MLB Offseason 2003/04 [R]

[BlueMeanie]

Our local sports talk affiliate just mentioned during a news break that there's a pending 3-way trade coming that would send A-Rod to the Red Sox, Nomah to the Angels (he's a SoCal, anyway), and David Eckstein to Texas.

Anyone heard anything else?

[appoo]

no way the Commish lets this trade go through.

First off all, who the hell trades A-Rod for David fricken Eckstein? The World's best baseball player for a dude who bats 250, and will give you less than 5 HRs and and less than 50 RBI's per season? If you throw on Troy Glaus it would be a fair deal, and toss in Franisco Rodriguez for good measure.

[FearM9]

Yeah been hearing about this all day on ESPN Radio.

If this does happen...do the BoSox have to take over A-Rod's HUGE contract that he got when he signed with the Rangers, or can they pay him less?

[FearM9]

Originally posted by appooOnU
First off all, who the hell trades A-Rod for David fricken Eckstein? The World's best baseball player for a dude who bats 250, and will give you less than 5 HRs and and less than 50 RBI's per season? If you throw on Troy Glaus it would be a fair deal, and toss in Franisco Rodriguez for good measure.

From what some folks have been saying on the radio, the Rangers get the short end of the stick with this three way trade, but they also get rid of A-Rod's huge contract. Not that I'm a baseball fan nor know how these type of things work...but wouldn't it free up the Rangers to start spending that money they would have spent on A-Rod and possibly get several other players that could make them a better all around team?

[BlueMeanie]

I don't see how/why Selig would/could stop this.

Didn't have time earlier, but here are my takes:

Boston: First, I presume they're going to clear out ManRam's huge contract, which is nowhere near A-Rod's, but will still free up some room. If Epstein thinks he can handle A-Rod's hit to the payroll, he'll do it. However, this means they lose Ramirez and Nomahhhh just to get A-Rod, who isn't two people. Do the PawSox have a young outfielder with pop who's ready? At SS, A-Rod and Nomar are a wash, but A-Rod's got a hell of a lot more power and could have a lot of fun with the green monster 81 times per season. This would make Boston's batting order even more freakishly scary than 2003, in which to beat them, most teams had to score lots of runs themselves.

Texas: Clears up tons of salary space, gets a competent shortstop and leadoff hitter, and then buys some pitching and perhaps ManRam. Texas sucked with A-Rod, how much more can they suck without him but with better pitching and a new power hitter?

Angels: Upgrade at SS and at the plate. All the parks in the AL West are "pitcher's parks," and Nomar will hit a lot of doubles (like the rest of the Angels) at Edison, as well as Oakland, Seattle and Texas. Angels then use Figgins as leadoff, or return Erstad to that role. The Angels' decline last season was pretty weird because they didn't lose too many guys from their 2002 championship team. I can see them resurging if they pull this one off.

As an A's fan, I'm concerned about this trade because it seriously improves one division rival and sets another up for rebuilding. And the A's are cutting payroll and probably losing Tejada.

[Jeff]

I would be THRILLED as a Red Sox fan if this happens, but Texas will need to get more than Eckstein, perhaps even more than Eckstein and Manny. Boston doesn't have a young LF, but there are outfielders out there who could fit the bill, Mike Cameron (move him to LF), Jay Payton, and others.

Mods, should we make this the offseason MLB thread? Things are about to start going down: 1 FA has signed, Dan Miceli with Houston.

[BenReilly]

Originally posted by Jeff
I would be THRILLED as a Red Sox fan if this happens, but Texas will need to get more than Eckstein,

They get rid of a Texas sized liability. The Rangers would give away A-Rod, along with the $179M price tag, if that was the best they could get.

Of course, Texas' biggest problem is an 8 figure salary to this guy:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/stats?statsId=5187&context=pitching

[BlueMeanie]

Originally posted by Jeff
Mods, should we make this the offseason MLB thread? Things are about to start going down: 1 FA has signed, Dan Miceli with Houston.
I agree with Jeff. Please rename this 2003/04 MLB Offseason or something like that. Thanks.

Giants got C AJ Pierczynski from Minnesota for RHP Joe Nathan, and two minor leaguers, including one RHP Boof Bonser, who the G's were really high on.

[Jeff]

Originally posted by BlueMeanie


Giants got C AJ Pierczynski from Minnesota for RHP Joe Nathan, and two minor leaguers, including one RHP Boof Bonser, who the G's were really high on.

Does this mean Joe Mauer's ready for the majors? Maybe. Does it mean SF expects Santiago to split? Yup.

I heard on Denver's ESPN affiliate today not to expect a lot of movement until the Dec. 20 Tender date, so it surprised me a bit to see this trade.

[Jeff]

Mike Timlin isn't on the move.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1661712

Big move to keeper a bullpen mainstay around. Now time to go get Latroy Hawkins.

[JMMUSA8]

The trade isn't going through. Its just a big rumor that derived from the purposed Manny - Arod trade.

[BlueMeanie]

A's traded C Ramon Hernandez and disgruntled OF Terrance Long to San Diego for OF Mark Kotsay.

I don't understand moving Hernandez, who handles the A's pitchers well and has a penchant for driving in key runs.

[soccernutter]

Changed thread title per request.

Added the [R] in case anybody wanted to wait for Baseball Tonight or something else.

[JMMUSA8]

Originally posted by BlueMeanie
A's traded C Ramon Hernandez and disgruntled OF Terrance Long to San Diego for OF Mark Kotsay.

I don't understand moving Hernandez, who handles the A's pitchers well and has a penchant for driving in key runs.
and Lilly

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1665130

wow, without those three guys and MT, I don't know how you can consider the A's a playoff team.

[The Double]

Originally posted by soccernutter
Changed thread title per request.

Added the [R] in case anybody wanted to wait for Baseball Tonight or something else.


You forgot to add "CPC" at the end of your post, Erik.

;)

[Jeff]

Originally posted by BlueMeanie
A's traded C Ramon Hernandez and disgruntled OF Terrance Long to San Diego for OF Mark Kotsay.

I don't understand moving Hernandez, who handles the A's pitchers well and has a penchant for driving in key runs.

Neither do I. And Hernandez KILLS my Red Sox, os while I'm glad he only gets to do in three interleague games next season, I don't get this at all. Adam Melhuse as a #1 catcher? Wasn't he in the minors for like 15 years? Does Beane have something else up his sleeve? Benito Santiago moving across the Bay, maybe?

[BlueMeanie]

Originally posted by Jeff
Neither do I. And Hernandez KILLS my Red Sox, os while I'm glad he only gets to do in three interleague games next season, I don't get this at all. Adam Melhuse as a #1 catcher?
Oh. God. No. Bring back Greg Myers. Or Ron Hassey, even.
Does Beane have something else up his sleeve? Benito Santiago moving across the Bay, maybe?
Funny you ask that, that's what the sports talk guys brought up yesterday. Frankly, given the alleged money situation, I don't think it'll get much better than Benny. If he decides to take a pay cut to stay in the area.

To JMMUSA8, Lilly didn't do much here, so I see getting Kielty for him a good swap. Apparently, Beane tried to do this for the stretch drive last year. Lilly only got hot at that point, anyway, otherwise he was very hittable and a distant #4 in the A's starting rotation.

[BlueMeanie]

Cardinals traded Tino Martinez to Tampa Bay for minor league pitcher Evan Rust and a PTBNL.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1667539

[JMMUSA8]

On local radio here (WAAF) Petite was suppose to meet with the Sox but scheduling conflicts interupted the meeting. Sox are also meeting with A's closer. Not sure his name.

[BlueMeanie]

Originally posted by JMMUSA8
Sox are also meeting with A's closer. Not sure his name.
Keith Foulke. He won the AL Rolaids Relief Man award for the recently completed season. A's are probably going to try to keep him unless he gets an outrageous offer (he made $6M last year and is obviously due a raise, but they're not gonna pay $10M).