on transactions that are made. This is perhaps my favorite sport of all: hot stove baseball!
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Still waiting for the Holliday deal to become official. Also interested to see if they are going to try and flip him to somebody else. If so it is basically Billy Beane thinking he could get more for Holliday than Colorado could. Interesting move.
2 Sox coaches are among 7 candidates for the Mariners managerial opening. Both DeMarco Hale and Brad Mills are going to interview. John Farrell declined to interview marking the 2nd year in a row he has refused to interview for a managing opening. He said that it was due to a commitment to his family and the Red Sox. I love him!
Also....
I read today that Giles didn't come to Boston because being traded voided his no-trade clause and Theo told his agent that it was "very likely" they would turn around and trade him after the season. So he had no problem coming to Boston but didn't know where that would leave him next. They appreciated Theo's honesty in the situation. Interesting.
First official deal has gone down:
The Nationals acquired left-handed starter Scott Olsen and power-hitting outfielder Josh Willingham from the Marlins on Tuesday in a five-player trade that sent second basemen Emilio Bonifacio and Jake Smolinski and right-hander P.J. Dean to the Marlins.
The 24-year-old Olsen's 30 wins over the past three seasons ranks second among pitchers 24 or younger, trailing only Tampa Bay's Scott Kazmir (35). Olsen, 8-11 with a 4.20 ERA in 33 starts in 2008, is expected to join John Lannan in the Washington rotation.
After posting consecutive 20-homer seasons (26 in 2006, 21 in '07), Willingham hit 15 in 102 games last season, averaging a home run every 23.4 at-bats. In moving to Nationals Park, Willingham will be playing in a facility where he hit three homers in just five games in '08.
Bonifacio, 23, hit .314 with 18 doubles, five triples, one homer and 32 RBIs in 95 games at the Triple-A level last season. Entering the 2008 season, he was tabbed by Baseball America as the fastest baserunner and best defensive infielder among Arizona farmhands. Dean, 20, went 4-1 with a 1.57 ERA in 10 starts at Class A Vermont, and Smolinski hit .261 at Class A Hagerstown.
Here's some players names that i would be ok with seeing in a Sox uniform..
sp-
A.J. Burnett
Ryan Dempster
Brad Penny
Derek Lowe (1 yr maybe 2)
Yu Darvish (Dice-K is working out well)
rp-
Kerry Wood
Will Ohman
Brandon Lyon
Brian Fuentes
c- (not alot available in FA market)
Tek (1 yr with an option)
1b-
Mark Teixeira
Kevin Millar (bench guy)
2b-
Ray Durham (back up Destroia)
3b-
Casey Blake
ss-
Nomar Garciaparra (back up Lowrie)
of-
Corey Patterson
Mark Kotsay
Scott Podsednik (SB guy)
Trot Nixon
Gabe Kapler
I chopped your list a bit GMAC, but well done...
sp-
A.J. Burnett
Brad Penny (if healthy)
Yu Darvish
rp-
Will Ohman
Brian Fuentes
c-
Tek (1 yr with an option)
1b-
Mark Teixeira
2b-
3b-
Casey Blake
ss-
of-
Mark Kotsay
Scott Podsednik (SB guy)
Interesting about Giles. Definitely shows that the Sox were well into planning mode for this off season, which is going to be awesome. I bet Belichick is hoping for big Sox news in the upcoming weeks to take any attention away from the depleted Pats.
Big Celts game tonight vs. the Hawks who look awesome. The Celtics inspired them to be better and listen to their coach. Should be a great game
....JBS, there will be a Celts post (as there is for every game) when I get home from work. Looking forward to it!
I agree that Theo is clearly having some long range thinking at all times, which is huge. The idea that he was already conceding that he'd probably deal Giles makes me think he's also thinking there is a decent chance of him keeping Coco around for another year. Just a thought. I think folks have written off the idea of him returning too quickly.
While I think the sox are entering the off season in relatively good shape, I do think a move has to be made.
Bottom line, we need a big bat. The Sox need to sign Tex. Big papi may be on the downside of his career, lowell may or may not be back in form and drew does not provide enough consistent power.
I did not like the manny trade, and made it clear I thought we would miss his power come October. The reality is that our offense was very average in the playoffs. While Bay played well in the playoffs, teams did not fear/pitch our line up in the same way they did with Manny.
While I would like to see the sox pick up a quality veteran pitcher, we NEED TEX PERIOD. We also need to grab from Texas one of their catchers.
Seeing Tex in a Boston red sox uniform would be HUGE. It would be akin to when we acquired Manny from Cleveland. We would be getting a quality switch hitting, gold glove fielding first baseman who is JUST entering the prime of his career. Break the bank, it is worth it.
On a side note, anyone notice how white the sox have become in a short amount of time. Jacoby Ellsbury could potentially be the only minority starting for the Sox in the field.
This became official today:
Oakland acquired OF Matt Holliday from the Colorado Rockies in exchange for RHP Huston Street, LHP Greg Smith and OF Carlos Gonzalez.
The A's certainly gave up a lot, but I am still of the belief that they are planning to flip Holliday. Trading younger, cheaper talent for 1 guy just isn't the A's way of doing business.
Dave, all good point and I love the idea of getting Tex in Boston. But how much are you willing to spend to get him? You say go all out, but does that mean $150 million for 7/8 years? That may be what it takes.
Also, Theo LOVES Lars Anderson and I can't see him clogging up the 1B slot when a young, cheap option is so close to the majors.
Tex can only play 1B or DH...and all of a sudden you'd have Youk, Anderson, Lowell, Ortiz all clogging up corner and DH positions.
I'm not saying we can't make something happen, but in order to do so we either need to now Lowell is done or work out a deal for him. There is also the option of trading Youk but I'd recommend against that in a BIG way.
Signing Tex would make Anderson available to deal (with Lowell?) for some pitching. Just a thought.
The A's are effectively renting Holliday. If they make a good run, great, but if they dont they trade him to a contender in July.
With regards to signing Tex, the obvious move is that we trade lowell and eat part of his salary. Sad to lose such a quality guy, but he is at the end of his career.
We can then bring up lars and have him play DH/1B when david and tex need a days off.
In terms of what I would pay him, I would offer him a manny-esque contract. This guy is that good and you are getting him as he is entering prime. Our infield would be set for the next decade.
I say we offer Lowell a deal to make him a player/coach - but he has to be a backup player - then sign Tex.
stupid...yes.
Two trades to report on Thursday:
Chicago Cubs
Acquired RHP Kevin Gregg from the Florida Marlins in exchange for RHP Jose Ceda.
New York Yankees
Acquired INF/OF Nick Swisher and RHP Kanekoa Texeira from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for INF Wilson Betemit and RHPs Jeff Marquez and Jhonny Nunez.
Interesting to see whether or not acquiring Swisher takes the Yanks out of the bidding for Tex. It likely does, meaning they will be using their cash to make a run at CC.
Cubs are not re-signing Kerry Wood as reported today from the org. So they are definitely going with Marmol as closer and Gregg as setup. This also shows a big time push for Peavy in the next few days.
I really want Tex! dave sold me on his post. We have the money
See that Schilling would be willing to pitch for AZ? Hilarious
No deals yesterday. With the first day of free agency the GMs were probably busy making contact with agents to express interest.
Looks like the Yanks are going to be making CC the highest paid pitcher ever if he's interested. Does Sabathia in the Bronx for the next 7 years scare people?
trevor hoffman seemed legitimately hurt that the padres dont want him back. seems like he should know sports in a business by now but maybe not since hes been with the team for so long. i dont want him on the sox but i did sort of feel bad for him
How do you feel about sending Lugo to Detroit for Nate Robertson or Dontrelle Willis?
Is that a rumor or is that just something you're throwing out there GMAC? We have $18 million for 2 years on Lugo, so I'd be happy to take back anyone that is less than that. I'd imagine Robertson is.
Not a rumor i read it from mlb.com..here's the article.
Red Sox, Tigers talking Lugo deal
Willis or Robertson could reportedly be headed to Boston
The Tigers are looking for shortstop help, and may have the Red Sox's Julio Lugo on their radar screen.
The Boston Globe reported on Sunday that Detroit is contemplating a deal with Boston to send either left-hander Nate Robertson or left-hander Dontrelle Willis to Boston for Lugo, but that some money issues would have to be resolved.
Lugo, who turned 33 on Sunday, hit only .139 with runners in scoring position last year, but the Tigers might have visions of Lugo delivering a strong bounce-back season with a fresh start.
Lugo appeared in just 82 games in 2008 and was lost for the season when he suffered a severly torn left quadriceps on July 11. He posted a . 268 average with one home run and 22 RBIs. Lugo also struggled defensively, committing 16 errors in 292 total chances.
The Red Sox might have the same notions about Robertson or Willis bouncing back in 2009. Boston has been known to take chances on reclamation project pitchers, including Bartolo Colon and Wade Miller.
Willis, who was traded last offseason to the Tigers in a blockbuster trade with the Marlins, was 0-2 with a 9.38 ERA in just eight games with Detroit. The Tigers eventually demoted Willis to the Minors on June 10, and he returned to make three September starts, going 0-1 with a 8.53 ERA.
Robertson was 7-11 with a 6.35 ERA in 32 games (28 starts) with Detroit. The southpaw recorded 108 strikeouts and issued 62 free passes over 168 2/3 innings.
Robert Falkoff is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Salary info for the 3 mentioned players.
Nate Robertson- 2008 salary $4,250,000($21.25 million over 3 years agreed to Jan 08)
Dontrelle Willis- 2008 salary $7,000,000($29 million over 3 years agreed to Dec 2007)
Julio Lugo- 2008 salary $9,250,000($36 million over 4 years agreed to Dec 2006)
If a trade goes down with either of these guys the Sox shouldnt have to pay any of Lugo's salary, as bad as he was he was better than both of these guys last year.
Japan league drafts 16-year-old girl. She apparently wants be be a knuckleballer like Wake.
i know its not MLB but i found it interesting the a pro league in Japan drafted a 16 yr old girl.
I think JBS got in trouble for drafting a 16 year old Japanese girl to give him a 5-knuckle shuffle.
Amazing that it was just one year ago today that we were all celebrating Mike Lowell's signing...and now we are are keeping our fingers crossed we can sign Tex and replace him. Funny how quickly things can change in the world of sports.
CATCHING UP ON PLAYER MOVEMENT....
11/15 - NYY sell Darrell Rasner to Japanese League
11/17 - First free agent signing! SF inks P Jerermy Affeldt to 2-year deal
11/18 - Cubs sign Ryan Dempster to 4 year $52m contract.
This is big news because Dempster was likely the #4 starter on the market, meaning $13m/year is the starting point for D-Lowe now. It also puts AJ Burnett in the $16-$18 range.
11/19 - BOSTON TRADES COCO CRISP TO KC FOR RP RAMON RAMIREZ.
As stated on the Top 5 post, this could mean more in terms of what it means to the futures of Ellsbury (obviously) as well as Jedi Masterson perhaps.
One trade today...
Phillies traded OF Greg Golson to the Rangers for OF John Mayberry.
Jayson Stark has 40 MLB rumors on his latest blog on ESPN.com.
Not one of them involves the Sox.
Weird.
Gotta love Tek showing up with Tex at the Georgia Tech v. Miami game last night.
Boras is fing strategic it is unbelievable.
Nick Cafardo today suggested that the Sox may sign Rocco Baldelli as their 4th outfielder. I'd be in favor of it.
I'd take Baldelli as a back up, he'd be a starter if he didnt have that strange condition that makes him tired.
I'm starting to get slightly antsy from all of the nothing going on at the moment. Tex said he hopes to have his situation settled by Christmas Eve...does he really expect me to wait an entire month!
not sure if its true but i hear on weei today that the sox offered tek a 1 year deal. i would be okay with that even if they paid $10 mil for him. i know dk said this before but im just not sure what the alternative would be
if the angels jump in on cc like they are saying would that mean they are out on tex?
I think the angels and yankees are both posturing publicly and both intend to make a VERY real run at Texiera.
The theory is that by talking down the market, teams like the sox will low ball him and then they can step in with the big offer.
Junichi Tazawa to sign with the Boston Red Sox w/in the week. Tazawa will be the third pitcher to come from Japan to the Red Sox current roster, but has no pro experience.
So we'll have Dice-K, Oki and Taz
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