2011 MLB Offseason Discussion - Rangers choking edition

[Melena]

Well after watching one of the best world series in the past decade that did not involve the Giants destroying Texas, it's time for all the off season talk/speculation. There has already been some big news with Tony LaRussa retiring after 33 years, 3 teams, and 3 world series championships. CC didn't opt out and Cashman is now President and GM, so yankee fans are not on suicide watch. Giants resigned Lopez and picked up Affeldt's option, removing two of the big relievers off of the FA market.

Let the Pujols and Fielder Jr. watch begin.

[Headspace]

2011 MLB Offseason Discussion - BILLS

[Melena]

Don't steal my thunder. I was waiting to make an offseason thread!

[Valisk]

-_-

[Dimmauk]

Fantastic thread title. Pujols going to the cubbies.

[Soa]

Yeah Pujols is as good as gone, gonna take the biggest offer and roll with it.

[Francisco]

Re: Ricketts being a putz from the last thread...

Basically, the way he conducted the whole Theo deal was horrendous. And it was pretty much tampering, the way he had it leaked to the press in August. He agreed to terms with Theo, and then took the whole "we're taking your under contract GM, and you can't have anything for him" stance.

Good on Theo for his promotion, good on Cherington for his as well. I have faith in Cherington going forward, he's been around long enough to handle the job. Ricketts, on the other hand, can go pound sand.

Theo was basically offered the job in August.

Compensation doesn't really matter at this point. Sox and Cubs have less than 12 hours to agree, and it appears they aren't close to reaching an agreement. Sox want "something". Cubs are offering "nothing". It'll fall to Selig's lap, which will likely benefit the Sox more than the Cubs. Selig has already alluded the Sox deserve significant compensation (paraphrasing).

It won't be Castro (no chance) or Garza (maybe a .01% chance), but it might be some of the Cubs better prospects. Not that there's much worth taking past Brett Jackson.

It'd make sense for the Sox to just trade a couple of prospects to the Cubs for Garza to complete the Theo deal makes sense.

Garza is a free agent after 2013, years in which the Cubs won't compete... Theo would be wise to try and flip him for some near-ready MLB prospects, kinda like the Marlins did with Beckett and Lowell.

Even if it doesn't involve the Red Sox (which it probably won't), Theo should look to move Garza.

[Francisco]

I can see Theo wanting to make a splash in Chicago, but would be shocked if he went for Pujols.

Pujols is going to be 32 on opening day, and is probably going to want something absurd like 7 years / $200M... As great a hitter as he is, his numbers were down across the board this year... OPS was down almost 100 points... he had career worsts in pretty much every offensive category...

He'll probably rebound next year, but he will start to decline well before his probable 7 year contract is over.

I actually think Theo makes a push for Prince Fielder, who is just entering his prime years (27-31, by Theo's definition), whereas Pujols is leaving those years.

[Ohemgee]

http://the305.com/blog/wp-content/up...7d3970b-pi.jpg

Not sure if I like the colors or not. But it looks JUST like the Tri-Rail colors

[Valisk]

Someone is going to offer Pujols the big contract but with club options and a buyout attached at the end. If the big markets are going to make him the highest paid player in the league, they are going to protect themselves in the process. Otherwise he'll have to settle for Top 10 money in which he will remain with the Cards.

[Conrad]

phillies goin to the super bowl

[Cephius]

Thread title approved

Give me all your japanese aces

[Soa]

phillies goin to the NFC Championship Game

yup

I wonder if McNabb can play 3B. Of course our 1B better be good at catching balls down at his ankles for it to work.

[Cephius]

Also Cashman is still executive vice-president, that jewbag Randy Levine is still team president

[Conrad]

yup

I wonder if McNabb can play 3B. Of course our 1B better be good at catching balls down at his ankles for it to work.

He's about the right age for a 3-4 year deal, too

[Melena]

Also Cashman is still executive vice-president, that jewbag Randy Levine is still team president

Yea, looks like the espn breaking news last night was wrong on his title.

[Man0warr]

Rangers getting Fielder and Yu Darvish (probably just Darvish), CJ walks because the Rangers know his value the best and aren't going to pay what other teams are. Feliz converted to starter, Mike Adams takes over as closer.

[Valisk]

No to Fielder. Yes to letting CJ walk. No to converting Feliz to a starter. No to Mike Adams becoming the closer.

Feliz is a 1 trick pony. He has 2 pitches. A fastball and a change up. His location/command aren't good enough to go more than 2 innings.

Javier Vazquez, Hiroki Kuroda, and/or Yu Darvish.

[Headspace]

Gonna be the best team ever to lose three straight world series

[Valisk]

Nah, we won't make it back for at least another 3 years. We truly missed an amazing opportunity. Twice.