Re: ***Official 2007-2008 MLB Offseason Thread***
 

White Sox designated Scott Podsednik for assignment.

Re: ***Official 2007-2008 MLB Offseason Thread***
 

Via PokerFink

[ QUOTE ]
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3123200

He's 32 years old. Discuss.

Edit: I looked at about half the first page and didn't see an MLB Offseason thread, but now I see that it's pretty far down there. Oops. Mods feel free to delete this and put something in that thread if you feel like it.

[/ QUOTE ]

My friend was saying he was hearing 6/90 rumors to LAD. Glad he didn't end up in Chicago.

Re: ***Official 2007-2008 MLB Offseason Thread***
 

Indians sign former hotdog eating champion Masahide Kobayashi of the Chiba Lotte Marines to a two-year contract with a club option for 2010.

98 mph fastball and a plus-slider? It was nice knowing you, Joe Borowski.

Re: ***Official 2007-2008 MLB Offseason Thread***
 

[ QUOTE ]
Via PokerFink

[ QUOTE ]
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3123200

He's 32 years old. Discuss.

Edit: I looked at about half the first page and didn't see an MLB Offseason thread, but now I see that it's pretty far down there. Oops. Mods feel free to delete this and put something in that thread if you feel like it.

[/ QUOTE ]

My friend was saying he was hearing 6/90 rumors to LAD. Glad he didn't end up in Chicago.

[/ QUOTE ]

I used to like the Angels. They're a west coast team, play a sweet style of ball, have Mike Scioscia as their manager, and train in Tempe. Then I found out Arte Moreno went to Nogales Tech as the Pussy(cats) were beating up on Oregon last Thursday and I wished much ill for the Angels franchise. This isn't exactly what I hoped for, but it will do.

Re: ***Official 2007-2008 MLB Offseason Thread***
 

I don't really know why the Angels did this. It appears that Reagins is much more active than Stoneman (sample size yea). But Hunter figures to have another 2-3 good years is my guess. Shmeh.

Re: ***Official 2007-2008 MLB Offseason Thread***
 

Career numbers

Which one is Juan Rivera (1500 AB), who the Angels already have for some trivial amount, and which one is Torii Hunter (4500 AB)?

.291/.340/.473

.271/.324/.469

zomg: <font color="white"> Hunter on bottom obv </font>

Re: ***Official 2007-2008 MLB Offseason Thread***
 

[ QUOTE ]
Career numbers

Which one is Juan Rivera (1500 AB), who the Angels already have for some trivial amount, and which one is Torii Hunter (4500 AB)?

.291/.340/.473

.271/.324/.469

zomg: <font color="white"> Hunter on bottom obv </font>

[/ QUOTE ]

Hunter is perceived as being an elite defender, so comparing their hitting stats alone doesn't make sense.

Re: ***Official 2007-2008 MLB Offseason Thread***
 

but he's not.

Re: ***Official 2007-2008 MLB Offseason Thread***
 

Agreed. But to explain why the Angels might prefer one over the other, you must assume it's at least in part because they think he's a great defender. Therefore, pointing out that he's a comparable hitter doesn't actually undermine the reason the signed him.

Re: ***Official 2007-2008 MLB Offseason Thread***
 

[ QUOTE ]
but he's not.

[/ QUOTE ]

But he, like GMJ, once made a highlight reel catch, so he is clearly an elite defender.

Re: ***Official 2007-2008 MLB Offseason Thread***
 

Linebrink is reported to have signed a 4/19 with the White sox.

Link

Re: ***Official 2007-2008 MLB Offseason Thread***
 

[ QUOTE ]
Linebrink is reported to have signed a 4/19 with the White sox.

Link

[/ QUOTE ]

Nothing like fixing your bullpen problem by signing guys for 4 years based on reputation.

Re: ***Official 2007-2008 MLB Offseason Thread***
 

linebrinkg gsdsdjhgsgkbnhdsjgsd lol

Re: ***Official 2007-2008 MLB Offseason Thread***
 

What do the forum regulars think of:

M. Cabrera for
Howie Kendrick, Jeff Mathis, Reggie Willits. Apparently also pushing for Nick Adenhart, which may be a sticking point.

Evaluate the trade based on 1 for 3, and then separetely 1 for 4.

I think 1 for 3 is good for the Angels, 1 for 4 not so much. I do hate to see the Angels give up Kendrick, a middle infielder with + offensive skills. But this is Miguel Cabrera I guess.

Re: ***Official 2007-2008 MLB Offseason Thread***
 

Former Jays pitcher Joe Kennedy dead at 28...

Re: ***Official 2007-2008 MLB Offseason Thread***
 

[ QUOTE ]
Former Rays pitcher Joe Kennedy dead at 28...

[/ QUOTE ]

Re: ***Official 2007-2008 MLB Offseason Thread***
 

Reds, closer Cordero agree to $46M deal


pffffftttt

Re: ***Official 2007-2008 MLB Offseason Thread***
 

[ QUOTE ]
Reds, closer Cordero agree to $46M deal


pffffftttt

[/ QUOTE ]

What a genius move. All 75 win teams become instant contenders with good-not-great closers.

God, the Reds are retarded.

Re: ***Official 2007-2008 MLB Offseason Thread***
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Reds, closer Cordero agree to $46M deal


pffffftttt

[/ QUOTE ]

What a genius move. All 75 win teams become instant contenders with good-not-great closers.

God, the Reds are retarded.

[/ QUOTE ]

This signing was an absolute must for the Reds. They have nobody in their bullpen, so Cordero basically adds whatever his win projection is to their win projection. Even if this signing were to only make them a 78 win team, that takes the Central ~10% of the time. Add in the volatility with guys like Bruce, Votto, Bailey, and Cueto, and this team could be in the postseason 20% of the time.

BTW, Cordero K'd &gt; 80 and walked &lt; 20 in 70 IP in 2007. He's an alpha reliver, no doubt about it.

Re: ***Official 2007-2008 MLB Offseason Thread***
 

Cordero passed on $42 million for 4 years from Milwaukee (a place and management that he said he really liked) for $46 million for 4 years from Cincy.

Yeah, that makes sense.

Re: ***Official 2007-2008 MLB Offseason Thread***
 

I would do alot worse things than that for 4 million dollars :-P

Re: ***Official 2007-2008 MLB Offseason Thread***
 

i assume he is gonna be closing in cincy and wasnt in cincy maybe

Re: ***Official 2007-2008 MLB Offseason Thread***
 

[ QUOTE ]
i assume he is gonna be closing in cincy and wasnt in cincy maybe

[/ QUOTE ]

I think you mean Milwaukee the second time...but why wouldn't he be closing up there? He closed last year.

Re: ***Official 2007-2008 MLB Offseason Thread***
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Former A's pitcher Joe Kennedy dead at 28...

[/ QUOTE ]

[/ QUOTE ]

Re: ***Official 2007-2008 MLB Offseason Thread***
 

[ QUOTE ]
Cordero passed on $42 million for 4 years from Milwaukee (a place and management that he said he really liked) for $46 million for 4 years from Cincy.

Yeah, that makes sense.

[/ QUOTE ]

That Dusty Baker signing is paying dividends already.

Re: ***Official 2007-2008 MLB Offseason Thread***
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Reds, closer Cordero agree to $46M deal


pffffftttt

[/ QUOTE ]

What a genius move. All 75 win teams become instant contenders with good-not-great closers.

God, the Reds are retarded.

[/ QUOTE ]

This signing was an absolute must for the Reds. They have nobody in their bullpen, so Cordero basically adds whatever his win projection is to their win projection. Even if this signing were to only make them a 78 win team, that takes the Central ~10% of the time. Add in the volatility with guys like Bruce, Votto, Bailey, and Cueto, and this team could be in the postseason 20% of the time.

BTW, Cordero K'd &gt; 80 and walked &lt; 20 in 70 IP in 2007. He's an alpha reliver, no doubt about it.

[/ QUOTE ]

cordero was a fantasy stud for me this year, no doubt.

have you guys seen who closes games in the NL Central? good-not-great (debatable point) is the MF-ing nuts.

Re: ***Official 2007-2008 MLB Offseason Thread***
 

[ QUOTE ]
have you guys seen who closes games in the NL Central? good-not-great (debatable point) is the MF-ing nuts.


[/ QUOTE ]

Another point I missed the first time around. Not only do the Reds improve, but they weaken one of the supposed frontrunners. Have fun with Derrick Turnbow.

Re: ***Official 2007-2008 MLB Offseason Thread***
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
have you guys seen who closes games in the NL Central? good-not-great (debatable point) is the MF-ing nuts.


[/ QUOTE ]

Another point I missed the first time around. Not only do the Reds improve, but they weaken one of the supposed frontrunners. Have fun with Derrick Turnbow.

[/ QUOTE ]

So you're defending the signing of a closer (remember, the Reds will only use him in "save situations" because they're stupid) at $11.5 million a year from age 33-36?

I don't care how bad their bullpen has been...they need a lot of pitching, and spending $46 million on ~275 innings of relief from a mid-30's closer is nuts.

Re: ***Official 2007-2008 MLB Offseason Thread***
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
have you guys seen who closes games in the NL Central? good-not-great (debatable point) is the MF-ing nuts.


[/ QUOTE ]

Another point I missed the first time around. Not only do the Reds improve, but they weaken one of the supposed frontrunners. Have fun with Derrick Turnbow.

[/ QUOTE ]

So you're defending the signing of a closer (remember, the Reds will only use him in "save situations" because they're stupid) at $11.5 million a year from age 33-36?

I don't care how bad their bullpen has been...they need a lot of pitching, and spending $46 million on ~275 innings of relief from a mid-30's closer is nuts.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, I give the Reds credit for identifying their biggest weakness and then signing the best available option to strengthen that weakness. Not only was this a "good" signing by the Reds, it might go down as the best of the offseason!

The Reds don't need as much pitching as you think. Harang and Arroyo are two solid, reliable guys to front the rotation. Belisle's ERA was crappy, but his periphs suggest a close to league average starter. They've got three MLB ready young guns in Homer Bailey, Matt Maloney, and arguably the best pitching prospect in the minors, Johnny Cueto. One of those three will be a star starting in 2008, so they really only need one of the others to be solid. It might take some time to figure out who's going to fill what role, but the Reds don't need to sign a starter. In fact, I'd go as far as to say that the Reds should now focus their attention on a high risk/reward closer like Gagne or Foulke.

Re: ***Official 2007-2008 MLB Offseason Thread***
 

Cordero is obviously going to help the Reds quite a bit, but he's being severely overpaid. Though it's not the Reds fault the market severely overvalues closers.

The Reds have another glaring weakness that isn't as easily addressed. Griffey and Dunn combined to cost them about 50 runs in the outfield this year because of their terrible defense. Dunn seriously needs to be moved to 1B as quickly as possible, but he's blocked now by Votto. Griffey is not tradeable and is blocking Bruce's entry. And they still don't have a true center fielder, though Hamilton does pretty well for a RF transplant.

Re: ***Official 2007-2008 MLB Offseason Thread***
 

It is easily addressed: trade Dunn.

Re: ***Official 2007-2008 MLB Offseason Thread***
 

To the Yankees for Ohlendorf [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Re: ***Official 2007-2008 MLB Offseason Thread***
 

A Look at the 2008 Twins Payroll

Salary information provided by Cot's Baseball Contracts;

http://mlbcontracts.blogspot.com/200...-twins_17.html

This is an estimation of what the Twins payroll will look like in 2008, and perhaps beyond. I'll estimate who is going to play where the best I can.

Position, Player, Salary, Service Time
C-Joe Mauer, $6.25MM, 4.0
1b-Justin Morneau, ~$7MM, 3.2
2b, Alexi Casilla, ~$400k, &lt; 1
3b-none
ss-Jason Bartlett, ~$500k, 2.1
lf-up in the air, $500k-$2.5MM
cf-none
rf-Michael Cuddyer, ~$5MM, 4.2
dh-Jason Kubel, ~$1.2MM, 3.0

Bench
UT-Nick Punto, $2.4MM, 5.1
C-Mike Redmond, $0.95MM, 9.1
OF-Jason Tyner, ~$800k, 3.1

Offensive notes; There will be two more bench player, most likely getting paid about $700k combined. Craig Monroe will either take a huge paycut to sign or get non tendered. There is no way the Twins offer arb and get stuck paying $5+MM.

That's about $25.2MM on position players, still short a CF and 3b, and kind of crappy at LF/DH. They will owe Mauer and Morneau $20MM+ in 2009, and Cuddyer ain't gettin' any cheaper as he rolls through his arb years.

Pitching;
SP-Johan Santana, $13.25MM, 7.1
SP-Boof Bonser, $400k, 1.1
SP-Scott Baker, $400k, 1.1
SP-Matt Garza, $400k, &lt; 1
SP-Fransisco Liriano, $500k, 2.0
SP-Kevin Slowey, $400k, &lt;1

RP-Joe Nathan, $6MM, 6.1
RP-Pat Neshek, $400k, 1.1
RP-Matt Guerrier, $900k, 3.1
RP-Juan Rincon, $2.8MM, 5.1
RP-Dennys Reyes, $1MM, 9.0
RP-Jesse Crain, $1.05MM, 3.1

Pitching notes; Santana, Nathan, and Rincon are in their last years before free agency. Nobody is locked in for more than ~$1MM for 2009.

That's about $27.5MM for a pat staff.

The Twins payroll was $71MM last year,
and I've read that it will be around $78MM in 2008. They've got $52.7 in commitments for 2008 leaving them ~$25MM to find a CF, 3b, and LF/DH while looking for an improvement over Kubel at LF/DH.

This team is not bad enough to blow up, but they've got some serious holes. As I look at it, trading Santana is not the answer. They've got to stay the course and sign second tier free agents (Lofton, Lamb) to fill their holes and make a run. I can see trading Nathan to fill one hole, and Rincon as more of a salary dump. You give up Santana, you give up your edge.

After taking a closer look at this team, I think the trade scenarios are even more muddled. The one team that could fill the Twins holes at 3B and CF are the Dodgers with LaRoche and Kemp, but that would be a violent overpay from the Dodgers perspective, and there certianly wouldn't be any other prospects going over. Most likely any deal for Santana is going to be step 1 of a multi step process, but again, I just don't see it getting done.

Final thoughts; This team should plug its holes with cheap options and see what lady variance says about 2008. If they make it, great. If not, deal whatever stopgaps they sign, Santana, and whoever's left from Nathan and Rincon at the deadline. They get less in return, but will have a much better idea of where they stand. Right now, this team is in no-mans land, with regard to win potential.

Given the fact that Morneau and Mauer are not too far from costing $30MM/yr, I doubt it's in the Twins best interest to sign Santana to a 6/120 extension. I can't see him accepting less than that, so his value to the Twins is ~$27MM (~$12MM for 2008 performance and ~$15MM for draft pick compensatioin) for 2008. While they can get way more in total value in a trade, it's unlikely they can replace his $25MM of actual value for 2008.

I do recant my statement that they won't take Crisp back in a deal. He would probably have to be paired with Youkilis and a prospect (Lester/Bowden/Masterson/high ceiling A ball type...etc).

Re: ***Official 2007-2008 MLB Offseason Thread***
 

Summary of long post above;

The Twins should not trade Johan Santana and instead should do what they've done the past few years. Sign a couple of cheap free agents to plug their holes and hope to get lucky.

The one move I would make for sure is to trade Juan Rincon, for as little as a 12 pack of Heinekin. Moving Nathan for MLB ready CF or 3B could be OK as well.

Re: ***Official 2007-2008 MLB Offseason Thread***
 

they should actually trade santana and blow it up

Re: ***Official 2007-2008 MLB Offseason Thread***
 

I think you are underrating Kubel. I'd have him penciled in as the starter in LF for next season. He is average to above average as a fielder (in left) and an above average hitter. His 2007 line was very similar to the average AL left fielder:
AL Average: .275/.335/.426
Kubel: .273/.335/.450

What makes me even more hopeful about his future is that his walk rate consistently improved all year, he hits more line drives then anyone on the team and he had a great second half. In fact, over the 2nd half, he was the best hitter on the team, hitting .303/.379/.511. That isn't a big enough sample so that you could expect him to keep it up next year, but it is enough to hope. Combined with his career minor league line of .320/.388/.499 it seems a little more likely that his 2nd half performance could look more like his future then this 1st half.

Re: ***Official 2007-2008 MLB Offseason Thread***
 

don't think anyone wants a corner OF with a .335 OBP. don't cherry pick the "AL Average LF" thing. i'm too lazy to see what the overall corner OF average was bu it should be higher than that line.

Re: ***Official 2007-2008 MLB Offseason Thread***
 

[ QUOTE ]
don't think anyone wants a corner OF with a .335 OBP. don't cherry pick the "AL Average LF" thing. i'm too lazy to see what the overall corner OF average was bu it should be higher than that line.

[/ QUOTE ]

Good point, NL is higher. I was looking at BP and they list by position and league so that was the most relevant number I could copy without doing any math. NL line is:
.278 .358 .478

Re: ***Official 2007-2008 MLB Offseason Thread***
 

[ QUOTE ]

Yes, I give the Reds credit for identifying their biggest weakness and then signing the best available option to strengthen that weakness. Not only was this a "good" signing by the Reds, it might go down as the best of the offseason!

The Reds don't need as much pitching as you think. Harang and Arroyo are two solid, reliable guys to front the rotation. Belisle's ERA was crappy, but his periphs suggest a close to league average starter. They've got three MLB ready young guns in Homer Bailey, Matt Maloney, and arguably the best pitching prospect in the minors, Johnny Cueto. One of those three will be a star starting in 2008, so they really only need one of the others to be solid. It might take some time to figure out who's going to fill what role, but the Reds don't need to sign a starter. In fact, I'd go as far as to say that the Reds should now focus their attention on a high risk/reward closer like Gagne or Foulke.

[/ QUOTE ]

They just spent $11M a year for four years on a 32 year old who will pitch 5% of their innings. If you think a team should put half their payroll into pitching, the Reds just spent 1/3 of their pitching budget on 1/20th of their pitching output. And you think they should spend some more on another 70 inning guy?

Why not instead move some of those young guns to the bullpen?

Re: ***Official 2007-2008 MLB Offseason Thread***
 

DC, they have starting pitching. They really don't need more of it. Therefore their pitching budget is either in locking up that starting pitching long-term or in getting relievers...