Official 2009-2010 Hot Stove season thread

[jacksonianmarch]

His sinker was the best pitch parlayed from a starting pitcher in the AL East. That's not rocket science. He threw one pitch 85% of the time and won 38 games in 2 yrs with sub 4ERAs. Thats impressive. His slider and change were league average or worse, but they were improving at the time of his injury. All of that is moot now. Blowing out your shoulder is bad. Guys never come back with the same stuff as before. Its always either recurrent injury from here on out, or less velo, or less control, or less movement. Wang didnt have a large amount of reserve either way. If he's throwing 90-92mph even with his awesome sink, then he's gonna get hit. If he's throwing 95-96 without the great sink, then he'll get pounded. His room for error is nil. He needs to have that biting sink at low to mid 90s velocity or he becomes a pinata.

[Dojji]

Yep, and you said the same thing a year ago and yet you twisted these exact same attributes to make Wang sound like an ace. Now that he's been exposed, you've changed your tune.

[The_Destroyah]

J.J. hardy just got traded to the Twins for OF Carlos Gomez, so much for getting Hardy, and in other news as expected Jermaine Dye's option was declined by the ChiSox.

[BSN07]

Damn, was really hoping the Sox get in on Hardy. Surprised so many trades are happening before the GM meetings.

 

Gomez should get a chance to play everyday for the Brewers. He's got talent but hasn't come close to putting it all together yet.

 

I'm surprised the Brewers didn't hold out for SP in return for Hardy.

[bsox0407]

Webb's option got picked up.

 

Abreu- re-signed for two years 19 million.

 

This is from ESPN.com

[bsox0407]

Lee's option got picked up by the Phillies.

 

JJ Putz option was declined.

[Dojji]

I'd go after Putz. Can't have too many power arms. There's a glut of closers out there and his mediocre year might mean he's open to setup work.

[bsox0407]

Bay, holliday, Lackey all filed for FA.

[ehaz]

Damn, was really hoping the Sox get in on Hardy. Surprised so many trades are happening before the GM meetings.

 

Gomez should get a chance to play everyday for the Brewers. He's got talent but hasn't come close to putting it all together yet.

 

I'm surprised the Brewers didn't hold out for SP in return for Hardy.

I thought that they'd go for a starter too. But CF was really a glaring hole with Cameron being a free agent. Maybe they thought that they could sign a pitcher with the money they'd save by not having to re-sign Cameron.

[Lester82]

great article

 

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/joe_posnanski/11/05/yankees.payroll/index.html?eref=sihp

[bsox0407]

"You have one team (and only one team) playing the video game on cheat-mode."

 

So true. create the best players play every game and win every game.

[Lester82]

"let's buy Lackey, we need a #3 starter so we can win #28 next year! We just have to, because Joe Girardi's already committed to changing his uniform # to 28..."

[bsox0407]

"let's buy Lackey' date=' we need a #3 starter so we can win #28 next year! We just have to, because Joe Girardi's already committed to changing his uniform # to 28..."[/quote']

 

he should already be fired. Worst manager on the face of the earth win a WS and now he is God. You every once in a while a blind squirrel finds a nut.

 

The yankees will just go and buy some new pitching.

 

Lets see.

Lackey,

Lowry,

Harden,

Pettitte of course he'll come back,

What the hell the Yankees need a better setup guy lets buy Randy Johnson.

 

Then there are the fielders which i won't even get into.

[Lester82]

nothing was worse than Charlie Manuel getting a World Series. It was like vindication for Grady Little's breed.

[Lester82]

" The yankees will just go and buy some new pitching.

 

Lets see.

Lackey,

Lowry,

Harden,

Pettitte of course he'll come back,

What the hell the Yankees need a better setup guy lets buy Randy Johnson.

 

Then there are the fielders which i won't even get into."

__________________

 

Yankee fanboy response:

 

DON'T FORGET, our payroll will be lower next year in DA BRONX, we need Cash to go out and sign Bay... cause Cash was so good at taking Damon away from the Red Sux and now we can get Bay. Cash 4 prez !!!!!!!!!!!

[Lester82]

by the way, nothing is more gimmicky than the manager changing uniform numbers every year to tell people "we are going to win #28, see my new uniform??"

[BSN07]

I thought that they'd go for a starter too. But CF was really a glaring hole with Cameron being a free agent. Maybe they thought that they could sign a pitcher with the money they'd save by not having to re-sign Cameron.

 

That is the current rumor from what I've read. The will save a good amount of money with Gomez instead of Cameron. I can see them making a play for Harden, Washburn, someone of that ilk. I don't see them getting in on Lackey though, too expensive.

[BSN07]

Anyone think Yorvit Torrealba is a viable back up catcher to bring in if Tek isn't back next year? He managed a line of .291/.351/.380 in 242 plate appearances this season in a back up role. He's probably going to be looking for a starting gig though. I can see the Mets offering him that.

[TheMino007]

I'd go after Putz. Can't have too many power arms. There's a glut of closers out there and his mediocre year might mean he's open to setup work.

 

I would love to have Putz here, lets not forget this guy was one of the best closers in baseball during his the last two years of his stint in Seattle. Imagine having him set up for Papelbon. That is a dominating 8th-9th inning. We really have no viable set up option, Saito is gone, Bard is too inexperienced, and I don't want Delcarmen or Ramirez pitching anything other than middle relief. Oki is an ok option to set up, but we have all seen when he is overworked he starts to get his crap kicked in. When Oki gets his rest, he is still a great option out of the pen.

[Dojji]

Anyone think Yorvit Torrealba is a viable back up catcher to bring in if Tek isn't back next year? He managed a line of .291/.351/.380 in 242 plate appearances this season in a back up role. He's probably going to be looking for a starting gig though. I can see the Mets offering him that.

 

Bear in mind that if we get a second catcher, or if we bring Varitek back, we have to expose Kottaras to waivers or trade him. He still has enough upside, and it's hard enough to find a decent catcher, that exposing him to waivers is chancy.

 

Personally I think the kid still has a shot at a Scott Hatteberg kind of career. YMMV of course, but if he can get some at bats and sneak his average up into the .250 range he's got the IsoD and IsoP to pull it off.

 

If the team believes in Kottaras' potential they'll keep him and play him in the majors next year. And somehow I think they do.

[a700hitter]

I would love to have Putz here' date=' lets not forget this guy was one of the best closers in baseball during his the last two years of his stint in Seattle. Imagine having him set up for Papelbon. That is a dominating 8th-9th inning. We really have no viable set up option, Saito is gone, Bard is too inexperienced, and I don't want Delcarmen or Ramirez pitching anything other than middle relief. Oki is an ok option to set up, but we have all seen when he is overworked he starts to get his crap kicked in. When Oki gets his rest, he is still a great option out of the pen.[/quote']Putz is damaged goods. I wouldn't touch him with a 10 foot pole.

[a700hitter]

Bear in mind that if we get a second catcher, or if we bring Varitek back, we have to expose Kottaras to waivers or trade him. He still has enough upside, and it's hard enough to find a decent catcher, that exposing him to waivers is chancy.

 

Personally I think the kid still has a shot at a Scott Hatteberg kind of career. YMMV of course, but if he can get some at bats and sneak his average up into the .250 range he's got the IsoD and IsoP to pull it off.

 

If the team believes in Kottaras' potential they'll keep him and play him in the majors next year. And somehow I think they do.

kottaras stinks both offensively and defensively. He'll never be anything more than a bench jockey. It would be no great loss if he left. He will not even have a career as good as Bob Montgomery.

[Keeper]

Miguel Olivo is also available as a backup catcher. Torrealba threw out 14% of baserunners last year. He's at 29% for his career. Olivo threw out 26% of baserunners last year. He's at 34% for his career. Offensively, they're about a wash. Although Olivo has a lot more power. Neither one of them is anything special, but given the choice I'd probably go after Olivo.

 

From a purely defensive standpoint, Henry Blanco is probably the best option out there, even though he's a dinosaur. Threw out 40% of baserunners last year. He's at 43% for his career.

[bsox0407]

Some hopeful good news about Beckett coming back after 2010.

[Lester82]

Ken the lil' man over at Fox Sports tries to throw water on any idea of A.Gon to Boston...

 

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/10336974/Padres-may-be-open-to-dealing-stars

 

i'm trying to recall the last thing Ken Rosenthal has written about the Red Sox that was positive. Anyway, he also says that he hears Holliday doesn't prefer to play in NY

[Lester82]

Nick Cafardo is actually still writing about baseball, and he has a funny quote by a "baseball official" . . .

 

 

Hideki Matsui, DH, Yankees - One thing the Yankees don’t want to do after winning their 27th World Series is get old. That’s why they parted with Abreu and Jason Giambi last season and why they might cut ties with the World Series MVP and Johnny Damon this year. Said a baseball official, “They could take that money and throw it at Matt Holliday or Jason Bay. They’re afraid of sticking with a guy too long. They’d rather get rid of a guy a year sooner, ahead of his decline, than a year later. ’’

 

Did I miss the contracts given to Jorge Posada and Arod? They once traded for a 100 year-old Randy Johnson and signed him to a contract extension as part of the trade.

 

It's the Red Sox that like to get rid of a player a year soon, ahead of his decline. See: Pedro Martinez, Johnny Damon

[Gom]

Nick Cafardo is actually still writing about baseball, and he has a funny quote by a "baseball official" . . .

 

 

Hideki Matsui, DH, Yankees - One thing the Yankees don’t want to do after winning their 27th World Series is get old. That’s why they parted with Abreu and Jason Giambi last season and why they might cut ties with the World Series MVP and Johnny Damon this year. Said a baseball official, “They could take that money and throw it at Matt Holliday or Jason Bay. They’re afraid of sticking with a guy too long. They’d rather get rid of a guy a year sooner, ahead of his decline, than a year later. ’’

 

Did I miss the contracts given to Jorge Posada and Arod?

 

It's the Red Sox that like to get rid of a player a year soon, ahead of his decline. See: Pedro Martinez, Johnny Damon

 

You dropped the ball on Damon, and you did good with Pedro. It happens.

 

Cafardo may not realize that the Yankees don't mind going one year over. It's FOUR or FIVE years over that's been killing them.

[BSN07]

You dropped the ball on Damon' date=' and you did good with Pedro. It happens. [/b']

 

Cafardo may not realize that the Yankees don't mind going one year over. It's FOUR or FIVE years over that's been killing them.

 

How so? Yes he has hit well(Coors East aided this season), but can not play CF everyday anymore. NY was just lucky enough to not have a viable LF so they could slide Damon and his noodle arm over. When that deal was signed, Boston still had Manny, there was nowhere to slide Damon. And he probably be killing the team and himself is he had to play CF everyday.

[Dojji]

Miguel Olivo is also available as a backup catcher.

 

I'd be worried about Olivo's proven struggles with blocking the plate. I certainly wouldn't pair Olivo with wake.

 

Given the choice I'd rather keep Kottara than sign Olivo. Kottaras' rate stats are all about 15 points or less away from being solid, and he's a rookie playing part time in a park that depresses his power. He's better than he gets credit for.

 

Victor Martinez is going to hit. We don't need to pile on with an offensive backup. If we have to get a veteran backup I'd like one with focus on defense not offense. it will fill our needs better to bring a guy like that in in late innings than it will to have 2 DH's behind the plate.

 

To me, that means Brian Schieder or Jason Kendall.

[bsox0407]

According to the Globe the Red Sox declined Alex Gonzalez option.

 

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/