Offseason Transactions 2010-11

[Frayed Knot]

Brandon Webb to the Rangers for one year.
Not quite an adequate replacement for Cliff Lee these days, but maybe a decent gamble.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Chad Cordero for a minor-league deal to the Blue Jays.

Good thing we didn't hold onto a guy who pitched in the system last year, can get both righties and lefties out, has little-to-no signing leverage, is now a full 2 years past shoulder surgery and put up 9.1 K/9 and 3+ K/BB ratios in last year's rehab action (35 2/3 IP). No use for that around these parts.

[Guest Edgy DC]

It's not like, with Collins and Oberkfell on the staff, they didn't get a good look at him.

One has to be careful of over-Chadding.

[Frayed Knot]

Adam LaRoche to man 1B for the Nats - two years + a year 3 option.

Also big deals signed by Carlos Gonzalez in Colorado - a 7 year deal which will buy out multiple arb years plus the first few of his FA seasons, $80mil
and Dan Uggla recently acquired by Atlanta - locking hisself up for the next 5 years instead of being a FA this coming off-season, $62mil

[Guest Edgy DC]

I wonder if they're planning to move him to third?

[Frayed Knot]

Edgy DC wrote: I wonder if they're planning to move him to third?

As in, after Chipper departs? ... didn't think of that. Depends on who they've got coming up I suppose.

Meanwhile the Rangers are supposedly hot on Adrian Beltre's trail - ESPN Deportes says so although no one else seems to confirm - meaning another bumping for Michael Young, this time with nowhere else to go but DH. He's already bounced from 2B to SS and back before winding up at 3rd all due to the acquisitions/promotions of the likes of Alfonso Soriano, Ian Kinsler, and Elvis Andrus. Just turned 34, it seems premature to relegate him to the DH graveyard but he's apparently going to be a good soldier about it.

[Frayed Knot]

Beltre to Texas apparently official via a news conference this afternoon - six years for the man who turns 32 opening week.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Frayed Knot wrote: Beltre to Texas apparently official via a news conference this afternoon - six years for the man who turns 32 opening week.

Just don't give him a pat on the head by way of congratulations.

[Frayed Knot]

Edgar Renteria = Cincinnati Red
One year deal.

[Guest Edgy DC]

And Derrek Lee is an Oriole.

[DocTee]

Matt Garza to Cubs for a boatload of prospects.

[metirish]

DocTee wrote: Matt Garza to Cubs for a boatload of prospects.

FU Omar

[Guest Edgy DC]

I don't get it.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I'll take a guess here...

Omar depleted the Mets farm system, which prevented the Mets from being able to trade for Garza?

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I laughed. He was mocking a dumb Met fan reaction.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Oh, Okily. Me dense man. I thought... we at least have enough to get Garza.

Omar, for all his whatever, was really restrained at two consecutive trade deadlines and last offseason --- even with the BayPayDay.

You can say a lot about recent drafts (cough! Matz! cough!), but the last year and a half he seemed to be less to be a man desperate to save himself (as feared), but more of a man getting his house in order, and sort of allowed the Alderson era to begin before it began. With a few smart moves, a lot of things can come ripe for the Mets at the same time.

[smg58]

The Garza deal boots Tom Gorzelanny out of a role for the Cubs, so don't be surprised if he becomes the subject of more Met-related rumors.

[Guest Edgy DC]

I was getting set for Zito rumors.

[metirish]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I laughed. He was mocking a dumb Met fan reaction.

And of course it wasn't just the fans but the media for a time seemed to always reference any trade with a "Mets never stood a chance because.....".

[Frayed Knot]

Not a done deal yet - but as things stand now it's looking like a [u:2t67mdl7]eight player deal[/u:2t67mdl7] where minor leaguers RHP Chris Archer, OF Brandon Guyer, SS Hak-Ju Lee, C Robinson Chirinos and part-time MLer OF Sam Fuld go to Tampa in exchange for Garza and two minor leaguers, one of whom looks to be OF Fernando Perez.

Archer appears to be the most promising of the bunch. HJ Lee is a defensive specialist with a questionable bat.

[Ceetar]

The former Baltimore Orioles (1901-1902) apparently signed Rafael Soriano 3 years 35 million. Nothing like getting desperate and over paying a middle reliever..unless they don't have real faith in Rivera holding up all season?

Their pen, provided we didn't wear out Pedro and Rivera remains one of the few successful pitchers at that age, their pen looks pretty good, which might be a way of masking that their rotation is a head case, and Ace that had knee surgery, and Hughes with the possible addition of Brett Favre...err, Andy Pettitte..later on.

cue the "Joba should be a starter" tirade on WFAN.

[Gwreck]

I guess Brian Cashman was just flat-out lying when he claimed he would not sign a Type-A free agent.

[Frayed Knot]

Ceetar wrote: ... Rafael Soriano 3 years 35 million.

HOLY GET THE HOOK BATMAN!! That's a lotta scratch for a set-up man.
They didn't pay Mariano that kind of cash until about four years ago.
Or, put another way, $27 mil/year invested just to get through the 8th & 9th innings.

Oh well, at least Yanx fans can feel confident in Cashman's excellent track record for signing multi-million dollar set-up guys:
- Steve Karsay -- 4 yrs/$21mil at age 30 ... pitched one full season and then a total of 12 innings over the next three
- Kyle Farnsworth -- 3 yrs/$17mil at age 30 ... ~ 170 IPs; 4.50 ERA; 1.45 WHiP - dealt away before the deal ended
- Damaso Marte -- 3 yrs/$12 + option at age 34, 1 year (plus option) still remains ... so far: 31 IPs; 6.39; 1.36 WHiP
- LaTroy Hawkins -- 1 yr/$3.75mil at age 35 ... 41 IP; 5.71 ERA; 1.44 WHiP - paid Houston to take him by the end of July
- Luis Vizcaino -- 1 yr/$3mil at age 32 ... 75 IPs; 4.30 ERA; 1.45 WHiP
- Tom Gordon -- 2 yrs/$7.25 at age 36 ... ~ 170 IPs; 2.40 ERA; 1.00 WHiP
- Paul Quantrill -- 2 yrs/$6mil at age 35 ... ~ 125 IPs, 6.00 ERA, 1.60 WHiP


Gordon worked out well while he was there. The others, not so much.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

They must have hired Omar as an advisor.

[ashie62]

Frayed Knot wrote: ... Rafael Soriano 3 years 35 million. HOLY GET THE HOOK BATMAN!! That's a lotta scratch for a set-up man. They didn't pay Mariano that kind of cash until about four years ago. Or, put another way, $27 mil/year invested just to get through the 8th & 9th innings. Oh well, at least Yanx fans can feel confident in Cashman's excellent track record for signing multi-million dollar set-up guys: - Steve Karsay -- 4 yrs/$21mil at age 30 ... pitched one full season and then a total of 12 innings over the next three - Kyle Farnsworth -- 3 yrs/$17mil at age 30 ... ~ 170 IPs; 4.50 ERA; 1.45 WHiP - dealt away before the deal ended - Damaso Marte -- 3 yrs/$12 + option at age 34, 1 year (plus option) still remains ... so far: 31 IPs; 6.39; 1.36 WHiP - LaTroy Hawkins -- 1 yr/$3.75mil at age 35 ... 41 IP; 5.71 ERA; 1.44 WHiP - paid Houston to take him by the end of July - Luis Vizcaino -- 1 yr/$3mil at age 32 ... 75 IPs; 4.30 ERA; 1.45 WHiP - Tom Gordon -- 2 yrs/$7.25 at age 36 ... ~ 170 IPs; 2.40 ERA; 1.00 WHiP - Paul Quantrill -- 2 yrs/$6mil at age 35 ... ~ 125 IPs, 6.00 ERA, 1.60 WHiP Gordon worked out well while he was there. The others, not so much.

When I first saw this I thought Alfonso Soriano was in LF again.

This Soriano can be the Yankee closer in the future.

[metirish]

Heyman via twitter has proclaimed this the best bullpen in the majors.....in the middle of January no less.....

[Frayed Knot]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: They must have hired Omar as an advisor.

Particularly since the Snooze reports that Soriano can opt out of the deal after each of the first two seasons. That's almost as good as a vesting option.

Meanwhile, the Rays are losing half their team but are already inito the restocking plan. While their 1st place finish this past year means their own pick in June's draft isn't until #32, they will pick up selections #24 & 38 for losing Carl Crawford, #31 plus another supplemental (not sure which one yet) for Soriano, plus sandwich picks #50, #54 & #57 for the likes of Joaquin Benoit, Randy Choate and Brad Hawpe (Randy Choate?!?).
There are also remaining TB FAs like Grant Balfour (Type A) and Chad Qualls ( which will net them 3 more picks if/when they sign with another club. In all, they could net 11 picks in a 35 or so player span starting with selection #24.

They also have what John Sickels describes as the best RH pitching prospect in baseball (Jeremy Hellickson) and the best LH pitching prospect (Matt Moore) not named Aroldis (Hellickson will pitch this season, Moore is still a ways away); an OF prospect ready to replace Crawford in Desmond Jennings; a young likely closing option (Jake McGee), and just landed five prospects of varying quality from the Cubs in exchange for Matt Garza.

THAT is how you reload and stick to a budget.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

metirish wrote: Heyman via twitter has proclaimed this the best bullpen in the majors.....in the middle of January no less.....

I mean who here can't be reminded of the unstoppable-on-paper combination that was going to turn every game the Mets played into a 7 inning lockdown? What folly to even think it's possible.

The best thing the MFYs did here was give themselves an experienced backup for a 40-something closer, but half the closers in the league theoretically come on the market every July. They're idiots,. and here's hoping they get exactly what they deserve.

Soriano by the way was known to be a douchebag who didn't get along with Maddon.

[Frayed Knot]

Established closers [registered trademark] who are potentially on the market next winter:
- Heath Bell, Jonathan Papelbon, Francisco Rodriguez, Jonathan Broxton, Matt Capps, and Ryan Franklin.
- Plus, if team options are declined, Joe Nathan and Francisco Cordero.

[Ceetar]

In a way, I wonder if the Yankees are worried about Rivera.

But they paid a whole ton for someone who's gonna pitch 60 innings. Plus, coupled with CC, they're totally up in the air in terms of long term planning, with these guys being able to pretty much opt out at whim.

And no matter how good your bullpen is, you gotta have a lead when you get there to save it.



in other news, apparantly Jeff Francis to the Royals.