The Official 2010 Hot Stove Thread.

[Will617]

James has Beltre at 24 HR' date=' 88 RBI, .283 BA in 2011, still in Boston. Those predictions wouldn't change much in Texas. James is usually conservative in his numbers. He predicts BA to come down a bit.[/quote']

 

Think James is the other way - a bit generous with some of his numbers.

[a700hitter]

Blue Jays A Serious Suitor For Fuentes

By Ben Nicholson-Smith [January 7 at 4:26pm CST]

 

The Blue Jays are one of the most serious suitors for left-handed reliever Brian Fuentes, according to Newsday's Ken Davidoff. The Blue Jays appear to be one of many teams pursuing Fuentes, who would like to close according to FOX Sports.

 

Though the Red Sox may be done adding lefties now that they've re-signed Hideki Okajima, AL East teams appear to have heavy interest in Fuentes. Along with the Blue Jays, the Rays and Yankees have also been linked to Fuentes this offseason. Not every AL East team is bidding on the 35-year-old, though. He appears to be too expensive for Baltimore, though the O's are looking at more affordable southpaw relievers.

 

Fuentes would be a fit for the Rays, if they can afford his asking price ($5MM-plus per season on a multiyear deal). The Blue Jays could also use left-handed relief help after losing Scott Downs and Brian Tallet. Jesse Carlson, Wil Ledezma, Rommie Lewis and David Purcey figure to compete for spots in manager John Farrell's 'pen this spring.

 

Octavio Dotel is the favorite to close in Toronto, but Jason Frasor could win the job and Fuentes would likely have a chance at it if the Jays sign him

[redsoxrules]

Did Scott downs leave toronto because of the money or to get the hell out of toronto ?

cause if its for the money then there's no way the Jays are signing Fuentes as his asking price will be pretty much what Scott downs got

[jacksonianmarch]

Fuentes is getting a 1 yr deal. Downs got 3 yrs

[redsoxrules]

Fuentes is getting a 1 yr deal. Downs got 3 yrs

 

Fuentes is looking for 5MIL + and multi year

[SoxFanForsyth]

Somehow the Cubs paid more for Garza than the Sox paid for Gonzo.

 

Rays got a great deal out of this. Especially with Hellickson waiting to take over.

[SoxSport]

I see Hill is one of the guests at the baseball writers dinner, sitting with Francona et al. Looks like they have some plans for him.

 

Listened to Blyleven tonite on mlb.com. He pitched 60 complete game shutouts in his career! My, have things changed in pitching, and I'm not sure for the better. He doesn't think so. Neither did Bob Feller who thought pitching is "overmanaged."

[Palodios]

Somehow the Cubs paid more for Garza than the Sox paid for Gonzo.

 

Rays got a great deal out of this. Especially with Hellickson waiting to take over.

 

I think that is debatable. Plus Garza has 3 years left, versus Agon's 1.

[a700hitter]

Hooooooooold it a second. Someone done snuck something past us.

 

From the TPJ article back on the last page:

 

The Red Sox announced two other moves, claiming catcher Max Ramirez on waivers from Texas and designating righty reliever Matt Fox for assignment.

 

If you'd asked me which was the bigger move, claiming an under 26 catcher with a decent power ceiling, or signing a 29 year old converted shortstop with a 91 mile an hour fastball and Not Much Else, lead with the catcher.

 

It looks like the Max Ramirez era is over in Boston:

 

Max Ramirez era comes to an end

Posted by Peter Abraham, Globe Staff January 10, 2011 03:06 PM

 

The Cubs claimed Max Ramiez off waivers from the Red Sox, which opened room on the 40-man roster for newly signed Hideki Okajima.

 

Ramirez had been claimed off waivers last Wednesday from Texas.

 

Ramirez was out of minor-league options and seemingly had little chance of making the team out of spring training barring injury.

[example1]

Has the season started yet? I've had enough offseason, time to move on to bigger and better things, IMO.

[VA Sox Fan]

Has the season started yet? I've had enough offseason' date=' time to move on to bigger and better things, IMO.[/quote']

 

:thumbsup::thumbsup:

 

CANNOT wait for the regular season. I took Opening Day and Patriots Day off from work!!

Hate to wish time away, but ya know......

[BSN07]

Has the season started yet? I've had enough offseason' date=' time to move on to bigger and better things, IMO.[/quote']

 

Co-signed

[bsox0407]

:thumbsup::thumbsup:

 

CANNOT wait for the regular season. I took Opening Day and Patriots Day off from work!!

Hate to wish time away, but ya know......

 

28 Days Until Truck Day. :thumbsup:

 

34 Days Until Pitchers and Catchers Report.

 

46 Days Until First Spring Training Game.

 

80 Days Until Opening Day. :thumbsup::thumbsup:

[EXman369]

28 Days Until Truck Day. :thumbsup:

 

34 Days Until Pitchers and Catchers Report.

 

46 Days Until First Spring Training Game.

 

80 Days Until Opening Day. :thumbsup::thumbsup:

 

....wet dream tonight

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

....wet dream tonight

 

x2

[EXman369]

Hoffman officaly retires at the age of 43 with 601 saves the most of all time

[SoxSport]

And Fanball just went under. Their Baseball Diamond Challenge was probably the oldest rotisserie fantasy game on the internet--dating back several ownerships to the Sporting News in the late 90s.

[SoxSport]

Hoffman officaly retires at the age of 43 with 601 saves the most of all time

 

The definition of a save has been watered down over the years, so I'm not sure how significant the number of saves is anymore. I doubt any of the modern day closers will make the HOF--except maybe Rivera. They don't pitch more than one inning anymore.

[BigPapiEnFuego]

The definition of a save has been watered down over the years' date=' so I'm not sure how significant the number of saves is anymore. I doubt any of the modern day closers will make the HOF--except maybe Rivera. They don't pitch more than one inning anymore.[/quote']

 

Seriously? If Mariano should make it in than so should Hoffman. Their career numbers are nearly identical at this point. I can see a lot of the closers from this decade not making it at all but Hoffman and Rivera were above everyone from the past 20 years.

[Palodios]

Holding a record in a major category definitely qualifies. There is a very good chance there will never EVER be another Rivera, so why penalize him? That's like saying Randy Johnson doesn't belong in the Hall of Fame because Roger Clemmons has two more Cy Youngs, its just silly.

[Divinity]

Rivera will pass Hoffman; he's trailing by only 42 saves, the question is if it will be this year or next.

[Divinity]

I remember alot of talk about Lee Smith being a “future hall of famer” when he was the leader in all-time saves, and he didn’t even get a sniff. Just saying…

 

Mariano has the lowest Era, Highest ERA+, second highest save percentage, second highest number of career saves, has dominated his position for longer than any other closer in the relatively short history of the position.

 

Rivera’s Career ERA is 13th all time.

 

Hoffman’s is 127th

 

Rivera has the best ERA of any pitcher born after 1900.

 

He is the very definition of “dominant closer”.

[Palodios]

That's the point-- just because Hoffman is no Mariano doesn't make him out of the question.

[Keeper]

Lee Smith should be in the Hall of Fame. Hoffman will most assuredly get in.

[BigPapiEnFuego]

 

Rivera’s Career ERA is 13th all time.

 

Hoffman’s is 127th

 

 

 

only .63 seperates them... That's really a bad statistic seeing how many thousands upon thousands of people have pitched in the majors.

[Dipre]

Hoffman should be, at most, a second ballot Hall of Famer.

 

Having a boner the size of Texas for Mariano (who is obviously superior) doesn't disqualify the accomplishments of other players who played the same position.

[EXman369]

In the steroid era hoffman will definitely get in

[italstallianion]

I remember alot of talk about Lee Smith being a “future hall of famer” when he was the leader in all-time saves, and he didn’t even get a sniff. Just saying…

 

Mariano has the lowest Era, Highest ERA+, second highest save percentage, second highest number of career saves, has dominated his position for longer than any other closer in the relatively short history of the position.

 

Rivera’s Career ERA is 13th all time.

 

Hoffman’s is 127th

 

Rivera has the best ERA of any pitcher born after 1900.

 

He is the very definition of “dominant closer”.

 

 

I'd agree with you if there was a rule stating that only one closer can get into the hall of fame. Obviously Mariano Rivera defines a lot of modern perceptions of the ideal closer, and the ideal person, and he will most assuredly be a hall of famer. That however, does not mean that other closers are not HOF worthy. While Trevor Hoffman isn't the same as Mariano Rivera, I don't think that people can look at his achievements and not deem them HOF worthy.

[Divinity]

I'd agree with you if there was a rule stating that only one closer can get into the hall of fame. Obviously Mariano Rivera defines a lot of modern perceptions of the ideal closer' date=' and the ideal person, and he will most assuredly be a hall of famer. That however, does not mean that other closers are not HOF worthy. While Trevor Hoffman isn't the same as Mariano Rivera, I don't think that people can look at his achievements and not deem them HOF worthy.[/quote']

 

My intention wasn’t to denigrate Hoffman, who has had a wonderful career, but rebut the notion by BigPapiEnFuego that put both relievers in the same class by claiming "their career numbers are nearly identical at this point"

 

Although Hoffman stands atop the list in saves, he really doesn’t stand out in any other category. In fact, it’s really Billy Wagner who seems to emerge as the leader of the “not Rivera” group. Considering that both Wagner and Hoffman will go on the ballot together, it could be very difficult for either one to distinguish himself enough to earn a first ballot entry.

 

Postseason performance is what really allows Rivera to lap the field. Although Hoffman’s 3.46 ERA is respectable, none of the other relievers really have much of a sample to consider. If anything, Hoffman’s high profile blown save in the 1998 World Series could actually work against him, especially among that portion of the electorate that seems fixated on moments.

[Dipre]

So Rivera's 2001 and 2004 high-profile blown saves don't count against him?

 

I highly doubt 13 IP of postseason pitching are going to affect a guy who was a dominant closer for pretty much 16 years. Voters are showing an increased knowledge of advanced statistics and their worth, so the trend is positive for guys like Hofman, not negative. Just ask Bert B.