Might be a little early to start this thread but the free agent signing frenzy has started with a fine piece of insanity. The Phillies have signed 36 year old outfielder Marlon Byrd to a 2-year $16 million contract. Byrd made $700,000 in 2012, while being released twice. Let the games begin! -- Al
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Warrior
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Never too soon to start talking baseball.
None of the free agents the Red Sox had have accepted the one year qualifying offer of 14 million.
Drew, Ellsbury and Napoli are all as good as gone, doubt if they bring salty back, so four of their nine starters are now gone.
That didn't take long.
Napoli said he loved it here; he's meeting with the Rangers about returning to them.
Awesome, thanks for helping the Sox win a WS title, one year and done.
None of the free agents the Red Sox had have accepted the one year qualifying offer of 14 million.
Drew, Ellsbury and Napoli are all as good as gone, doubt if they bring salty back, so four of their nine starters are now gone.
That didn't take long.
Napoli said he loved it here; he's meeting with the Rangers about returning to them.
Awesome, thanks for helping the Sox win a WS title, one year and done.
I'm still ticked at Curt Flood.:wink2: -- Al
jazzeum
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It would be a real shame if Napoli left. I thought he liked it there. How much demand is there for Drew?
Byrd was traded once but not released. He had a great season with the Mets and they made a good trade with the Bucs, as well as giving him a chance to be in the playoffs. I think the Mets wanted to re-sign him but $8 million a year for a player his age doesn't make sense.
I had hopes that the Mets could swing a trade with the Angels for Ike Davis and a pitcher for Mark Trumbo but apparently, for some stupid reason, they've decided they want to give Duda a chance at 1B. Why is beyond me. The guy is a stiff with a capital "S."
Byrd was traded once but not released. He had a great season with the Mets and they made a good trade with the Bucs, as well as giving him a chance to be in the playoffs. I think the Mets wanted to re-sign him but $8 million a year for a player his age doesn't make sense.
I had hopes that the Mets could swing a trade with the Angels for Ike Davis and a pitcher for Mark Trumbo but apparently, for some stupid reason, they've decided they want to give Duda a chance at 1B. Why is beyond me. The guy is a stiff with a capital "S."
DMNamiot
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Hi Guys,
It looks like the Yankees are going to have to make a serious offer if they want to get any of their free agents back. I don't know where Cano will land but I have serious doubts about it being in NY. I also found it interesting that the Red Soxs are going to have a hard time keeping a few of their better players as well(not that I am rooting for them to stay there, sorry George). Maybe dem O's will have a chance this year in the East...
Dave
It looks like the Yankees are going to have to make a serious offer if they want to get any of their free agents back. I don't know where Cano will land but I have serious doubts about it being in NY. I also found it interesting that the Red Soxs are going to have a hard time keeping a few of their better players as well(not that I am rooting for them to stay there, sorry George). Maybe dem O's will have a chance this year in the East...
Dave
Warrior
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Brad,
It was Napoli according to several sources who started the whole beard thing (loved his blood, sweat and beards tee shirt) to promote team unity. He also ran around several bars in Boston after the WS title to celebrate with the fans.
I guess he wants to go elsewhere, he was great at first base this year and he's on the short list for right handed power hitting free agents.
Drew is a great defensive shortstop who struggled in the playoffs until he broke out of it in game 6 of the WS, he's a good ballplayer.
Warrior
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Dave,
After dumping the contracts of Crawford, Beckett and Gonzalez last year, the Red Sox signed Drew and Napoli to one year deals as this year was largely looked at as a bridge year. Ownership hoped to win the fans back somewhat after the September collapse of 2011 and the disaster that the 2012 season was.
Nobody and I mean NOBODY in this town (me included) ever thought they'd have a winning record this year, let alone win the division, have THE best record in MLB with 97 wins and capture a WS title.
It's a catch 22 for them as now that they won a WS, the free agents are all moving on to greener pastures.
Truth is the farm system the Sox have is ripe with talent at catcher, shortstop, third base and center field, they have some good starters in the system too, all of which are a couple years away short of Bradley, who's penciled in as their 2014 center fielder to take Ellsbury's spot.
They have their shortstop of the future on the team now, they might move Middlebrooks to first and trade one or two of their starters for a third baseman and if they do that and the kids perform, it won't be the O's winning the AL East.
We'll see how it shakes out; three WS titles in the past ten years is incredible.
ONE in my lifetime would have been sufficient.
Panzer ace
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First, and most importantly it is never too early to start a new baseball thread! Baseball's offseason is by far the most interesting of any of the major sports.
I look at this current Sox team much like the Giants from 2010. They won the World Series and a few of the key contributors decided to leave for big money contracts. To the Giants credit, management did not panic and 2 years later they won the Series again.
I look at this current Sox team much like the Giants from 2010. They won the World Series and a few of the key contributors decided to leave for big money contracts. To the Giants credit, management did not panic and 2 years later they won the Series again.
sammy719
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Hey pitchers and catchers report in about 3 months!!!! I'm just hoping my Orioles can pick a decent starting pitcher and and work on their bullpen, if Johnson can return to 2011 form that would solve a lot of issues in the pen, the farm system has some great talent, and hoping D. Bundy is ready to start his big league career, all in all as long as the O's can return the majority of last years team and a tweak here and there I think they will be in the running as the last two years were fun but a little frustrating in the same, so here's hoping my birds can get over the hump and back in the playoffs!!!...Sammy
I like the way the O's are set-up for position players. It's their starting pitching that I don't trust. That absolutely have to get starters that will last more than 5 innings or it won't matter who's in the bullpen. Tillman is the only starter I would guarantee a spot, and maybe Gonzalez. I want to see big improvement from Chen, Feldman, and whoever else they decide to use. I think, as you said, that Johnson must return to form. No more rollercoaster at closer. -- Al
Warrior
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Agreed, management shouldn't panic this off season, they have a ton of goodwill in the bank with the fans here, no more big name signings to huge dollars that will handcuff the team on the back end of the deals and fill in holes here and there with roll players and work kids in from the farm system.
Panzer ace
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And it looks like we will be getting instant replay in 2014.
I really hope that this entails some sort of restriction on the number of times it can be invoked and on what type of plays. This has the potential to fatally slow down games even further. I mean that the game can't afford managers/teams or umps going to replays on every close play. That could be done several times in an inning and the result would be a snooze-fest. I would assume no replays on balls/strikes of any sort, but where else does MLB draw the line? -- Al
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I think there are quite a few details on this one that still need to be worked out. One radio commentator in the Bay Area just asked about the number of challenges per game and if you get an extra one for extra innings etc.
Panzer ace
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Al:
Yup. It looks like we both win! I have liked Hudson ever since he was with Oakland. It is great to have him back in the Bay Area. He is a solid pitcher and a great guy to have in the dugout.
-Jason
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Wow, huge trade with Texas and Detroit. I think Fielder"s playoff performance sealed his fate.
Warrior
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That's a great deal for the Tigers, Fielders contract would have killed the team on the back end, he'll weigh 400 pounds by then.
They can move Cabrera to first now and trade for a third baseman.
Great deal for them, fills their hole at 2nd nicely for sure.
They can move Cabrera to first now and trade for a third baseman.
Great deal for them, fills their hole at 2nd nicely for sure.