Hot Stove 2013-2014

[Northern Star]

Wow, you actually have to be an ESPN Insider to read Keith Law say the Pirates signing Morton is good and Volquez bad. Stellar analysis like that should definitely come at a premium.

[a700hitter]

wow, you actually have to be an espn insider to read keith law say the pirates signing morton is good and volquez bad. Stellar analysis like that should definitely come at a premium.

lol!!

[seabeachfred]

He's underachieved so much and still cannot hit a curveball. I have a hard time seeing another team desperate enough to trade for him, and like you say, it has to be for a very low return.

 

Is it me Camp or is Ike Davis actually getting worse instead of better? You would think a ML prospect so highly by the Mets when they signed and developed him would learn to hit breaking pitcher a mite better than he has. If the Mets are successful in trading Davis five will get you ten the return for him might be a bit meager. Then again, maybe I talked too soon on that. I've seen some sucker teams out there making some ridiculous trades for a pig and a poke. The Angels trade of Mark Trumbo to Arizona for a couple of mediocrities on the mound could serve as an example.

[Northern Star]

Is it me Camp or is Ike Davis actually getting worse instead of better? You would think a ML prospect so highly by the Mets when they signed and developed him would learn to hit breaking pitcher a mite better than he has. If the Mets are successful in trading Davis five will get you ten the return for him might be a bit meager. Then again, maybe I talked too soon on that. I've seen some sucker teams out there making some ridiculous trades for a pig and a poke. The Angels trade of Mark Trumbo to Arizona for a couple of mediocrities on the mound could serve as an example.

 

UN was giving us partial season stats, but like I said, he's gone on hot streaks before, but really his lows are so alarming. Very high K rates - he looks absolutely lost. Hard to say what effect the freak injury had on his development, but he should be further along than this.

[Palodios]

The White Sox signed Scott Downs for 1/4 million. Is it just me, or is that a huge bargain? Seems like a steal for lefty who has hovered between 1.50 and 3.00 ERA for the last few years. Worst case scenario you take his career .500 OPSA lefties any day of the week, but the guy has been a setup stud for long time. 37 is the new 30 for closers this year anyway.

[Bellhorn04]

The White Sox signed Scott Downs for 1/4 million. Is it just me, or is that a huge bargain? Seems like a steal for lefty who has hovered between 1.50 and 3.00 ERA for the last few years. Worst case scenario you take his career .500 OPSA lefties any day of the week, but the guy has been a setup stud for long time. 37 is the new 30 for closers this year anyway.

 

In 14 innings with Atlanta he gave up 19 hits and 8 walks. I'm guessing he let some inherited runners score too. That plus his age must have knocked his price down.

[Palodios]

In 14 innings with Atlanta he gave up 19 hits and 8 walks. I'm guessing he let some inherited runners score too. That plus his age must have knocked his price down.

 

Maybe, but relievers that have been consistently effective like he has are hard to find. If Logan and Lopez got big deals, I see no reason why he couldn't atleast pull in 1/6.

[rjortiz]

Unbelievable that situational relievers are getting this much money. Although, it's a bargain compared to the Boone Logan deal. I still don't understand why the White Sox would spend $4 million for a lefty reliever. They aren't going to be any good. Edited December 20, 2013 by rjortiz

[redsoxrules]

Kevin Youkillis signs with Rakuten Golden Eagles for 1 year

[BSN07]

Kevin Youkillis signs with Rakuten Golden Eagles for 1 year

 

At first I thought wtf? But after some thought I can understand the move. He's made his money, won a WS and his family gets to go with him. That's a valuable experience for all of them. If he does good he'll be treated like the Greek God of old lol good luck to him.

[seabeachfred]

At first I thought wtf? But after some thought I can understand the move. He's made his money, won a WS and his family gets to go with him. That's a valuable experience for all of them. If he does good he'll be treated like the Greek God of old lol good luck to him.

 

I'll gladly second that BSN. Youk was a gamer for us in the time he donned a Red Sox uniform. Too bad his body started to give on him. Hopefully he'll enjoy Japan and finish off his career on a pleasant note.

[User Name]

Interesting article by Matt Gelb on Jonathan Papelbon aka the Rivera Highway rider:

 

\The fallacy of needing a big-money closer, exposed long ago, is beginning to gain traction among major-league front offices.

 

Any scout who watched Papelbon last season noted his 2.92 ERA was a mirage. One called him a "so-so closer" with "limited" future value. Papelbon's fastball lost life. Recording three outs became a painstaking task. His strikeout numbers plummeted. His luck was sky high. The brutal reports were filed.

 

The Phillies' Papelbon problem is on Amaro

[Bellhorn04]

Interesting article by Matt Gelb on Jonathan Papelbon aka the Rivera Highway rider:

 

The Phillies' Papelbon problem is on Amaro

 

Mr. Gelb is not a fan LOL...calls Paps the 'surly elephant in the room'.

[Palodios]

The Phillies went from being a top-notch franchise to being one of the worst They overpaid for several players, drained their farm with trade after trade, and could potentially have a personality issue in the clubhouse if they don't start winning. For the next few offseasons, I hope Ben and the armchair GMs as well take a hard look at what could have happened to the Red Sox if the Dodgers didn't save this franchise.

[Palodios]

Choo to the Rangers for 7 years. More details oncoming.

[User Name]

7/130. Good deal for him.

[Mr Tibbs]

What's wrong with Balfour??!!

 

Balfour deal off, O's look elsewhere for closer

[a700hitter]

What's wrong with Balfour??!!

 

Balfour deal off, O's look elsewhere for closer

He's Australian.

[Emmz]

Do you really want a pitcher who's last name is that close to Ballfour?

[Youk Of The Nation]

I wonder how fans of the teams that Bob Walk and Eric Plunk pitched for dealt with the unfortunate surnames.

[Youk Of The Nation]

He's Australian.

 

You'd think a guy raised in a country where you have to fight off venomous snakes, spiders and octopuses and wrestle vicious animals just to get downstairs for breakfast every morning would be in great shape. Everything in Australia will murder you if you're not on top of your game.

[Northern Star]

7/130. Good deal for him.

 

Yes, nothing for a Choo to sneeze at.

[Youk Of The Nation]

Yes, nothing for a Choo to sneeze at.

 

Oh, very nice.

[Youk Of The Nation]

Mark Mulder signed a minor league deal with the Angels. I'm a little disappointed, I was hoping once he was gone long enough, he would officially retire and start doing color commentary in the Dodger's booth.

[seabeachfred]

Mark Mulder signed a minor league deal with the Angels. I'm a little disappointed, I was hoping once he was gone long enough, he would officially retire and start doing color commentary in the Dodger's booth.

 

You think the Angels are grasping at straws???? Talk about retreating boldly from the way your team operated with success, the last two seasons they have gone for the big names and have drawn boxcars while they tried winning by getting pitching pennies on the dollar. They can do it that way if they want but that is not the way you win in the Bigs. You win first of all with solid starting pitching---which is what I hope we have again this coming season in excess.

[Palodios]

You think the Angels are grasping at straws???? Talk about retreating boldly from the way your team operated with success, the last two seasons they have gone for the big names and have drawn boxcars while they tried winning by getting pitching pennies on the dollar. They can do it that way if they want but that is not the way you win in the Bigs. You win first of all with solid starting pitching---which is what I hope we have again this coming season in excess.

 

Fred... absolutely none of the big name pitchers are off the market yet. Seriously, none of them, not even trade options. The Angels will get atleast one more arm.

[seabeachfred]

Fred... absolutely none of the big name pitchers are off the market yet. Seriously, none of them, not even trade options. The Angels will get atleast one more arm.

 

Most likely you're right on the park Pal, but think of it for a moment. So far the Angels have gone the economical route again as they have the past two seasons. They have the money and at least one of those big name pitchers should have been inked by now. Doesn't bother me any since I could give a hell for the Angels but my wife Linda is an ardent and passionate Halo fan and she is very upset with them, and if you're married you know that if the wife is upset the husband is going to be upset whether he wants to be or not. I also surmise that most of these pitchers are still waiting to see what the Tanaka sweepstakes are before they decide to sign on.

 

Right now my concern is with the left side of our infield. As everyone knows by now, I want to play the kids, Middlebrooks and Bogaerts with Herrera in reserve should either need a breather, and we could still trade for or sign another utility infielder if we have to. Drew would be a cumbersome roadblock to those two because he would NOT be either platooned or pinch hit for in my opinion because Farrell holds him in the same regard that Francona held Varitek, and we all should know that Drew cannot only not hit left handed pitching but right now is out of baseball unless we sign him. He chose that route; let him wait for some other team to ink him.

[User Name]

The Varitek/Drew comparison is downright idiotic. Please stop.

 

Farrell likes Drew because he is a good player that should be even better the coming season if he can get through it without concussions. Depth is not a bad thing. I like WMB and XB, but XB is a rookie and WMB is coming off a season in which he struggled mightily. How can having flexibility and a fall-back plan a bad thing?

[Youk Of The Nation]

That was an incredibly vehement response to a throwaway post I only made as an excuse for an X-Files joke.

[User Name]

^I laughed at this way more than i should have.