Baseball Winter Meetings Deals Thread

[Mitchell]

With baseball's winter meetings set to begin today in Indianapolis, Indiana, I thought it appropriate to start a thread discussing any deals that happen this week.

For my Braves, the need is simple, improve in one area. With the re signing of Tim Hudson earlier this offseason, we now need to trade a starting pitcher, to secure a hitter for our lineup. While the Braves would prefer to trade Derek Lowe, his $15 mil a year contract for the next three years may make him difficult to move. Javier Vazquez, who will make 11.5 mil in 2010, seems to be the most likely candidate to be traded, who might bring the Braves a good hitter in return. I expect that either during the winter meetings, or definitely by spring training, he will be traded for a hitter.

Mitch

 

[FlockOfSeagulls]

With baseball's winter meetings set to begin today in Indianapolis, Indiana, I thought it appropriate to start a thread discussing any deals that happen this week.

For my Braves, the need is simple, improve in one area. With the re signing of Tim Hudson earlier this offseason, we now need to trade a starting pitcher, to secure a hitter for our lineup. While the Braves would prefer to trade Derek Lowe, his $15 mil a year contract for the next three years may make him difficult to move. Javier Vazquez, who will make 11.5 mil in 2010, seems to be the most likely candidate to be traded, who might bring the Braves a good hitter in return. I expect that either during the winter meetings, or definitely by spring training, he will be traded for a hitter.

Mitch

I believe you think too highly of your team if you really believe they are one hitter away. Wagner was a very curious move; what is he , about 53 ?
Your outfielders as a whole are about as mediocre as it gets. And as much as I like chipper jones it is pretty much a given that he will miss 25 to 30 games at least. one more thing, where is your team speed? you really don`t have a single guy that scares people with his speed once on base

 

[Mitchell]

Flock, the Braves were an 86 win team in 2009, in a weak division. They have very good starting pitching, and their bullpen should be good. Yes, Chipper misses time, but this is a team that missed the wild card by only a couple of games. If we get one more hitter, we should have a chance at the wild card.

Wagner is getting up there in age, but he can be a good closer, and they have Saito in reserve if Wagner falters.

Last year, I wasnt sure what to make of the Braves. Now, with their pitching, they should definitely be in the hunt for the wild card, if they get one more hitter.

Mitch

 

[FlockOfSeagulls]

Flock, the Braves were an 86 win team in 2009, in a weak division. They have very good starting pitching, and their bullpen should be good. Yes, Chipper misses time, but this is a team that missed the wild card by only a couple of games. If we get one more hitter, we should have a chance at the wild card.

Wagner is getting up there in age, but he can be a good closer, and they have Saito in reserve if Wagner falters.

Last year, I wasnt sure what to make of the Braves. Now, with their pitching, they should definitely be in the hunt for the wild card, if they get one more hitter.

Mitch

Those Phillies are the weakest of the bunch...

All I am saying your team is more than one hitter from serious contention . Your starting pitching looks solid but the bullpen looks to be a mess. Again your team has almost no speed whatsoever and the look of an average outfield at best

 

[natural tickler]

a day of nothing is what these meetings was today

 

[The Fallen Angel]

a day of nothing is what these meetings was today

expect that all offseason not many big names out there and all year they will talk about halliday being traded but he wont be

 

[Adam]

Pending physicals, it looks like the Rangers are sending Kevin Millwood to the Orioles in exchange for Chris Ray. As an Orioles fan, I like this move. Ray's first two seasons were quite good, but he's turned into an extremely erratic reliever who is prone to giving up the long ball. Millwood is a solid veteran who had a nice 2009 season in a hitter's ballpark. He could help anchor a very young, talented rotation that includes Bergesen, Matusz and Tillman.

http://www.camdenchat.com/2009/12/9/1193373/report-millwood-headed-to-the?ref=yahoo

And, sheesh... now the Yankees have Granderson.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_y...g=ti-wintermeetings120909&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

 

[Mitchell]

This is an interesting move. Millwood is still not that old, and can help the O's. I think the O's may get the better part of this deal.

Mitch

 

[FlockOfSeagulls]

This is an interesting move. Millwood is still not that old, and can help the O's. I think the O's may get the better part of this deal.

Mitch

It will be interesting to see what happens. Millwood will have to stay healthy and he didn`t do that in Texas. He is purely a one-year rent a player for Baltimore and chances are at the trade deadline he could be dealt. This allows the Rangers to go with a very young yet talented starting rotation . As a Rangers fan it is quite refreshing to see some of these bluechip pitching prospects finally make it to the bigs and actually contribute. It also looks like Millwood deal clears the way for Texas to sign Rich Harden. This is definately a high risk high reward move on their part. He definately will be much better than Millwood if healthy, yet that is big if.

 

[Mitchell]

Late last night, the Braves traded reliever Rafael Soriano, who was their closer last season, to Tampa Bay for relief pitcher Jesse Chavez. With the Wagner and Saito signings, this was a needed move, and a salary dump.

Now, with the winter meetings continuing, there has been much talk about the Braves trading starter Derek Lowe. They need a hitter, and hopefully his can happen soon.

Mitch

 

[Adam]

This is an interesting move. Millwood is still not that old, and can help the O's. I think the O's may get the better part of this deal.

Mitch

I do as well. Ray has got to learn to put some movement on that fastball of his, or else there's a good chance he doesn't even make the Texas roster out of spring training. As many homers as he was giving up in Baltimore, it would likely be equal or worse in Arlington.

Baltimore's starting rotation is looking pretty strong moving forward. Apart from Millwood, there's Bergesen, who was having a great rookie campaign until he took a line drive off the shin, ending his season. Matusz looked every bit what he was hyped to be towards the season's end and has a chance to emerge as one of the best lefties in all of baseball. Tillman was up and down, but more than held his own at just 21 years old. It has also been reported that the Orioles are talking to the agent of Erik Bedard, who brought them Adam Jones from Seattle a few seasons ago. The key with Bedard, of course, has always been his health... but he is nasty when he's on his game. If that happens, it will be interesting to see if we try to move Jeremy Guthrie. Now if we sign a few arms to help a shaky bullpen, that would set things up nicely.

 

[FlockOfSeagulls]

I do as well. Ray has got to learn to put some movement on that fastball of his, or else there's a good chance he doesn't even make the Texas roster out of spring training. As many homers as he was giving up in Baltimore, it would likely be equal or worse in Arlington.

Baltimore's starting rotation is looking pretty strong moving forward. Apart from Millwood, there's Bergesen, who was having a great rookie campaign until he took a line drive off the shin, ending his season. Matusz looked every bit what he was hyped to be towards the season's end and has a chance to emerge as one of the best lefties in all of baseball. Tillman was up and down, but more than held his own at just 21 years old. It has also been reported that the Orioles are talking to the agent of Erik Bedard, who brought them Adam Jones from Seattle a few seasons ago. The key with Bedard, of course, has always been his health... but he is nasty when he's on his game. If that happens, it will be interesting to see if we try to move Jeremy Guthrie. Now if we sign a few arms to help a shaky bullpen, that would set things up nicely.

I watched Millwood for the last four years and he is a battler; I give him that much . I also watched the velocity of his fastball drop significantly . At times he has a really difficult problem of getting through the 1st inning unscathed. his velocity during most starts in the 1st inning was 86-88. Those games where he didn`t have pinpoint control he got hammered. he started out really well last year but the further the season rolled along the more his numbers declined. The no 1 starter in all reality for the Rangers wasn`t Millwood but Feldman

 

[Adam]

Flock mentioned it earlier, but it is official that Rich Harden is now a Ranger. Good move if he can stay healthy.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-rangers-harden&prov=ap&type=lgns

 

[Mitchell]

Another deal that went under the radar today is that Putz is no longer a Met. It was reported that right hander J.J. Putz, who missed much of the 2009 season after surgery, agreed to a deal with the Chicago White Sox today.

When healthy, Mr Putz had good stuff. It will be interesting to see if he can help the White Sox.

Mitch

 

[natural tickler]

at least your teams did something... hendry wasted four days, with nothing but rumors and hype...and it seems like we have to deal with Bradley another fucking year....what an idiot

 

[Adam]

Another deal that went under the radar today is that Putz is no longer a Met. It was reported that right hander J.J. Putz, who missed much of the 2009 season after surgery, agreed to a deal with the Chicago White Sox today.

When healthy, Mr Putz had good stuff. It will be interesting to see if he can help the White Sox.

Mitch

If he can regain his old form, he'll be a great addition to Chicago's bullpen. That, and he always had the greatest last name in all of baseball. 😀

 

[FlockOfSeagulls]

Another deal that went under the radar today is that Putz is no longer a Met. It was reported that right hander J.J. Putz, who missed much of the 2009 season after surgery, agreed to a deal with the Chicago White Sox today.

When healthy, Mr Putz had good stuff. It will be interesting to see if he can help the White Sox.

Mitch

should be fun to watch. His biggest problem is he still sees himself as a closer not a setup man. Don`t they Sox still have Bobby Jenks as their closer?

 

[Knox The Hatter]

Boston's subtracted Mike Lowell. They might've gotten something very good in return, but it's hard to replace Lowell's intangibles.

My friend Mitch, ever the eternal optimist. Here's MY prognostication: you posting in here, next July and August, complaining endlessly about Billy Wagner, and when are they gonna get rid of him, and he blew yet another one, and how long is this going to go on? That is, if he doesn't injure himself again. Or, that the Braves decided to eat that expensive meal that is his ridiculous contract.

Braves have a good chance to get at least the wild card. The pitching's there, and that's a sharp edge.

In my perfect world, in my alternate universe, Milton Bradley would be wearing stains from messy vegetables, and sauce from big, oversized Wrigley barbecue on his uniform every time he leaves the field. He's as worthless as tits on a bull.

 

[milagros317]

In my perfect world, in my alternate universe, Milton Bradley would be wearing stains from messy vegetables, and sauce from big, oversized Wrigley barbecue on his uniform every time he leaves the field. He's as worthless as tits on a bull.

That's what he was worth when he played for the Dodgers. 🙁

 

[Mitchell]

Knox, we'll see what happens with Wagner. I do agree with you that the Braves have a good chance for the wild card. The key to their season next year will be two things. One, whether Tommy Hanson has a sophmore jinx, and two, who they keep between the Lowe/Vazquez duo. I know that the Braves are actively trying to move Lowe. Hopefully, they can do so, and keep Vazquez.

Another wrinkle for the Braves: They really need one more hitter in their lineup. As all baseball fans know, Chipper is on the decline, and is hurt so often. Mccann is their only true power threat, and he's not going to be in there 162 games a year, because he;s a catcher. I read today in the Atlanta Journal Constitution that Bobby Cox said he's comfortable with the idea of going to spring training with rookie Jason Heyward as their first baseman, and would be okay with it if they didnt acquire a hitter. I personally think this would be a mistake. I think they need one more power hitter to solidify themselves, and I hope they will trade Lowe to do so.

The Braves won 86 games last year. This year, they should be on target for 90 and the wild card. Philly will win the division, unless they have a ton of injuries. They are the class of the division, hands down. Besides Philly, the only other team in that division with a realisitic chance for a playoff spot is Atlanta. I think if they are healthy, they will get the wild card, in Bobby's last season as the field manager.

Mitch

 

[Knox The Hatter]

Can't say I'M unhappy.

Phils land Halladay in a three way deal that sent Cliff Lee to Seattle. I didn't like the idea of having to part with Drabek, but I guess you have to break eggs in order to make omelettes.

It's going to be a long term deal with Halladay; the Phils weren't sure they could sign Lee.

Now, to get another set up or closer.

Meanwhile, Detroit's cleaning house, for whatever reason, the Angels managed to get Matsui after losing a heavyweight or two, and Atlanta's shooting for Juan Rivera. Things are livening up...

 

[Adam]

The Orioles made what I consider to be two extremely smart moves today. They signed both Mike Gonzalez and Garrett Atkins. Gonzalez, on a 2 year contract, likely fills the team's closer role. Atkins, coming off a very down year, was once a 25 HR, 100 RBI man. He's signed for just one year, so I think this is an excellent low risk/high reward move.

 

[FlockOfSeagulls]

Rangers signed Darren Oliver to fortify what looks to be an already deep bullpen . There has been talk that C.J. Wilson or Neftali Feliz could be moved to rotation

 

[Mitchell]

I just came online a few minutes ago, and read about the Vazquez for Melky trade. Terrible deal by the Braves. Yes, after re signing Tim Hudson, they had to deal a starting pitcher, but the Braves GM Frank Wren pulled the trigger on this deal wayyy too soon. Wren had at least another few weeks to a month, to try and find a taker for Derek Lowe, before dealing the guy who was the Braves best starting pitcher last year.

I post on the Atlanta Journal Constitution blogs. The fans and writers are outraged.

If the Braves have another mediocre season out of the playoffs in 2010, it will be time to fire Wren. He has made some questionable deals during his tenure, but this one is the worst!


Mitch

 

[Mitchell]

Atlanta Journal Constitution is reporting on their site, as well as the Braves on their site, that the Braves have reached agreement with first baseman Troy Glaus on a contract. Glaus was injured most of 2009, but he is only 33 years old, and has good power.

When the Braves signed Mike Hampton in 2002, after Tom Glavine left, Hampton was coming off a horrible season in Colorado. In the first two years Hampton was with the Braves, he actually pitched pretty well, before having all the arm problems and surgeries.

The Glaus signing is an interesting one for the Braves. It means that Adam Laroche, their free agent first baseman, is definitely gone. If Glaus is healthy, he can give the Braves some much needed power.

I'm cautiously optimistic about this signing.

Mitch