2011/2012 MLB Off-season Thread

[moon]

Originally Posted by Papi34

Where the hell is Hanley going to play? since when does florida spend money? wtf is going on?

Don't they spend mony once every 5-7 years and them sell all their players a year later?

Might be the homer in me but it makes zero sense for Pujols to sign anywhere other than St. Louis.

[Papi34]

Originally Posted by moon

Don't they spend mony once every 5-7 years and them sell all their players a year later?

Might be the homer in me but it makes zero sense for Pujols to sign anywhere other than St. Louis.

I dont understand florida at all, why disect to the team then go and sign big time free agents.

Id have to agree with you, pujols doesnt have the market of boston and NY fighting for him he should stay in St. Louis only other team i can see making a serious bid is the cubs.

[Sylvanfan]

Are the Marlins moving into a new stadium this season? May explain why they'd look to add a couple pieces to their team. But they do have a history of loading up one year, than selling off the next. If Pujols stayed in St.Louis, I like his chances of being in the post season a lot more than if he went to Florida.

[moon]

Originally Posted by Papi34

I dont understand florida at all, why disect to the team then go and sign big time free agents.

Id have to agree with you, pujols doesnt have the market of boston and NY fighting for him he should stay in St. Louis only other team i can see making a serious bid is the cubs.

To me the legacy of going down as either the 1a. or 1b. guy in St. Louis with Musial is worth more than the extra 2 or 3 million per year that Chicago might offer. I mean really is your life that much better making 30 million a year over 27?

I also think that if he stays in St. Louis his legacy as a top 5 player all-time is helped. May seem silly but I do believe that him spending his whole career in St. Louis will reflect better on him than if he jumps to another organization.

And as Sylvan said about Florida not sure anyone seriously bidding on him offers a better shot at the play-offs/WS than St. Louis.

[Flickered Flame]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

Hanley will be their new 2B.

It's nice to have Papelbon out of the AL East. My least favourite player.

If he is not traded, they will ask him to move to 3rd.

Apparently the Marlins have made offers to Reyes, Pujols and Buerhle.

[CofR]

Originally Posted by Papi34

As far as Papelbon, tough loss but i dont think hes worth that money never really liked him even when he was on the sox, i think hes overrated personally.

Fully agree, I'll have some great memories of him with the Sox, but in no way does this break my heart or come as a surprise, and at that money I'm happy to see him go. Pretty much knew he was gonna leave since last offseason anyways.

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by fleury

Interesting. Right on ownership for making sure such stupid contracts don't hogtie them for years to come, but what does that say for their GM who gave out such a contract (presumably without permission before doing so)? Would such a move constitute a breach of trust with ownership? Embarrassing to the GM either way, but regardless, good on ownership for taking a stand on giving big bucks to a marginal player.

It's funny - now ownership gets a much better closer for 6 million total on the contract and less term.

Phils made the right decision. Signing relievers, especially long term is very dangerous.

[Papi34]

Originally Posted by CofR

Fully agree, I'll have some great memories of him with the Sox, but in no way does this break my heart or come as a surprise, and at that money I'm happy to see him go. Pretty much knew he was gonna leave since last offseason anyways.

I just hope we dont turn around and dump that money on Madson now. The closer market is pretty open this off season we should end up with someone good and worst case we put Bard in that role and find a new 7th and 8th inning guy.

If Hanley is on the trading block i sincerly hope Boston is all over it. SS has been a problem since nomars been gone. Scutaro is very capable and a good utility guy but should not be a starter on a contending team, and ive all but given up on lowrie and his ability to stay on the field.

[Caged Great]

There's some rumours out there stating Pujols was offered 7/150 by florida.

[moon]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

There's some rumours out there stating Pujols was offered 7/150 by florida.

That doesn't seem remotely close enough to get him to go there.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by moon

That doesn't seem remotely close enough to get him to go there.

They don't have any state taxes there, so it's more like 7/175 from other teams.

I think it's a little low as well.

[moon]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

They don't have any state taxes there, so it's more like 7/175 from other teams.

I think it's a little low as well.

Didn't realize about the taxes but considering Pujols wants 10 years I would think you would have to get closer to 30 million per year if it is going to be for reduced years.

[RedHot25]

Originally Posted by dustyanddaflames

I decided to look up Madson's stats from this past season - 2.37 ERA, 32/34 in save opportunities... Just wondering why you think he "can't get it done in the closer role" ? Seems to me you either don't know enough about him, or just chose not to look up his statistics. He also had more saves than Papelbon and Soria (All-Star closers), and the only person who had more saves than him, with less blown saves - was Jose Valverde.

Fair enough, but he is also 30 and...look past this past season (so yes I did look up the stats). Good numbers for a set up man (excluding this year), but he has been tried in the closer role - i.e. as "the" closer - off and on in the past for various reasons and it really hasn't worked out for him - until perhaps this year. There has been a lot of talk then of whether or not he has put it altogether or not. Maybe he has finally figured things out this year? Who knows. That said saves are not always the be all end all statistic - can't say I would want Jose Valverde on my team for example.

Originally Posted by Papi34

I dont understand florida at all, why disect to the team then go and sign big time free agents.

Id have to agree with you, pujols doesnt have the market of boston and NY fighting for him he should stay in St. Louis only other team i can see making a serious bid is the cubs.

Florida does this every so often, and its likely spurred this year by what Sylvanfan notes below...

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

Are the Marlins moving into a new stadium this season? May explain why they'd look to add a couple pieces to their team. But they do have a history of loading up one year, than selling off the next. If Pujols stayed in St.Louis, I like his chances of being in the post season a lot more than if he went to Florida.

Originally Posted by Flickered Flame

If he is not traded, they will ask him to move to 3rd.

And yeah Hanley would move to 3rd - there has been talk the last couple of years of doing that...

[browna]

Originally Posted by moon

Didn't realize about the taxes but considering Pujols wants 10 years I would think you would have to get closer to 30 million per year if it is going to be for reduced years.

New stadium, new identity, owners as a result of that look to be spending money, latin american influences in Miami, but the biggest thing IMO that the Miami Marlins has is Guillen.

Without a doubt he'll protect fellow latin american Pujols. A lot of talk about how LaRussa protected Pujols from the media etc, and Guillen will do that to the end as well. I can seee him taking a bit less than the highest bidder to go to Miami and that situation.

[ricoFlame]

Have you guys seen the Miami Marlins new logo/uniforms...they are just terrible looking.

[CofR]

Originally Posted by Papi34

If Hanley is on the trading block i sincerly hope Boston is all over it. SS has been a problem since nomars been gone. Scutaro is very capable and a good utility guy but should not be a starter on a contending team, and ive all but given up on lowrie and his ability to stay on the field.

If the Sox do acquire Hanley, what happens with Iglesias? I was hoping that he'd be able to get close to splitting starts with Scutaro for next year.

[moon]

Originally Posted by browna

New stadium, new identity, owners as a result of that look to be spending money, latin american influences in Miami, but the biggest thing IMO that the Miami Marlins has is Guillen.

Without a doubt he'll protect fellow latin american Pujols. A lot of talk about how LaRussa protected Pujols from the media etc, and Guillen will do that to the end as well. I can seee him taking a bit less than the highest bidder to go to Miami and that situation.

I think St. Louis would match that or even the 175 million that Caged great suggests is the conversion with taxes and can't see him leaving St. Louis for a similar deal from another team.

[Drake]

Originally Posted by socalwingfan

Washington National's catcher Wilson Ramos had reportedly been kidnapped in Venezuela. Crazy - I've heard of family members being targets but never the player themselves

ESPN reports that he has been found alive and well.

[Papi34]

Originally Posted by CofR

If the Sox do acquire Hanley, what happens with Iglesias? I was hoping that he'd be able to get close to splitting starts with Scutaro for next year.

Unless something drastic has changed, Iglesias has no bat at all, amazing defensively but can a contending team get away with no on base production from a starting short stop?

[Where ru Chris O'Sullivan]

Originally Posted by moon

I think St. Louis would match that or even the 175 million that Caged great suggests is the conversion with taxes and can't see him leaving St. Louis for a similar deal from another team.

Doesn't Pujols have a burr in his saddle though? I didnt pay enough attention, but they were talking long term extension last summer and I think they were very far apart.

Not sure its all about the money now, I thought he was upset with their initial offer last summer and it hurt him enough that he told his agent not to talk to them until FA status.

We'll see, but I'm sure Larussa's decision was based on his view of next years team.