Baseball offseason, let's get ready for 2014.

[Merlot]

BOYZ,

At least you didn't call me a moron...

Nice of you to admit finally that's what he did. If you thought that idiotic game of insults in question form was fooling anyone, well, the suspension is your answer. The double meltdown was just part of it in my opinion. The word has been for some time there's plenty more concerning how he runs rough shod right over people, like telling everyone basically their opinions suck compared to his that's been ruffling a lot of feathers. And that's just one thing.

Then again anyone posting like an animal should be enough. You and I got a sports suspension together for going near that area. So what's the surprise. Plus, it wasn't posted in a free-for-all thread...not that it matters.

BASEBALL

Cherington did the kind of job that got the Sox the World Series trophy for the 3rd time in 10 years on his 1st real year in charge, so he's earned a lot of faith. But with so many looking at Sox pitchers his next moves will be fascinating. I'd love to keep Lester and Lackey, maybe Doubront. Still, it all depends on who is offered in return. I like what I saw and heard about of Wacha and at his age it seems like a no-brainer to take a real interest in him. With pricey names like Price and Sherzer out there it's going to be interesting to see how it all goes.

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseba...ses/2013/11/interest_in_red_sox_pitching.html

By Nick Cafardo, Globe Staff

ORLANDO, Fla. — Ben Cherington said today at the GM Meetings that there has been some interest expressed in Boston’s veteran starters.

However, Cherington said, “there is interest, but not sure that pushes us one way or another. Teams are wading through the free-agent market and weighing that vs. trades. They’re just gathering information like we are, but we’ve had a few conversations.”

There are teams quite interested in John Lackey, who had a breakout year after his Tommy John surgery. Teams especially love the fact that he’s owed approximately $16 million total for the next two years. Because of a clause in his contract, he has to take a sixth year at minimum salary — $500,000 plus a cost-of-living increase in 2015 — because he had elbow surgery.

There has also been interest in all of Boston’s starters – Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz, Jake Peavy, and Felix Doubront.

The Red Sox could be looking to add an outfield or first base bat depending on whether they re-sign Mike Napoli.

What do you think Rumples?

Cheers,

Merlot

 

[Joe.t]

This news is very exciting for Blue Jay fans, can you Tanaka or Santana?, something is definitely cooking in Toronto.


http://www.cbc.ca/sports/baseball/mlb/josh-johnson-joins-padres-1.2433770

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

This news is very exciting for Joe.T and certainly Doc Holliday. David Ortiz' and Shane Victorino's beards are now being auctioned off on eBay. Get your bids in boys.
http://www.ebay.com/sch/movemberfou...e=STRK:MESELX:IT&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2562

 

[Doc Holliday]

Michael Weiner R.I.P.

NEW YORK -- Michael Weiner, the plain-speaking, ever-positive labor lawyer who took over as head of the powerful baseball players' union four years ago and smoothed its perennially contentious relationship with management, died Thursday, 15 months after announcing he had been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. He was 51.

The Major League Baseball Players Association said Weiner died at his home in Mansfield Township, N.J.

More from ESPN.com
The late Michael Weiner brought his good will and calm demeanor to bear on an era of productive labor peace in Major League Baseball, writes Jerry Crasnick. Story

"Michael Weiner worked even thru his sickness. He didn't look at it as an excuse to quit," tweeted Pittsburgh's Andrew McCutchen, the NL MVP. "He never gave up on us even when at his worst."

As Weiner's health deteriorated this summer, a succession plan was put in place. Former big league All-Star Tony Clark took over Thursday as acting executive director and is to be approved as Weiner's successor when the union's board meets from Dec. 2-5 at La Jolla, Calif.

"Words cannot describe the love and affection that the players have for Michael, nor can they describe the level of sadness we feel today," Clark said in a statement. "Not only has the game lost one of its most important and influential leaders in this generation, all involved in the game have lost a true friend."

Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig called Weiner "a gentleman, a family man, and an extraordinarily talented professional who earned the trust of his membership and his peers."

"Our strong professional relationship was built on a foundation of respect and a shared commitment to finding fair solutions for our industry. I appreciated Michael's tireless, thoughtful leadership of the players and his pivotal role in the prosperous state of baseball today," Selig said in a statement. "Michael was a courageous human being, and the final year of his remarkable life inspired so many people in our profession."

At Weiner's last public speaking engagement, a 25-minute meeting with baseball writers on the day of the All-Star game in July, he was confined to a wheelchair and unable to move his right side. Yet, he wanted to respond to questions about his illness and issues in the game, and did so with the grace and humor he was known for throughout his life.

[+] EnlargeMichael Weiner
Patrick McDermott/Getty Images
Baseball players' union leader Michael Weiner died Thursday, 15 months after being diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. He was 51.
"I don't know if I look at things differently. Maybe they just became more important to me and more conscious to me going forward," he said. "As corny as this sounds, I get up in the morning and I feel I'm going to live each day as it comes. I don't take any day for granted. I don't take the next morning for granted. What I look for each day is beauty, meaning and joy, and if I can find beauty, meaning and joy, that's a good day."

Weiner first experienced weakness and tingling on his right side in July 2012 and was diagnosed with a glioma the following month. By June 2013, he had experienced a rapid increase in symptoms. As he sat in a wheelchair in foul territory at Citi Field the following month before the All-Star game, players lined up to speak with him.

His voice had gotten raspy by early August, when he responded on behalf of the union to drug suspensions handed down to Alex Rodriguez, Ryan Braun and other players.

"We wouldn't be where we are today without his expertise," San Francisco Giants pitcher Jeremy Affleldt said in a text to The Associated Press. "We will all feel this loss of such a great man."

Known for wearing blue jeans and Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star sneakers to work, Weiner's easygoing manner with players was a change from former head Donald Fehr's more lawyerly approach. His style connected both with players and the students he taught during Sunday school at his synagogue.

Weiner was hired by the union as a staff attorney in 1988 and wound up succeeding Fehr in December 2009. Weiner became just the fourth head of the organization since 1966.

"Here you had an individual who came to me as a kid for his first private sector job," Fehr said in a telephone interview with the AP. "He impressed me at the time and ever after with his intelligence, his dedication, his innate sense of fairness, his focus on finding what the right thing was to do and then doing it. This was an extraordinary individual all the way around."

A longtime New Jersey resident and a graduate of Williams College and Harvard Law School, Weiner clerked for U.S. District Judge H. Lee Sarokin in Newark before joining the players' association. Once at the union, he became a key figure in the lengthy process to parse the $280 million collusion settlement among individual players.

Weiner also was a junior lawyer during the 7½-month players' strike in 1994-95 strike and the negotiations that finally led to a new labor agreement in March 1997.

"I think that helped some people on the owners' side to finally accept that the union was a fixture and the union was an entity they were going to have to deal with," he said. "There was never a chance for anything to settle in until we got through collusion, and really until then we got through the bargaining in '94 and '95."

Following eight work stoppages in a 23-year span, baseball has since negotiated three straight labor deals without interruption.

Weiner headed talks for the last deal, in November 2011, which instituted a series of significant changes that included restraints on signing bonuses for amateur players and increased the number of free agents able to switch teams without requiring the loss of draft picks as compensation.

"It took a while for the owners to appreciate that the union is not only here to stay, but that the union and its members can contribute positively to a discussion about the game -- about its economics, about the nature of the competition, about how it's marketed in every way," he said.

In addition to the labor contract, he headed the legal team that in 2012 convinced an arbitrator to overturn a 50-game suspension imposed on Braun, the Milwaukee outfielder who was the previous year's NL MVP. The union argued his urine sample had not been handled properly.

Last summer Braun agreed to accept a 65-game suspension for his activities relating to the Biogenesis of America anti-aging clinic and his public statements.

Following a line of leaders that began with Marvin Miller and went on to include the short reign of Kenneth Moffett and the long tenure of Fehr, Weiner was exceedingly conscious of the union's history and traditions of player involvement. He appeared with Fehr and the then 95-year-old Miller at a 2012 discussion at New York University's School of Law marking the 40th anniversary of the first baseball strike and the rise of the union.

His hair nearly gone from his treatment, Weiner returned to NYU in January for a memorial celebrating the life of Miller, who died two months earlier. He humbly referred to "our little sport of baseball."

"He was truly a great individual, a brilliant lawyer and a thoroughly decent person," Los Angeles Dodgers President Stan Kasten said in a statement. "Michael was always viewed as the path to a reasonable resolution. He will be missed."

Weiner is survived by his wife, the former Diane Margolin, and daughters Margie, Grace and Sally. Funeral arrangements were pending.

Micheal Wiener dead at 51

 

[smuler]

I just saw that Prince Fielder was traded to Texas for Ian Kinsler

Seems to me like a win-win for both, as Texas wanted a big bat, and Detroit had to make some moves to move around some infielders

Your thoughts ?

Best Regards

Smuler

 

[lgna69xxx]

Smuler,

The trade seems to fit both teams needs. I have a feeling we are gonna see big man Prince pop out 50 or more next season and maybe for a few seasons if he stays healthy. That ballpark is a launching pad down in Arlington, especially in the hot humid summer there.

 

[Doc Holliday]

I'm not sure Prince Fielder will be as successful playing half his games in the Texas heat. He's a very big boy & the excessive heat might prove to be too much for him and it's possible he'll wear out halfway into the season.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Brian McCann to join Yankees?

I just heard that they're close to signing catcher Brian McCann to a 5-year, $80 million contract.

 

[smuler]

I 'm sure that the Fielder trade initially wasn't his idea..let's see how it works out

I think he came out of his momma fat..let's see what the heat does to him

Best Regards

Smuler

 

[Special K]

Brian McCann to join Yankees?

I just heard that they're close to signing catcher Brian McCann to a 5-year, $80 million contract.

5 year/$85M with a 6th year vesting option for $100M! Now they just have to fill their empty spots at SS/ 1B / 2B / 3B / CF / LF / and starting rotation. I can hear it already...start planning the parade! Hahaha.

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

I'm not sure Prince Fielder will be as successful playing half his games in the Texas heat. He's a very big boy & the excessive heat might prove to be too much for him and it's possible he'll wear out halfway into the season.

Exactly what I've been thinking. Texas has a long history, less in the last few years, of fading late in the season.

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

5 year/$85M with a 6th year vesting option for $100M! Now they just have to fill their empty spots at SS/ 1B / 2B / 3B / CF / LF / and starting rotation. I can hear it already...start planning the parade! Hahaha.

Not a bad signing, if he can stay healthy. I'm not sure that the Yankees can spend that kind of dough on a catcher, still sign Cano, and still stay under the threshold. I'm kind of glad the Yankees signed him since it means the Sox won't. I'd rather have Pierzynski for 2 years and $10-12 M. While McCann's the better player, AJ would be much greater value for the Champs.

 

[Special K]

Its a great signing for the Yanks but it also means there's pretty much zero chance Cano returns!

Also it's highly doubtful the Sox make a run at AJ, he's well known to be a clubhouse cancer and it's been confirmed by one if his past teammates and present Sox pitcher.

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

Also it's highly doubtful the Sox make a run at AJ, he's well known to be a clubhouse cancer and it's been confirmed by one if his past teammates and present Sox pitcher.

I suppose, but I'd rather that than give Salty a long term deal. The young stud Vazquez should be ready in less than a year.

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

5 year/$85M with a 6th year vesting option for $100M! Now they just have to fill their empty spots at SS/ 1B / 2B / 3B / CF / LF / and starting rotation. I can hear it already...start planning the parade! Hahaha.

Not really, K. They're OK at 1b and CF, but you did leave out RF. All they really need is a SS, 2B, 3B, RF and 3 starting pitchers.

 

[hungry101]

I just saw that Prince Fielder was traded to Texas for Ian Kinsler

Seems to me like a win-win for both, as Texas wanted a big bat, and Detroit had to make some moves to move around some infielders

Your thoughts ?

Best Regards

Smuler

Prince had a down year. His Ops was the lowest in his career I think. But he saved his worst for the playoffs. His belly flop into third against Boston summed it all up this year. I think Texas could be good for him. Detroit is a vast stadium and the Cold springs have to be bad for a batting average. Problem is he had about 7 more years in his contract. It was a stupid A-Rod type contract.

Good luck to Prince as he was a class act.

 

[Joe.t]

Accolades have not stopped, everybody loves this deal and I quote "McCann deal speaks volumes about Yanks' intentions".

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/mlb...md=20131125&content_id=64190336&vkey=news_mlb

 

[Special K]

Accolades have not stopped, everybody loves this deal and I quote "McCann deal speaks volumes about Yanks' intentions".

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/mlb...md=20131125&content_id=64190336&vkey=news_mlb

So you a Yankee fan this upcoming season Joe or just whoever you think is going to be decent between the Yanks, Jays, and 27 other teams?

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

So you a Yankee fan this upcoming season Joe or just whoever you think is going to be decent between the Yanks, Jays, and 27 other teams?

Leave the poor guy alone. He's so deep into his bookie that he can hardly think straight anymore.

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

A special message for N.Y. fans from Red Sox 2013 World Championship DVD:

"The Red Sox won the World Series at home, and New York fans could pound salt up their ass." - Ben Affleck