The Official MERB Baseball Offseason Thread (trades, signings, NO fucktard comments!)

[EagerBeaver]

Matsui

That report is very curious because Matsui cannot play the outfield, and if he could the Yankees would consider bringing him back. He just had another knee surgery (probably his 5th) and it's anyone's guess whether it will improve things. His knees were getting swollen with fluid every time the Yankees tried to play him in the OF and he has not done OF duty for quite some time now as a result. He was not a very good outfielder when his knees were solid.

 

[Special K]

http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/mlb/news/story?id=4645648

He is definitely a back up at this point but usually your backup catcher is a solid defender and Varitek is not solid at anything any more.

He calls the best game of any catcher there is. He's got 4 no hitters to show for it and his knowledge of every batter in the league is unsurpassed. You're right, he's only a back up now but he still supplies a ton of knowledge to the up and coming pitchers as well as the veterans and V-Mart.

 

[Special K]

I just heard something disturbing in my car a short time ago. The Red Sox are considering making an offer to Hideki Matsui What they would do with him I have no idea, obviously he has no capability of playing the field.

 

[EagerBeaver]

Boras Compares Holliday To Teixera

Baseball's biggest blowhard strikes again, again invoking comparison to Yankees players:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4643136

 

[Jman47]

Baseball's biggest blowhard strikes again, again invoking comparison to Yankees players:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4643136

BorASS is whats wrong with baseball...he's just an ass.
My totally subjective opinion.

 

[Jman47]

He calls the best game of any catcher there is. He's got 4 no hitters to show for it and his knowledge of every batter in the league is unsurpassed. You're right, he's only a back up now but he still supplies a ton of knowledge to the up and coming pitchers as well as the veterans and V-Mart.

SK - WAS the best. You are absolutely right his value is in his knowledge. He has been declining and personally I hate to see it happen, but in the business on MLB, you gotta move on. V-Mart is the future. Sox need to find another bat.

 

[Jman47]

Here is the link on the Boras/Damon story from the NY Post which I was able to paste using the Firefox Edit/Copy/Paste function as suggested by Fred Zed:

http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/yankees/boras_compares_damon_to_derek_eyes_UAsknBm7ldSc0AKzcWs59L

Some very interesting information here. If Boras is looking for 4 years for Damon he is a crazed man. The Yankees only want Damon for another year until they can sign Carl Crawford, and if he does not sign for a year he can go elsewhere.

The Post is also suggesting that Wang could be back very cheaply and ready to pitch by early May at the latest. Between him, Hughes and Joba there has to be a #4 starter. So it does not seem to me like the Yankees will need to sign Lackey. What is more likely is a signing of Holliday or Bay.

BorASS has officially injested too much cocaine...ROFL
Maybe he can get Johnny "no arm" Damon 4 years back in KC to wind up his career...

 

[Jman47]

I would prefer Holliday or a healthy Nady over Bay, anyways it looks like it will either be Boston or Seattle that wins his services unless the Yankees step up to the plate at the last second a la Texiera.

Holliday in Fenway with the monster - yes.
Holliday with Death Valley in left center - can't see that working any better than Oakland did.
Unless of course the Yankees find a way to channel the wind currents in 2 directions in the new Taj de Yankeedome...

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

It was the Texas Rangers and Tom Hicks that put Boras on the map, not the Yankees. It was shortly after ARod's contract was signed in 2000 for 10 years and $252 million that Boras was featured on 60 Minutes.

There is likely no doubt that the Yankees got a hometown discount on the deal.

You've done it, Beav. This is probably the most asinine thing you've ever said on this board, and that takes some doing. Congratulations. The Yankees got the same hometown discount from A-Rod that they're getting from Damon. That is, exactly: you're the Yankees, you can pay, you're paying 20% more than we expect from anyone else.

The Yankees gave 31 year old Rodriguez $275 million to play until he's 41. Who do you think would have come within $50 million of that? Hometown discount, my ass.

BTW, Boras was on the map long before Texas.

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

BTW...I like Jeter, but no way he should have gotten the Golden Glove this year. And it may be the second one he didn't deserve. Call it...Being-a-Yankee Perks.

Actually, it's the fourth. Jeter cost the Yankees 11 defensive runs, or about 1.65 games with his lousy glove this year. It was an average year for him.

 

[EagerBeaver]

Rumples,

What you are reporting on A-Rod is not really accurate. At the time of A-Rod's opt out in 2007, it was widely reported that the Angels and Arte Moreno (who lusts for good Latin players) were very interested, and had Boras stayed in the picture it would have set off a bidding war between the Yankees, Angels, and possibly the Red Sox (who would have been interesting in jacking up the bids by feigning interest). Once Boras was fired and the Yankees only had to deal with A-Rod, the Yankees were free to give him whatever they wanted to, but also understanding that if A-Rod approached the Aaron or Bonds home run records, it would mean EXTRAORDINARY return on the investment as the entire nation would be watching every game with the Yankees reaping the benefits in terms of not only viewers but all the associated things that go along with having a major record setter on your team. The Yankees did not know back in 2007 about the A-Rod steroid issue or that it would become public in 2009, possibly tarnishing any run at the record. Based on what they knew in 2007, they signed A-Rod at a discount considering the possible return on the investment should he make a run at that home run record. It should also be noted that the Rangers had given A-Rod a mere $23 million less on a 10 year contract some 7 years earlier ($252 million), so it was not out of the realm of reason that the Angels would have offered even more than the Yankees did. Simply put, they never had the chance to because of A-Rod firing Boras and going back to the Yankees with his head between his tail. The Yankees probably could have signed him for less than they did as there were no other bidders, but Cashman, who is a genius, realized that there was more than just paying a player through age 41 or 42 on the line here. There was HISTORY on the line, a history that is bigger than what you can possibly appreciate. It's the same history that makes the movie "Pride of the Yankees" the all-time classic sports movie, one that stars the fine actor Gary Cooper. These are things that are simply far beyond the scope of your appreciation abilities.

Here is a link so you can educate yourself on this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pride_of_the_Yankees

The Yankees also got a hometown discount on Pettite last year at a $5.5 million base. This is something that is acknowledged by all the parties.

 

[Special K]

The best player available for the Yanks or Sox would be Vladimir Guerrero. I can see him hitting 40+ home runs at Fenway if healthy. And can you imagine a line up with Rodriguez/Guerrero/Teixera. Yanks would be unbeatable.

The problem is your statement of "if healthy." Vlad's nearing the end of his career and I don't see him staying healthy for any amount of time. I for one, wouldn't want to see him in a Sox uniform.

 

[Special K]

but Cashman, who is a genius

OMFG!! Seriously Beav, I really want some of what ever the fuck it is that you're sniffing!! By genius you mean,

Hank: "Here Brian, here's an endless supply of cash, please go out and buy me a team to win the WS!"

Brian in his Gomer Pyle voice: "Okay boss, I'll get right on it, give me 9 years and it'll be done!!"

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

Rumples,

What you are reporting on A-Rod is not really accurate.

The Yankees also got a hometown discount on Pettite last year at a $5.5 million base. This is something that is acknowledged by all the parties.

Read the title of this thread, Beav. NO FUCKTARD comments.

First off, nobody, not Arte Moreno, not John Paul Getty, not Bill Gates was giving A-Rod $275 million for 10 years. Nobody but the Steingrabber boys.

As for 37 year old Andy Pettitte, better pitchers than him signed for less money last winter. Home town discount, my ass. BTW, Beav, with incentives Handy Andy netted himself a sweet $10 million for 2009.

There's a recession going on and it's been felt everywhere but the Bronx.

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

He's had 5 very good seasons in the past six years. Only last year was an off year for him due to injuries. I still think he has 3 good seasons left. Let's hope the Yankees give him a try.

Vlad's a DH. Neither Sox nor Yanks need a DH.

 

[Jman47]

Vlad's a DH. Neither Sox nor Yanks need a DH.

So say the Yankees don't stupid up and sign Damon or Matsui...why wouldn't they need a DH and why wouldn't they want Vlad in that role?
Personally, I'd like to se him banging balls of the montser, but it will only happen if he plays and OF position.

BTW, seems there may be a whole lot of players getting ready to be on the open market or available to trade as smaller market teams like Detroit are saying they don't want to spend the dough to resign some guys or just want to dump payroll. Could be an interesting winter...

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

So say the Yankees don't stupid up and sign Damon or Matsui...why wouldn't they need a DH.

Actually, the Yankees do have a DH, but he's playing shortstop.

BTW, seems there may be a whole lot of players getting ready to be on the open market or available to trade as smaller market teams like Detroit are saying they don't want to spend the dough to resign some guys or just want to dump payroll. Could be an interesting winter...

According to Gammons, there could be a record number of free agents this winter as more teams appear ready to non-tender players rather than go to arbitration. The Yankees have put in a request to allow them to carry 30 players so that they can get their roster up to $300 million.

 

[Special K]

You're up early today Rumples, what is it 5:30a there?

 

[smuler]

You're up early today Rumples, what is it 5:30a there?

I'm sure he not thinking about baseball now LOL



Best Regards


Smuler

 

[rumpleforeskiin]

You're up early today Rumples, what is it 5:30a there?

Six hour difference, K. You know, as we discussed, the ladies here are something else, but I've always time to offer blowback to the Beav and his Fucktard® Comments. It's my Yankee pride.