While we wait for the big free agents to make their decisions, here's a grab bag of links from Day Three at the Winter Meetings:
- The Athletics feel like they're much closer to moving Andrew Bailey than Gio Gonzalez, but even that may not happen until after the Meetings, tweets Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
- GM Walt Jocketty finds the lack of action in Dallas for the Reds so far "very frustrating," says MLB.com's Mark Sheldon. Jocketty said he was approached with one proposal today that' he's considering, but "nothing is close."
- Candidates for the Royals' utility infielder opening include Edgar Renteria, Mark DeRosa, Orlando Cabrera, and Carlos Guillen, tweets Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star. No deals are imminent.
- The Rays are still attempting to figure out the best way to bolster their offense, writes Bill Chastain at MLB.com.
- The Mariners are displaying interest in Arthur Rhodes, tweets Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports.
- Jorge Posada would still like to play if he can find the right situation, tweets Jon Heyman of MLB Network.
- Former Angels GM Bill Stoneman will return to the team for another year as special advisor to the GM, tweets Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times.
Jorge is time to hang up your cleats
Come back to Seattle Arthur!
candidates for the Royals…all the bad experiments for the Giants. Gonna try and join the Brian Bocock running next?
I’m assuming Jocketty is talking about Volquez to the Rockies, which I hope happens being a Rockies fan.
I’m hoping not. Only useful piece you had is now a Padre. Seth Smith is not much of an upgrade to what we currently have.
haha you wont be saying that when he gives up 7 runs in 2/3 IP
i hear the dodgers are signing back up catchers jorge..
The Reds are what happens when ownership, the Front Office and the Manager are NOT on the same page.
The owner, Ca$htellini wants a “Championship” team but doesn’t want to have a team payroll of more than $80 million dollars.
Toothpick Baker wants a team full of over the hill veterans who make much more than the league minimum.
Jocketty cant sign the over the hill, high priced veterans because of no money and doesn’t want to trade the youth (which Baker wont play).
I say dump Baker and get a Manager in who doesn’t mind young guys playing.
Then trade Aroldis Chapman (who, after two years, the Reds haven’t figured out whether he is a starting pitcher, relief pitcher or closer), Yonder Alonso, Yasmani Grandal and Chris Heisey to the Marlins for Hanley Ramirez, Gaby Sanchez and Logan Morrison. The money would match up pretty well, Hanley would get to play Short Stop and the Marlins would get some Cuban players which will help their attendance.
Then trade Joey Votto (who, if he wanted to stay in Cincinnati, would have signed a contract which would have bought out a few Free Agent years like Albert Pujols, Evan Longoria, Ryan Braun, Troy Tulowitzki, Carlos Gonzalez and even Jay Bruce did) for the stud pitcher Jocketty wants.
The lineup would then be:
First Base – Gaby Sanchez
Second Base – Brandon Phillips
Third Base – Scot (DL) Rolen/Juan Francisco
Short Stop – Hanley Ramirez
Left Field – Logan Morrison
Center Field – Drew Stubbs
Right Field – Jay Bruce
Catcher – Ryan Hanigan/Devo Meso
Starting pitchers:
stud from Votto trade
Cueto
Leake
Arroyo
Volquez, Bailey, Wood
Why you think Miami will trigger on that trade?
Heisy, Grandal, Alonso would be enough to lure
only LoMo. Hanley let alone would cost much more
than Grandal Alonso Heisy. Alonso is not upgrade
over Gaby Sanchez.. why would they do that deal?
I think you’re both high.
Here is why Miami would do that deal;
Hanley WANTS to play Short Stop and will probably be a clubhouse distraction if he doesn’t get his way (see 2011). With the Marlins spending SOOOOO much money this off season and looking like they want to WIN NOW, do you REALLY think they want to have a failed season if HanRam isn’t happy and pouting all next year?
Do YOU want HanRam and Ozzie Guillen ONLY communicating to each other via Twitter?
With Chapman on board, he could either be a starting pitcher or a closer and he is owed a minimum of $7 million dollars over the next three years. However, if he qualifies for arbitration, some of his money is converted into a bonus and he can get MORE in arbitration. So, the Marlins would initially be dumping some of HanRam’s salary now but it would possibly even out in a few years when Chapman gets his pay raised through Salary Arbitration.
Logan Morrison was a distraction and was sent to the Minors because he was tweeting too much. Loria and the Front Office might not like that too much but the Reds seem to be fine with it (see – dat dude Brandon Phillips).
Gaby Sanchez is 28 years old and will soon become Arbitration eligible. Yonder Alonso is 24, is going to be paid $1 million dollars in 2012 and then will probably be SA eligible. Plus he, like Chapman, was born in Cuba. Also, he grew up in Miami and went to the U.
Yasmani Grandal is 23, under team control until at least 2013, grew up in Miami and also went to the U.
With three young, inexpensive players of Cuban descent (two of which grew up in Miami and who attended the U), the Marlins would have a built-in fan base who would want to come out to the ball park even if the team sucked.
So, by making this trade, the Marlins would be dumping a couple of guys who they have had trouble with and gaining three young, cost controlled guys who would be drawing cards for the local market.
Why you think Miami will trigger on that trade?
Heisy, Grandal, Alonso would be enough to lure
only LoMo. Hanley let alone would cost much more
than Grandal Alonso Heisy. Alonso is not upgrade
over Gaby Sanchez.. why would they do that deal?
The Reds are what happens when ownership, the Front Office and the Manager are NOT on the same page.
The owner, Ca$htellini wants a “Championship” team but doesn’t want to have a team payroll of more than $80 million dollars.
Toothpick Baker wants a team full of over the hill veterans who make much more than the league minimum.
Jocketty cant sign the over the hill, high priced veterans because of no money and doesn’t want to trade the youth (which Baker wont play).
I say dump Baker and get a Manager in who doesn’t mind young guys playing.
Then trade Aroldis Chapman (who, after two years, the Reds haven’t figured out whether he is a starting pitcher, relief pitcher or closer), Yonder Alonso, Yasmani Grandal and Chris Heisey to the Marlins for Hanley Ramirez, Gaby Sanchez and Logan Morrison. The money would match up pretty well, Hanley would get to play Short Stop and the Marlins would get some Cuban players which will help their attendance.
Then trade Joey Votto (who, if he wanted to stay in Cincinnati, would have signed a contract which would have bought out a few Free Agent years like Albert Pujols, Evan Longoria, Ryan Braun, Troy Tulowitzki, Carlos Gonzalez and even Jay Bruce did) for the stud pitcher Jocketty wants.
The lineup would then be:
First Base – Gaby Sanchez
Second Base – Brandon Phillips
Third Base – Scot (DL) Rolen/Juan Francisco
Short Stop – Hanley Ramirez
Left Field – Logan Morrison
Center Field – Drew Stubbs
Right Field – Jay Bruce
Catcher – Ryan Hanigan/Devo Meso
Starting pitchers:
stud from Votto trade
Cueto
Leake
Arroyo
Volquez, Bailey, Wood