The Blue Jays have been busy shoring up their pitching staff by signing former Jay Pat Hentgen and trading Bobby Kielty (acquired in the Shannon Stewart deal) for Ted Lilly.
[ November 18, 2003, 04:49 PM: Message edited by: canmark ]
Full Version: Trades and Aquisitions
Lilly is good (and really sexy, wonder if he uses mascara on those beautiful eyelashes) but somewhat inconsistent. Don't know what the A's were thinking.
I'm a bit baffled, too. Lilly really found himself late in the season -- he was the best thing they had going in the ill-fated playoff series with Boston. He finally seemed ready to turn the "Big 3" into the "Big 4". And they're also about to trade Ramon Hernandez (who all the A's pitchers credit for their success) and T. Long (no surprise there) to San Diego.
Of course, the Giants' Benito Santiago had been counting on a possible offer from SD, which is probably out the window now.
[ November 19, 2003, 08:23 AM: Message edited by: RGMike ]
Of course, the Giants' Benito Santiago had been counting on a possible offer from SD, which is probably out the window now.
[ November 19, 2003, 08:23 AM: Message edited by: RGMike ]
I really don't understand the A's trading Ramon Hernandez--they have no depth at catcher! I assume they're going to try to sign someone, but still this deal makes no sense...for now.
~Adam
~Adam
QUOTE
RGMike:
all the A's pitchers credit [Ramon Hernandez] for their success
That was nice of them. Are you saying the Big Three are all gonna go down the chute next year without him catching? I doubt it. They may sign Santiago, and have solid-hitting Adam Melhuse too.all the A's pitchers credit [Ramon Hernandez] for their success
Billy Beane doesn't do things "for no reason." Lilly had worn out his welcome and Rich Harden's arrival made him expendable. The A's needed outfield help, and Kotsay and Kielty have decent upsides (or may be used as chips later this winter).
[ November 19, 2003, 01:07 PM: Message edited by: Bill W ]
Seattle signs free agent Raul Ibanez to a 3-year contract.
QUOTE
Joe in Philly:
Seattle signs free agent Raul Ibanez to a 3-year contract.
We are definitely glad to have him back! Seattle signs free agent Raul Ibanez to a 3-year contract.
I was going to post this, but as usual someone beat me to it....
Depressing news. Raul is a star. We'll really miss him as a Royal. Class guy.
I heard Raul was at a party in Puerto Rico with a bunch of the Mariners helping Edgar celebrate his new contract, which started the rumor mills about his return. I am glad to see them come true!
QUOTE
Bill W:
No, but the point was he's a catcher they all know and trust, which takes time to build. Now they start over with someone new. Can't find the quote I saw from Zito the other day, but he sounded especially bummed. QUOTE
RGMike:
all the A's pitchers credit [Ramon Hernandez] for their success
That was nice of them. Are you saying the Big Three are all gonna go down the chute next year without him catching? all the A's pitchers credit [Ramon Hernandez] for their success
Santiago, I don't know... nice as it would be to have Big Daddy Benito remain in the Bay Area, I'd be surprised if he ends up in Oaktown.
TINO MARTINEZ got traded to the Tampa Devil Rays for a pitcher Evan Rust and a player to be named later.
It's really sad to see a popular player like Tino struggle through the last few years after leaving New York. He has such a good attitude and is still relatively young (36) that I'm hoping he'll do well in Tampa, where he lives. But this doesn't sound like a high profile move for him and he may still not get enough playing time. And then he may eventually fade away, which will be a sad sad day for all his gay fans!
It's really sad to see a popular player like Tino struggle through the last few years after leaving New York. He has such a good attitude and is still relatively young (36) that I'm hoping he'll do well in Tampa, where he lives. But this doesn't sound like a high profile move for him and he may still not get enough playing time. And then he may eventually fade away, which will be a sad sad day for all his gay fans!
In today's paper, Darin Erstad of the Angels added the hapless Mets to the list of teams he can NOT be traded to. Not that it matters, he's damaged goods.
Kelvim Escobar to sign with the Angels for 3 years/$18.5 mil. In 7 years with the Blue Jays he's pitched well as both starter and closer (58-55 record, 58 saves, 4.58 ERA), but has been inconsistant in both roles.
QUOTE
Jim Allen:
In today's paper, Darin Erstad of the Angels added the hapless Mets to the list of teams he can NOT be traded to. Not that it matters, he's damaged goods.
Since he's damaged goods, I'm surprised the Mets didn't try to take him to court to force him to play for them. wink In today's paper, Darin Erstad of the Angels added the hapless Mets to the list of teams he can NOT be traded to. Not that it matters, he's damaged goods.
Will the Mets still be carrying the burden of Moby Vaughn's bloated contract this year? What moves are the Mets expected to make?
According to today's Times, Vaughn is NOT retiring, and is going to spring training expecting to be the starting first baseman for the Mess in '04 eek! !!
How many years/dollars do they owe Vaughn? They might as well tell him that unless he's in spectacularly excellent shape that he might as well not show up at all.
This is Mo's final year- I think he's making something absurd like 18 million and there's obviously no one interested. He's either a pinch hitter or they just eat the money. They may play him a few games and hope he hurts himself so they can collect insurance money on him again. It's a shame he was so macho about playing in pain- he might have been able to limit the deterioration of his knee that took place. Carrying that extra weight didn't help.
How cool that Tino was able to get #24 again!
Welcome back to the AL East, you sexy beast!
Welcome back to the AL East, you sexy beast!
An NL East analysis: for the Phillies, the division is ripe for the plucking. With the Mets being a mess and all of the teams having serious salary issues, if the Phils get a big-time starter they ought to take hold of the top.
Intriguingly, this article states that they've made an offer to Kevin Millwood. Would he actually consider returning if other teams don't meet his salary demands? Hmmmm.....
Intriguingly, this article states that they've made an offer to Kevin Millwood. Would he actually consider returning if other teams don't meet his salary demands? Hmmmm.....
Houston re-signing Ausmus and Vizcaino ... SO stupid. Not doin' anything next year.
Ditto Tampa Bay and Tino. He should be a part-timer for a non-contender now, at best; good for him to find suckers to pay him like a star.
As for the Phils, any team with Bowa managing is in for an uphill battle.
Ditto Tampa Bay and Tino. He should be a part-timer for a non-contender now, at best; good for him to find suckers to pay him like a star.
As for the Phils, any team with Bowa managing is in for an uphill battle.
QUOTE
Bill W:
As for the Phils, any team with Bowa managing is in for an uphill battle.
Give it a rest, stat geek. Bowa's not going away anytime soon.As for the Phils, any team with Bowa managing is in for an uphill battle.
[ November 25, 2003, 04:11 AM: Message edited by: Joe in Philly ]
OK, Flat Earth Society fan. 
I know he's not, and the Phils won't be scheduling playoff games til he does. Any chance Pat Burrell will be helping out with groundskeeping to earn a bit more of that absurd salary?
Cubs get Derrek Lee from Florida; don't anybody scream "dismantling," Hee Seop Choi is a decent (lower-budgeted) 1B replacement who didn't get a fair shake under Dusty B last year.
I know he's not, and the Phils won't be scheduling playoff games til he does. Any chance Pat Burrell will be helping out with groundskeeping to earn a bit more of that absurd salary?Cubs get Derrek Lee from Florida; don't anybody scream "dismantling," Hee Seop Choi is a decent (lower-budgeted) 1B replacement who didn't get a fair shake under Dusty B last year.
QUOTE
Bill W:
Cubs get Derrek Lee from Florida; don't anybody scream \"dismantling,\"
They're not dismantling, but they're definitely cutting payroll. It's been reported that they're far apart in negotiations with Pudge, and they're expected to get rid of a starting pitcher.
Cubs get Derrek Lee from Florida; don't anybody scream \"dismantling,\"
Gary Sheffield met--informally--with the NY Yankees while at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' game this past Mionday night. Gee, you think it was a coincidence that Sheffield and the Yankee officials were at a game in Tampa??
~Adam
~Adam
A pending trade is now complete: Oakland trades catcher Ramon Hernandez outfielder Terrence Long to San Diego for outfielder Mark Kotsay.
Meanwhile, ESPN.com's Jayson Stark reports that the Phils have indeed offered Kevin Millwood a three-year deal (with a vesting option), slightly more than $10 million a year. However, Millwood's evil agent, Scott Boras, has been telling teams they're looking for $13 million per year over 5-7 years.
Meanwhile, ESPN.com's Jayson Stark reports that the Phils have indeed offered Kevin Millwood a three-year deal (with a vesting option), slightly more than $10 million a year. However, Millwood's evil agent, Scott Boras, has been telling teams they're looking for $13 million per year over 5-7 years.
Gary Sheffield said to be going to Yanks. Cue "Yankees buy pennants" comments!
Looks like Richie Sexson is headed for Arizona. The Brewers (who will apparently be playing AAA ball next season) will get infielder Craig Counsell, first baseman Lyle Overbay and minor-league pitcher Jorge De La Rosa, who was one of four players acquired by Arizona in the deal for Schilling.
Seriously why are people in Milwaukee expected to support this team. Such a shame.
Seriously why are people in Milwaukee expected to support this team. Such a shame.
The Brewers' moving Richie Sexon further underscores the ongoing problem in the revenue sharing scheme baseball implemented. The Yankees spend & spend--and contribute to the pool that's distributed to small-market teams like Milwaukee with the understanding that these small-market teams will spend that money on the product--the team taking the field! Instead, the Brewers package their established (higher salary) players, pocket some of that money, and alienate whatever fans they have. Ridiculous.
~Adam
~Adam
The Brewers aren't pocketing some of the cash, they're pocketing ALL of it, plus some. Mind you, this is the team Bud Selig owns. It's a farce, an absolute farce.
If the Brewers aren't spending the money for players, they ought to be refunding it to the taxpayers for whatever public funds were spent building their stadium.
On MLB.com it says that the Brewers are "denying" the Sexson trade.
QUOTE
A Brewers spokesperson Saturday night called the report \"erroneous,\" however, and Diamondbacks officials declined to comment.
ESPN Radio 1000 in Chicago reported that Arizona would trade second baseman Junior Spivey, first baseman Lyle Overbay, versatile infielder Craig Counsell and lefthander Chris Capuano to the Brewers in exchange for Sexson,
ESPN Radio 1000 in Chicago reported that Arizona would trade second baseman Junior Spivey, first baseman Lyle Overbay, versatile infielder Craig Counsell and lefthander Chris Capuano to the Brewers in exchange for Sexson,
The Sexson trade doesn't make sense anyway if you buy into the party line that the DBacks are looking to slash payroll. Sexson will command beaucoup bucks if he's not already.
QUOTE
canmark:
On MLB.com it says that the Brewers are \"denying\" the Sexson trade.
On MLB.com it says that the Brewers are \"denying\" the Sexson trade.
It's a done deal. Sexson's now a Diamondback.
[ December 01, 2003, 11:27 AM: Message edited by: DCBucky ]
I think the net result of their two deals--sending Schilling away and bringing in Sexson, is still a lower payroll. Schilling was in the last year of his contract and would've left after 2004 anyway. Sexson's contract is up after this season as well, but I'm not sure if he has enough MLB service to be a free agent yet or just go into arbitration.
In what would seem to me to be a Panic Button move in response the Red Sox signing Schilling, ESPN.com is reporting that the Yankees have been talking to the Dodgers about trading for Kevin Brown. Now if the end result is dumping Weaver, I guess it's a good move. But $15 million for the 39 year old, injury prone Brown makes no sense when Colon and Vasquez can be had.
Yanks also signed free agent reliever Tom Gordon and resigned Aaron Boone.
Yanks also signed free agent reliever Tom Gordon and resigned Aaron Boone.
I'm reading in the NY papers that Colon is looking elsewhere, and Vasquez wants to be paid more than the Rich Guys are willing.
Injury prone or not, Brown was one of the ten best starting pitchers in the majors last year. IMHO, he was better than Colon or Vasquez in 2003.
Injury prone or not, Brown was one of the ten best starting pitchers in the majors last year. IMHO, he was better than Colon or Vasquez in 2003.
Will the Yankees be willing to pay for the private jet that Brown is contractually due so that he can visit his family during the season?
Can we but hope that the Dodgers will unload Brown to the Yankees? I'll stand at the airport waving him & his ridiculous salary goodbye.
~Adam
~Adam
QUOTE
Adam:
Can we but hope that the Dodgers will unload Brown to the Yankees? I'll stand at the airport waving him & his ridiculous salary goodbye.
~Adam
And you won't have to deal with Brown coming back to LA in June '04 to pitch against the Dodgers. He'll be out on the DL with frostbite or something stupid by then.
Can we but hope that the Dodgers will unload Brown to the Yankees? I'll stand at the airport waving him & his ridiculous salary goodbye.
~Adam
Today in the NY Times, an anonymous baseball official says the Brown-to-Yankees talk was part of a proposed 4-team deal that never got serious, and that LA is looking to add offense (no kidding), not dump salary.
Phillies get LHP Eric Milton from Minnesota for RHP reliever Carlos Silva, utility infielder Nick Punto and a minor leaguer to be named after the Rule 5 draft.
I hope this is not a sign that they're not going to get another top starter or even convince Kevin Millwood to come back. If it is, I'm not particularly happy.
I hope this is not a sign that they're not going to get another top starter or even convince Kevin Millwood to come back. If it is, I'm not particularly happy.
Joe, according to Ed Wade, Kevin Millwood had not accepted the Phillies latest offer, that is why they went after Milton. Milton is not a number one starter although Wade will try to sell him as such. I like you can only hope this is not the end of the Phillies pitching persuits.
Has anyone heard where my hubby Javy lopez will end up? I know he stated a few weeks ago that he doesn't want to catch every day anymore. He can play both 1st and 3rd base. That might make a difference. And with his cut in pay from his last contract, ($7 mil.), he could be had at a cheap price.
...and it is looking like Javier Vazquez to the Yanks for Nick Johnson and Juan Rivera.
Vazquez is the guy I would've liked to see the Phils make a play for. He's younger than the others so there's more of an upside. It looks to me like they're trying to get by on the cheap again. They need a top starter, not another number 3 or 4. Milton missed most of last year and some of 2002 due to knee surgeries. They probably think he can blossom, but that wishful thinking's not good enough if you're that close to being in the playoffs. They thought Duckworth would blossom and look where he ended up.
Their only hope now is that no other teams give Colon or Millwood the dollars and years that they're demanding.
Their only hope now is that no other teams give Colon or Millwood the dollars and years that they're demanding.
Excerpted from Jayson Stark on ESPN.com:
[ December 04, 2003, 06:34 PM: Message edited by: Joe in Philly ]
QUOTE
Scott Boras continues to tell people he has a five-year deal out there for Kevin Millwood at $15 million a year. But other than the Mets, it's hard to find a team that is actively bidding on him.
Millwood told three baseball people in the last week that he wanted to return to Philadelphia. But Boras went nearly two weeks without responding to the Phillies' first contract offer (believed to be three years, for about $29 million).
Then, when Boras was essentially told by Phillies GM Ed Wade on Tuesday, that if Millwood wasn't interested in that offer, the Phillies had other plans, Boras continued to insist Millwood could get a five-year contract elsewhere. Under 24 hours later, the Phillies waved goodbye by making the Milton deal.
An executive of another NL team thinks the Phillies did the right thing. Asked about Millwood, he replied: \"I'd put my money somewhere else. To me, they've been trying to get him to be something he can't be -- the ace of a staff.\"
We also asked an AL scout which pitcher he would rather have for one year -- Milton or Millwood. He voted Millwood for health reasons, but said: \"If you could guarantee me that Milton would be healthy all year, I'd take him. I think he's going to come to the National League and pitch very well. This guy has good stuff. And he was throwing great at the end of the year. He just had no stamina because he hadn't pitched.\"....The Phillies are now out of the market for established starting pitchers, unless they find someone in the $1-million bargain bins in January. For now, their fifth starter will be someone from the threesome of Amaury Telemaco, Bud Smith or their most advanced pitching prospect, Ryan Madson.
I dunno. I'd still prefer someone better.Millwood told three baseball people in the last week that he wanted to return to Philadelphia. But Boras went nearly two weeks without responding to the Phillies' first contract offer (believed to be three years, for about $29 million).
Then, when Boras was essentially told by Phillies GM Ed Wade on Tuesday, that if Millwood wasn't interested in that offer, the Phillies had other plans, Boras continued to insist Millwood could get a five-year contract elsewhere. Under 24 hours later, the Phillies waved goodbye by making the Milton deal.
An executive of another NL team thinks the Phillies did the right thing. Asked about Millwood, he replied: \"I'd put my money somewhere else. To me, they've been trying to get him to be something he can't be -- the ace of a staff.\"
We also asked an AL scout which pitcher he would rather have for one year -- Milton or Millwood. He voted Millwood for health reasons, but said: \"If you could guarantee me that Milton would be healthy all year, I'd take him. I think he's going to come to the National League and pitch very well. This guy has good stuff. And he was throwing great at the end of the year. He just had no stamina because he hadn't pitched.\"....The Phillies are now out of the market for established starting pitchers, unless they find someone in the $1-million bargain bins in January. For now, their fifth starter will be someone from the threesome of Amaury Telemaco, Bud Smith or their most advanced pitching prospect, Ryan Madson.
[ December 04, 2003, 06:34 PM: Message edited by: Joe in Philly ]
Rangers offering A-Rod to Red Sox
QUOTE
According to a Thursday report on DallasNews.com, the Texas Rangers are open to trading A-Rod to the Boston Red Sox -- for the right considerations, of course.
Sources told The Dallas Morning News that the Rangers would entertain dealing the $252 million man and 2003 American League MVP to Boston in exchange for outfielder Manny Ramirez.
The catch, according to the report, is that the Red Sox would have to absorb A-Rod's contract, which has seven years and about $180 million left on it; and, the Sox would have to play part of Ramirez's $20 million-per-season tag. The slugger has four years left on his contract.
Neither Rangers general manager John Hart nor Red Sox GM Theo Epstein were available for comment.
Sources told The Dallas Morning News that the Rangers would entertain dealing the $252 million man and 2003 American League MVP to Boston in exchange for outfielder Manny Ramirez.
The catch, according to the report, is that the Red Sox would have to absorb A-Rod's contract, which has seven years and about $180 million left on it; and, the Sox would have to play part of Ramirez's $20 million-per-season tag. The slugger has four years left on his contract.
Neither Rangers general manager John Hart nor Red Sox GM Theo Epstein were available for comment.
Can the Red Sox really afford something like that? I know they've got a big payroll, but after the Schilling acquisition?
It would be a smart move for the Rangers though.
It would be a smart move for the Rangers though.
Some dollar figures from Peter Gammons (pre-Vasquez deal).
QUOTE
First came Curt Schilling, and now George Steinbrenner wants to prove that he can bring that famous piece in The Onion -- in which baseball ended when the Yankees signed every player in baseball -- to life and take it to Broadway.
. . .
That would leave the price tag on the 2004 Yankees' pitching staff at between $70 million and $75 million -- presuming they don't complete the potential trade for Kevin Brown or sign someone else.
. . .
The Red Sox, meanwhile, are right on the Yankees' heels. Before learning whether or not they can sign Keith Foulke, the Boston pitching staff is close to a $56 million payroll for 2004. The Dodgers are at close to $50M, pending the arbitration numbers for Eric Gagne, Odalis Perez and Guillermo Mota.
. . .
That would leave the price tag on the 2004 Yankees' pitching staff at between $70 million and $75 million -- presuming they don't complete the potential trade for Kevin Brown or sign someone else.
. . .
The Red Sox, meanwhile, are right on the Yankees' heels. Before learning whether or not they can sign Keith Foulke, the Boston pitching staff is close to a $56 million payroll for 2004. The Dodgers are at close to $50M, pending the arbitration numbers for Eric Gagne, Odalis Perez and Guillermo Mota.
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