08-09 Offseason: Minor Moves

[BoSox21]

he had a .192 OBP against lefties last year, not a bad lefty specialist

[Dipre]

He held lefties to a .192 OBP last year' date=' not a bad lefty specialist[/quote']

 

Fixed that for ya.

 

And indeed, he OWNS left-handed batting.

[26 to 6]

I knew it. I had been arguing that for a while on the ESPN boards and nobody ever brought that point up. Nobody ever corrected me' date=' and I guess that's because I was right. People were still insisting that the Yankees were going to get Sheets or Ramirez etc and I said that I didn't think it could happen.[/quote']

Ehhh, sorry. They are allowed to sign up to 8. Barry Bloom, the same guy who suspected that they couldn't sign more than 3 later reported that a team is allowed to sign up to 8 Type A or B free agents this offseason.

 

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/01/yankees-reach-f.html

[riverside sluggers]

http://masnsports.com/2009/02/it.html

 

Orioles acquire Rich Hill for a PTBNL

[BSN07]

http://masnsports.com/2009/02/it.html

 

Orioles acquire Rich Hill for a PTBNL

 

This is a nice deal for the O's. Hill up until last season, was thought to be an up an coming LHP. This is a nice low risk hi reward type of trade.

[Cocos Disciples]

Aww man, does that push Pauley out of the rotation?

[BoSox21]

Aww man' date=' does that push Pauley out of the rotation?[/quote']

 

Was just gonna ask the same thing. That Schmuck who projected their rotation had Looper instead of Hill in it though so maybe not

[riverside sluggers]

http://home.kyodo.co.jp/modules/fstStory/index.php?storyid=421720

40 year old Ken Takahashi signs a minor league deal with the Blue Jays

 

 

Athletics acquired RHP Michael Wuertz from the Cubs for outfielder Richie Robnett and infielder Justin Sellers.

The A's get a solid reliever for two prospects they're not likely to miss. Wuertz, 30, will remind A's fans of Kiko Calero with the way he constantly uses his slider. He's managed to stay healthy so far, and he should prove to be pretty useful in the sixth and seventh innings as part of a bullpen also set to include Joey Devine, Brad Ziegler, Russ Springer, Jerry Blevins and Santiago Casilla.

 

The A's bullpen will be tough to face this season

 

 

SI.com's Jon Heyman says the Mets and Oliver Perez on the verge of completing a deal.

Heyman isn't sure about the numbers involved, but he says the Mets did discuss offering Perez a three-year, $36 million contract.

The Blue Jays are believed to have offered Kevin Millar a minor league deal.

Millar is willing to accept a bench role, and Toronto would be a good fit for him, with the declining Lyle Overbay at first base and the inexperienced Travis Snider likely set to start. The offer might give him his best chance of getting 350 at-bats.

[Cocos Disciples]

Was just gonna ask the same thing. That Schmuck who projected their rotation had Looper instead of Hill in it though so maybe not

 

Only if they sign Looper, though.

[Keeper]

Hill has good stuff. His curveball is pretty nasty. But he has zero command.

[BoSox21]

wow, 12 mil a year for Perez

[diony]

Amazing offseason for the Rays.

 

Pat Burrell: 2 years, $16 million.

Gabe Kapler: 1 year, 1 million

Brian Shouse: 2 years, X million

Joe Nelson: 1 year, 1 million

Acquired Matt Joyce for Edwin Jackson.

 

That's doing so much for so little.

[Keeper]

Agreed, very efficient. The Blue Jays won 86 games last year and finished 4th in the AL East. Your division is insanely competetive.

[BoSox21]

Manny turned down LA's 1/25 offer. Apparently pissing off your only suitor is a good idea these days

[riverside sluggers]

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/9173224/Source:-Orioles,-Wigginton-reach-two-year-deal

 

Ty Wigginton signs a 2 year deal with the O's, I like the signing by them. Offseason they have had compared to Toronto's, I def see them finishing above the Blue Jays

[Dipre]

Amazing offseason for the Rays.

 

Pat Burrell: 2 years, $16 million.

Gabe Kapler: 1 year, 1 million

Brian Shouse: 2 years, X million

Joe Nelson: 1 year, 1 million

Acquired Matt Joyce for Edwin Jackson.

 

That's doing so much for so little.

 

The Rays' bench is filthy now, and they've also solidified their bullpen, not to mention adding a middle-of-the-order bat, so they've actually become a lot more dangerous this off-season.

 

Yet no one talks about them.

[26 to 6]

After being DFA'd following the Pettitte signing Chase Wright has been traded to Milwaukee for OF/C Eric Fryer. The Brewers also added former Yankee (and Red Sox) RAMIRO MENDOZA, who last pitched professionally in 2006 pitching for Columbus in the the Yankee organization prior to the move of the AAA team to Scranton. He last appeared in the bigs in 2005 pitching in 1 game during a September callup with us. I'm really pulling for him to make the Brewers and contribute. He is on Panama's preliminary roster for the WBC, but whether he makes the final roster or chooses to just go to Spring Training and focus on making the Brewers remains to be seen.

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090204&content_id=3797480&vkey=hotstove2008&fext=.jsp&partnerId=rss_mlb

[riverside sluggers]

The Rays' bench is filthy now, and they've also solidified their bullpen, not to mention adding a middle-of-the-order bat, so they've actually become a lot more dangerous this off-season.

 

Yet no one talks about them.

 

plus swapping Edwin Jackson for David Price in the rotation

[Cocos Disciples]

Ryan Howard signed a 3/54 extension. I would have taken it year by year if I'm the Phils. I doubt he's worth 20MM in 2011.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3892759

[italstallianion]

Especially since the trends for the past 3 years aren't looking so nice...

[Keeper]

He's 29. He hits 45+ HRs a year and drives in 135+ RBIs a year. I'd say he's worth every penny. Before last year, his OBP was very good, too.

[Dipre]

He's 29. He hits 45+ HRs a year and drives in 135+ RBIs a year. I'd say he's worth every penny. Before last year' date=' his OBP was very good, too[/b'].

 

He might bounce back in the OBP category as well if he can get a decent April and May, since Howard is a notoriously slow starter.

[Cocos Disciples]

Ryan Howard seems like the classic case of BMS. Think Boog Powell, think Mo Vaughn. When he's good, he's really good, but that's gonna end quickly. His strikeout rate, contact rate and walk rate all have gone down over the past couple years. He's relying solely on his power for his value, and when that drops at all, he's toast.

[TheKilo]

Ryan Howard seems like the classic case of BMS. Think Boog Powell' date=' think Mo Vaughn. When he's good, he's really good, but that's gonna end quickly. His strikeout rate, contact rate and walk rate all have gone down over the past couple years. He's relying solely on his power for his value, and when that drops at all, he's toast.[/quote']

 

Fantastic post, exactly my thoughts....except I think you're referring to "old player skills" and not "Big Man Syndrome".

[Keeper]

I agree to the extent that as soon as Howard's power drops off his value will be significantly diminished. But I don't see that happening in the next 3 years.

[riverside sluggers]

Once he hits FA, he needs to head to the AL

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

Andruw Jones to the Rangers, MiL deal.

 

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3892693

[riverside sluggers]

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/cardinals/story/32EA0199DADBAD4E86257558006575D7?OpenDocument

 

Cards release 2B Adam Kennedy. I think they should sign Orlando Hudson

[26 to 6]

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/cardinals/story/32EA0199DADBAD4E86257558006575D7?OpenDocument

 

Cards release 2B Adam Kennedy. I think they should sign Orlando Hudson

Me too. He'd be a good fit in St. Louis.

 

The Dodgers invited Jeff Weaver to spring training to compete for a spot in the bullpen.

http://hotstove.mlblogs.com/archives/2009/02/dodgers_sign_jeff_weaver.html

 

Nice to see him and Torre reunited

[msubulldogs21]

The Cardinals definitely need to sign the O-Dawg, but I doubt they will. They're penny pinchers these days. I heard they're looking to promote somebody from within at 2B.