Cubs Close to Reunion
Rumor has it that the Chicago Cubs are nearing a deal for pitcher Kerry Wood. That's right, folks, Kerry Wood is rumored to be returning to the place where it all started... and then went horribly wrong. It's a nice bookend on an otherwise promising, but mediocre career.
Indians Legend Passes
The baseball world mourns the passing of another legend this year. The winningest pitcher in Cleveland Indians history, Bob "the Smeller is the" Feller passed away. Feller was an 8-time All Star and was inducted in the Hall of Fame in 1962. It was erroneously reported to have passed away last week, but was merely placed in hospice before passing away on the 15th.
The Cliff Lee Sweepstakes
Once again, delivering top-notch, late-breaking news long after it happens, Bases Loaded Balk has learned that Cliff Lee has decided to join the Philadelphia Phillies after coming to an agreement on a 5-year, $120 million deal with a vesting option for a sixth year. Lee personally let the Rangers know, and his agent broke the news to the Yankees.
Here's what we have learned:
1) Players don't always want the maximum years and the maximum dollars. Lee turned down more years and more dollars from both the Yankees and Rangers to go back to Philadelphia, where he spent the last half of the 2009 season and went to the World Series for the first time.
2) The Yankees can't get whoever they want if that person doesn't want to be on the Yankees. Don't worry, Yankee fans, I'm sure this had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that you spit on the guys wife during the playoffs. I'm sure he felt safe and welcomed by that reception.
3) The Phillies will be the overwhelming favorite to win the National League in 2011. In fact, some are already arguing that this may be the best rotation in baseball history... before Spring Training even starts. There is certainly that possibility. Two years ago, Hamels was the staff ace, since then, they have traded for Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt and Cliff Lee - three guys that would be the ace on just about any other staff in all of baseball. However, let's hold off on the accolades until the season is over.
4) The mystery team is not always a fabrication by the agent. ESPN's Buster Olney had tweeted the other day that most of the time, a "mystery team" is simply created by the player's agent in order to gain some leverage in the negotiations. Clearly, the Phillies were the mystery team that was involved - quite unexpectedly because...
5) Just because you trade a player away, don't assume that he's never going to come back. The Phillies traded Lee to the Mariners last offseason as part of a three-team deal that brought Roy Halladay to Philadelphia. The reason they traded Lee: they didn't think they could work out an extension with him.
6) The Yankees are no longer the Yankees of old. Just a couple of years ago, the Yankees would have signed at least one, if not two, of the top free agents. This year, they looked like Alex Rodriguez in a playoff game - going 0-3 on the big fish. In fact, with the signing of Crawford and acquisition (and extension) of Gonzalez, I'd say the Red Sox have become the very thing they hated.
Finally, the Yankees and Rangers have to move on, and perhaps their respective fanbases will be excited to hear the rumors that are flying around regarding Plan B for these teams.
Apparently the Rangers have expressed interest in former Yankee Chien-Ming Wang, and the Yankees could possibly be the next stop in the Mark Prior comeback trail. Yeah, that's what happens when you put all your eggs in one basket... or some other metaphor that conveys a similar idea.
Here's what we have learned:
1) Players don't always want the maximum years and the maximum dollars. Lee turned down more years and more dollars from both the Yankees and Rangers to go back to Philadelphia, where he spent the last half of the 2009 season and went to the World Series for the first time.
2) The Yankees can't get whoever they want if that person doesn't want to be on the Yankees. Don't worry, Yankee fans, I'm sure this had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that you spit on the guys wife during the playoffs. I'm sure he felt safe and welcomed by that reception.
3) The Phillies will be the overwhelming favorite to win the National League in 2011. In fact, some are already arguing that this may be the best rotation in baseball history... before Spring Training even starts. There is certainly that possibility. Two years ago, Hamels was the staff ace, since then, they have traded for Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt and Cliff Lee - three guys that would be the ace on just about any other staff in all of baseball. However, let's hold off on the accolades until the season is over.
4) The mystery team is not always a fabrication by the agent. ESPN's Buster Olney had tweeted the other day that most of the time, a "mystery team" is simply created by the player's agent in order to gain some leverage in the negotiations. Clearly, the Phillies were the mystery team that was involved - quite unexpectedly because...
5) Just because you trade a player away, don't assume that he's never going to come back. The Phillies traded Lee to the Mariners last offseason as part of a three-team deal that brought Roy Halladay to Philadelphia. The reason they traded Lee: they didn't think they could work out an extension with him.
6) The Yankees are no longer the Yankees of old. Just a couple of years ago, the Yankees would have signed at least one, if not two, of the top free agents. This year, they looked like Alex Rodriguez in a playoff game - going 0-3 on the big fish. In fact, with the signing of Crawford and acquisition (and extension) of Gonzalez, I'd say the Red Sox have become the very thing they hated.
Finally, the Yankees and Rangers have to move on, and perhaps their respective fanbases will be excited to hear the rumors that are flying around regarding Plan B for these teams.
Apparently the Rangers have expressed interest in former Yankee Chien-Ming Wang, and the Yankees could possibly be the next stop in the Mark Prior comeback trail. Yeah, that's what happens when you put all your eggs in one basket... or some other metaphor that conveys a similar idea.
Tribute to Ron Santo
I'm a Cardinal fan. That doesn't mean I'm heartless. Not long ago, long-time Cubs player & announcer Ron Santo passed away. Santo certainly deserves HOF consideration, but has still be passed on every year. Below is a first-person account of a third-person conversation that I had with a friend of mine just a few months ago:
"So, we have to take the elevator down, and when the doors open, there's Ron Santo standing there. It was so cool."
I don't remember if those were the exact words of the conversation, but you get the idea - Ron Santo liked to ride the elevator... and he was pretty cool.
Rest in Peace, Ron.
"So, we have to take the elevator down, and when the doors open, there's Ron Santo standing there. It was so cool."
I don't remember if those were the exact words of the conversation, but you get the idea - Ron Santo liked to ride the elevator... and he was pretty cool.
Rest in Peace, Ron.
Catching Up on the Offseason
It's been a busy couple of weeks in the baseball world. As I write this, the Winter Meetings are being held at the Goose & Manatee Swan & Dolphin Resort at Disney World. All kinds of crazy things are happening in the baseball world. So... to the best of my ability and desire to spend only a certain amount of time working on this post... here's an update on the 2010/2011 Baseball Offseason:
- Victor Martinez became the first big name off the board when he signed with the Detroit Lions to play outside linebacker. Wait a minute... that doesn't sound right....
- Jayson Werth made the Nationals severely overpay for his services by signing a 7-year, $126 million deal. That's the price you pay for quality free agents when you are a bad team. Rumor has it that there wasn't another team even willing to go 5 years on the outfielder with the awesome beard. In fact, his agent, Scott Boras, didn't even bother going to the other teams in the bidding for a counter-offer because the Nationals overpaid by that much.
- Mark Reynolds, the holder of the top 3 spots in "most strikeouts in a season" was traded to the Baltimore Orioles for a pair of relievers. He should solidify an already mediocre lineup with his 2010 sub-.200 batting average. Let's face it, though, it doesn't matter what the Orioles do, they are the fifth best team in a division with four good teams.
- In a move that can only be explained by the Padres hatred of almost winning the NL West in 2010, Adrian Gonzalez was traded to the Boston Red Sox. This is a move that had an effect on another free agent, who will be discussed next.
- Adrian Beltre got the shaft in Boston. With the other Adrian being traded to Red Sox nation, Beltre is out of luck. Gonzo plays 1st, Youk moves to 3rd, Beltre gets left off the roster.
- Adam Dunn and Paul Konerko are going to be wearing White Sox uniforms next season, which won't be odd for Konerko because that's what he has been wearing for quite some time, but Dunn will actually be playing on a team with a shot at its division title, which will be a first for him.
- Carl Crawford inked a 7-year deal with the Red Sox, which is significant for two reasons: 1) he becomes the highest paid "Carl" in the history of the world (at $142 mil over the 7 years), and 2) the Red Sox have turned into the Yankees North.
- Speaking of the Red Sox and Yankees, rumor has it that the Red Sox contacted Mariano Rivera's agent about bringing the lifelong Yankee to the Yankees North. In turn, the Yanks got involved in the Crawford negotiations. You see how that worked out for both teams, as Crawford is a Red Sox and Rivera is still a Yankee.
- While we're on the topic of Yankee players, the Jeter negotiations went smoothly, didn't they? Cashman and Jeter decided that the best way to negotiate this contract was through disparaging remarks in the media. I think they trade him to the Orioles in two years.
- In the Cliff Lee sweepstakes, apparently the Yankees really, really want the 32-year old pitcher because they have now upped their offer to seven years for around $160 million. After all, who doesn't want to pay a 38-year old pitcher $20+ million for two more years? There's no way that's a bad contract for the Yankees.
- A couple of mid-name shortstops are on the move. J.J. Hardy was traded to the Orioles, who will be trading for Jeter in two years, and Jason Bartlett was traded to the Padres, where he will be teamed up with whoever it was the Padres got from Boston for auctioning away their future.
Well, that about sums up the major and minor news from the Winter Meetings. The Rule 5 Draft is taking place Thursday morning, but it's doubtful that anything significant will come from there.
Pujols' Extension
One of the big things that Cardinal fans are thinking about this offseason is the fact that the Cardinals need to sign star Albert Pujols to an extension that will make him a Cardinal for life.
MLB Trade Rumors recently put up a post that SI's Jon Heyman tweeted that the Pujols camp is seeking something around A-Rod's 10 year, $275 million deal from 2007. A-Rod was 32 when that deal was signed. Pujols will be turning 31 next month.
I think in all of the offseason rumors that are milling about, this has to be the biggest "Duh" rumor out there. I mean, seriously, should the best player in the game get paid like he is the best player in the game? I imagine so... duh. After 10 seasons, Pujols is sitting at a career line of .331/.426/.624, 408 HRs, 1900 Hits, 1230 RBIs, 1186 Rs, 9 All Star Games, 3 MVP awards (never finishing out of the Top 10 in MVP voting either). Yeah, I'd say A-Rod type money is deserving for his final 10 years in the Bigs. Duh.
MLB Trade Rumors recently put up a post that SI's Jon Heyman tweeted that the Pujols camp is seeking something around A-Rod's 10 year, $275 million deal from 2007. A-Rod was 32 when that deal was signed. Pujols will be turning 31 next month.
I think in all of the offseason rumors that are milling about, this has to be the biggest "Duh" rumor out there. I mean, seriously, should the best player in the game get paid like he is the best player in the game? I imagine so... duh. After 10 seasons, Pujols is sitting at a career line of .331/.426/.624, 408 HRs, 1900 Hits, 1230 RBIs, 1186 Rs, 9 All Star Games, 3 MVP awards (never finishing out of the Top 10 in MVP voting either). Yeah, I'd say A-Rod type money is deserving for his final 10 years in the Bigs. Duh.
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