Winter 2011-2012 FAs

[Vic Sage]

bmfc1 wrote: Joe Nathan to the Texas Rangers. seawolf17 weeps.

crap.
yeah, i'm an alumni too.

[smg58]

I thought Nathan might be a nice fit, but $15M over two years is more than I'd have gone.

[seawolf17]

smg58 wrote: I thought Nathan might be a nice fit, but $15M over two years is more than I'd have gone.

Me too. I wanted him here, but that's a good call by him getting the two years.

[metirish]

That's a crazy deal though isn't it? at his age yyybbb?

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/n/nathajo01.shtml


coming out of 2009 maybe.

[Frayed Knot]

The big news there is that the Rangers make the move to Joe Nathan with the idea of moving Neftali Feliz to the starting rotation.




Also, IF Clint Barmes to the Pirates for two years.

[metirish]

Ahh,bye bye Wilson?

[smg58]

Not sure the Rangers are necessarily out on Wilson, but they've put themselves in a position where they can easily move on.

A lot of middle infielders have gotten more money than I would have expected. Personally, I'd look at Jose Lopez before I'd have given a second thought to Barmes or Ellis or Carroll. He's the youngest FA, is two years removed from a season the other FA second basemen can't match, fell off a cliff for a while like a lot of Mariners, but seemed to be getting back on track with the Marlins late last year (the average wasn't there, but 8 doubles and 6 homers with only 13 Ks in 106 ABs is a good step in the right direction). Young, cheap upside trumps expensive, safe mediocrity any day.

[Frayed Knot]

Yeah, I think the plan all along was to target Feliz as a starter and putting Nolan in charge certainly doesn't hurt. The fact that he started so young allowed them to use the reliever route to break him in more slowly.
I don't think this means Wilson is gone necessarily, but it's a nice contingency plan either way and now with Nathan they've got their ass covered on the other end too.

[smg58]

Former Met (I think Gil Hodges managed him) Bruce Chen gets two years and $9M to stay with the Royals. You really have to applaud the guy's resilience.

[TransMonk]

The Royals and free-agent RHP Jonathan Broxton have agreed to a one-year deal, according to Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com.

[smg58]

The Broxton deal appears to to be $4M plus incentives, and he looks to be taking on a setup role. I guess his injury scared off everybody (evidently the Mets included) in the market for closers.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Did you see where the Phillies tried to lure Billy Wagner out of retirement, but he said no thanks?

[TransMonk]

The twitters say that Pat Misch signed a minor-leatgue deal with the Phillies.

[Edgy MD]

David DeJesus to the Cubs for two years, ten mills.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Edgy DC wrote: David DeJesus to the Cubs for two years, ten mills.

Odd. He's 32, coming off a wretched season, is a pretty good defensive left-fielder and is also a very iffy centerfielder... and the Cubs have those covered already, no?

[Edgy MD]

Dear David, Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Seriously... gracias, hombre. Love, Angel

[smg58]

Chris Capuano to the Dodgers for 2 years and $10M. Better them than us.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

(supresses laughter)

[Edgy MD]

I'm ready to vote Sandy Executive of the Year on restraint alone.

Seriously, though. Two teams are under a mountain of debt. One accepts that it has to operate under austerity, trims tens of millions in payroll, lets expensive contracts expire, and patiently lets the market come to them, even as their popular leadoff-hitting, batting-average-champion enters free agency. The other enters chapter 11, yields control of the team to the league, and starts spending money like they have their own press.

What a country!

[Ceetar]

are the Dodgers themselves under as much debt as the Mets? They might not be. Leaving the owners out of it.

[metirish]

Jon Heyman
Here's an interesting twist: #mets have contacted krod. Lots of closing possibilities tho.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Marlins' Pujols offer: 10 years, more than $200 million By Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY The Miami Marlins are intent on altering the direction of their franchise, and took the largest step in that direction late Monday night by offering Albert Pujols a 10-year contract, according to two officials with direct knowledge of the negotiations. The officials could not comment on the negotiations because they are ongoing. The offer is worth in excess of $200 million, which is more than the nine-year, $195 million deal the Cardinals offered Pujols at the outset of the 2011 season. The Marlins' offer is an increase over their previous nine-year offer. The Cardinals have scheduled a meeting Tuesday afternoon with Pujols' camp, in which they could increase their last offer. They have made it clear they want to keep Pujols. But it's not known how willing they are to budge from the original offer. The Chicago Cubs are also in the Pujols sweepstakes. General manager Theo Epstein declined to confirm the Cubs made an offer, but the two sides have held a meeting. The Marlins have spent $133 million on free agent acquistions already this winter, more than the combined total of every other team. Shortstop Jose Reyes agreed to a six-year, $106 million deal and reliever Heath Bell signed a three-year, $27 million contract. Pujols, 31, batted .299 last season with 37 homers and 99 RBI.

[Guest sharpie]

The Dale Thayer era is over: he signs a minor league deal with the Padres.

[Benjamin Grimm]

That's... THE LAST STRAW! FUCK!

[metirish]

Damn, looks like the Marlins are going to get Pujols.

[TransMonk]

Octavio Dotel to the Tigers for a one-year deal with a team option for a second.

The Tigers won't confirm any deal until a physical is passed. An official announcement could come by Monday.

Ducky: Keeping the 1999 Mets active.

[TransMonk]

The Brewers replace SS Yuneski Betancourt (.271 OPS in 2011 - 2nd worst in the NL) with ex-Brave Alex Gonzalez (.270 OPS in 2011 - worst in the NL) in a one-year deal with a vesting option.

More Ks, but more defense. The Jimmy Rollins rumors die in Milwaukee. Were they really ever considering Jose?

[seawolf17]

TransMonk wrote: The Brewers replace SS Yuneski Betancourt (.271 OPS in 2011 - 2nd worst in the NL) with ex-Brave Alex Gonzalez (.270 OPS in 2011 - worst in the NL) in a one-year deal with a vesting option. More Ks, but more defense. The Jimmy Rollins rumors die in Milwaukee. Were they really ever considering Jose?

OBP, not OPS. I had to check that, but they may be bad, but they can't be THAT bad.

I'm still not sure which Alex Gonzalez is still playing, the former Marlin or former Blue Jay. Or even if those are the same guy.

[TransMonk]

Yeah, sorry, OBP...I was too fast with the acromyns.

I'm pretty sure it is the same guy.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/player/stats/_/id/3916/alex-gonzalez

[HahnSolo]

It's the 03 Marlin, not the 03 Cub.