“I never even thought about it until now"

Probably because he didn't make that trade decision, Loria did.

these things sometimes take a little time to settle down and see clearer

It's hard to see the situation much clearer, bub.

No way they trade Stanton until next year.

the Marlins told teams they were building around Stanton.

Yes, but they were lying.

No way they trade Stanton until next year.

First they need to sign him to a huge back-loaded contract.

Loria revolutionizes pro-sports with his latest innovation - taxpayer-funded contracts. Think of all the jobs Stanton creates!

Looking over the trade, one of the prospects traded, Burke Badenhop, had since been traded to the Rays. The Rays just traded him to the Brewers for Raul Mondesi Jr.

That's interesting; Junior is coming off a .656 OPS season at Helena in the Pioneer league, with 14 walks and 87 strikeouts in 298 PA. But presumably the Rays see some tools in the kid. So, like father, like son? Though in contrast, looks like Senior did pretty well as a 19-yr old in rookie ball.

Mondesi's younger kid is the real prospect.

Kinda off topic, but I live within 15 minutes of where the winter meetings are being held. Anyone ever go to one of these? Is there anything to see or do? Any autographs to be had, or any chances of running into any GM's or agents? The hotel is a tourist attraction, and they have a very large Christmas light show going on, so I'm thinking of heading down there with my daughter to see what I can see, but I wouldn't mind some insight from people who have been there before...

I went to the Winter Meetings when they were here in Indianapolis. AFAICT there wasn't much open to the public, unless you were willing to pay a decent chunk of money (maybe $500). I guess that fee is reasonable if you see this as a convention for industry professionals.

So while walking around in the public areas, I ran into Tony La Russa of all people; he looked more fit than I realized and (because this is BBTF) he was sober. But since the winter meetings are run by the minor leagues, mainly what you see are hundreds, maybe thousands, of college kids, desperate for a sports job, any sports job.

It feels bizarre to look at Miggy's B-R page and see that he now has more PA's with the Tigers than with the Marlins. Time flies, I guess.

Mondesi has tools all right, but I think he's trying to hold them by the wrong end. He's nationally known for forgetting to touch home plate on a walkoff HR. The Brewers have a surplus of minor league outfielders--heck, they even have a pitcher with Helena who can play LF and has--so Mondesi was rather expendable; they need Badenhop to bolster the bullpen now and they won't need more outfielders for a while yet.

The Red Sox trade is to the Marlins trade
as the Braves 2011 season is to the Red Sox 2011 season.

The winter meetings should always be in las Vegas.

My favorite moment from last year's winter meetings.

This year's fountain in Nashville. CHALLENGE ACCEPTED.

Looking over the trade, one of the prospects traded, Burke Badenhop, had since been traded to the Rays. The Rays just traded him to the Brewers for Raul Mondesi Jr.

Burke Badenhop had nothing to do with this trade. He was in the Marlins organization for several years before the Rays traded for him last December. He spent all of 2012 in the Rays bullpen, and with an arbitration raise due, the Rays dumped him in this trade. He had absolutely nothing to do with the Marlins - Blue Jays trade.

why anyone would believe anything the marlins say is beyond me. it's like lucy telling charlie brown she won't pull the football away THIS time.

and i bet stanton wants the heck off that team and he refuses to sign any long term deal. they'll probably trade him arb year #2 if he doesn't - then he won't be stuck there

Burke Badenhop had nothing to do with this trade. He was in the Marlins organization for several years before the Rays traded for him last December. He spent all of 2012 in the Rays bullpen, and with an arbitration raise due, the Rays dumped him in this trade. He had absolutely nothing to do with the Marlins - Blue Jays trade.

I'm just going off BB-ref:

Burke Badenhop transactions:

June 7, 2005: Drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 19th round of the 2005 amateur draft. Player signed June 13, 2005.

December 4, 2007: Traded by the Detroit Tigers with Dallas Trahern (minors), Eulogio De La Cruz, Cameron Maybin, Andrew Miller and Mike Rabelo to the Florida Marlins for Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis.

December 12, 2011: Traded by the Florida Marlins to the Tampa Bay Rays for Jake Jefferies (minors).

December 1, 2012: Traded by the Tampa Bay Rays to the Milwaukee Brewers for Raul Mondesi (minors).

Looks like Badenhop gets traded during or near the Winter Meetings a lot....

IIRC (and I seem to rarely RC), there was a poster that went to the winter meetings some years ago and posted some updates. As I recall, he didn't get much interaction with front office folks, but did have good luck hanging out at the local coffee shop and overhear reporters swap gossip.

I went a few years ago (mainly for the job fair) when it was in disney....got to meet cashman, and a few other big-wigs from the industry (no other GM's though)...was a great all around time

But who will be the Mystery team?