2009-2010 Offseason Thread

[riverside sluggers]

Jon Heyman on Hot Stove said the Mets top options for FA starting pitchers are now Ben Sheets, Jon Garland and Jarrod Washburn

[BSN07]

The Orioles have agreed to a one-year deal with Miguel Tejada, reports Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun. Terms of the deal are unknown that this point, and Zrebiec says Tejada is expected to take a physical in the next few days.

 

3B?

[26 to 6]

Jon Heyman on Hot Stove said the Mets top options for FA starting pitchers are now Ben Sheets' date=' Jon Garland and Jarrod Washburn[/quote']

I think Sheets would be perfect for the Mets. Garland and Washburn would also both be good fits. They need to do something though, and fast.

 

3B?

Yup, and Atkins is going to play first.

[riverside sluggers]

The Orioles should have a good lineup, but pitching staff remains iffy

 

EDIT: The Rockies have re-signed Giambi to a 1 year/$1.5 million deal

[msubulldogs21]

I think Sheets would be perfect for the Mets. Garland and Washburn would also both be good fits.

 

Just about any pitcher should be a good fit in that cavern of a ballpark.

 

Joel Pineiro is going to wish he signed with the Mets in due time when he's getting hammered every night by the American League.

[riverside sluggers]

The Nats have improved their bullpen (Capps, Guardado, Walker, Bruney) and starting staff with addition of Marquis (they are also said to be linked to Garland)

 

Nationals signed RHP Tyler Walker to a one-year, $650,000 contract.

Walker, 33, posted a 3.06 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP over 35 1/3 innings last season in a middle relief role for the Phillies. He'll work in a similar capacity this year for Washington and should provide an upgrade for their bullpen.

 

Nationals signed outfielder Chris Duncan to a minor league contract.

The defensively-challenged Duncan might have been a better fit in the American League, but he will be able to compete for a roster spot in Washington. Duncan hit .227/.329/.358 with five home runs and 32 RBI in 260 at-bats for the Cardinals last year before he was dealt to the Red Sox. Boston shipped him to the minors and cut him after he hit just .188 with two home runs and 10 RBI in 85 at-bats for Triple-A Pawtucket.

 

Nationals signed LHP Chuck James to a minor league contract.

James underwent rotator cuff and labrum surgery in September 2008 and missed all of last season. Because of his extreme flyball tendencies -- and the Nationals wide-open rotation -- Washington makes a lot of sense as a landing place. James finished '08 with a 2-5 record and a 9.10 ERA in seven starts with the Braves and was promptly non-tendered.

[26 to 6]

Sheets gets $10m plus incentives from Oakland. Great deal for him!

 

http://danny-knobler.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/8590096/19783010

[Keeper]

Jim Thome signed a 1-year deal with the Twins.

 

And Jon Garland signed a 1-year deal with the Padres.

[riverside sluggers]

So the Mets options for FA starting pitchers are now: Jarrod Washburn, Braden Looper, (incentive laden deals for Pedro/Smoltz/Mulder/Noah Lowry/Derrick Turnbow), Chan Ho Park, Hisanori Takahashi, Paul Byrd if he's not retired

[26 to 6]

The Mets should just sit out this year. Not even play.

[Imperial59]

The Mets should just sit out this year. Not even play.

 

As much as people dump on the Mets for being a big market team that doesn't win very often, they've spent less than the Yankees have per win for at least the last 4 years in a row.

[Keeper]

That's not saying much.

[yankees228]

As much as people dump on the Mets for being a big market team that doesn't win very often' date=' they've spent less than the Yankees have per win for at least the last 4 years in a row.[/quote']

 

Except, when you consider what their win totals amounted to in 2007 and 2008, the statistic you provided doesn't adequately represent their success.

[a700hitter]

Damon is still not signed. The Yankees apparently only have $2-3 million budgeted for him. If he goes somewhere for 2 years/$13-14 million, I'd much rather have him in LF at Fenway with Ellsbury back in CF than Cameron.

 

Edit: I'll be happy if he doesn't sign with the Yankees. He's still a major offensive catalyst and he was an important part of their offense. I can't understand why they are discarding him in this way.

[26 to 6]

Damon is still not signed. The Yankees apparently only have $2-3 million budgeted for him. If he goes somewhere for 2 years/$13-14 million, I'd much rather have him in LF at Fenway with Ellsbury back in CF than Cameron.

 

Edit: I'll be happy if he doesn't sign with the Yankees. He's still a major offensive catalyst and he was an important part of their offense. I can't understand why they are discarding him in this way.

Me either. Smh...

[italstallianion]

Damon is still not signed. The Yankees apparently only have $2-3 million budgeted for him. If he goes somewhere for 2 years/$13-14 million' date=' [/b']I'd much rather have him in LF at Fenway with Ellsbury back in CF than Cameron.

 

Edit: I'll be happy if he doesn't sign with the Yankees. He's still a major offensive catalyst and he was an important part of their offense. I can't understand why they are discarding him in this way.

 

 

You might even be able to hardball him for less. I'd try and steal him for 2/10.5 or 2/11 plus a small signing bonus. That's assuming that we need him which I don't think we do. But if we were going to get him I think we can do better than 2/14. I doubt Damon is going to get a Ben Sheets like offer out of nowhere.

[a700hitter]

You might even be able to hardball him for less. I'd try and steal him for 2/10.5 or 2/11 plus a small signing bonus. That's assuming that we need him which I don't think we do. But if we were going to get him I think we can do better than 2/14. I doubt Damon is going to get a Ben Sheets like offer out of nowhere.

At this point, I don't think there is room for him on the Sox. I think the FO jumped the gun signing Cameron. If Damon isn't able to get 2year/$13 million, we overpaid for Cameron at 2 years/$18 million. Why did they rush to sign Cameron? I asked this question at the time. I can't believe that he had lots of teams beating down his door.

[italstallianion]

I like the Cameron signing, although I do believe that we could have done better than 2/18. With that said, I'd have rather overpaid at that margin than to have been the last one standing in the game of the Free Agent musical chairs. I'd rather the Red Sox spend more money than the could/should have then to end up losing out on a good player over that same amount of cash. At this point, the extra $3-5 million is probably one of the last issues on our mind this season. And while the Red Sox are nowhere near the Yankees category when it comes to spending, we can still afford to make a mistake or two.

 

I'm not saying that Cameron at 2/18 is a mistake, but if it turns out to be then we can survive.

[a700hitter]

I like the Cameron signing, although I do believe that we could have done better than 2/18. With that said, I'd have rather overpaid at that margin than to have been the last one standing in the game of the Free Agent musical chairs. I'd rather the Red Sox spend more money than the could/should have then to end up losing out on a good player over that same amount of cash. At this point, the extra $3-5 million is probably one of the last issues on our mind this season. And while the Red Sox are nowhere near the Yankees category when it comes to spending, we can still afford to make a mistake or two.

 

I'm not saying that Cameron at 2/18 is a mistake, but if it turns out to be then we can survive.

For the same or lesser price, I would rather have had Damon.

[riverside sluggers]

It is possible that the Mets will find themselves in a fight to not be last place in the NL East. Their top pick is reportedly now John Smoltz... They could be asking him to be their #3. Man that bullpen is going to be over worked

[yankees228]

Me either. Smh...

 

It has to do with a strict budget after spending an incredible amount of money the previous offseason. I think it's reasonable.

[Imperial59]

Except' date=' when you consider what their win totals amounted to in 2007 and 2008, the statistic you provided doesn't adequately represent their success.[/quote']

 

It's not just because of 2007 and 2008. Could you name the last time the Mets didn't pay less per win than the Yankees?

[Imperial59]

For the same or lesser price' date=' I would rather have had Damon.[/quote']

 

They're rather similar hitters apart from their AVG.

 

Damon - .288/.355/.439 (.794 OPS), 105 OPS+

Cameron - .250/.340/.448 (.788 OPS), 107 OPS+

 

I like the flexibility that Cameron gives us because he can play multiple outfield positions well, rather than just being able to play one outfield position badly. And the position value for a center fielder iis greater than that of a left fielder who hits about the same. It will be interesting to see how much Damon make in relation to him.

[a700hitter]

They're rather similar hitters apart from their AVG.

 

Damon - .288/.355/.439 (.794 OPS), 105 OPS+

Cameron - .250/.340/.448 (.788 OPS), 107 OPS+

 

I like the flexibility that Cameron gives us because he can play multiple outfield positions well, rather than just being able to play one outfield position badly. And the position value for a center fielder iis greater than that of a left fielder who hits about the same. It will be interesting to see how much Damon make in relation to him.

I don't know the numbers for this, but Damon sees a load of pitches in every AB. He also puts the ball in play more than Cameron. I'd prefer him.

[yankees228]

It's not just because of 2007 and 2008. Could you name the last time the Mets didn't pay less per win than the Yankees?

 

What I'm saying is that even though they had decent win totals in those years, it didn't amount to anything. In the past four years the Mets have one playoff berth. In the past four years the Yankees have three playoff berths and one championship. While the Yankees have spent significantly more money than the Mets during that time period, they've had so much more success that I'm of the opinion that they've gotten more bang for their buck.

[Imperial59]

I don't know the numbers for this' date=' but Damon sees a load of pitches in every AB. He also puts the ball in play more than Cameron. I'd prefer him.[/quote']

 

They both see about the same amount of pitches per plate appearance. Here's the amount of P/PA they've seen on average over the last five years.

 

Damon - 4.06, 4.10, 4.31, 4.10, 3.71

Cameron - 3.96, 4.24, 4.03, 4.09, 4.09

 

The difference is negligible. I'd rather have the guy who plays much better defense.

[Imperial59]

What I'm saying is that even though they had decent win totals in those years' date=' it didn't amount to anything. In the past four years the Mets have one playoff berth. In the past four years the Yankees have three playoff berths and one championship. While the Yankees have spent significantly more money than the Mets during that time period, they've had so much more success that I'm of the opinion that they've gotten more bang for their buck.[/quote']

 

That's true. The Mets get very little out of spending so much.

[italstallianion]

I don't know the numbers for this' date=' but Damon sees a load of pitches in every AB. He also puts the ball in play more than Cameron. I'd prefer him.[/quote']

 

 

 

Keep in mind that it takes at least 3 pitches to strikeout.

[a700hitter]

They're rather similar hitters apart from their AVG.

 

Damon - .288/.355/.439 (.794 OPS), 105 OPS+

Cameron - .250/.340/.448 (.788 OPS), 107 OPS+

 

I like the flexibility that Cameron gives us because he can play multiple outfield positions well, rather than just being able to play one outfield position badly. And the position value for a center fielder iis greater than that of a left fielder who hits about the same. It will be interesting to see how much Damon make in relation to him.

The differences in in OPS and OBP are much more significant over the last 6 seasons.

[Imperial59]

The differences in in OPS and OBP are much more significant over the last 6 seasons.

 

The last 6 years is a rather curious time frame. Even so, over the last six years Damon's averaged a 114 OPS+ and Cameron's averaged a 111 OPS+. No matter what sample size you use, they're similar offensive threats.

 

And just as an aside, it's incredible how consistent Cameron has been. He's averaged a 111 OPS+ over the last six years, he had a 111 OPS+ last year and a 111 OPS+ the year before.