Gather the wood. . .time to fire up the Stove!!

[metirish]

I was at a winter( union) meeting today at work and some guys there told me Zito will be a Met before sunrise....

[soupcan]

I'm guessing that means sayonara to Milledge.

Lastings we hardly knew ye.

[Elster88]

soupcan wrote: I'm guessing that means sayonara to Milledge. Lastings we hardly knew ye.

It's too bad, I guess, but I'll trade him for the existence 2006 WS ring with the words "Mets" and "Zito". I am getting very excited.

Put back the countdown until opening day, ye gods, er mods.

[Frayed Knot]

="MFS62"]M&MD just reported that the A's have allowed the Mets to talk to Zito about a contract extension.

I was listening and didn't hear them say that.
They said "there are reports" that it may be the case, and that the team would want to talk to him before any deal since you'd only be trading for 1 season but, rumors aside, they didn't say the process was already ongoing.

]If the Mets have really been granted permission, we'll hear about it. The commissioner's office has to approve of that permission.

Egg-Zactly!
Also, fans also seem to think this is a lot more common than it actually is. I can't remember the last time a player - at least one w/o veto power over a trade like Unit or Schilling - willingly gave up his FA rights to pre-negotiate a deal before a trade.

[seawolf17]

metirish wrote: I was at a winter( union) meeting today at work and some guys there told me Zito will be a Met before sunrise....

Irish apparently is in the same union as Valadius's dad.

[metirish]

LOL...anyway form David Lennon in Newsday..

]DALLAS -- Frustrated by the complexity of a megadeal for Manny Ramirez, the Mets have ramped up their discussions involving Barry Zito, and the club already has inquired about the possibility of signing him to an extension as part of any trade with the Athletics.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Ken Rosenthal sez:

Braves get D-baggs relievers Cormier and Villareal for C Johnny Estrada.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/5147106

Pads get Ray P Dewon Brazelton for Burrroughs:

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/5144382

[Guest Edgy DC]

Yeah, because the key is not to improve your team, but to have a "meagadeal."

[metirish]

WOW, Estrada for those two...they have that kid catcher though, right?

[soupcan]

Johnny Dickshot wrote: Pads get Ray P Dewon Brazelton for Burrroughs:

Wow, Pods finally give up on Burroughs.

[Frayed Knot]

]Ken Rosenthal sez: Braves get D-baggs relievers Cormier and Villareal for C Johnny Estrada.

Interesting.
Risky for DBacks because Estrada was really messed up by that collision at the plate w/Erstad (they hit so hard their shirts switched names) and wasn't the same after. Supposedly he's on the mend.
Braves pen was a real problem last year. They drafted a college closer (Foster) who they were breaking in in September, plus they have the kid catcher (McCann) plus another they like even better (Saltalamacchia -- can they fit that name on a shirt?) rushing through the minors.
One more market closes for the 2 FA catchers.

]Pads get Ray P Dewon Brazelton for Burrroughs:

A couple of disappointments swapped for each other.

[Guest sharpie]

At the bottom of the Estrada story it said that Ramon Hernandez is about to sign with the Orioles. If true, there goes one of them.

[soupcan]

Excuse me but doesn't Javy Lopez catch for the O's?

[Frayed Knot]

With the steroid boys - Sammy & Raffy - gone, I think Javy will be a DH more often than not from here on out.

[soupcan]

I guess so.

[seawolf17]

The Pirates ended the season with two Redmans; they will begin 2006 with none, as lefty Mark Redman was dealt to KC for a minor leaguer. Adding a guy who went 5-15 last year to a team that lost 100 games ain't gonna be pretty.

[Valadius]

Padres 3B Sean Burroughs has been traded to Tampa Bay for RHP Dewon Brazelton.

[Valadius]

Ken Rosenthal was right - Estrada to D-Backs for Cormier and Villarreal.

Also, the Red Sox have acquired 2B Mark Loretta from San Diego for C Doug Mirabelli.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Why would the Pads trade Loretta for Mirabelli? Do they have a knuckleballer in need of a catcher?

[smg58]

They must think Mirabelli can start. I wonder if that means the Red Sox plan on keeping Shoppach after all. The Padres are making room for Josh Barfield at second, and I'm guessing will give Ben Jonson a shot in left while putting Klesko back at first. As for Loretta, he's still a solid defender and OBP guy, but his power just vanished last year. He could bounce back or nosedive.

Speaking of the Padres, they just brought back Trevor for two years and $13.5M. I don't think he's as good now as he was in his prime, but given the market for relievers that's still a bargain.

Regarding the Braves deal: Villareal had a fantastic season in 03, but I'm not sure whose brilliant idea it was to ask a 21-year-old rookie reliever for 98 innings. While he hasn't been right since, he only just turned 24 and wouldn't be Mazzone's first successful reclamation project.

[Valadius]

Except Mazzone's now pitching coach of the Baltimore Orioles.

[nymr83]

good deal for the redsox. Loretta can leadoff if Damon leaves town.

[Valadius]

The Cubs, in their second move of the day, have agreed to terms with John Mabry, formerly with the Cardinals.

[DocTee]

I'd have preferred Omar land Loretta than Nady for Mike C.

He's rock-steady, and solid if unspectacular

Hell, I'd have almost prefer Mirabelli over LoDuca.

IMO, Loretta and Mirabelli>>LoDuca and Nady

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Braves trade Danny Kolb back to Milwaukee for lunchbucket picther Wes Obermuller.

[Valadius]

Braves closers (with the exception of John Smoltz) haven't turned out well recently, have they?

[smg58]

Valadius wrote: Except Mazzone's now pitching coach of the Baltimore Orioles.

Forgot about that! So I guess his reclamation project is LaTroy Hawkins.

We'll see if Kolb can remember how to pitch back in Milwaukee

[Guest GYC]

soupcan wrote: Excuse me but doesn't Javy Lopez catch for the O's?

I was reading earlier in the offseason that they may try Javy Lopez at 1st a bit... I'll see if I can dig it up.

[Guest GYC]

GYC wrote: ="soupcan"]Excuse me but doesn't Javy Lopez catch for the O's? I was reading earlier in the offseason that they may try Javy Lopez at 1st a bit... I'll see if I can dig it up.

Here we go - faster than I thought - but it looks more like it was just speculation.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baseball/bal-sp.orioles03nov03,1,4352124.story?coll=bal-sports-baseball&ctrack=1&cset=true

="On November 3rd, 2005, it was"]The Orioles also are expected to talk to Eric Goldschmidt, the agent for Padres catcher Ramon Hernandez, who is one of the Orioles' top targets, according to a team source. The signing of either Hernandez or the Los Angeles Angels' Bengie Molina could result in the Orioles' moving Javy Lopez to first base, filling a hole there.

[DocTee]

Late Wednesday, another rumor popped up, with the Phillies said to have offered outfielder Bobby Abreu, catcher Mike Lieberthal and pitching prospect Gavin Floyd for lefty Barry Zito and catcher Jason Kendall.