Thread: 2009-10 Hot Stove Baseball

Originally Posted by salsadancer7

SPEAKING of the METS: I wonder what will happen to Jason Bay's stats hitting in the Grand Cayon with no where near as good a line-up protecting him as it did with the Red Sox...?

Easy, the pitchers will just start pitching around him.

Just like many other stars.

Originally Posted by Jimbo

Easy, the pitchers will just start pitching around him.

Just like many other stars.

If the Mets are ever healthy (a big 'if'), teams will not be able to pitch around Jason Bay. Reyes, Castillo, Beltran, Bay, Wright, Delgado, Francouer, is not a bad lineup at all, especially in the National League.


Sandra

The Red Sox avoided arbitration with OF Jeremy Hermida (1 year.......$3.5 mill).

Today's signings:

Oakland- Ben Sheets

San Diego- Jon Garland and Matt Stairs

Dodgers- Brad Ausmus

Minnesota- Jim Thome

Cubs- Xavier Nady

Because reminiscing the past is the only thing going for this club right now....

Congrat's. K-Lo. Thank you for the memories!




Lofton gets call to Tribe Hall of Fame | indians.com: News

Originally Posted by HD MM

Because reminiscing the past is the only thing going for this club right now....

Congrat's. K-Lo. Thank you for the memories!




Lofton gets call to Tribe Hall of Fame | indians.com: News

Do you know who has the longest running Club Hall of Fame?

January 29, 2010, 11:04 PM ET
Report: Tigers, Verlander negotiating


Pitcher Justin Verlander and the Detroit Tigers have begun talks on a five-year contract extension worth around $75 million, Yahoo! Sports reported on Friday.

Verlander, who is eligible for arbitration, told the Detroit News last week he wants to "take care of this season first."

A five-year deal would cover Verlander's last two years of arbitration eligibility and first three years of free-agent eligibility. Seattle's Felix Hernandez has been compared to Verlander. Hernandez recently agreed to a five-year contract for $78 million.

Verlander, 26, was 19-9 last season and led the league with 240 innings and 269 strikeouts. He finished third in AL Cy Young voting.

"We've said all along that we're hopeful to keep Justin Verlander part of our organization for a long time," Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski said.

Report: Verlander, Tigers agree to deal

Justin Verlander and the Detroit Tigers have agreed to an $80 million, five-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.
Largest Deals Signed To Avoid Arbitration

Justin Verlander's five-year, $80 million contract is the second-largest signed by a player to avoid arbitration since 2007.
Year Player Amount Length
'07 C. Utley $85M 7 yrs.
'10 J. Verlander $80M 5 yrs.
'10 F. Hernandez $78M 5 yrs.
'09 N. Markakis $66.1M 6 yrs.
'09 R. Howard $54M 3 yrs.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity Wednesday night because the deal had not been announced. The person said the contract could be completed as soon as Thursday.

Verlander won a career-high 19 games with a career-best 3.45 ERA last season. He is 65-43 with a 3.92 ERA in four full seasons with the Tigers.

The sides agreed to bypass salary arbitration. When figures were exchanged last month, Verlander asked for $9.5 million for next season and the team offered $6.9 million.

Verlander ended up securing a more lucrative contract than Felix Hernandez. The Seattle Mariners gave their ace a $78 million, five-year deal. Verlander turns 27 this month and Hernandez, who is 58-41 with a 3.45 ERA, will be 24 in April.

Verlander made $3,675,000 last season.

Detroit's decision to keep Verlander with a long-term deal backs up the franchise's claim that it is still committed to spending money to stay competitive.

The Tigers traded popular outfielder Curtis Granderson and All-Star pitcher Edwin Jackson for younger, cheaper players. They also let second baseman Placido Polanco along with relievers Fernando Rodney and Brandon Lyon leave in free agency.

Detroit did, though, instill some hope for this season when it landed closer Jose Valverde with a $14 million, two-year deal.

Even if the Tigers are done reshaping their roster, they'll be able to appease at least some fans by keeping Verlander under contract for at least five more years. With the new deal, they won't risk losing him in free agency after the 2011 season.

The hard-throwing Verlander is the only pitcher in baseball history to toss a no-hitter, start a World Series game and be a rookie of the year and an All-Star in his first two full seasons.

Detroit drafted Verlander with the second pick of the 2004 amateur draft and signed him just before losing his rights.

He dominated minor league competition in 2005, compiling an 11-2 record and 1.29 ERA at Class A Lakeland and Double-A Erie, and fared well in his first full season with the Tigers.

He was 17-9 in 2006 -- earning AL Rookie of the Year honors -- and helped Detroit advance to the World Series for the first time since 1984. He became the first Tigers pitcher to throw a no-hitter since Jack Morris did it during the 1984 championship season.

"When you're hitting your spots at 100 [mph], to be honest, it's going to be a tough day," Milwaukee Brewers slugger Prince Fielder said after Verlander's no-hitter. "The guy throws 95 to 100, so you're not looking for a slider, and when he throws it that good for a strike it just kind of buckles you and you have to tip your cap."

Verlander was 18-6 in his second season and made the All-Star team. Only Dwight Gooden, who won 41 games for the New York Mets during the 1984-85 seasons, won more games among pitchers in their first two full seasons since 1970.

After struggling two years ago with an 11-17 record, Verlander bounced back with a sensational season.

He led the majors with 269 strikeouts, 240 innings pitched and 35 starts in 2009. His 19 wins matched the top total in both leagues.

Former teammate Kenny Rogers said Verlander's wicked fastball, wildly breaking curve and knee-buckling changeup give him an assortment of pitches that reminded him only of Nolan Ryan.

"He's only going to get better and that's scary for other teams," Rogers has said.

Minnesota Twins outfielder Delmon Young played with Verlander in the 2005 All-Star Futures Game and knows him off the field because his brother, Dmitri, played in Detroit. They're friendly, but that doesn't mean Young enjoys facing Verlander.

"It's not fun facing him when a guy can uncork a fastball at 101 [mph] and drop a dirty split-fingered changeup, and then a hammer, a curveball, that's really tough to hit," Young once said. "The guy has amazing tools. He knows how to pitch, and he's only going to get better.

"Just stay healthy, and this guy can win multiple Cy Youngs," he said.
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Associated Press

Justin Verlander and the Detroit Tigers have agreed to an $80 million, five-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.
Largest Deals Signed To Avoid Arbitration

Justin Verlander's five-year, $80 million contract is the second-largest signed by a player to avoid arbitration since 2007.
Year Player Amount Length
'07 C. Utley $85M 7 yrs.
'10 J. Verlander $80M 5 yrs.
'10 F. Hernandez $78M 5 yrs.
'09 N. Markakis $66.1M 6 yrs.
'09 R. Howard $54M 3 yrs.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity Wednesday night because the deal had not been announced. The person said the contract could be completed as soon as Thursday.

Verlander won a career-high 19 games with a career-best 3.45 ERA last season. He is 65-43 with a 3.92 ERA in four full seasons with the Tigers.

The sides agreed to bypass salary arbitration. When figures were exchanged last month, Verlander asked for $9.5 million for next season and the team offered $6.9 million.

Verlander ended up securing a more lucrative contract than Felix Hernandez. The Seattle Mariners gave their ace a $78 million, five-year deal. Verlander turns 27 this month and Hernandez, who is 58-41 with a 3.45 ERA, will be 24 in April.

Verlander made $3,675,000 last season.

Detroit's decision to keep Verlander with a long-term deal backs up the franchise's claim that it is still committed to spending money to stay competitive.

The Tigers traded popular outfielder Curtis Granderson and All-Star pitcher Edwin Jackson for younger, cheaper players. They also let second baseman Placido Polanco along with relievers Fernando Rodney and Brandon Lyon leave in free agency.

Detroit did, though, instill some hope for this season when it landed closer Jose Valverde with a $14 million, two-year deal.

Even if the Tigers are done reshaping their roster, they'll be able to appease at least some fans by keeping Verlander under contract for at least five more years. With the new deal, they won't risk losing him in free agency after the 2011 season.

The hard-throwing Verlander is the only pitcher in baseball history to toss a no-hitter, start a World Series game and be a rookie of the year and an All-Star in his first two full seasons.

Detroit drafted Verlander with the second pick of the 2004 amateur draft and signed him just before losing his rights.

He dominated minor league competition in 2005, compiling an 11-2 record and 1.29 ERA at Class A Lakeland and Double-A Erie, and fared well in his first full season with the Tigers.

He was 17-9 in 2006 -- earning AL Rookie of the Year honors -- and helped Detroit advance to the World Series for the first time since 1984. He became the first Tigers pitcher to throw a no-hitter since Jack Morris did it during the 1984 championship season.

"When you're hitting your spots at 100 [mph], to be honest, it's going to be a tough day," Milwaukee Brewers slugger Prince Fielder said after Verlander's no-hitter. "The guy throws 95 to 100, so you're not looking for a slider, and when he throws it that good for a strike it just kind of buckles you and you have to tip your cap."

Verlander was 18-6 in his second season and made the All-Star team. Only Dwight Gooden, who won 41 games for the New York Mets during the 1984-85 seasons, won more games among pitchers in their first two full seasons since 1970.

After struggling two years ago with an 11-17 record, Verlander bounced back with a sensational season.

He led the majors with 269 strikeouts, 240 innings pitched and 35 starts in 2009. His 19 wins matched the top total in both leagues.

Former teammate Kenny Rogers said Verlander's wicked fastball, wildly breaking curve and knee-buckling changeup give him an assortment of pitches that reminded him only of Nolan Ryan.

"He's only going to get better and that's scary for other teams," Rogers has said.

Minnesota Twins outfielder Delmon Young played with Verlander in the 2005 All-Star Futures Game and knows him off the field because his brother, Dmitri, played in Detroit. They're friendly, but that doesn't mean Young enjoys facing Verlander.

"It's not fun facing him when a guy can uncork a fastball at 101 [mph] and drop a dirty split-fingered changeup, and then a hammer, a curveball, that's really tough to hit," Young once said. "The guy has amazing tools. He knows how to pitch, and he's only going to get better.

"Just stay healthy, and this guy can win multiple Cy Youngs," he said.