Links for Monday, 14 years after the Mariners sent David Ortiz to the Twins to complete the Dave Hollins trade. Precisely 346 home runs later, Big Papi is one of the most recognizable players in the game…
- The Red Sox will probably not have the chance to void J.D. Drew’s deal, as Alex Speier of WEEI.com explains. The Red Sox could be able to sidestep the 2011 portion of the contract depending on injuries, but Drew seems healthy.
- The D'Backs will interview Angels scouting director Eddie Bane for their GM opening, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (on Twitter).
- The Blue Jays named Jay Sartori assistant GM. The 31-year-old was previously the director of baseball operations for the Nationals and worked in MLB’s labor relations department, advising teams on salary arbitration, among other things.
- The Mariners fired pro scouting director Carmen Fusco, according to KING 5 Sports. Ed Price of AOL FanHouse confirms the report (on Twitter) and suggests it's a warning shot to GM Jack Zduriencik. The Mariners front office is under scrutiny after trading for Josh Lueke.
- Pirates GM Neal Huntington told Chuck Finder of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that his team “can't throw $55MM at somebody just because it makes [everyone] feel better.” Instead, the team has to be sure the players they pursue fit the team’s needs.
- Jose Reyes told Newsday's Ken Davidoff that he wants to stay in New York. The Mets can retain their shortstop for $11MM next year or buy him out for $500K.
I got love for José-José-José but he better step up his OBP – and find the way to keep himself healthier – or nobody will want him much longer.
Totally agree Jose is a great player he just needs to learn how to keep his head on right and play hard everyday and stay focused on the field and not other things. I think its a given they’ll exercise his option for next season.
I got love for José-José-José but he better step up his OBP – and find the way to keep himself healthier – or nobody will want him much longer.
problem Z is having with the Lueke situation is the fact he didnt come right out and say “I know the kid has some major legal trouble in the past but he has paid his price and we are looking forward to allowing him to move on with out organization.” Instead he said he was “unaware.” Dude made a solid trade, acquired some great talent (including Lueke), and is probalby going to be canned for his lack of honesty….oh and stupidity in signing figgins
He also acquired Cliff for peanuts and traded him a nice haul of young prospects.
Not sure I entirely agree with your comment “nice haul of young prospects”
I guess we’ll wait and see how they all pan out, but the fact they passed up the Yanks package, which I do believe, as well as many sports writers who covered the trade agree, that the Montero package was hands down better.
Let’s not forget 1) this was an in the divison trade and 2) the Mariners sent money. Couple that together with a one prospect who has a criminal past, a charge that is something the Mariners serious frown upon and Smoak who had to be sent back to AAA for development, well I don’t know.
It seems like imediately following that trade is when shite really hit the fan up there in Seattle. I think Jack Z really dug himself his own grave.
Just an outside observation. Heck Lee doesn’t really even like pitching in Texas based on the comments I’ve read elsewhere.
You make a good point, Century, they acquired one of their biggest rival’s best prospect for a player who probably won’t even sign with them.
Don’t forget Z also gave away Brendan Morrow for an average middle reliever.
And he signed Felix and Gutierrez to long term, club-friendly contracts.
But he signed Figgins to a very unfriendly contract. He’s done some good, some bad.
I don’t know what Price intends with “warning shot.” Obviously Z will get canned if they have a screw-up like Lueke again, or if the team doesn’t turn it around soon. This is the end of year 2 of his reign, and they’re finishing 20 games below what they did last year. They will need to improve or he’ll be Josh Byrnes’d next summer.
Regardless of what you think or anyone thinks of what he got for cliff lee.
you can’t deny that he got far more then he gave up for the same player, with less time on his contract
And I’d like to see where “many sports writers” said that the Montero package was better..That must be something I missed. At the time of the trade, everything I read on Montero and Smoak is that they were a wash. Some liked Montero more because of his bat, some liked Smoak more because of his plate skills, defense, and switch hitting ability. I think I would rather have Montero personally because, even if he is a DH, he could be the next big thing to hit MLB. A potential Miguel Cabrera part 2.But the overall deal was MUCH better with Texas. Adams and Lawson are a wash as filler guys in the deal but having Lueke/Beavan against McCallister is not even remotely comparable. Lueke is closer material (no joke) and I would take Beavan over McCallister, straight up. Heck, the Yankees gave McCallister away to the Indians for a PTBNL after the Mariner deal fell through.Point being, the Texas deal was much better regardless how much Montero could be liked over Smoak. That doesn’t even take into account that the Mariners took away talent from a division rival.
I agree with your assessment. I think a lot of people are down on the deal b/c Smoak struggled in the bigs this year. People seem to overlook that Montero is hardly more of a sure thing than Smoak was before he was recalled. The difference is Smoak was called up earlier than Montero was
What the deal comes down to is how you evaluate Montero. If you think he can catch, then clearly a power hitting catcher is more valuable than a power hitting first baseman. However, most of what I’ve read about Montero indicates he’ll have to move off catcher. In that case, he’ll probably have to move to first, and that pushes the edge more towards Smoak since he’s already more of an established first baseman (defensively speaking). You can spend time debating who’s bat is more potent, but all your doing is arguing apples and oranges before either one does anything at the big league level. (And this is coming from a Rangers fan)
And just from watching Smoak earlier this year, I can tell you he does have impressive mechanics and talent. His biggest problem is the inability to adjust to big league breaking pitches. It takes a lot longer for some guys to make that adjustment than others. Just be patient w/ him
I agree with your assessment. I think a lot of people are down on the deal b/c Smoak struggled in the bigs this year. People seem to overlook that Montero is hardly more of a sure thing than Smoak was before he was recalled. The difference is Smoak was called up earlier than Montero was
What the deal comes down to is how you evaluate Montero. If you think he can catch, then clearly a power hitting catcher is more valuable than a power hitting first baseman. However, most of what I’ve read about Montero indicates he’ll have to move off catcher. In that case, he’ll probably have to move to first, and that pushes the edge more towards Smoak since he’s already more of an established first baseman (defensively speaking). You can spend time debating who’s bat is more potent, but all your doing is arguing apples and oranges before either one does anything at the big league level. (And this is coming from a Rangers fan)
And just from watching Smoak earlier this year, I can tell you he does have impressive mechanics and talent. His biggest problem is the inability to adjust to big league breaking pitches. It takes a lot longer for some guys to make that adjustment than others. Just be patient w/ him
And I’d like to see where “many sports writers” said that the Montero package was better..That must be something I missed. At the time of the trade, everything I read on Montero and Smoak is that they were a wash. Some liked Montero more because of his bat, some liked Smoak more because of his plate skills, defense, and switch hitting ability. I think I would rather have Montero personally because, even if he is a DH, he could be the next big thing to hit MLB. A potential Miguel Cabrera part 2.But the overall deal was MUCH better with Texas. Adams and Lawson are a wash as filler guys in the deal but having Lueke/Beavan against McCallister is not even remotely comparable. Lueke is closer material (no joke) and I would take Beavan over McCallister, straight up. Heck, the Yankees gave McCallister away to the Indians for a PTBNL after the Mariner deal fell through.Point being, the Texas deal was much better regardless how much Montero could be liked over Smoak. That doesn’t even take into account that the Mariners took away talent from a division rival.
He also acquired Cliff for peanuts and traded him a nice haul of young prospects.
it has to fit their needs? what don’t the pirates need? this is a team that’s done nothing for the last 18 years.
Well they dont need much more than good SP and a consistent offense.They have 6 outta 8 position players filled for next year.But there SP sucks, if the bucos had pitching like cinnci than they would be right around were the reds are.
they’ve won less than 80 games every year since 93. they’re 48-94 already this year. sorry, but i don’t see it. every team needs good pitching and consistent offense, but not every team has a track record like the pirates for these last 18 years. i’m just saying, something isn’t working there.
it helps a lot now that they’ve gotten rid of Iwamura and LaRoche, offensive black holes, for Walker and Alvarez. they have solid young players at CF, 2B, 3B, and a good catching prospect in the minors, which is good in the long term – it’s a lot easier to find a good hitter at 1B / RF than it is at those skill positions. they’re not going to contend next year, so it’s not worth spending big money on a free agent 1B or RF, unless it’s someone you simply can’t pass up (and you have the money!), like Teixeira last year. otherwise, they might as well just go with what they have right now. maybe Steve Pearce will continue hitting as well as he is right now. SS is the position I might look to spend a bit of money – J.J. Hardy could be a good gamble.
I agree pitching is where they should look to upgrade this offseason.
it helps a lot now that they’ve gotten rid of Iwamura and LaRoche, offensive black holes, for Walker and Alvarez. they have solid young players at CF, 2B, 3B, and a good catching prospect in the minors, which is good in the long term – it’s a lot easier to find a good hitter at 1B / RF than it is at those skill positions. they’re not going to contend next year, so it’s not worth spending big money on a free agent 1B or RF, unless it’s someone you simply can’t pass up (and you have the money!), like Teixeira last year. otherwise, they might as well just go with what they have right now. maybe Steve Pearce will continue hitting as well as he is right now. SS is the position I might look to spend a bit of money – J.J. Hardy could be a good gamble.
I agree pitching is where they should look to upgrade this offseason.
Right now the Pirates don’t need a 2B, 3B, LF, CF, or back end of the bullpen guys. Chris Snyder fills the bill at C until Tony Sanchez is ready. The Bucs need to shed Zach Duke and possibly Paul Maholm and be aggressive on acquiring pitchers like Jorge De La Rosa. Their next wave of legit pitching prospects are still in Double-A, so they should acquire a couple starters to bridge the gap until Jeff Locke, Rudy Owens, and Bryan Morris are ready.
I didin’t know Huntington could count as high as 55 million. I thought six million was his limit.
When Huntington says the players ‘must fit the team’s needs’, that’s Pirate speak for cheap, young and years away from arbitration.
Talent optional.
Talent optional.
Is there even a chance Reyes would be bought out: I doubt it?
As for Drew I expect he’ll have a very productive 2011. There’s no mention of any FO type even thinking of voiding his deal. It’s not an issue.
I doubt they would buy him out. They will pick up the option. Now the question is does the new GM try to use him to bring in some players and if so what could he fetch. This is especially true if he plans to test FA if a long term extension is not worked out.
I doubt they would buy him out. They will pick up the option. Now the question is does the new GM try to use him to bring in some players and if so what could he fetch. This is especially true if he plans to test FA if a long term extension is not worked out.
Is there even a chance Reyes would be bought out: I doubt it?
As for Drew I expect he’ll have a very productive 2011. There’s no mention of any FO type even thinking of voiding his deal. It’s not an issue.
Well with how bad the Red Sox medical staff has been this year chances are that J.D. Drew is probably on the verge of a career ending injury.
Amazing how over Ellsbury and the rib thing that all of a sudden everyone thinks they are inept when pitchers have given these same people rave reviews for years prior.
Dude it hasn’t just been Ellsbury. They keep messing up with telling when a player is ready to come back.
If the Red Sox have the opportunity to buy out Nancy Drew’s contract for 2011, they should do it. Drew is a drain on their payroll and in the lineup. Yes, he’ll hit 20 HRs a year, but his BA is mediocre at best and he hasn’t been a clutch hitter in his time in Boston.
I’m shocked a fan hasn’t pushed him down some stairs.
Where’s the cops when you need them?! Nancy Drew should be arrested for impersonating a baseball player!
Where’s the cops when you need them?! Nancy Drew should be arrested for impersonating a baseball player!
I’m shocked a fan hasn’t pushed him down some stairs.
Anybody else see St. Louis as a bidder for Reyes if he is bought out of his contract…St. Louis badly needs a ss and a leadoff man.
Anybody else see St. Louis as a bidder for Reyes if he is bought out of his contract…St. Louis badly needs a ss and a leadoff man.