Hot Stove Rumors Thread

[Guest]

CHICAGO -- The Washington Nationals are the latest team to meet with Chicago White Sox free-agent pitcher Mark Buehrle, and they are doing it on the left-hander's home turf.

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A source confirmed that the Nationals are in Buehrle's hometown of St. Charles, Mo., in an all-out effort to convince the veteran to pitch in the nation's capitol next season and beyond.

It is a far different tactic than the one the Nationals' division rival took earlier this month. The Florida Marlins tried to woo Buehrle by showing him South Beach and the club's new stadium set to open in 2012.

The Nationals are expected to be aggressive in trying to lure a veteran pitcher to lead their rotation, which will be bolstered by the full-time return of Stephen Strasburg, who is on the way back from Tommy John surgery.

Buehrle has become one of the most sought after free-agent pitchers on the market thanks to his consistency and durability. He is the only pitcher in baseball to post double-digit victories, pitch at least 200 innings and make 30 starts in each of the last 11 seasons.

Aside from the Marlins and Nationals, Buehrle has also drawn interest from the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and Texas Rangers. White Sox general manager Kenny Williams said he hasn't ruled out Buehrle's return to the South Side but it won't be easy with all of the interest from clubs with deep pockets.

http://espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/story...r-mark-buehrle

That would be a great addition for the Nats at a whole lot less than CJ Wilson. While everyone is waiting for Wilson to sign, the Nats should work on getting Buehrle locked up because he is a lot of teams Option 2.

[Warner2BruceTD]

I'd rather have Buehrle than Wilson, plus he'll come cheaper.

[Villain]

I'd rather have Buehrle than Wilson, plus he'll come cheaper.

Second!

[bcransom]

I'd rather have Buehrle than Wilson, plus he'll come cheaper.

You'd honestly take Buerhle over Wilson not counting the contracts?

[Chrispy]

Yanks, Garcia agree to deal

ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney noted in Thursday's column that sources have indicated that Garcia and the Yankees have agreed to terms on a one-year deal.


He's was pretty good last year for a 4th or 5th starter.

Right now we have CC, Nova, Hughes, Garcia and that other guy.....

[Warner2BruceTD]

You'd honestly take Buerhle over Wilson not counting the contracts?

Absolutely.

Buehrle is as consistent as a clock, you know exactly what you are going to get. Wilson doesn't have the track record, is actually only a year younger than Buehrle, looked like poop in the postseason, he walks the ballpark, and you have to count the contract because he's going to get a lot more. Plus Buehrle will age better because he already pitches like a crafty old man, while Wilson is more reliant on K's. Buehrle is the kind of guy who will pitch until he's 40, with a slow gradual drop off.

Wilson has more peak potential obviously, but I'd let someone else roll those dice at that cost and go with the lock.

[Guest]

Pretty quiet this weekend, and we are heading into the winter meetings at the end of next week.

I don't want to post anything up from ESPN Insider, but the big rumors from Jim Bowden is that there is not a lot of play, and no signs of bidding wars starting, for Pujols, Fielder and Reyes. As a matter of fact, speculation is that Fielder returning to Milwaukee is becoming a better possibility as each day goes by.

Very weird off-season, but the teams that usually spend money, aren't doing so this year. And those teams have no need for extra hitters, only pitching, though they could turn to the hitter market if they strike out on getting pitching.

[Goober]

Pretty quiet this weekend, and we are heading into the winter meetings at the end of next week.

I don't want to post anything up from ESPN Insider, but the big rumors from Jim Bowden is that there is not a lot of play, and no signs of bidding wars starting, for Pujols, Fielder and Reyes. As a matter of fact, speculation is that Fielder returning to Milwaukee is becoming a better possibility as each day goes by.

Very weird off-season, but the teams that usually spend money, aren't doing so this year. And those teams have no need for extra hitters, only pitching, though they could turn to the hitter market if they strike out on getting pitching.

Every team is just waiting for the prices to come down. If you're signing a player in November, you're not getting a good deal. Looking at all the major league contracts handed out so far, I can think of one that is actually a good deal for the team. That's it.

[Guest]

Every team is just waiting for the prices to come down. If you're signing a player in November, you're not getting a good deal. Looking at all the major league contracts handed out so far, I can think of one that is actually a good deal for the team. That's it.

You still want dialogue with the player though- that hasn't even happened (at least not what has been reported or uncovered.) You are right though, signings used to happen Day One of free agency, but now the Winter Meetings are catalysts, as at least one big trade and one big signing happens. Only one big signing happened in November this year- Papelbon- and that was a bad contract.

[Mogriffjr]

this is great for the Mets and their quest to get Reyes back...

[NAHSTE]

this is great for the Mets and their quest to get Reyes back...

Why would you want to bring him back? The team is not going to be competitive at all during the rest of his prime. The Mets need to start over.

Plus, it's bad for baseball to see a dynamic player like that stuck on a rebuilding team for the next few years, IMO.

[Warner2BruceTD]

Why would you want to bring him back? The team is not going to be competitive at all during the rest of his prime. The Mets need to start over.

Plus, it's bad for baseball to see a dynamic player like that stuck on a rebuilding team for the next few years, IMO.

I disagree with this.

Reyes is a big time favorite among that fan base. I remember when the Reds were constantly having contract issues with Barry Larkin, and I was always on the side of doing whatever it took to keep him. If it meant not being able to resign a middle reliever or plug a hole somewhere, so be it, I was willing to roll those dice to keep the icon where he belonged.

If i'm a Mets fan, i'm hoping and praying they find a way to keep him.

[NAHSTE]

I disagree with this.

Reyes is a big time favorite among that fan base. I remember when the Reds were constantly having contract issues with Barry Larkin, and I was always on the side of doing whatever it took to keep him. If it meant not being able to resign a middle reliever or plug a hole somewhere, so be it, I was willing to roll those dice to keep the icon where he belonged.

If i'm a Mets fan, i'm hoping and praying they find a way to keep him.

I would want my club to think rationally. Sure as a kid growing up you want the franchise player to stay home but knowing what we know now about the value of players and how it is skewed towards veterans, you have to be savvier about these extensions. You can't survive if you give out bad contracts, or have too much payroll tied up in one guy. Locking up Jose Reyes for his age 29-35 seasons should not be a priority for a team that is at least two or three years from competing.

[Warner2BruceTD]

I would want my club to think rationally. Sure as a kid growing up you want the franchise player to stay home but knowing what we know now about the value of players and how it is skewed towards veterans, you have to be savvier about these extensions. You can't survive if you give out bad contracts, or have too much payroll tied up in one guy. Locking up Jose Reyes for his age 29-35 seasons should not be a priority for a team that is at least two or three years from competing.

I'm also not a fan of punting seasons. You put your best team out there and see what happens. I don't like the defeatist attitude of, "well, we aren't going to win anyway, so let him walk". I say try to sign him, patch some pieces around him, and give it a shot.

If this was just some guy they picked up along the way via trade or something, I can see it your way. But this is a homegrown guy who is a dynamic player in his prime.

[Warner2BruceTD]

Mariners GM uses patented generic template to describe his new acquisition:

PLAYER gives us a [left-handed/right-handed] hitting POSITION with some big league time who is [a veteran/still young]. His [left-handed/right handed] bat will be a nice compliment to our [left-handed/right-handed] hitting group. He’s a tough [veteran/kid] with [optional: postseason] experience and should be a nice fit with us.

Actual quote:

“Jaso gives us a left-handed hitting catcher with some big league time who is still young. His left-handed bat will be a nice compliment to our right-handed hitting group. He’s a tough kid with postseason experience and should be a nice fit with us.”