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Monday, December 03, 2012

WINTER MEETINGS CHATTER DAY ONE

Rumors, rumblings, stumblings…

Gamingboy Posted: December 03, 2012 at 12:05 AM | 94 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: rumors, transactions, winter meetings

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1. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: December 03, 2012 at 12:20 AM (#4314905)

Great trade, who'd we get?

2. Dan Posted: December 03, 2012 at 01:09 AM (#4314935)

I think the Red Sox will sign Hamilton before the meetings are over.

3. Rough Carrigan

Posted: December 03, 2012 at 01:35 AM (#4314944)

Will he get enough money that he'll pay for his own Synvisc?

4. The District Attorney Posted: December 03, 2012 at 04:02 AM (#4314986)

Rangers re-sign (the formerly non-tendered) Geovany Soto, Rays sign (the perpetually non-productive) James Loney.

5. shoelesjoe Posted: December 03, 2012 at 07:41 AM (#4315005)

Red Sox sign Mark Reynolds to play 1st base. He proceeds to hit .260 with 48 HRs and 121 RBI and lead Boston to the one of the AL Wild Cards.

6. Greg (U)K Posted: December 03, 2012 at 07:53 AM (#4315007)

Rays sign (the perpetually non-productive) James Loney.

Does that effect their rumoured interest in Michael Morse? I've stopped thinking of James Loney as a starting 1B, but in a world where Adam Lind apparently still has a job I guess anything is possible.

7. JJ1986 Posted: December 03, 2012 at 09:27 AM (#4315020)

They need a DH and an outfielder too

8. JJ1986 Posted: December 03, 2012 at 10:21 AM (#4315066)

Padres will re-sign Jason Marquis.

9. Gamingboy Posted: December 03, 2012 at 10:23 AM (#4315067)

Is it just me or is the Opryland freaking huge. I thought for a second they were outside.

10. Dan Posted: December 03, 2012 at 10:24 AM (#4315069)

I predict the Rays (finally) trade one of their starters for some offense too.

11. BourbonSamurai, vassal of the Harpsburg Empire Posted: December 03, 2012 at 10:43 AM (#4315079)

Rotoworld says Dee Gordon is available. He would make sense for the A's.

12. Gamingboy Posted: December 03, 2012 at 11:06 AM (#4315101)

Alex Rodriguez will have hip surgery and miss start of 2013 season.

13. Rants Mulliniks (formerly Cold Prosimian) Posted: December 03, 2012 at 11:11 AM (#4315105)

Is it just me or is the Opryland freaking huge.

Apparently its the largest non-casino hotel in the US, outside of Vegas.

14. PreservedFish Posted: December 03, 2012 at 11:15 AM (#4315112)

Vegas has non-casino hotels?

15. GregD Posted: December 03, 2012 at 11:20 AM (#4315115)

The Opryland interior is staggeringly vast.

16. Der_K Posted: December 03, 2012 at 11:29 AM (#4315126)

soto deal worth ~3m, per heyman

17. Gamingboy Posted: December 03, 2012 at 11:31 AM (#4315127)

The Opryland interior is staggeringly vast.

It's bigger on the inside!

18. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: December 03, 2012 at 11:44 AM (#4315140)

soto deal worth ~3m, per heyman

Interesting. Would you rather have Soto at 1/3 or Martin at 2/17? And, wow, Soto was terrible last year. Yikes!

19. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit Posted: December 03, 2012 at 11:46 AM (#4315144)

Rob Bradford of WEEI in Boston reporting the Sox are close to a 3 year deal with Napoli.

I love this ####. I could follow rumors all day. Good ones, dumb ones, I don't ####### care. This is like crack to me.

20. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit Posted: December 03, 2012 at 11:49 AM (#4315145)

Interesting. Would you rather have Soto at 1/3 or Martin at 2/17? And, wow, Soto was terrible last year. Yikes!

I think the teams should be flipped. If I'm the Pirates I go for Soto and a bit more upside while if I was Texas' I'd like the "certainty" I would get with Martin.

21. Dock Ellis on Acid

Posted: December 03, 2012 at 11:53 AM (#4315149)

I love this ####. I could follow rumors all day. Good ones, dumb ones, I don't ####### care. This is like crack to me.

Me too. The July trade deadline, last Friday's deadline to tender a contract, the winter meetings...It was fun enough with the advent of the internet but Twitter just multiplied it.

22. Der_K Posted: December 03, 2012 at 11:53 AM (#4315151)

Jose/20: Agreed - though Soto wasn't on the market yet when Pittsburgh signed Martin (granted, it was likely that he would be).

23. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: December 03, 2012 at 11:54 AM (#4315154)

I think the teams should be flipped. If I'm the Pirates I go for Soto and a bit more upside while if I was Texas' I'd like the "certainty" I would get with Martin.

Exactly what I think. Seeing how many teams need catching this offseason I am very happy the A's have Kottaras to pair with Norris. He's not great but the pickings, they are very slim.

24. zonk Posted: December 03, 2012 at 11:55 AM (#4315155)

soto deal worth ~3m, per heyman

Interesting. Would you rather have Soto at 1/3 or Martin at 2/17? And, wow, Soto was terrible last year. Yikes!

Martin...

Soto looks cooked.

He previously had a run of Saberhagenian odd/even year splits, but last season was supposed to be his 'good' year (he was previously good in even-numbered years) and it was worse than his previous odd-year bad seasons.

1/3 isn't a bad number to test the theory... but it just looked last year like he aged 10 years overnight. The bat is slow, the eye is gone, and the power wasn't there.

25. JJ1986 Posted: December 03, 2012 at 11:57 AM (#4315160)

He's not great but the pickings, they are very slim.

Mike Nickeas is available.

26. Greg (U)K Posted: December 03, 2012 at 12:00 PM (#4315165)

Exactly what I think. Seeing how many teams need catching this offseason I am very happy the A's have Kottaras to pair with Norris. He's not great but the pickings, they are very slim.

Good news for the guys shopping JP Arencibia!

27. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: December 03, 2012 at 12:01 PM (#4315168)

Martin...

Soto looks cooked.

And Martin doesn't?

28. Der_K Posted: December 03, 2012 at 12:06 PM (#4315170)

Is part of what you're seeing with Martin just a change in offensive environment? Here's his EQA's over the last four years, per claydavenport.com: .253/.261/.260/.254. Add to that plus defense + pitch calling - he's an above average big league backstop.
(And, yes, a diminished pool of bats amongst big league catchers.)

29. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: December 03, 2012 at 12:06 PM (#4315171)

Mike Nickeas is available.

Don't tease me!

30. The Mohole* of David Wells (* - Piehole)

Posted: December 03, 2012 at 12:11 PM (#4315176)

Speier is saying it's done. Napoli for 3 years to Sox.
Cafardo confirms. Done deal.

31. Gamingboy Posted: December 03, 2012 at 12:11 PM (#4315177)

Hank O'Day, Jacob Ruppert and Deacon White have got into the HoF.

32. McCoy Wilfong for Money Posted: December 03, 2012 at 12:13 PM (#4315179)

Apparently its the largest non-casino hotel in the US, outside of Vegas.

It is a Gaylord hotel and Gaylord hotels are gigantic convention hotels. There is 4 of them throughout the country and they got bought out by Marriott about 6 months ago. The hotel chain got its start by building a 600 room hotel in Opryland back in the 70's. Back in the 9-0's they expansion turned it into a 3000 room hotel and the company branched out to other places in the country. They have one on the outskirts of DC that has over 2000 rooms and almost half a million square feet of convention space.

33. zonk Posted: December 03, 2012 at 12:13 PM (#4315180)

Martin...

Soto looks cooked.

And Martin doesn't?

Not to the burnt to a crisp extent that Soto does... I'm no scout, but near the end of his Cubs tenure - it was pretty surprising when Soto even managed to get solid wood on the ball.

At this point, he reminds me of Ozzie Virgil from the 80s - who was basically out of baseball just a year after his slide began.

34. jmurph Posted: December 03, 2012 at 12:17 PM (#4315186)

Speier is saying it's done. Napoli for 3 years to Sox.
Cafardo confirms. Done deal.

Holding on the 4th year is great- that's an exciting sign of progress from Cherington and co.

35. The Mohole* of David Wells (* - Piehole)

Posted: December 03, 2012 at 12:20 PM (#4315192)

sign of progress

It's only progress if you get good players to agree to it. If every good player tells them to go #### themselves because they want an extra year, they'll be up #### creek without a paddle.

36. The Mohole* of David Wells (* - Piehole)

Posted: December 03, 2012 at 12:23 PM (#4315196)

Awesome signing. Heyman tweets:

Napoli has record for righthanded opponent at fenway with 1.107 ops

37. Dock Ellis on Acid

Posted: December 03, 2012 at 12:24 PM (#4315198)

3/39M for Napoli.

38. jmurph Posted: December 03, 2012 at 12:24 PM (#4315199)

It's only progress if you get good players to agree to it. If every good player tells them to go #### themselves because they want an extra year, they'll be up #### creek without a paddle.

Well that's sort of what I meant. They held firm and still got their guy (presumably by throwing more money at him, which is what a rich team should do to get their way).

39. The Mohole* of David Wells (* - Piehole)

Posted: December 03, 2012 at 12:39 PM (#4315210)

Heyman: "Sox talking to Swisher now. A possibility."

40. snapper (history's 42nd greatest monster) Posted: December 03, 2012 at 12:43 PM (#4315214)

The Red Sox appear to be assembling my fantasy baseball team.

Hate to see guys I like playing in Boston, but happy to see their stats inflated :-)

41. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit Posted: December 03, 2012 at 12:45 PM (#4315218)

Heyman: "Sox talking to Swisher now. A possibility."

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

42. jmurph Posted: December 03, 2012 at 12:48 PM (#4315223)

Let me echo Jose's 41, both because I don't like Swisher and also because I really don't like Swisher.

43. Gamingboy Posted: December 03, 2012 at 12:55 PM (#4315230)

Both the Red Sox and Orioles are rumored to be in on Cornflake. Get to work, rest of the AL East!

44. Esoteric throws a 'hard slider' Posted: December 03, 2012 at 12:55 PM (#4315231)

Napoli to the Red Sox to play 1B has at least one interesting secondary repercussion in that it takes the team that would otherwise have been Adam LaRoche's most obvious destination off the table. Hopefully this pushes the Nats and ALR closer to an agreement.

45. Greg (U)K Posted: December 03, 2012 at 01:03 PM (#4315242)

Napoli to the Red Sox to play 1B has at least one interesting secondary repercussion in that it takes the team that would otherwise have been Adam LaRoche's most obvious destination off the table. Hopefully this pushes the Nats and ALR closer to an agreement.

From what I've been reading the last couple days it sounds like LaRoche staying and Morse heading out is the most likely scenario.

46. Esoteric throws a 'hard slider' Posted: December 03, 2012 at 01:26 PM (#4315269)

From what I've been reading the last couple days it sounds like LaRoche staying and Morse heading out is the most likely scenario.

I can live with that; I value LaRoche's defense at 1B (particularly his ability to dig out the sometimes errant throws of Zimmerman and Desmond) every bit as highly as his bat, maybe even more so. Meanwhile I've never quite bought into the idea of Morse as a reliable offensive producer. His BABIP gives me the willies, although I'm familiar with the argument that the reason it's so high (and has been over a span of years, which helps the argument) is because when he makes contact he does so with such consistent power.

I think that if a deal gets done it will be something like 2 years guaranteed plus a third player-option year at a significantly reduced price. But then what do I know -- I thought Harper was going to be our CF of the future right up until the second the Nats traded for Denard Span.

47. JJ1986 Posted: December 03, 2012 at 01:28 PM (#4315272)

I think LaRoche probably goes back to Washington, but if the Rangers lose Hamilton too they might make a strong push for him.

48. Chris Fluit Posted: December 03, 2012 at 01:42 PM (#4315296)

I must have missed this one: who s Cornflake and why are the O's interested in him?

49. Esoteric throws a 'hard slider' Posted: December 03, 2012 at 01:43 PM (#4315300)

STOP THE PRESSES: Padres sign Jason Marquis to a 1 year/$3 million deal.

Actually, I have to say I'm surprised Jason Marquis is still in the league. Tip of the cap to a survivor.

50. rlc Posted: December 03, 2012 at 01:46 PM (#4315306)

who s Cornflake

Swish Knickers

51. Gamingboy Posted: December 03, 2012 at 01:51 PM (#4315318)

I must have missed this one: who s Cornflake and why are the O's interested in him?

I believe it stems back to one time somebody (might have been me) was raging about Swisher having a clutch hit or something and then somebody saying something like: "Dude, you can call him Cornflake for all I care."

It's popped up a few times since then.

52. JJ1986 Posted: December 03, 2012 at 02:31 PM (#4315384)

Stark:

Sources say #Mets have gotten "serious" about trading R.A. Dickey as soon as this week. #Rangers & #Royals seen as most logical fits.

53. Esoteric throws a 'hard slider' Posted: December 03, 2012 at 02:34 PM (#4315389)

Dickey in the Ball Park at Arlington would be...a very interesting match-up.

54. JJ1986 Posted: December 03, 2012 at 02:35 PM (#4315393)

Dickey in the Ball Park at Arlington would be...a very interesting match-up.

I think his first game as a knuckleballer was there. He got bombed.

55. Esoteric throws a 'hard slider' Posted: December 03, 2012 at 02:44 PM (#4315409)

I can't help but think that any team that trades significant value to acquire Dickey (particularly an AL team) is making a disastrous move.

56. Gamingboy Posted: December 03, 2012 at 02:53 PM (#4315433)

Hello partial WBC schedules: Here.

Mmmm...Breakfast baseball...

57. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit Posted: December 03, 2012 at 02:59 PM (#4315445)

Looks like the Tuesday night game in Miami in the second round is going to be my target. Should be the US versus either Venezuela or Puerto Rico. It was fun last time around.

58. Shooty is in the Trust Tree

Posted: December 03, 2012 at 03:02 PM (#4315449)

Holy crap. I'll be in the Bay Area that week. I can actually go to the final!

59. PreservedFish Posted: December 03, 2012 at 03:03 PM (#4315453)

Hmmm. Dickey. Rangers. That shortstop prospect had nowhere to play, does he?

60. Gamingboy Posted: December 03, 2012 at 03:05 PM (#4315454)

Looks like the Tuesday night game in Miami in the second round is going to be my target. Should be the US versus either Venezuela or Puerto Rico. It was fun last time around.

I just hope the USA can get to there. I have a nightmare in my head that three teams go 2-1 and the USA is left out due to the stupid tie-breaking rules because they got upset by Canada or Mexico.

61. Esoteric throws a 'hard slider' Posted: December 03, 2012 at 03:09 PM (#4315462)

Hmmm. Dickey. Rangers. That shortstop prospect had nowhere to play, does he?

They would sooner deal away Andrus than Profar. Quite simply, if Profar is the price of Dickey, then it's not going to happen.

62. Dan Posted: December 03, 2012 at 03:13 PM (#4315468)

If the Rangers won't deal Andrus or Profar for Justin Upton I don't think they're going to move either one of them for one year of RA Dickey.

63. JJ1986 Posted: December 03, 2012 at 03:16 PM (#4315469)

The Rangers prospects are almost all pitchers or 4-5 years away. Profar won't get traded, and there's no room for Olt on the Mets. Maybe Leonys Martin? Maybe a three-way trade sending Holland elsewhere?

64. Gamingboy Posted: December 03, 2012 at 03:17 PM (#4315473)

Profar apparently got hurt in winter ball.

65. Dan Posted: December 03, 2012 at 03:21 PM (#4315478)

The Rangers prospects are almost all pitchers or 4-5 years away. Profar won't get traded, and there's no room for Olt on the Mets. Maybe Leonys Martin? Maybe a three-way trade sending Holland elsewhere?

No room for Olt? Seems like he'd be a better option for either outfield corner than anyone else the Mets have.

66. Gamingboy Posted: December 03, 2012 at 03:37 PM (#4315506)

Twins apparently are in on John Lannan.

67. Cris E Posted: December 03, 2012 at 03:54 PM (#4315528)

They were way in on Brett Meyers last week too. One of those #4 high innings types will end up in MIN just to soak up the starts.

68. Davo Mastroianni Posted: December 03, 2012 at 04:08 PM (#4315551)

Kevin Correia, ONE TIME!!!

69. Mike Emeigh

Posted: December 03, 2012 at 04:11 PM (#4315555)

Twins apparently are in on John Lannan.

So are the Pirates. At least that's the right guy to be in on.

-- MWE

70. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: December 03, 2012 at 04:23 PM (#4315569)

Who makes sense from the Royals for the Mets? I assume they just want prospects? Any prospects?

71. JJ1986 Posted: December 03, 2012 at 04:26 PM (#4315575)

Who makes sense from the Royals for the Mets? I assume they just want prospects? Any prospects?

They want outfield and catching prospects.

72. Der_K Posted: December 03, 2012 at 04:31 PM (#4315580)

Is anyone concerned by Lannan not being all that good in AAA last year?

73. SG Posted: December 03, 2012 at 04:34 PM (#4315582)

Is anyone concerned by Lannan not being all that good in AAA last year?

I can imagine it may have been tough to get motivated in his situation, and I also wonder how good the defense and field behind him was.

For whatever it's worth, his fastball velocity wasn't much different between 2011(89.8 mph)and 2012 (89.4 mph).

74. Der_K Posted: December 03, 2012 at 04:41 PM (#4315590)

I can imagine it may have been tough to get motivated in his situation
No doubt. Still...

75. Esoteric throws a 'hard slider' Posted: December 03, 2012 at 04:48 PM (#4315599)

Is anyone concerned by Lannan not being all that good in AAA last year?

FWIW, he was good enough when he came up to pinch in several extremely important spots for the Nationals.

76. Dock Ellis on Acid

Posted: December 03, 2012 at 04:57 PM (#4315608)

Angel Pagan stays with Giants for 4 years. No word on dollars.

77. Dock Ellis on Acid

Posted: December 03, 2012 at 05:05 PM (#4315612)

Scratch that - it may just be for three years. But word is it's over 10MM a year.

EDIT: Robo says four.

78. Gamingboy Posted: December 03, 2012 at 05:15 PM (#4315626)

Hey, more WBC stuff, as they've released a teaser list of participants.

79. puck Posted: December 03, 2012 at 05:16 PM (#4315628)

MLB is holding a Stand-up 2 Cancer auction. You could win the "Yoenis Cespedes Experience and Memorabilia Package"

Hmm, Vin Scully Meet and Greet.

80. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: December 03, 2012 at 05:22 PM (#4315636)

Is anyone concerned by Lannan not being all that good in AAA last year?

I'm more concerned by him not being all that good in the majors in any of the seasons before that.

Check his K/BB numbers against RHBs some time. In six ML seasons, he's had two where he had more Ks than BBs, and one of those was only 44/40.

81. Gamingboy Posted: December 03, 2012 at 05:24 PM (#4315638)

Errr.. here's the list.

82. Willie Mayspedes Posted: December 03, 2012 at 05:27 PM (#4315644)

Errr.. here's the list.

That's about 550 lbs. at third for Venezuela. Where have all the short stops gone...

83. Topher Posted: December 03, 2012 at 05:31 PM (#4315648)

They want outfield and catching prospects.

Would Sal Perez work for the Mets or is his contract too expensive for the Wilpons?

84. zonk Posted: December 03, 2012 at 05:52 PM (#4315671)

I saw 4/40 on Pagan, which seems high to me...

The Cubs have also apparently settled on Jim Deshaies for the broadcast booth to replace Brenly.

85. dr. scott Posted: December 03, 2012 at 05:53 PM (#4315673)

Scratch that - it may just be for three years. But word is it's over 10MM a year.

EDIT: Robo says four.

SF gate is reporting 4 years $40 million.

http://blog.sfgate.com/giants/2012/12/03/breaking-angel-pagan-re-signing-with-giants/

Hes averaged 3.5 War/year over the last 4 years, but much of that was defensive WAR which has declined significangtly in the last 2 years, so its really a question of if he can maintain last years offensive production... At least its not Rowand money and years... but there is a lot of similarity between Rowand's 4 years before joining the Giants, and the last 4 years of Pagan's career.

86. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: December 03, 2012 at 05:54 PM (#4315677)

The Cubs have also apparently settled on Jim Deshaies for the broadcast booth to replace Brenly.

That's "Hall of Famer Vote-Getter" Jim DeShaies.

87. OsunaSakata Posted: December 03, 2012 at 05:59 PM (#4315683)

Has anybody been both at Gaylord Opryland and Gaylord National Harbor? I've been to National Harbor and it's big, but not incomprehensibly so. I looked at both on the map and both looked the same, but the maps may not have been to the same scale, despite the listed scales. Opryland looks to be more complicated and may have a bad traffic flow. Everybody says it's big, but it may just be confusing.

88. Poster Nutbag Posted: December 03, 2012 at 06:10 PM (#4315696)

Soria to Rangers, 2-years

89. Greg (U)K Posted: December 03, 2012 at 06:31 PM (#4315731)

So is Joe Nathan relegated to set up? Or am I forgetting something.

90. Poster Nutbag Posted: December 03, 2012 at 06:55 PM (#4315764)

#89 - He's still recovering from TJ, so it looks like when he's ready to return he'd set up Nathan and maybe close out games on Nathan's off days.

91. Greg (U)K Posted: December 03, 2012 at 07:07 PM (#4315772)

It just seems odd as I recall reading Soria specifically wanted to sign somewhere where he'd close. I guess that's just something you say? Or I guess maybe no teams were willing to commit to a TJ recovery closer?

92. Fred Lynn Nolan Ryan Sweeney Agonistes Posted: December 03, 2012 at 08:25 PM (#4315863)

Hes averaged 3.5 War/year over the last 4 years, but much of that was defensive WAR which has declined significangtly in the last 2 years, so its really a question of if he can maintain last years offensive production... At least its not Rowand money and years... but there is a lot of similarity between Rowand's 4 years before joining the Giants, and the last 4 years of Pagan's career.

I just cannot believe that a 31-to-35-year-old Pagan is a good investment, at least for that much mazuma.
Can they think he's going to get better? Or even stay that good?
I guess it's possible that it'll pay off... what's the latest wins-per-dollar type estimate?

93. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: December 03, 2012 at 11:43 PM (#4316057)

Soria is not scheduled to be ready til May either.

Royals talking Billy Butler to the O's and Mariners, but seem to want to be overwhelmed to make a deal. I don't see how they match up with Baltimore. Seattle makes some sense with Hultzen (I imagine Walker and Felix are off limits) but I don't think that's enough for a deal.

94. Poster Nutbag Posted: December 04, 2012 at 12:40 AM (#4316104)

#93 - I still think the A's match up best for a trade with KC...considering the young pitching Oakland always has in surplus and their perpetual need for more offense

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