2010 / 2011 MLB Off Season Thread.

[RedHot25]

Originally Posted by ricoFlame

Interesting deal. I find it hilarious that last week Lawrie was regarded as the best prospect in the brewers system, now a week later and another deal later, Cain has somehow been their best prospect for over a year. weird.

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

Really? Everything I read had Lawrie as their #2 prospect.

Well, according to Jerry Crasnick (ESPN), Lawrie was Milwaukee's best prospect: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/hotsto...rry&id=5935920

The deal looked brilliant on two fronts: 1) By sending Marcum to Milwaukee, Anthopoulos lessened the Brewers' need to rush out and acquire another starter; and 2) by acquiring Lawrie, Milwaukee's top prospect, Anthopoulos took away one of Milwaukee GM Doug Melvin's main trade chips.

In fact, he somewhat pans the deal, but says in the context of things and past similar deals, the Royals got about what should be expected. But still, doesn't appear to think a tonne (relatively) about Cain:

If the initial reports are accurate, Kansas City's trade package looks more like Mark Teixeira Lite. Moore got a shortstop (Alcides Escobar) who posted a .288 on-base percentage last season and a center fielder (Lorenzo Cain) with some ability but no amazing, off-the-charts tool. He landed a young pitcher (Jake Odorizzi) who has lots of promise but spent 2010 in the Class A Midwest League and an unidentified fourth player who may or may not be former first-round draft pick Jeremy Jeffress.

So the Royals failed to land a "sure thing'' star in exchange for Greinke, an athletic, front-of-the-rotation guy with a Cy Young award on his mantel and a great big future ahead of him.

[secol]

alcides escobar is still 24 and has speed to burn....i think he can develop into a nice leadoff hitter

[dustyanddaflames]

Just watched the video of the prospects heading back to K.C. on MLB.com, and Jon Mayo seems to figure Odorizzi could end up being a top of the rotation type pitcher in a few years time. One thing he said is that Odorizzi has a plus fastball (91-93 w/ good sink) and a curveball that isn't where it needs to be, yet still a plus pitch. Interesting, never heard of this cat, but seems to be a diamond in the rough type starter.

I like this package for the Royals, very good defensive fielders up the middle, both with plus speed. I don't know much about the Royals prospects other than Mike Moustakas (3b) is supposed to be some kind of stud, and Billy Butler (I know he isn't a prospect), but that guy is already dangerous at the age of 23 in a very exposing lineup.

Good deal for the Royals for a guy who came out and said he had troubles keeping concentrated last year knowing the Royals were done by May. Makes me wonder how he would have handled if dealt to Toronto.

[Flickered Flame]

The A's have brought back Rich Harden, likely in a relief role with spot starting opportunities. Asst. GM frost hinted that the A's are still after a legit free agent. I have reached out to my buddy to see if it is Beltre, as that is the media speculation right now.

[ricoFlame]

Originally Posted by Flickered Flame

The A's have brought back Rich Harden, likely in a relief role with spot starting opportunities. Asst. GM frost hinted that the A's are still after a legit free agent. I have reached out to my buddy to see if it is Beltre, as that is the media speculation right now.

I'm wondering if he's gonna be the #5 guy in the rotation before too long. Though innings out of the pen are likely safer to the injury-prone guy.

[CaramonLS]

BBRef has it has 1.5 million, I'm sure there is an innings incentive. Not sure why the Jays wouldn't try for a guy like this at that kind of base.

All upside. Guy has so much talent.

[Flickered Flame]

Originally Posted by ricoFlame

I'm wondering if he's gonna be the #5 guy in the rotation before too long. Though innings out of the pen are likely safer to the injury-prone guy.

He very well might end up at the #5 guy but he is in tough competition. Brandon McCarthy, Josh Outman are contenders. While the A's also have Bobby Cramer and Tyson Ross competing for that job. I hope he pitches out of the pen.

Top 4 of the A's rotation looks to be real good once again. Cahill, Anderson, Gonzalez and Braden.

If they do happen to land Beltre, the A's should contend in the division.

[HOOT]

Not sure if this has been talked about elsewhere but found this to be surprising considering the usual punishments for drunk driving. Sounds like the punishment came because of the mans history with drunk driving, too bad it took 3 lives to get him off the streets.

A construction worker who was on probation for felony drunken driving when he ran a red light and killed rookie Los Angeles Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart and two other people was sentenced Wednesday to 51 years to life in prison.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101222/...pitcher_killed

I know this is a lawyer just being a lawyer but this disgusts me:

Gallo's attorney had called for one sentence of 15 years to life, saying her client never intended to hurt anyone.

Honestly ###### off and I wonder if she would have the same reaction if it was one of her children that died. I think not!

[Flickered Flame]

Looks like the Rangers have signed Brandon Webb to a 1 year deal.

[dustyanddaflames]

Good pickup by the Rangers, Brandon Webb is a "top of the rotation" type arm, and a face for a pretty good pitching staff. If Webb can stay healthy, that is a very good staff, coupled with the possibility of Neftali Feliz moving out of the pen and into the rotation. Heard it was 3/per with the possibility of it reach 8-11 (IIRC) w/ incentives. Very nice addition, with very low risk financially.

[secol]

is feliz moving into the rotation? heard earlier in the offseason he was staying as the closer

[transplant99]

From the "are you effin kidding me" file....

As he asserted in 2005 after he was suspended for failing a test, Palmeiro again insisted the anabolic steroid was in a B-12 vial given to him by Baltimore Orioles teammate Miguel Tejada.

"I was telling the truth then, and I am telling the truth now," Palmeiro said. "I don't know what else I can say. I have never taken steroids. For people who think I took steroids intentionally, I'm never going to convince them. But I hope the voters judge my career fairly and don't look at one mistake."

Just....stop it.

All you doush bag steroid dogs...just effin stop it.

"Cream", "clear", "vitamins", "misremebered", "someone elses water bottle", "they were my wives for a photo shoot".....they are ALL treating the public like a collective group of historic morons.

And why would "Raffie" come out to say all this?

A week before the Baseball Writers Association of America announces its inductees to baseball's Hall of Fame, Palmeiro told SI.com in a phone interview posted Wednesday that he never used performance-enhancing drugs in his 20-year career

I literally hate this guy as far as I have come to know him...whhich is a great ball player who lied and continues to lie...all in an effort to get into a HOF that he doesnt belong in because he cheated and then lied about cheating.

God I hate pretentious BS'ers.

/rant

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=5966668

[Flickered Flame]

Looks like Beltre to the Rangers is a done deal. The O's finalized their deal with Kevin Gregg today and the Nationals signed Adam LaRoche.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by Flickered Flame

Looks like Beltre to the Rangers is a done deal. The O's finalized their deal with Kevin Gregg today and the Nationals signed Adam LaRoche.

Not much left out there... Soriano for RP and a bunch of aging slugger DH types (Ramirez, Guerrero, Thome, etc.) mostly.

Wouldn`t mind the Jays grabbing one of those bats on a 1 year deal.

[flames_1987]

He's really aging and his bat is nowhere near what it use to be, but being a long time Expo fan I'd love to watch Vladdy for one more season in Canada!

[dustyanddaflames]

Interesting the Rangers brought in Beltre... really wonder what they'll do with Mike Young. Read somewhere they're going to use his strictly as a DH/3B relief, but there were talks earlier of them shopping him to the Rockies. That Rangers' lineup is pretty wild if Beltre can replicate this past year - some kinda bats.

[secol]

well vladdy is gone so young can DH most of the time?

[fundmark19]

Wow what are my rays doing! We are trading everyone for nothing. Can someone who wants to spend money on a baseball team please buy the rays

[nik-]

Originally Posted by fundmark19

Wow what are my rays doing! We are trading everyone for nothing. Can someone who wants to spend money on a baseball team please buy the rays

Your fans don't even show up when you have a great team, why would ownership waste the money?

[secol]

they're starting their cycle again