2010-2011 Hot Stove - The Thread (1 Viewer)

[Jambi]

Hot Free Agents



First Basemen

Adam Dunn WAS

Aubrey Huff SF

Paul Konerko CWS

Derrek Lee ATL

David Ortiz BOS

Carlos Pena TB

Second Basemen - Not a whole lot going on here

Jose Lopez SEA



Shortstops

Derek Jeter NYY

Jhonny Peralta DET

Edgar Renteria SF

Orlando Cabrera CIN

Juan Uribe SF



Third Basemen

Adrian Beltre BOS - Buyer beware

Jorge Cantu TEX

Aramis Ramirez CHC



Catchers

Victor Martinez BOS

Miguel Olivo COL



Outfielders

Carl Crawford TB

Coco Crisp OAK

Jayson Werth PHI

Starting Pitchers

Jorge De La Rosa COL

Rich Harden TEX

Cliff Lee TEX

Carl Pavano MIN

Javier Vazquez NYY

Brandon Webb ARI



Relief Pitchers

Brian Fuentes MIN

Kevin Gregg TOR

Mariano Rivera NYY

Rafael Soriano TB

 

[the moops]

Third Basemen

Adrian Beltre BOS - Buyer beware

Aramis Ramirez CHC

May be a slight buyer beware, but I would take Beltre over Ramirez everyday.

 

[Eephus]

Take Rollins off the list. The Phillies exercised their 2011 option after last season.

 

[the moops]

And Ted Lilly. He signed with LA.

 

[boubucarow]

Ramirez has a player option he is expected to extend for the 2011 season to remain with the Cubs.

 

[Eephus]

Add Orlando Cabrera to the SS list. The Reds are reportedly unlikely to execute the team option.

 

[Dr. Bronner]

Ramirez has a player option he is expected to extend for the 2011 season to remain with the Cubs.

It's for $14.6M, so yeah, I don't think he's going to test the waters.

 

[Eephus]

Ramirez has a player option he is expected to extend for the 2011 season to remain with the Cubs.

It's for $14.6M, so yeah, I don't think he's going to test the waters.

If I were Jim Hendry, I'd weld shut every mailbox near Ramirez' home

 

[Dr. Awesome]

Crisp is back with Oakland...there's no way they don't exercise their option.

 

[Dr. Bronner]

Ramirez has a player option he is expected to extend for the 2011 season to remain with the Cubs.

It's for $14.6M, so yeah, I don't think he's going to test the waters.

If I were Jim Hendry, I'd weld shut every mailbox near Ramirez' home

Oops, kidnapped.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

Edwin Rodriguez is the new Marlins manager

 

[Dr. Awesome]

Crisp is back with Oakland...there's no way they don't exercise their option.

As expected, Oakland picked up the contract for Ellis and Crisp. We're finally free of Chavez. We have some $ but nobody wants to play in the crap stadium.

 

[Dr. Bronner]

In a stunning turn of events, Aramis Ramirez has picked up his $100 bazillion player option for 2011.

 

[Eephus]

In a stunning turn of events, Aramis Ramirez has picked up his $100 bazillion player option for 2011.

Thank goodness the core of Ramirez, Zambrano and Soriano will remain intact

 

[boubucarow]

In a stunning turn of events, Aramis Ramirez has picked up his $100 bazillion player option for 2011.

Thank goodness the core of Ramirez, Zambrano and Soriano will remain intact

I can rest easy now. 2011 is looking special to this Cub fan.

 

[Dr. Bronner]

Rangers decline Vladimir Guerrerro's $9mm option.

 

[shuke]

Reds exercise option on Arroyo and Gomes and pass on Harang and Cabrera.

 

[RnR]

Mets exercise option on Reyes. No real surprise there.

 

[Dr. Awesome]

In a stunning turn of events, Aramis Ramirez has picked up his $100 bazillion player option for 2011.

Thank goodness the core of Ramirez, Zambrano and Soriano will remain intact

Dear god, that may be the biggest waste of money by any 3 players on a team in baseball. Can anyone top that moneysuck combination?

 

[Jambi]

Add Orlando Cabrera to the SS list. The Reds are reportedly unlikely to execute the team option.

I said hot free agents.

 

[Eephus]

Add Orlando Cabrera to the SS list. The Reds are reportedly unlikely to execute the team option.

I said hot free agents.

The SS free agent class is weak

 

[Doctor Detroit]

Add Orlando Cabrera to the SS list. The Reds are reportedly unlikely to execute the team option.

I said hot free agents.

The SS free agent class is weak

Weak is an understatement. Considering Jeter really isn't a free agent since his decision is a foregone conclusion, Cabrera might be the best SS available this winter. Scary.

 

[Dr. Bronner]

Add Orlando Cabrera to the SS list. The Reds are reportedly unlikely to execute the team option.

I said hot free agents.

The SS free agent class is weak

Weak is an understatement. Considering Jeter really isn't a free agent since his decision is a foregone conclusion, Cabrera might be the best SS available this winter. Scary.

Jeter is also old and coming off a terrible season. Even if he hits the free market, he's not exactly Troy Tulowitzki in terms of dynasty value.

 

[Eephus]

Add Orlando Cabrera to the SS list. The Reds are reportedly unlikely to execute the team option.

I said hot free agents.

The SS free agent class is weak

Weak is an understatement. Considering Jeter really isn't a free agent since his decision is a foregone conclusion, Cabrera might be the best SS available this winter. Scary.

Especially considering Jeter really isn't a SS anymore either. JJ Hardy is going to be rich man

 

[Premier]

Since we're talking mediocre shortstops, the common assumption here is the Rays will be trading Jason Bartlett to give Reid Brignac the everyday job. Anybody have an idea to what his value is? I'm guessing fringy bullpen arm.

 

[Mr. Know-It-All]

Wish List from this Cardinal fan -

SP - Jorge de la Rosa

RP - Rafael Soriano

2b - Jose Lopez

In that order. Sign top 2 and get Lopez if one of the top 2 options don't pan out.

 

[Eephus]

Since we're talking mediocre shortstops, the common assumption here is the Rays will be trading Jason Bartlett to give Reid Brignac the everyday job. Anybody have an idea to what his value is? I'm guessing fringy bullpen arm.

Bartlett has one more arbitration year left before free agent eligibility in 2012. With the weak SS class, the Rays could be in a good position to get return value in a trade. I'd rather have a cheap year of Bartlett than a multiyear deal with Hardy.

 

[Northern Voice]

The Jays didn't pick up either of Kevin Gregg's options (1 year 4.5 or 2 years 8.75). I'm a bit surprised. He wasn't great but he wasn't awful, and the options seemed pretty reasonable to me.

 

[Northern Voice]

Also, Miguel Olivo is now a Blue Jay. Rumor is he was acquired for the Jays to buy him out and get the compensatory draft pick, basically buying a draft pick...

 

[Eephus]

Also, Miguel Olivo is now a Blue Jay. Rumor is he was acquired for the Jays to buy him out and get the compensatory draft pick, basically buying a draft pick...

Olivo seems pretty redundant w/ whichever Molina brother plays in Toronto

 

[Northern Voice]

Also, Miguel Olivo is now a Blue Jay. Rumor is he was acquired for the Jays to buy him out and get the compensatory draft pick, basically buying a draft pick...

Olivo seems pretty redundant w/ whichever Molina brother plays in Toronto

Yeah, Jose Molina is signed for next year, and J.P. Arencibia is expected to get his chance. So, the Jays now have options for both John Buck and Miguel Olivo. I guess they offer them both arbitration, assume neither accepts and get compensatory picks for each... or maybe one of them comes back and Arencibia gets dealt. The Jays are loaded with catcher prospects right now with Arencibia, D'Arnaud, Perez and Jiminez

 

[Doctor Detroit]

The Jays didn't pick up either of Kevin Gregg's options (1 year 4.5 or 2 years 8.75). I'm a bit surprised. He wasn't great but he wasn't awful, and the options seemed pretty reasonable to me.

WTF? Aren't Frasor and Downs also FAs? 4.5 mill for a closer with 30+ saves and average closer numbers otherwise isn't really expensive. Toronto going Kansas City/Pittsburgh on us here?

 

[Northern Voice]

The Jays didn't pick up either of Kevin Gregg's options (1 year 4.5 or 2 years 8.75). I'm a bit surprised. He wasn't great but he wasn't awful, and the options seemed pretty reasonable to me.

WTF? Aren't Frasor and Downs also FAs? 4.5 mill for a closer with 30+ saves and average closer numbers otherwise isn't really expensive. Toronto going Kansas City/Pittsburgh on us here?

Considering it's now been confirmed they bought out Olivo after trading for him (essentially buying a draft pick for 500K), I don't think they're going cheap. The Jays payroll will go up this season, not down.

 

[Eephus]

The Jays didn't pick up either of Kevin Gregg's options (1 year 4.5 or 2 years 8.75). I'm a bit surprised. He wasn't great but he wasn't awful, and the options seemed pretty reasonable to me.

WTF? Aren't Frasor and Downs also FAs? 4.5 mill for a closer with 30+ saves and average closer numbers otherwise isn't really expensive. Toronto going Kansas City/Pittsburgh on us here?

on the other hand, it's Kevin Gregg we're talking about. He was worth $4.5M last year but might very well not be next year.

 

[RnR]

The Jays didn't pick up either of Kevin Gregg's options (1 year 4.5 or 2 years 8.75). I'm a bit surprised. He wasn't great but he wasn't awful, and the options seemed pretty reasonable to me.

WTF? Aren't Frasor and Downs also FAs? 4.5 mill for a closer with 30+ saves and average closer numbers otherwise isn't really expensive. Toronto going Kansas City/Pittsburgh on us here?

on the other hand, it's Kevin Gregg we're talking about. He was worth $4.5M last year but might very well not be next year.

A team like Toronto is better off using that 4.5 mil to boost the contract offer to an upper tier free agent while trying to develop a reliever to replace Gregg from within their system.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

The Jays didn't pick up either of Kevin Gregg's options (1 year 4.5 or 2 years 8.75). I'm a bit surprised. He wasn't great but he wasn't awful, and the options seemed pretty reasonable to me.

WTF? Aren't Frasor and Downs also FAs? 4.5 mill for a closer with 30+ saves and average closer numbers otherwise isn't really expensive. Toronto going Kansas City/Pittsburgh on us here?

on the other hand, it's Kevin Gregg we're talking about. He was worth $4.5M last year but might very well not be next year.

A team like Toronto is better off using that 4.5 mil to boost the contract offer to an upper tier free agent while trying to develop a reliever to replace Gregg from within their system.

Rance Mullinicks?

 

[RnR]

The Jays didn't pick up either of Kevin Gregg's options (1 year 4.5 or 2 years 8.75). I'm a bit surprised. He wasn't great but he wasn't awful, and the options seemed pretty reasonable to me.

WTF? Aren't Frasor and Downs also FAs? 4.5 mill for a closer with 30+ saves and average closer numbers otherwise isn't really expensive. Toronto going Kansas City/Pittsburgh on us here?

on the other hand, it's Kevin Gregg we're talking about. He was worth $4.5M last year but might very well not be next year.

A team like Toronto is better off using that 4.5 mil to boost the contract offer to an upper tier free agent while trying to develop a reliever to replace Gregg from within their system.

Rance Mullinicks?

CHAMPIONSHIP

 

[Dr. Bronner]

The Athletics have won the rights to negotiate Hisahi Iwakuma and his rapidly-declining strikeout rate.

Can you tell that I'm excited?

 

[Sammy3469]

The Jays didn't pick up either of Kevin Gregg's options (1 year 4.5 or 2 years 8.75). I'm a bit surprised. He wasn't great but he wasn't awful, and the options seemed pretty reasonable to me.

WTF? Aren't Frasor and Downs also FAs? 4.5 mill for a closer with 30+ saves and average closer numbers otherwise isn't really expensive. Toronto going Kansas City/Pittsburgh on us here?

on the other hand, it's Kevin Gregg we're talking about. He was worth $4.5M last year but might very well not be next year.

A team like Toronto is better off using that 4.5 mil to boost the contract offer to an upper tier free agent while trying to develop a reliever to replace Gregg from within their system.

Rance Mullinicks?

I assume you're jsut venting from the Jhonny Peralta signing?

 

[RBM]

Starting Pitchers

Jorge De La Rosa COL

Rich Harden TEX

Carl Pavano MIN

Javier Vazquez NYY

Brandon Webb ARI

 

[Doctor Detroit]

WTF? Aren't Frasor and Downs also FAs? 4.5 mill for a closer with 30+ saves and average closer numbers otherwise isn't really expensive. Toronto going Kansas City/Pittsburgh on us here?

on the other hand, it's Kevin Gregg we're talking about. He was worth $4.5M last year but might very well not be next year.

A team like Toronto is better off using that 4.5 mil to boost the contract offer to an upper tier free agent while trying to develop a reliever to replace Gregg from within their system.

Rance Mullinicks?

I assume you're jsut venting from the Jhonny Peralta signing?

I like Peralta

 

[Dr. Awesome]

The Athletics have won the rights to negotiate Hisahi Iwakuma and his rapidly-declining strikeout rate. Can you tell that I'm excited?

While he doesn't excite me, what it does point to imo is Oakland is going to move an arm to land a bat. With Braden, Cahill, Anderson, Gonzalez, Outman, Mazzaro, and Iwakuma, we should be able to make some good moves. Not every arm can be a top of the rotation player, so Hisahi should be serviceable.

 

[Thunderlips]

The Jays didn't pick up either of Kevin Gregg's options (1 year 4.5 or 2 years 8.75). I'm a bit surprised. He wasn't great but he wasn't awful, and the options seemed pretty reasonable to me.

WTF? Aren't Frasor and Downs also FAs? 4.5 mill for a closer with 30+ saves and average closer numbers otherwise isn't really expensive. Toronto going Kansas City/Pittsburgh on us here?

on the other hand, it's Kevin Gregg we're talking about. He was worth $4.5M last year but might very well not be next year.

A team like Toronto is better off using that 4.5 mil to boost the contract offer to an upper tier free agent while trying to develop a reliever to replace Gregg from within their system.

Rance Mullinicks?

His nickname was "The Man"

 

[Dr. Bronner]

The Athletics have won the rights to negotiate Hisahi Iwakuma and his rapidly-declining strikeout rate. Can you tell that I'm excited?

While he doesn't excite me, what it does point to imo is Oakland is going to move an arm to land a bat. With Braden, Cahill, Anderson, Gonzalez, Outman, Mazzaro, and Iwakuma, we should be able to make some good moves. Not every arm can be a top of the rotation player, so Hisahi should be serviceable.

Doctor vs. Doctor!Why burn an eight-figure negotiation fee on a "serviceable" arm? That said, I think somebody might overpay for a guy like Gonzalez, who isn't as good as his ERA. The A's defense/park are the baseball equivalent of beer goggles.But what do I know. I agree with fangraphs that the most obvious comp. is Kuroda. If he's that good, then I'll eat my words.

 

[Dr. Awesome]

The Athletics have won the rights to negotiate Hisahi Iwakuma and his rapidly-declining strikeout rate. Can you tell that I'm excited?

While he doesn't excite me, what it does point to imo is Oakland is going to move an arm to land a bat. With Braden, Cahill, Anderson, Gonzalez, Outman, Mazzaro, and Iwakuma, we should be able to make some good moves. Not every arm can be a top of the rotation player, so Hisahi should be serviceable.

Doctor vs. Doctor!Why burn an eight-figure negotiation fee on a "serviceable" arm? That said, I think somebody might overpay for a guy like Gonzalez, who isn't as good as his ERA. The A's defense/park are the baseball equivalent of beer goggles.But what do I know. I agree with fangraphs that the most obvious comp. is Kuroda. If he's that good, then I'll eat my words.

Some scouts have projected his upisde as a #2 rotation guy. If he's that good he'll be worth it. It's not like they were going to land Cliff Lee for those prices.

 

[Eephus]

The Athletics have won the rights to negotiate Hisahi Iwakuma and his rapidly-declining strikeout rate. Can you tell that I'm excited?

While he doesn't excite me, what it does point to imo is Oakland is going to move an arm to land a bat. With Braden, Cahill, Anderson, Gonzalez, Outman, Mazzaro, and Iwakuma, we should be able to make some good moves. Not every arm can be a top of the rotation player, so Hisahi should be serviceable.

Doctor vs. Doctor!Why burn an eight-figure negotiation fee on a "serviceable" arm? That said, I think somebody might overpay for a guy like Gonzalez, who isn't as good as his ERA. The A's defense/park are the baseball equivalent of beer goggles.But what do I know. I agree with fangraphs that the most obvious comp. is Kuroda. If he's that good, then I'll eat my words.

Some scouts have projected his upisde as a #2 rotation guy. If he's that good he'll be worth it. It's not like they were going to land Cliff Lee for those prices.

When you add his posting fee of $17M to whatever contract is negotiated, my guess is his total contract will be somewhere north of 4/$40M range. That's Ted Lilly territory with an extra year because Iwakuma is younger.It seems like an uncharacteristically high risk move for the Beanes.

 

[Dr. Awesome]

Not really. Beane has been taking gambles for the past few years. And Oakland has a good chunk of cash to burn this year...but there's no way a top tier player would come here.

The past couple years they've tried signing Beltre and Furcal to big money. He traded for Holliday (gave away Cargo...ouch). He signed Sheets last year. This guy likes to gamble. I'd like to see some of these gambles start to pay off.

I can't even think of the bats he'd be able to trade for. Kemp, Fielder...

 

[Eephus]

Not really. Beane has been taking gambles for the past few years. And Oakland has a good chunk of cash to burn this year...but there's no way a top tier player would come here. The past couple years they've tried signing Beltre and Furcal to big money. He traded for Holliday (gave away Cargo...ouch). He signed Sheets last year. This guy likes to gamble. I'd like to see some of these gambles start to pay off.I can't even think of the bats he'd be able to trade for. Kemp, Fielder...

Holliday and Sheets were one year deals. Neither worked out but neither had major long term financial implications. Turning Gonzalez into Michael Taylor wasn't exactly magic though.For a team that typically has a $60M total payroll, a $17M posting fee and a 4 or 5 year deal for Iwakuma is a big deal.

 

[the rover]

Not really. Beane has been taking gambles for the past few years. And Oakland has a good chunk of cash to burn this year...but there's no way a top tier player would come here. The past couple years they've tried signing Beltre and Furcal to big money. He traded for Holliday (gave away Cargo...ouch). He signed Sheets last year. This guy likes to gamble. I'd like to see some of these gambles start to pay off.I can't even think of the bats he'd be able to trade for. Kemp, Fielder...

Why pay so much when Oakland's consistently been able to churn out good pitchers through their system? I think if Oakland's going to make a big financial commitment, it should be for a bat.

 

[Dr. Awesome]

We'll see how much the *** goes for. There's not a ton of high level bats out there to grab. It's unlikely we'll snag Dunn or Werth. Matsui seems like a guy we might land, but really I think they're gearing up to move an arm for a Kemp or someone else. If he pitches like a #3 guy I'll be happy. He's only 29 so it's not like he's over the hill.