MLB Fantasy Discussion aka "Votto is the Only Red Worth Taking"

[Cephius]

Also:

[pohibaba]

Rowand will be off the books after this year, Renteria is off the books, Zito only has a year left i believe. It would take a bit of creative shuffling due to Huff and Co to get Pujols to first but I could see the giants giving 30 a year for 7 years.

Zito is on the books until after the 2013 season at least and Rowand is still on the team for two more seasons. Plus if we signed Pujols we wouldn't be able to keep all of our pitchers. So the question is, who is more valuable to us Lincecum or Pujols. That's a tough one for me especially considering last year, but I think I'd vote trade Timmy for a few great prospects and sign Albert.

[Melena]

Bleh must have been dreaming Rowand only had one year left. I expect him to be traded though with some of the contract eaten by the Giants. Hopefully in 2013 Zito won't pitch 200 innings, thus keeping that option from vesting and get rid of him with a 7 mil buyout.

[Trichocyst]

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kk0uT9biyf...erStarter.jpeg

[Olo401]

Leave it to Boston's radio idiots to repeat trash stories from the NY Post.. http://www.weei.com/sports/boston/th...out-opting-out

[Soa]

I'm sure the Cubs and Nats at least could pay Pujols, though I think that 10/300 is too much for a big guy in his 30's that's been having back problems the past few years. But with the way contracts have been ballooning lately $30 million 5-6 years down the line may be considered a bargain.

I watched the press conference with the Phillies pitchers today, and poor Joe Blanton was pretty much completely ignored and forgotten about. The question where the guy began "Cole, as the only one with a World Series ring" was pretty damn funny.

[Rhinox]

So the NY newspaper had a full page story on Larry Rothschild lol

Didn't know he morphed into Leo Massoni over the off season lol.

[Gregorio]

I've been paying attention to the Pujols situation along with everyone else, and I've also been hearing some things on MLB radio and seen a few articles on the potential of a Pujols to Philly for Howard deal again. Like last year, at first I thought it was kinda ridiculous...but the more I read and think about it, it could make sense. The Cards don't want to be saddled with a huge contract like what Pujols is asking for, but they've shown indications that they'd be willing to spend a big chunk of change...kinda in the realm of what Howard is due to get (and Howard has a shorter contract which the Cards seem to be looking for). Phillies have definitely shown they are willing to spend money, and with Rollins, Oswalt, and Ibanez coming up on the last year of their contracts, there is going to be a lot of money free'd up in the near future. Plus Howard is from St. Louis, and Phillies could definitely benefit from a right handed batter in their very lefty dominated lineup.

I love Howard and so does Philly, and the Phillies would most likely have to yet again kick in a few prospects if it were to happen, but man it would be sweet having Pujols in CBP.

[Trichocyst]

I liked that the four aces insisted on having Joe Blanton at the press conference. I don't know why everyone around here was so concerned about it.

Pujols should sign with the Royals. He's a hometown boy, they have great prospects incoming, practically no payroll on the books, and, most of all, it would be hilarious.

Howard isn't going anywhere. There was an article today on Crashburn Alley about what a right handed bat in the middle of the lineup would really do for the Phillies and specifically, Ryan Howard. Utley actually hits lefties better than he hits righties. Howard is amazing against RHP, but average at best against LHP, so even plugging Pujols in for shits and giggles still wouldn't dissuade a manager from forcing Howard (and Utley) to face a LOOGY.

Not even Pujols could dissuade a manager looking to bring in his LOOGY. Opposing managers would rather face one incredibly productive hitter (Pujols’ 17.6 runs) with his left-hander than two (Pujols’ 16.6 runs and Howard’s 14.0 runs) with a right-hander.

Howard’s production is so extremely good against right-handers and his production is so average against left-handers, that there is no reason to allow him to face a right-handed pitcher in a high-leverage situation. If the Phillies want to see Howard face LOOGYs less, Howard needs to vastly increase his production against lefties (or, conversely, drastically lower his production against right-handers).

There are no right-handed hitters that should cause opposing managers to pause before bringing in a LOOGY unless those hitters are equivalently (or more) extremely good against left-handed pitching compared to right-handed pitching. The basis of platoons is maximizing the number of these favorable match-ups.

http://crashburnalley.com/2011/02/14...-handed-power/

[*Shinzon*]

Leave it to Boston's radio idiots to repeat trash stories from the NY Post.. http://www.weei.com/sports/boston/th...out-opting-out

10:38pm: Barring something unforseen, Sabathia is expected to exercise the opt-out clause in his contract, a source with knowledge of the situation told Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/ba...r_2011_se.html

Fuck your 92m, I'm going to philly.

Oh how the speculation begins, definitely baseball seaon.

[Conrad]

CC & CLee reunion, obviously!

[Valisk]

Yeah, plus teams that aren't "big market" would probably contemplate handing out a huge contract because of his star power. He'd almost instantly get you season ticket revenue which is a big deal for mid-market teams. I could see the Nationals, Blue Jays, Rangers, Mariners, Angels, and Braves all try to put a proposal together for him. Most of those teams have rich owners who might be inclined to make a run for him. And, as much as I hate to admit it, you can never count the Yankees out of making some ridiculous attempt to get him.

I can see the Rangers making a stab for Pujols. We had problems at 1B and finally started rookie Mitch Mooreland last year during our playoff run. Plus, JD always says he regretted the A-Rod trade so maybe this can be his redemption.

[Stiker]

I can see the Rangers making a stab for Pujols. We had problems at 1B and finally started rookie Mitch Mooreland last year during our playoff run. Plus, JD always says he regretted the A-Rod trade so maybe this can be his redemption.

Wait...excuse me...WHAT?!

Let me get this straight, we are going to either have Young, Beltre, and Pujols signed to huge contracts or eat Young's salary in a trade and have Beltre and Pujols on the payroll. Then on top of that, we are going to attempt to resign CJ Wilson, Josh Hamilton, and start locking up Elivs Andrus, Neftali Feliz, etc.

Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight

[Cephius]

Wait...excuse me...WHAT?!

Let me get this straight, we are going to either have Young, Beltre, and Pujols signed to huge contracts or eat Young's salary in a trade and have Beltre and Pujols on the payroll. Then on top of that, we are going to attempt to resign CJ Wilson, Josh Hamilton, and start locking up Elivs Andrus, Neftali Feliz, etc.

Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight

They already got Hamilton on a 2/24 extension and I'm pretty sure they're just going to let CJ walk. Assuming they get Young traded, I think they'd have to money to go and get Albert if they wanted to. After all, they were ready to spend 6/160 on Cliff Lee but won't go 10/250+ for a much more sure bet in Albert?

[Stiker]

They already got Hamilton on a 2/24 extension and I'm pretty sure they're just going to let CJ walk. Assuming they get Young traded, I think they'd have to money to go and get Albert if they wanted to. After all, they were ready to spend 6/160 on Cliff Lee but won't go 10/250+ for a much more sure bet in Albert?

2/24 on Hamilton is just to buy time. If Josh puts in another good two years, they will look to lock him up long-term most likely. So when I mention him, I'm thinking more long-term. Any trade with Young is going to involve eating his contract, so it doesn't really save us any money at all. Last I heard, Florida is interested, but only if we eat $30MM of Young's contract.

We signed Beltre mostly because of the money we didn't use on Lee. Even if they do let CJ go, you have paydays coming up for the young core of the Rangers within a couple of years. I can't see us keeping that together and signing Pujols as well right now.

[Cephius]

You knew this was going to happen. Ken Rosenthal should not be allowed to write speculation articles.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/A...ulation-021511

[*Shinzon*]

Donald Trump told Alison Leigh Cowan and Ken Belson of the New York Times that he's interested in buying a majority stake in the Mets. Trump says he called Fred Wilpon about two weeks ago to set up a meeting.

Wow Wilpon, can you just sell the team to him so we can actually be competitive. Fuck, Trump would be a bottomless pit of money.

[Doombard]

Pujols has already said he will veto any trade whatsoever.

[archibaldcrane]

Fuck yes, Brewers extend Rickie Weeks through 2014 (with a vesting option through 2015). Now everyone but Fielder is in place through 2013 (Weeks/McGehee/Braun/Hart/Grienke/Marcum/Gallardo) and hopefully Mat Gamel can replace Fielder well enough in house.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_yl...-brewers-weeks

[*Shinzon*]

Card's missed the deadline for extending Pujols. Oh boy, please Fred Wilpon, please sell the team. I like Ike Davis but we could REALLLY use a great hitter like Pujols.