Baseball Hot Stove League

[billyS]

Since it starts a little early around this year I'd like to make this thread for ALL baseball fans. I know everyone has ideas how to improve both the Yanks and the Mets so lets hear all those trade ideas and free agent signings.

[billyS]

Cashman is already preparing the fans for CC not coming here. He said the other day 'Just because someone is on the top of our list doesn't mean we are on the top of his'. Sabbathia wants to hit so many thinks he wants to stay in the NL. I would stay away from Sheets for the same reasons I mentioned in the Mets thread. The guy is always hurt and giving him $75 million is not going to change that. Burnett I'd look at. But I wouldn't give him five years. Peavy in a trade would be interesting.
Cash did say Joba would be in the rotation all year. I'm surprised that comment flew under the radar. Usually anything about Joba makes headlines. Wang will be back, not sure about Petitte and Mussina.

[lightweight]

Arod and Jeter for Wright and Reyes. Yanks also have to take on 3 bad contracts from Mets.... LOL, Yanks should be interesting with so much money coming off the books. Sheets is great, but like Billy said, it is scary with his health. Wang, Joba, Hughes ( Who I still think will be a stud ) Mussina ( almost owe him after last season )And 1 big free agent pitcher or 1 through a trade. The pitching wil be set. Besides that, the Yanks have a lot to do. First? Second? Cano they may look to move in a package with say Kennedy and a minor leaguer for a Vet pitcher. The outfield. Nady is good and solid, but thats it. Damon is a DH, Matsui?, is he done? who know? RF ?. They do not have a strong outfield. Do they get some big outfielder. Will Goerge get involved and say, give me Manny? I would like to see Manny on the Yanks, if not the Mets. I can just see him on the Yanks though. Posada? He may be done with Catching. There are a lot of holes here. The media mentioned that the Padres may look to see what Jake Peavey would bring them. Then you give up the farm for him. Yanks have the youth to get that done. He would look good in pinstripes.

[Retoxicate]

Any information about how viable a trade for Peavy is or what the Padres would be looking for?

I haven't looked at the list of available free agents yet, but I would imagine the Yankees are in the market for pitching, pitching and more pitching. They will still have a buttload of potential offensively and I imagine they will be looking for one or two very solid offinsive/defensive everyday players, like a Teixiera or an outfielder (especially depending on if they resign Abreau).


As for the Mets, I expect Minaya to sign anyone who can throw a ball, a fit, a tantrum, a show, out his back, etc. for middle relief. He may be able to sign a big free agent since the Wilpons are wetting the bed thinking how not only does their new stadium need to be full, but that they need people to watch their awful games on their shit network. Hopefully, Minaya can trade Castillo for a Hansen brother and sign at least one everyday player that can be described as clutch without eliciting a snicker. Maybe Manny fits the bill, he Latin, old (will be 37 in May of '09) and the Mets have drooled ver him for years.

If they could accurately determine that when he arrives here he will half the player he has been over the years, its a done deal.

[NYC55]

I would think that Kennedy has zero trade value. Did not have 1 good outing all year. At least Hughes has had sucess in the world series and throws 90+. I would hold on to Cano; he has a sweet swing, just needs somone to keep on his ass.

[Lascivious]

Originally Posted by billyS

Cashman is already preparing the fans for CC not coming here. He said the other day 'Just because someone is on the top of our list doesn't mean we are on the top of his'. Sabbathia wants to hit so many thinks he wants to stay in the NL. I would stay away from Sheets for the same reasons I mentioned in the Mets thread. The guy is always hurt and giving him $75 million is not going to change that. Burnett I'd look at. But I wouldn't give him five years. Peavy in a trade would be interesting.
Cash did say Joba would be in the rotation all year. I'm surprised that comment flew under the radar. Usually anything about Joba makes headlines. Wang will be back, not sure about Petitte and Mussina.

They're all money whores (except for Griffey Jr.). Nobody else is going to give CC a Santana like contract. I would stay away from Sheets and Burnett(Aren't they always great in a contract year-think Pavano). Peavy is very interesting in a trade. Cano and Kennedy for Peavy? I figured with the Rotation so WEAK, Joba was staying in the rotation. Wang, Joba, Hughes(BIG ?), Moose( motivation for 300 wins should let him remain a good 3-4 starter and hopefully CC rounds out the Rotation. I have been watching the Angels-Redsox series and have been impressed with Texiera's plate coverage and discipline. I mean he worked a walk off Palpapon yesterday who hasn't walked a guy since mid July. Plug him at first. Sign Manny. Play him in left(I know very weak OF), move Damon and his broken legs back to CF, play one of those kids in CF, move Nady to right and DH MAtsui. I see MAtsui and Damon both spending lengthy time on the DL next years, so I think one of those kids are going to play CF most of the time and the healthy one would DH. Get another setup guy, if you can. It really has been a crapshoot with those guys as FA.

[Retoxicate]

Originally Posted by Lascivious

They're all money whores (except for Griffey Jr.). Nobody else is going to give CC a Santana like contract. I would stay away from Sheets and Burnett(Aren't they always great in a contract year-think Pavano). Peavy is very interesting in a trade. Cano and Kennedy for Peavy? I figured with the Rotation so WEAK, Joba was staying in the rotation. Wang, Joba, Hughes(BIG ?), Moose( motivation for 300 wins should let him remain a good 3-4 starter and hopefully CC rounds out the Rotation. I have been watching the Angels-Redsox series and have been impressed with Texiera's plate coverage and discipline. I mean he worked a walk off Palpapon yesterday who hasn't walked a guy since mid July. Plug him at first. Sign Manny. Play him in left(I know very weak OF), move Damon and his broken legs back to CF, play one of those kids in CF, move Nady to right and DH MAtsui. I see MAtsui and Damon both spending lengthy time on the DL next years, so I think one of those kids are going to play CF most of the time and the healthy one would DH. Get another setup guy, if you can. It really has been a crapshoot with those guys as FA.

I agree about the pitching in general. If the Pods traded Peavy and didn't get back more than that, their GM should be shot, once in the leg, let it hurt for a minute and then in ther other leg, and finally in the head.

If you went into a season with that outfield, you could have stretches of games where there are no outfield putouts. I think Teixiera would look great in a Yankee uniform and would anchor a fantastic infield.

[lightweight]

[QUOTE=Lascivious;797640]Nobody else is going to give CC a Santana like contract. I would stay away from Sheets and Burnett Peavy is very interesting in a trade. Cano and Kennedy for Peavy?

It would take a lot more than that. You would have to throw Hughes in there. 3 for 1. maybe even a double A player. Or like a Melky. CC is no Santana. But, The Yanks may go after him. Sometimes you have to overpay someone to come. I know Kennedy has no value but he would be just part of a package.
Plus, anyone who gets Teixiera, is getting a great plaer. I would love to see him go to the Yanks.

[billyS]

I keep hearing the Yanks are not going to go after Teixiera. Maybe it is a ploy so Boras doesn't use them to drive up his price. I suspect Boston will go after Peavy the way they went after Santana, just enough to drive up his price.
There was a column by Wallace Mathews in Newsday last week that said Cashman was told by Hal Steinbrenner that the budget would only hold either Pettittie or Santana but not both. Hal also had that 16 million a year offer sitting there for Pettitte. So when Andy said he was coming back Cashman pulled the offer to the Twins off the table. The Sox then pulled both there offers (one had Ellsbury the other Lester) off the table. Either Sox offer was much better then the Mets. But Santana demanded to be traded before Spring Training so the Twins settled for the Mets offer.

[Lascivious]

Originally Posted by billyS

The Sox then pulled both there offers (one had Ellsbury the other Lester) off the table. Either Sox offer was much better then the Mets. But Santana demanded to be traded before Spring Training so the Twins settled for the Mets offer.

Imagine what the Twins would have looked liked with Lester in their Rotation. I don't think any of those Met prospects are going to pan out.

[Lascivious]

The good thing is the free agents are dictated by money. IF we can get Peavy great, if not that's also fine because watching CC's performance in the playoff stretch was impressive-3 three days rest starts and pitched dominantly under great pressure. I loved his attitude and drive.

[Lascivious]

As for the Mets, Bullpen...Bullpen....Bullpen.

[SkellyChamp]

Originally Posted by lightweight

Arod and Jeter for Wright and Reyes. Yanks also have to take on 3 bad contracts from Mets.... LOL, Yanks should be interesting with so much money coming off the books. Sheets is great, but like Billy said, it is scary with his health. Wang, Joba, Hughes ( Who I still think will be a stud ) Mussina ( almost owe him after last season )And 1 big free agent pitcher or 1 through a trade. The pitching wil be set. Besides that, the Yanks have a lot to do. First? Second? Cano they may look to move in a package with say Kennedy and a minor leaguer for a Vet pitcher. The outfield. Nady is good and solid, but thats it. Damon is a DH, Matsui?, is he done? who know? RF ?. They do not have a strong outfield. Do they get some big outfielder. Will Goerge get involved and say, give me Manny? I would like to see Manny on the Yanks, if not the Mets. I can just see him on the Yanks though. Posada? He may be done with Catching. There are a lot of holes here. The media mentioned that the Padres may look to see what Jake Peavey would bring them. Then you give up the farm for him. Yanks have the youth to get that done. He would look good in pinstripes.

George is done. Don't see Tex signing with the Yankees. They need a whole new OF and will need a catcher. Would be shocked (like there is gambling going on her shocked) if Posada can be a credible catcher. The YAnkees have got to do a lot because the most stocked position on the club is DH.

I'd love to see Mussina retire. Going out on top. Becuase he can only go down from here and don't see his being able to reproduce the results. I think this year was everything just coming together for one final hurrah.

[SkellyChamp]

Originally Posted by Retoxicate

As for the Mets, I expect Minaya to sign anyone who can throw a ball, a fit, a tantrum, a show, out his back, etc. for middle relief. He may be able to sign a big free agent since the Wilpons are wetting the bed thinking how not only does their new stadium need to be full, but that they need people to watch their awful games on their shit network. Hopefully, Minaya can trade Castillo for a Hansen brother and sign at least one everyday player that can be described as clutch without eliciting a snicker. Maybe Manny fits the bill, he Latin, old (will be 37 in May of '09) and the Mets have drooled ver him for years.

Is there anything intelligent in this. Stick to your Yankees hopes and plans.

[SkellyChamp]

Originally Posted by Lascivious

Imagine what the Twins would have looked liked with Lester in their Rotation. I don't think any of those Met prospects are going to pan out.

I think Minnesota made out just fine.

[slipperyhands]

Originally Posted by Lascivious

Imagine what the Twins would have looked liked with Lester in their Rotation. I don't think any of those Met prospects are going to pan out.

Gomez is already panning out. He is a good player and young, inexpensive and he flat out fly's.

[Retoxicate]

Originally Posted by SkellyChamp

Is there anything intelligent in this. Stick to your Yankees hopes and plans.

I think it actually basically recaps what Omar Minaya did last offseason. He made a major fantastic trade to bring in Santana. He signed 4-5 guys for middle relief and unfortunately none of them worked out. He made a trade that brought in Ryan Church, which if Church gets back on track will have been a good trade. He also resigned Alou and Castillo, two bad moves. The Alou move would have been better if he was slotted in as a fourth outfielder and was not so heavily depended on. I think it would be a poor idea to break up the core of this team, they just need to be surrounded with better players.

So, while I may have put it in an obnoxious way, I think there was plenty that is true in my post. Sorry to have disappointed you.

[SkellyChamp]

Originally Posted by Retoxicate

I think it actually basically recaps what Omar Minaya did last offseason. He made a major fantastic trade to bring in Santana. He signed 4-5 guys for middle relief and unfortunately none of them worked out. He made a trade that brought in Ryan Church, which if Church gets back on track will have been a good trade. He also resigned Alou and Castillo, two bad moves. The Alou move would have been better if he was slotted in as a fourth outfielder and was not so heavily depended on. I think it would be a poor idea to break up the core of this team, they just need to be surrounded with better players.

So, while I may have put it in an obnoxious way, I think there was plenty that is true in my post. Sorry to have disappointed you.

Hey no worries. Not disappointed but I just thought it went over the top. Who cares.

No question, OM takes the heat for Castillo and Alou. Actually, Alou was a no brainer because it was just one year straight cash and didn't work out. That happens to a lot of guys. Of course he also has to get props for Tatis who helped cover his Alou butt.

Castillo of course was and is another matter. That was just an idiotic move - there ain't any other way to say it.

As for the bullpen he has to take responsibility but so do all GM's. There aren't a lot of good ones out there. And what's good one year will suck the next. It's when they suck back to back and really really suck.

Everyone forgets that Heilman (may he burn in hell) and Sanchez were fucking lights out in 2006. But that door has slammed way shut.

[billyS]

Originally Posted by Lascivious

As for the Mets, Bullpen...Bullpen....Bullpen.

Lets see, first off they need a closer. Since they are a big time team in a big time market and they are moving into a new ball park I see three choices:
K-Rod, Fuentes and Joe Nathan. Nathan would be my first choice as he is the best of the three. His ERA has been under 2 four out of the five years he has been with the Twins. His save totals since he became a closer 44, 43, 36, 37,39. His stuff is lights out. He is very under publicized. He is in his walk year. I'd rather trade for him and pay him then give K-Rod $75 million.
Nathans stats
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/bas.../players/6205/
K-Rod
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/bas.../players/7029/
Fuentes
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/bas.../players/6735/

[Lascivious]

Originally Posted by slipperyhands

Gomez is already panning out. He is a good player and young, inexpensive and he flat out fly's.

Gomez hit 258 7hr and 59 rbis. That's Melky Cabrera production.

[Lascivious]

Originally Posted by SkellyChamp

I think Minnesota made out just fine.

I'm sure you do That was a great trade for Omar.

[SkellyChamp]

Originally Posted by Lascivious

Gomez hit 258 7hr and 59 rbis. That's Melky Cabrera production.

Give him time. It's his first year. You can't compare Gomez and Melky. For Melky that's the top, for Gomez hopefully it's not. And that's just one of four.

[SkellyChamp]

Originally Posted by Lascivious

I'm sure you do That was a great trade for Omar.

That's not what I meant and we both know it. But I can't say I disagree with that either.

[SkellyChamp]

Originally Posted by billyS

Lets see, first off they need a closer. Since they are a big time team in a big time market and they are moving into a new ball park I see three choices:
K-Rod, Fuentes and Joe Nathan. Nathan would be my first choice as he is the best of the three. His ERA has been under 2 four out of the five years he has been with the Twins. His save totals since he became a closer 44, 43, 36, 37,39. His stuff is lights out. He is very under publicized. He is in his walk year. I'd rather trade for him and pay him then give K-Rod $75 million.
Nathans stats
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/bas.../players/6205/
K-Rod
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/bas.../players/7029/
Fuentes
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/bas.../players/6735/

I don't think Nathan is underpublicized at all. And for the very reason that he is going into his walk year makes him cost prohibitive especially at the beginning of the year. Minny is going to be asking for the sun and the moon for him in any consideration of a deal before July. They're going to want teams to overpay. It would be only after July that his value goes down to some degree and then only if Minny is out of it and convinced that they have to get something rather than nothing. i don't think his is obtainable.

I'm not much impressed by Fuentes.

K-Rod (who I do think is overrated) only costs money. And since I've reupped for the new Shea (I can't say Citi Field) they have plenty of money.

[Retoxicate]

I think that K-Rod is overrated and he costs a lot of money. The Mets always have a budget, which is smart, and I think they may be better off spending that money over several players. I also think that to pay that much money, I'd want to get someone who has been more impressive in the playoffs. I hope, that despite the disappointment of the last two years, that the Mets don't get desperate to just get in.

[robnotbob]

No way Mets sign K Rod. They need 2 starters (bye Pedro and Ollie), a LF, a 2nd baseman, and middle relief (really? you're kidding me)

Orlando Hudson is jonesing to play for the Mets, but Daniel Murphy is going to play 2nd in winter ball (he's a 3rd baseman by trade and the Mets already have a guy there). So who knows?

The trade I wanted them to make already passed...Manny and Coco Crisp for Beltran. As much as I love Carlos, Manny puts the Mets in the playoffs this past year. As it is, I can see Omar (talk about man love) going after Manny with a 4 year $100MM deal.

[SkellyChamp]

Originally Posted by robnotbob

No way Mets sign K Rod. .

i wouldn't be so sure. they have no closer and whatever they do with middle relief they still need someone to finish games and K-rod they can get for just cash and no players. so i think they are players. whether they get him or not is another story. whether i think he is worth being over paid for is also another story.

Originally Posted by robnotbob

They need 2 starters (bye Pedro and Ollie), a LF, a 2nd baseman, and middle relief (really? you're kidding me).

as my son says Duh.

Originally Posted by robnotbob

Orlando Hudson is jonesing to play for the Mets, but Daniel Murphy is going to play 2nd in winter ball (he's a 3rd baseman by trade and the Mets already have a guy there). So who knows?.

as much as Hudson wants to play here and we need him, i don't see them giving out another multiyear contract to a 2nd baseman when they will still be paying for castillo, whether he is here or not. i'd rather take a flyer on murphy and invest my money elsewhere

Originally Posted by robnotbob

The trade I wanted them to make already passed...Manny and Coco Crisp for Beltran. As much as I love Carlos, Manny puts the Mets in the playoffs this past year. As it is, I can see Omar (talk about man love) going after Manny with a 4 year $100MM deal.

But not here. i'm glad they didn't make that trade. we can speculate all we want about whether manny would have gotten them in or not but even with him the bullpen is blowing all of those leads. i hope he doesn't go after him because that would require him to sacrifice elsewhere by investing so much in manny.

but of course, we'll see.

and now to golf.

[lightweight]

Originally Posted by SkellyChamp

and now to golf.

Have fun golfing. Omar would never have made that Manny for Beltran trade. I think Omar understands the importance of Defense.

[billyS]

I saw a blurb, came from the Post but was posted on FanNation that the Yanks wanted to sign two free agent pitchers then trade for a prime age high impact 1st baseman or outfielder.
I was thinking a guy they might target, although I have not seen it printed anywhere is Adrian Gonzalez of the Padres. He is 26 and coming into his own. In a big pitchers ball park in San Diego he has two years in a row topping 30 homers and 100 RBI. He is a career .282 hitter.
It would be like when they targeted Tino from Seattle before the '96 season and Chambliss mid season in '75. Both of those deals gave them emerging, solid, clutch hitting 1st baseman that help bring in World Championships. Just a thought, Not sure if SD would trade him but Yanks supposedly in the blurb I mentioned above are looking to move young pitchers if they can sign two Free Agents. What do you think? Here are the stats on Gonzalez:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/bas.../players/7054/
Another possibility but albeit a long shot is Prince Fielder. The Brew crew is going to be hurting for pitching since Sheets and Sabbathia will both probably leave and could use some of the Yanks prospects to rebuild but Milwaukee is one of tose small market teams that loath the Yanks and don't like dealing with them unless it is a one sided deal in their favor.
One other note. The Yanks have seven players in the Arizona Fall league. Showcasing?

[Gavvy Cravath]

Originally Posted by billyS

I was thinking a guy they might target, although I have not seen it printed anywhere is Adrian Gonzalez of the Padres. He is 26 and coming into his own. In a big pitchers ball park in San Diego he has two years in a row topping 30 homers and 100 RBI. He is a career .282 hitter.

I don't know if you have ever watched him in person, but he is the best feilding first baseman I have seen since Keith Hernandez. He is that good. I tell you, I hope you are wrong and writing like a "typical" Yankee fan --- we'll get everyone we want. One of my favorite "unnoticed" players in the game today.

Gavy