As we hope for Wilson and Cain rather than clouds and rain in San Francisco tonight, here are a few news items…
- In an appearance on WEEI's The Big Show this afternoon, Peter Gammons predicted that Cliff Lee will re-sign with Texas and Victor Martinez will sign a four- or five-year contract with Detroit since "I don't think anyone else is going to give him four or five years." Gammons also reiterated that the Red Sox have a big interest in Carl Crawford this winter. WEEI's Kirk Minihane has a partial transcript here.
- The Braves have signed Beau Torbert to a minor league contract, according to the Sioux Falls Fighting Pheasants, Torbert's American Association team. Torbert, a 17th-round pick of the Astros in 2004, was Baseball America's Independent Player Of The Year for 2010.
- The Pirates haven't interviewed a managerial candidate in two weeks, but FOXSports.com's Tracy Ringolsby believes the Bucs are waiting to speak to Clint Hurdle, who is "a serious consideration" for the job. Pittsburgh has to wait until the World Series is over to interview Hurdle, the former Rockies manager and current Rangers hitting coach.
- The Marlins hope to settle on a manager by next week, tweets Newsday's Ken Davidoff. Edwin Rodriguez is "still in the mix" according to Davidoff, which coincides with news earlier this week that the Fish were "leaning toward" keeping their current manager.
- Pedro Martinez is "looking for motivation to come back," tweets Enrique Rojas of ESPN. Martinez is training with the Dominican League's Licey Tigers, whose pitching coach is Pedro's brother (and former major league pitcher) Ramon.
- Andy MacPhail tells MASN.com's Steve Melewski that the Orioles aren't likely to re-sign any of their pending free agents before the deadline.
- Tom Gage of the Detroit News implies that Jim Thome could be the Tigers' backup plan if the team fails to sign any bigger-name free agents.
- We had heard that John Gibbons wasn't a managerial candidate in New York, but Jack Curry of the YES Network reports that the Mets have already contacted other teams for infomation about the Royals bench coach. Curry says the Mets haven't contacted Gibbons himself, but will probably do so once Sandy Alderson officially takes over as GM. (All Twitter links)
- Hoping your team can unload a bad contract this winter, or at least trade one for another team's problem? ESPNNewYork.com's Adam Rubin has a rundown of each team's most unwieldly financial commitments.
If Thome plays for the Tigers and Royals, he will have achieved, the “Quinfecta”
Pedro needs more motivation to come back? Sounds like he’s really itching to help somebody. Let’s send him a couch and a lifetime supply of Dorritos and say thanks but no thanks.
Can’t make 4 mill sitting under a mango tree.
Well maybe if you’re reallllllly good at it.
but you can playing softball….ala Eric Byrnes
I would prefer Tony Pena, but I guess Clint Hurdle is an ok consolation for buccos.
Why would Clint take the Pirates job? Is he aware of how they do things financially?
You mean how they spent 11.9 million dollars on the draft last year, which was only second to the Nationals. I know, what bums they are.
Lol, are you aware of the number of dollars NOT being spent? You Pirate fans are being robbed. Year after year losers, and the franchise is cashing in and not giving back.
You seem content with that, though. No sweat off my back. Enjoy last place.
Don’t just blame the front office, blame that one on Russell, Russell was a horrible manager, and couldn’t teach those guys anything. And the front office doesn’t provide any veteran players that can help the other ones.
The Pittsburgh Baseball Club makes relatively little money and spend the little money they have very effectively. The major league product you see on the field from the past few years is as a result of previous managements ineptititude, but current management is one of the best in baseball and you will realize that sometime soon
“the pirates make relatively little money and spend the little money they have very effectively.”
And I’m ignorant? Please read.
bizofbaseball.com/index.php?option=com_content…
Great Post!! I’ve been saying this about the Pirates for the last year, posted as much earlier this year and got trashed by all the blind Bucco fans. The Pirates are not the only ones to follow that business model, but are the biggest offenders.
“the pirates make relatively little money and spend the little money they have very effectively.”
I take it that you haven’t read the leaked financial information concerning the Pirates. And I’m ignorant? Lol okay.
Like I said, relatively speaking, the Pirates do not make much money, making 7 mil or so isn’t that much compared to most sports franchises, and after all, it is a business, and don’t you want your business to make money so that they can spend it or pay off the debt they have. So my point is that there is nothing wrong with the Pirates financial situation and they should keep doing what they are doing.
Don’t worry about anyone that disagrees with you. You’re right about Huntington finally turning things around in Pittsburgh. They aren’t doing stuff to win now, their doing it to start winning in about 2012 or 2013. Emanny knows nothing about baseball, because he talks crap all the Pirates when the only team worse than the Mets in the NL East is the Nationals.
And yet the mets spends a 100+ million more and get the same end result: a loser
Well said. It’s been going on too long with teams with small payrolls.
If thome is the biggest bat the tigers get this offseason I’m pretty sure a lynch mob will put an end to Dumbrowski’s wreck filled tenure.
No way in the world Thome will be the biggest Tigers signing… or a Tiger at all. I wanted him last year but I think he’ll stay with the Twins. Tom Gage is a joke.
It would be very nice to see Mr. Hurdle managing the Pirates. I really like his personality and I believe that the players will respect him and play hard for him. Mr. Pena seems like a decent candidate too, as he was a good player and players would respect him, but I am not sure about his managing capabilities.
I think Clint would be a perfect fit in Black & Gold. I wonder if he could help improve the club’s Avg. with Runners in Scoring Position.
Only if he can still hit.
Tony Pena managed the KC Royals a few years back, a team similar to the Pirates.A team with a small budget, many young players and upcoming prospects. The team improved under him and he won Manager of the Year. He can manage. The following year the Royals cut the payroll and lost some of their players. The team went down the tubes. He’s not going back into that situation anytime soon. Cross him off your list.
I like Tony Pena, but I don’t really understand how you can say the Royals cut salary after the 2003 season. In 2003 the Royals went 83-79, that off-season the Royals signed veterans like Juan Gonzalez, Tony Graffanino, and some other veteran pieces. They got off to such a bad start that they traded Carlos Beltran to the Astros. So, after the 2003 season many thought of the Royals as the sleeper pick to win the AL Central. But, after making many failed veteran signings they would go on to finish last and traded off Carlos Beltran during the season. You can’t fault Tony Pena for the injuries or bad signings, but the Royals didn’t cut payroll in the 2003 off-season.
Let’s hope the Pirates front office makes the right decision on their next manager whether it’s Hurdle, Pena, Wotus, or someone else. Let’s also hope that Huntington uses some of the minor league talent he’s been accumulating over the last couple years on at least one starting pitcher and upgrades to shortstop and 1B or RF. The Pirates have some tough decisions to make in regards to their 40-man roster this offseason due to the amount of talent in the minors. They can relieve themselves of some of those tough decisions, and improve the product at the major league level by flipping some of those minor leaguers. Make it happen Neal, or that seat you’re on will start to get hotter!
Let’s hope the Pirates front office makes the right decision on their next manager whether it’s Hurdle, Pena, Wotus, or someone else. Let’s also hope that Huntington uses some of the minor league talent he’s been accumulating over the last couple years on at least one starting pitcher and upgrades to shortstop and 1B or RF. The Pirates have some tough decisions to make in regards to their 40-man roster this offseason due to the amount of talent in the minors. They can relieve themselves of some of those tough decisions, and improve the product at the major league level by flipping some of those minor leaguers. Make it happen Neal, or that seat you’re on will start to get hotter!
Martinez to Detroit. I like the idea. Martinez still put up 4 war the last two seasons and Posada was able to well into his late 30`s. Avila would be a good back-up.
What is there to like? Martinez can’t really catch anymore and we don’t need another DH.
As much as I’d love to see Crawford in a Red Sox uni for the next couple of years I have this nagging feeling it will be an albatross for the last few years.
Well it looks like the Braves have solved their right-handed power outfield bat issues.
Gammons is a Red Sox homer despite the neutrality he tries to portray. Heck, he was spuring on the Cabrera to Boston trade scinario 2 years ago.
Signing Martinez to a 4 or 5 year contract would be a bad move as you probably would only get 2 or 3 years of decent catching out of him anyways. If they sign a big DH bat to a 4 year deal or more, signing Martinez to a contract that long would wind up with 2 DH’s.
I still think
Crawford
Dunn
Ordonez/Werth
is the best scenario for the tigers.
Werth would give the tigers a solid RF for years to come and Ordonez could play another year or 2 max then then be traded/replaced by Raburn/Boesch/Wells.
A bat upgrade at catcher would be nice but its not needed if you sign 2 good hitting corner OF and a solid DH.
Besides, the tigers just drafted several good hitting catchers so they may try to develop their own crop in the next few years.
Wait…are you saying you think the Tigers will sign Crawford, Dunn and Ordonez/Werth? If that’s the prediction you’re batshit crazy, and if you aren’t you need to type more clearly.
First, I am saying they should try to sign either Werth or Ordonez.
Second, I said that Crawford, Dunn, and Werth or Ordonez would be the IDEAL scenario. Do I expect it to happen? No, I think they will get 2 of the 3. But, I would be thrilled if they somehow got all 3.
If Sandy Alderson signs Pedro to a 1 year 5 million dollar deal with incentives that bring the deal to 10 million. It would be a smart move. Met fans would freeze and not know if they should accuse Sandy of being latino, crazy, or both.
Signing Thome might help out Justin Verlander’s stats. Just sayin’.