Official 2009-2010 Hot Stove season thread

[Dipre]

Is Phillips good enough to play SS?

 

I think there's a reason why the Reds haven't tried playing him there consistently. So i'm gonna go with no.

[BSN07]

I'd go after Miguel Cabrera, at least as one of a number of options. Even if his defense tanks like some seem to think it will (I see no reason to believe it must), he's an elite bat and has demonstrated in the past that he can tolerate a move into the outfield.

 

He's about on par with Jason Bay in left field, if you're willing to pay Bay you should be willing to pay for the same or better production in a body 5 years younger.

 

That said, the Tigers really haven't showed any signals that they're really thinking of packing it in at the moment and haven't really thrown out any obvious signals that they're considering blowing it up. They'd like to shed salary I'm sure, but shedding it by getting rid of their best player isn't probably what they have in mind.

 

I think there's a reason why the Reds haven't tried playing him there consistently. So i'm gonna go with no.

 

Fair enough. Just curious.

[BSN07]

Same-division dealing won't be a big factor for new Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos, according to Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald. Said Anthopoulos:

 

That will never be a stumbling block, if we get the return that we feel, no matter what player it is. We're trying to worry about the Toronto Blue Jays and what makes us a better team.

 

 

A comment like that tends to fuel the fire regarding rumors that the Red Sox or Yankees will have interest in Roy Halladay. Indeed, SI's Jon Heyman just tweeted that the Yanks plan to inquire.

[jacksonianmarch]

I would definitely inquire, but I wouldnt go overboard. Halladay is an awesome pitcher, but we do not need to empty the farm for him, and we would really need to empty the farm.

[ehaz]

Apparently the Sox are kicking the tires on Dan Uggla. Why? They supposedly would want him to play LF, and he hasn't played in the outfield since 2004.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/10353396/Wednesday%27s-buzz-from-the-GM-meetings

Curtis Granderson is also apparently available (same link). So here's two new trade options as potential Bay replacements. Granderson in CF, Jacoby in LF. Uggla in LF, Ellsbury CF.

[ehaz]

Red Sox met with Boras today about Matt Holliday:

[ehaz]

Billy Wagner open to accepting arbitration offer: http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20091111&content_id=7651524&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

[TheMino007]

I'd love to have Wagner back, guy has proved that he he still has it. Could be an 8th inning guy and would close when Papelbon needs rest. I like that the Sox are exploring alternate options with the whole LF situation and not just targeting Bay and Holliday. Did I hear somewhere that Miggy Cabrera could play LF?

[BoSox21]

Did I hear somewhere that Miggy Cabrera could play LF?

 

This is the time of year where you hear anything and everything.

[TheMino007]

I could see the Reds maybe trading Joey Votto if the Sox took on a big contract in addition to him, someone like Bronson Arroyo or Aaron Harang. The Reds do have Yonder Alonso coming up, so maybe they would be more open to trading Votto. But why would they trade Votto a proven 1B, also under team control for several more seasons, to shed salary and make room for an unproven 1B prospect. It's more likely that they would package Alonso with a salary dump than Votto or move one of them to third base and keep one of them

[Keeper]

From MLB Trade Rumors:

 

Asked about trading Joey Votto, Jocketty replied, "Oh God, no."

 

Votto isn't going anywhere.

[BSN07]

From MLB Trade Rumors:

 

Asked about trading Joey Votto, Jocketty replied, "Oh God, no."

 

Votto isn't going anywhere.

 

On to the next rumor

[TheMino007]

haha when a GM gives an answer like Oh God No lol you know a guy isn't going anywhere

[SCM33]

I am hearing that the Sox have offered Hideki Matsui a multi-year deal, I am sure this is pretty much common knowledge at this point.

 

Here is the question, if he were to accept the deal, does this mean we no longer pursure Bay/Holliday? I am sorry, but if this is the replacement I am going to puke. Sure he is a nice player, but if we sign Matsui over Bay, then we are getting less production from that defensive spot and taking a step backwards.

 

If we do sign Matsui, then we better be looking to improve another position significantly. Other positions to improve are SS/3B assuming we think that Lowell can no longer shoulder the duties of starting 3B throughout the season (although we could keep him in a more limited role, whether it be spelling Ortiz/getting some AB's as a 1B/Pinch hitting). There is not much out there in terms of a SS unless we want to throw a blockbuster at FLO for Hanley (not likely). Catcher has been improved simply by removing Varitek from the lineup.

 

I hope that Theo isnt looking at V-Mart + Matsui as [= or >] than Varitek + Bay. Is it an improvement? maybe....it does stretch out the lineup a little more.....but I still want an impact bat, whoever it may be.

[example1]

Yeah, I'm going to take that with a giant gain of salt.

 

Is there any reason to believe that the Sox are able to determine so quickly how healthy he is? It just doesn't sound like how they operate.

[Dojji]

I am hearing that the Sox have offered Hideki Matsui a multi-year deal' date=' I am sure this is pretty much common knowledge at this point.[/quote']

 

That makes no sense. None. Even if Matsui wasn't old as dirt, injury prone and a huge liability in left, we would have an all-LHH outfield and that's never a good thing, especially where all of our minor league outfielders in range to make the majors are also LHH.

 

If we go after anyone at this point for left field, he'll be a righthanded hitter.

 

Besides, I wasn't kidding about defensive liabilities, Matsui makes Manny Ramirez look like Torii Hunter out there. He as the one big reason the Yankees really could never laugh at us for tolerating Manny's glove in left -- Matsui's glove was as bad or worse.

[SCM33]

That makes no sense. None. Even if Matsui wasn't old as dirt, injury prone and a huge liability in left, we would have an all-LHH outfield and that's never a good thing, especially where all of our minor league outfielders in range to make the majors are also LHH.

 

If we go after anyone at this point for left field, he'll be a righthanded hitter.

 

Besides, I wasn't kidding about defensive liabilities, Matsui makes Manny Ramirez look like Torii Hunter out there. He as the one big reason the Yankees really could never laugh at us for tolerating Manny's glove in left -- Matsui's glove was as bad or worse.

 

Don't kill the messenger, just something that I have heard. BTW, if you look at my post, you will see that I also do not agree with it, just posting what I saw and how I felt about it.

[Lester82]

Omar Vizquel is a possibility for a role with the Sox

 

http://www.laverdad.com/detnotic.php?CodNotic=23652

 

OR....

 

- Google translated article -

 

http://www.laverdad.com/detnotic.php?CodNotic=23652

[CoachC.]

Apparently the Sox are kicking the tires on Dan Uggla. Why? They supposedly would want him to play LF, and he hasn't played in the outfield since 2004.

 

Curtis Granderson is also apparently available (same link). So here's two new trade options as potential Bay replacements. Granderson in CF, Jacoby in LF. Uggla in LF, Ellsbury CF.

 

What about Uggla at SS? He played 2B, SS, and 3B in college and in the minors. Just something to talk about.

 

He pulls a lot of balls so his doubles would rise playing a little bit of wall ball and he is a right handed power hitter who averages 30 hr playing most of his home games in a cavernous ballpark in Miami and he isn't even 30 years old yet ...

[CoachC.]

I am hearing that the Sox have offered Hideki Matsui a multi-year deal, I am sure this is pretty much common knowledge at this point.

 

Here is the question, if he were to accept the deal, does this mean we no longer pursure Bay/Holliday? I am sorry, but if this is the replacement I am going to puke. Sure he is a nice player, but if we sign Matsui over Bay, then we are getting less production from that defensive spot and taking a step backwards.

 

If we do sign Matsui, then we better be looking to improve another position significantly. Other positions to improve are SS/3B assuming we think that Lowell can no longer shoulder the duties of starting 3B throughout the season (although we could keep him in a more limited role, whether it be spelling Ortiz/getting some AB's as a 1B/Pinch hitting). There is not much out there in terms of a SS unless we want to throw a blockbuster at FLO for Hanley (not likely). Catcher has been improved simply by removing Varitek from the lineup.

 

I hope that Theo isnt looking at V-Mart + Matsui as [= or >] than Varitek + Bay. Is it an improvement? maybe....it does stretch out the lineup a little more.....but I still want an impact bat, whoever it may be.

 

First of all, the Sox can't make an offer to any free agent until 15 days after the conclusion of the world series ... so November 20th at the earliest.

 

Second of all, he's pretty much a DH only at this point so I don't really believe this. I'd say it's just posturing by his agent for the NYY to lock him up to a contract by saying "If you don't sign him, your rival to the north will, there's already a multi-year contract offer on the table from Boston"

[jacksonianmarch]

Hold up there SCM.

 

First off, the sox cannot offer anything to Matsui for another week or so. Free agents are the property of their respective teams until 15 days post-WS. So the sox may be preparing one, but they arent allowed to offer one yet.

 

Secondly, that article was from a Japanese newspaper. No doubt, it is an attempt to drum up more interest from the Yankees POV.

 

Third, it makes no sense from a sox position. Matsui can still play the OF, IMO, but he cannot be counted on to be a regular LFer. That is what he'd be in the sox lineup. So it doesnt make much sense

[BSN07]

I'm calling BS on the whole "Sox offering multi yr deal to Matsui", not on you SCM. It makes little to no sense at all. I'd rather they give the starting job to Hermida and see what he does.

[Dipre]

What about Uggla at SS? He played 2B, SS, and 3B in college and in the minors. Just something to talk about.

 

He pulls a lot of balls so his doubles would rise playing a little bit of wall ball and he is a right handed power hitter who averages 30 hr playing most of his home games in a cavernous ballpark in Miami and he isn't even 30 years old yet ...

 

Dan Uggla is horrible in every aspect of the word at 2nd. No range, not a very strong arm, and not very good positioning. Try to imagine that awesomeness at SS.

[Dojji]

We could be going after Uggla for first base. He is a consistent 25-30 HR bat after all. If he's athletic enough to play a bad second base he's athletic enough to learn to play a decent first base.

 

Wouldn't be the worst idea in the history of ever.

[Dipre]

We could be going after Uggla for first base. He is a consistent 25-30 HR bat after all.

 

Wouldn't be the worst idea in the history of ever.

 

LF. He couldn't be worse than Bay.

 

Just nothing in the middle infield.

[Dojji]

He's got 16 games at 1B and 20 in LF, so it's a tossup in relevant experience.

 

For all we know the answer is both of the above -- a Hermida-Uggla platoon in LF, and when Hermida's in left use Youkilis' versatility to rest Lowell and Ortiz with Uggla at 1B.

[Dipre]

He's got 16 games at 1B and 20 in LF, so it's a tossup in relevant experience.

 

For all we know the answer is both of the above -- a Hermida-Uggla platoon in LF, and when Hermida's in left use Youkilis' versatility to rest Lowell and Ortiz with Uggla at 1B.

 

To be honest , i just think Theo is opening up all sorts of possibilities so he won't be caught with his pants down like he did after the Teixeira situation last year.

[BSN07]

To be honest ' date=' i just think Theo is opening up all sorts of possibilities so he won't be caught with his pants down like he did after the Teixeira situation last year.[/quote']

 

^ This

[Dojji]

If it's for first base, Dan Uggla is one of the more intriguing possibilities. JMHO.

[Dipre]

If it's for first base' date=' Dan Uggla is one of the more intriguing possibilities. JMHO.[/quote']

 

We already have a first baseman, and Uggla's production is by no means solid enough to either move Youk to third or force Lowell into the bench.