Hot Stove and Winter Meetings

Halladay wasn't under contract so this doesn't change anything for the Phillies. They still need a #3/4 starter and Byrd was their big FA signing to improve the offense. They are talking about trading Brown to open up a spot but I don't see them spending for Choo. There aren't anymore places where they could conceivably upgrade offense.

Not saying that they don't need to, just that they already have players under contract.

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Joined: Sun Aug 26, 2012 7:14 pm



Re: Hot Stove and Winter Meetings

Is Boston really going into 2014 with 1/3 of their lineup young unproven players:

CF - Bradley Jr
SS - Bogaerts
3B - Middlebrooks

Bogaerts seems like the real deal and a no-brainer, but so did Middlebrooks after his partial rookie season.

After trading their long-term high priced guys that were part of the September collapse a couple of years ago and then winning with a collection of young guys, a couple of stars and miscellaneous additions, Boston and their fans are more than happy to go with the young guys. For years the Red Sox and Boston fans drooled over free agents and made knee jerk reactions in response to big moves by the Yankees. Now they let Ellsbury and Salty go to open a spot for Bradley and a young catching phenom who is supposed to be ready in a year or two and the fans are loving it. They are probably going a little too far towards the Billy Beane model, just as they went too far the other way in previous years. The Crawford, AGon and Beckett failure and the Bobby Valentine season that followed left a massive impression on management and the fans. To win the championship after getting rid of them only serves to validate that their approach is correct. I'm sure it won't all work out, but no one around here is complaining, that is until they fall out of the race early.

the Angels' move today was GREAT. They're going to have those two young starters for a long time, and both have huge potential. They have enough bats, don't need Trumbo

they will contend next year in a big way

the Angels' move today was GREAT. They're going to have those two young starters for a long time, and both have huge potential. They have enough bats, don't need Trumbo

they will contend next year in a big way

I have to agree with you, Clowntime. Trumbo has great power but is a one-dimensional player who really doesn't get on base that much. The Angels blew it three years ago when they traded Skaggs and Corbin for Dan Haren, but getting Skaggs and Santiago in return for Trumbo was smooth. Although I'm not quite sure if they'll compete in a "Big way"---I think Texas and Oakland will be stronger---they definitely improved their chances.

It will be interesting to see how Eaton does in Chicago (who aren't exactly loaded with pitchers) and if giving up Santiago was the right move for them.

Trumbo has great power but is a one-dimensional player who really doesn't get on base that much.

True, but still 30 HR hitters do not grow on trees like they did at the height of the steroid era.

I view the Trumbo trade as more a consequence of past bad decisions. Two years ago they could have went with Trumbo at first and saved that 240 mil. With that money they probably could have retained Greinke and probably pulled in Garza this year. Because of overpaying Pujols 2 years ago and Hamilton last year they had to make this deal to clear some room so they could have freedom to do something else this winter without going past the luxury threshold and having to pay that extra tax penalty.

Pujols will cost the Angels for years to come. They won't be able to move him and he won't be able to move. It is too bad as he was a great player but now he is just old with two bad wheels. It left the Angels with not much wiggle room.

Red Sox are in serious negotiations about Kemp.

Boston Red Sox
The world champions were among the earliest teams to check in on Kemp, but talks never got serious, and their interest appears to have cooled. On Wednesday night, CBSSports.com’s Jon Heyman tweeted that the Red Sox have decided that “Kemp isn’t a fit at this time.”

It's Jackie Bradley then. Kemp was wishful thinking anyway.

Pujols will cost the Angels for years to come. They won't be able to move him and he won't be able to move. It is too bad as he was a great player but now he is just old with two bad wheels. It left the Angels with not much wiggle room.

True. And Hamilton is a double whammy if he cannot return to MVP level form. You just cannot be paying guys 20 mil to hit 25 HRs. One reason I was not terribly upset when Rangers let him walk last year. Angels also made a mistake giving up 3 top prospects to rent Greinke a couple years back.

But I am a little concerned about the pattern I have seen since. Giving up 4 good prospects to rent Garza and taking on Fielder's contract. If they cave to the demands by Boras and give Choo 7 or 8 years at 20+ a year their payroll could be getting dangerously close to that luxury tax threshold. So I am a little torn. Rangers do need another bat and a leadoff hitter but the price of attempting to win now can become too high resulting in win never.