Thread: 2008-09 MLB Hot Stove

Originally Posted by SabresRule

Percentage wise, what are the odds that C.C. Sabathia stays in Milwaukee for the next few years?

The ONLY thing they have going for them is NL. He is definitely going to an NL club because the biy can flat out HIT. Whetehr they have the $$$ is another story.

The Reds need C.C.

Flame-throwing pitcher, a possible Red Sox target, avoids Japanese draft

9:10 AM Thu, Oct 30, 2008

TOKYO (AP) - Junichi Tazawa, a hard-throwing right-handed pitcher who wants to play in the major leagues, was passed over by Japan's 12 professional teams in Thursday's amateur draft.
Tazawa, whose fastball reaches 97 mph, had asked Japanese teams not to select him so that he could pursue a career in the United States.
"I'm very relieved," Tazawa said. "I was very nervous right up until the end of the draft."
Several major league teams, including the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs, scouted Tazawa while he led Nippon Oil to the corporate league championship this season.
No rule prevents American teams from pursuing Japanese amateurs, although current stars such as Ichiro Suzuki of the Seattle Mariners and Daisuke Matsuzaka of the Red Sox made names for themselves playing in Japan's pro leagues.
Players in Japan's professional leagues must wait nine seasons before becoming free agents. Kazuhito Tadano and Mac Suzuki are the only Japanese players to have played in the major leagues without playing Japanese pro baseball.
Taishi Ota, a power-hitting high school infielder, was the top pick of both the Yomiuri Giants and Softbank Hawks in the draft. The Giants won the negotiating rights to Ota in a lottery.

Originally Posted by ramy

The Reds need C.C.

Ramy,
what's the status of Bronson Arroyo?

Is he under contract in 2009?

Offseason Outlook: Tampa Bay Rays

By Tim Dierkes [October 30 at 4:51pm CST]

Their likely 2009 commitments:
C - Dioner Navarro - $413K+
C - Shawn Riggans - $400K
1B - Carlos Pena - $8MM
2B - Akinori Iwamura - $3.25MM
SS - Jason Bartlett - $417K+
3B - Evan Longoria - $550K
IF - Willy Aybar - $402K
IF - Ben Zobrist - $400K
LF - Carl Crawford - $8.25MM
CF - B.J. Upton - $413K
RF - Gabe Gross - $414K+
OF - Fernando Perez - $400K
DH - Jonny Gomes - $1.275MM+
SP - Scott Kazmir - $6MM
SP - James Shields - $1.5MM
SP - Matt Garza - $405K
SP - Andy Sonnanstine - $400K
SP - David Price - $750K
RP - Troy Percival - $4MM
RP - Chad Bradford - $3.5MM
RP - Dan Wheeler - $3.2MM
RP - Trever Miller - $2MM (club option)
RP - Grant Balfour - $500K+
RP - Edwin Jackson - $413K+
RP - J.P. Howell - $400K
Other commitments: Cliff Floyd - $250K, Jeff Niemann - $1.04MM
That's about $49MM committed, plus arbitration raises to Navarro, Bartlett, Gross, Gomes, Balfour, and Jackson. Payroll could approach $60MM to bring this group back. I'm not sure how high the Rays can go, but they started the year at $43.7MM.
The Rays had a middling offense in 2008, but still reached the World Series. They didn't hit lefties very well, so it makes sense to acquire a righthanded hitting slugger for right field or DH. Pat Burrell, Magglio Ordonez, Josh Willingham, and Casey Blake could fit the bill. Milton Bradley too, if the Rays want to go there. Matt Holliday is technically available. The Rays could, of course, expand their search to include lefthanded hitters.
The bullpen could be tweaked, but a major signing is probably unnecessary.
The Rays are one of the few teams in baseball who can boast of a legitimate starting pitching surplus. When Jackson and Wade Davis can't crack your rotation, you're in good shape. Trading the arb-eligible Jackson could make sense this winter. This is entirely speculation, but would Jackson for Ryan Ludwick, Jermaine Dye, or Billy Butler make sense for anyone?
It's a great time to be a Rays fan - they have a young, affordable, contending club. Andrew Friedman only needs to tinker this winter.

Mets sign Fernando Tatis


FLUSHING, N.Y., October 30, 2008 -- Fernando Tatis, who was named the National League Comeback Player-of-the-Year this season, today signed a one-year contract with the New York Mets. Terms were not disclosed.

Tatis, 33, who hit .297 with 16 doubles, one triple, 11 home runs and 47 RBI for the Mets separated his right shoulder diving for a double by Nationals' pitcher Odalis Perez in the fifth inning on September 16th at Washington. Fernando underwent an MRI the next day and the test revealed a Grade 3 shoulder separation.
"I feel fine now," said Tatis, whose contract was selected from New Orleans (AAA) of the Pacific Coast League on May 13th. "I didn't need surgery and I will be ready to go in the spring."
For the Mets, Tatis made 35 starts in rightfield, 28 in leftfield, two at third base and one at first base.
"Fernando got so many key hits for us last year," said Mets' General Manager Omar Minaya. "Not having him the last few weeks of the season certainly hurt. His versatility certainly makes us a better team."
In 2008, Fernando hit .392 (29-74) with men in scoring position. He also compiled a .311 mark (33-106) against lefthanded pitching. Tatis's Sporting News Comeback Player-of-the-Year Award was voted on by 314 current major league players, 18 managers and 41 General Managers and Assistant General Managers.

Congrats on Tatis. I think the Mets made the right move in resigning him.

Royals Acquire Jacobs For Nunez

THURSDAY:
It's official

: the Royals have acquired Jacobs for Nunez, according to Dutton. It now seems that the Royals have a surplus of 1B/DH types.



Wow, great trade by the Royals!!!

Type A/B Free Agents

Type A
Bobby Abreu (Yankees)
Milton Bradley (Rangers)
Doug Brocail (Astros)
A.J. Burnett (Blue Jays)
Pat Burrell (Phillies)
Orlando Cabrera (White Sox)
Juan Cruz (Diamondbacks)
Ryan Dempster (Cubs)
Adam Dunn (Diamondbacks)
Brian Fuentes (Rockies)
Brian Giles (Padres)
Orlando Hudson (Diamondbacks)
Raul Ibanez (Mariners)
Jason Isringhausen (Cardinals)
Derek Lowe (Dodgers)
Damaso Marte (Yankees)
Jamie Moyer (Phillies)
Mike Mussina (Yankees)
Darren Oliver (Angels)
Oliver Perez (Mets)
Andy Pettitte (Yankees)
Manny Ramirez (Dodgers)
Edgar Renteria (Tigers)
Francisco Rodriguez (Angels)
Ivan Rodriguez (Yankees)
C.C. Sabathia (Brewers)
Ben Sheets (Brewers)
Russ Springer (Cardinals)
Mark Teixeira (Angels)
Jason Varitek (Red Sox)
Kerry Wood (Cubs)
That's 31 Type As, though Giles and Marte may have their options picked up and Mussina may retire.


Type B
Jeremy Affeldt (Reds)
Moises Alou (Mets)
Garret Anderson (Angels)
Joe Beimel (Dodgers)
Casey Blake (Dodgers)
Paul Byrd (Red Sox)
Mike Cameron (Brewers)
Carlos Delgado (Mets)
Alan Embree (Athletics)
Eric Gagne (Brewers)
Jon Garland (Angels)
Luis Gonzalez (Marlins)
Ken Griffey Jr. (White Sox)
Mark Grudzielanek (Royals)
Trevor Hoffman (Padres)
Bob Howry (Cubs)
Jeff Kent (Dodgers)
Braden Looper (Cardinals)
Mark Loretta (Astros)
Brandon Lyon (Diamondbacks)
Greg Maddux (Dodgers)
Trever Miller (Rays)
Miguel Olivo (Royals)
Brad Penny (Dodgers)
Dennys Reyes (Twins)
Brian Shouse (Brewers)
John Smoltz (Braves)
Frank Thomas (Athletics)
Salomon Torres (Brewers)
Juan Uribe (White Sox)
Tim Wakefield (Red Sox)
David Weathers (Reds)
Randy Wolf (Astros)
Jamey Wright (Rangers)
Gregg Zaun (Blue Jays)

That's 35 Type Bs, though Cameron, Delgado, Embree, Miller, Olivo, Penny, Torres, and Wakefield could have their options picked up and Alou, Griffey, Kent, and Maddux could retire.
Talking to a few people in the game, it seems that the Type A/B free agent quota depends on the number of Type A/Bs who file. If 62 or fewer such players file (which is possible) then each team will have a quota of three Type A or B signings. Regardless of that, teams are allowed to sign as many Type A/Bs as they lose. As far as I can tell, the quota has never been an issue in the past.