Hot Stove Rumors Thread

[NAHSTE]

Brewers just traded McGeehee to Pittsburgh.

http://twitter.com/#!/jcrasnick/status/146406867717996544

 

[Goober]

Brewers just traded McGeehee to Pittsburgh.

http://twitter.com/#!/jcrasnick/status/146406867717996544

I honestly think McGehee is done. He was just lost at the plate all year.

I'm not familiar with Veras, but good velocity and lots of strikeouts. Pirates fans seem to like him according to the reaction on twitter. Saves 2-3 million. Assuming we keep K-rod, the bullpen should be full.

Axford
K-Rod
Veras
Kinzler
Estrada
Loe
Parra

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

What are the Pirates planning on doing with McGehee?

 

[Goober]

What are the Pirates planning on doing with McGehee?

Apparently Alvarez is moving to first base.

 

[ThomasTomasz]

What are the Pirates planning on doing with McGehee?

They were not happy with Alvarez's conditioning last year. I imagine this move is designed to push him to get that under control and come into spring training motivated to win a job.

As for the Ramirez move, I think he should have went to the AL. For an NL team to sign him to a deal like that is a high risk, because of his injury history. Ramirez at least needs some time at first base, but should be a part-time DH to help his body at this point in his career. The Brewers would have been better off signing either Carlos Pena or Luke Scott to fill the 1B position for a year or two.

Speaking of Scott, the Orioles non-tendered him today. Should be a solid low-risk/high reward option for teams looking for LF/1B/DH type left-handed bat. Orioles could bring him back, but a contending team might come calling. He played injured last year but in 2010 was in the top 10 amongst outfielders for OPS so he can be a very good 5-7 hitter for a team if he is healthy.

 

[Woy]

I honestly think McGehee is done. He was just lost at the plate all year.

Not against Edwin Jackson!

 

[ThomasTomasz]

Phillies send Francisco to Toronto

PHILADELPHIA (AP)—The Philadelphia Phillies traded outfielder Ben Francisco to the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday for minor league left-hander Frank Gailey.

Francisco spent parts of three seasons with the Phillies, hitting .259 with 17 home runs and 75 RBIs in 225 games. He hit a three-run, pinch-hit homer to lead the Phillies past St. Louis in Game 3 of the 2011 NL division series. The Cardinals won the series in five games.

Gailey, a 26-year-old native of Philadelphia, split last season between Class-A Dunedin and Double-A New Hampshire. He was 5-6 with a 3.41 ERA in 45 relief appearances. He is 23-15 with a 2.45 ERA in 175 games in his minor league career.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-bluejays-philliestrade

Rowand to Miami

MIAMI (AP)—Veteran Aaron Rowand has signed a minor league contract with the Miami Marlins and will contend for a job as a backup outfielder.

The 34-year-old Rowand hit .233 with four homers in 108 games for San Francisco last season. His best year was in 2007, when he hit .309 with 27 homers and 89 RBIs as an All-Star for Philadelphia.

If Rowand is added to the 40-man roster, he’ll receive the major league minimum $480,000, which would be offset from the $12 million owed in the final season of $60 million, five-year deal the Giants released him from in September.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-marlins-rowand

Ramon Hernandez to Colorado

DENVER (AP)—The Colorado Rockies bolstered their depth at catcher, agreeing to a two-year deal with veteran Ramon Hernandez.

Hernandez played the last three seasons with the Cincinnati Reds. He hit .282 with 12 home runs and 36 RBIs last season.

The Rockies were in the market for another catcher after trading Chris Iannetta to the Los Angeles Angels for right-hander Tyler Chatwood late last month.

The 35-year-old Hernandez is joining his fifth major league organization. He also has spent time with Oakland, San Diego and Baltimore.

Hernandez will compete for the starting job with Wilin Rosario and Jordan Pacheco.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-rockies-hernandez

 

[moneyman255]

They were not happy with Alvarez's conditioning last year. I imagine this move is designed to push him to get that under control and come into spring training motivated to win a job.

As for the Ramirez move, I think he should have went to the AL. For an NL team to sign him to a deal like that is a high risk, because of his injury history. Ramirez at least needs some time at first base, but should be a part-time DH to help his body at this point in his career. The Brewers would have been better off signing either Carlos Pena or Luke Scott to fill the 1B position for a year or two.

Speaking of Scott, the Orioles non-tendered him today. Should be a solid low-risk/high reward option for teams looking for LF/1B/DH type left-handed bat. Orioles could bring him back, but a contending team might come calling. He played injured last year but in 2010 was in the top 10 amongst outfielders for OPS so he can be a very good 5-7 hitter for a team if he is healthy.

Yeah, I always liked Scott. Would be a good option for the Brewers in LF if Braun is suspended for 50 games. Also a good option at 1B if Gamel fails, but I doubt the Brewers have much cash to spend.

I also like Punto, Kuo as other options for the Crew.

 

[Rudi]

Knew it was coming, but still sucks to see Ramon go. I will never forget his walkoff HR on Opening Day this past year against Axford.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

I don't know why this is being reported today, Hernandez left for COL at least three weeks ago. Weird.

 

[Primetime]

Knew it was coming, but still sucks to see Ramon go. I will never forget his walkoff HR on Opening Day this past year against Axford.

me either

 

[dj_morton]

Still no Prince....hurry up and sign doot

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

Reds sign Yankee washout Andrew Brackman.

I suppose it's worth a shot.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

2:35pm: The Twins are the front-runner for Willingham, Rosenthal tweets. The Reds are not involved, according to John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer (on Twitter).

This tells me that the Reds are not going to trade Alonso. This also probably explains why they haven't been able to land a SP, because every team obviously asks for Alonso, not buying the idea that the Reds were serious about playing him in LF because they've been in on Willingham. Now that teams see the Reds are prepared to roll with Alonso in LF, I would suspect that trade talks can move on to other players (Grandal, Frazier, Bailey, Wood, Soto, whoever). I don't think the Reds will trade Hamilton or Mesoraco.

With all of that said, i am likely over thinking, and Jocketty is probably staring at a wall in his office pretending to work, as usual.

 

[Sharkweather]

Bye Peter Moylan

Brooks Conrad, meh.

The Atlanta Braves have decided to not tender Peter Moylan and Brooks Conrad a contract for 2012. The news about Moylan does not come as a surprise, although most expected Conrad back with his pinch-hitting ability off the bench. They are now considered free agents, although the organization has stated they will consider bringing both of them back on Minor League deals.

http://atlanta.sbnation.com/atlanta...ors-atlanta-braves-peter-moylan-brooks-conrad

 

[nflman2033]

2:35pm: The Twins are the front-runner for Willingham, Rosenthal tweets. The Reds are not involved, according to John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer (on Twitter).

This tells me that the Reds are not going to trade Alonso. This also probably explains why they haven't been able to land a SP, because every team obviously asks for Alonso, not buying the idea that the Reds were serious about playing him in LF because they've been in on Willingham. Now that teams see the Reds are prepared to roll with Alonso in LF, I would suspect that trade talks can move on to other players (Grandal, Frazier, Bailey, Wood, Soto, whoever). I don't think the Reds will trade Hamilton or Mesoraco.

With all of that said, i am likely over thinking, and Jocketty is probably staring at a wall in his office pretending to work, as usual.

yep another typical off season, lets take only Low risk free agents hoping one of them sticks and do nothing with any balls.

Its clear that they don't want to shop Alonzo because they are going to move Votto either at the deadline or end of the season. Fucking bullshit, if it goes down that way, I think i won't watch baseball anymore, i will snap my streak of making it down for at least one game every year for the last 21 years

 

[NAHSTE]

Gonna miss Moylo. Great locker room guy, huge fan favorite, but skills were regressing past the point of justifying his price tag. Can't pay $4 million for a roogy with back problems.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

yep another typical off season, lets take only Low risk free agents hoping one of them sticks and do nothing with any balls.

Its clear that they don't want to shop Alonzo because they are going to move Votto either at the deadline or end of the season. Fucking bullshit, if it goes down that way, I think i won't watch baseball anymore, i will snap my streak of making it down for at least one game every year for the last 21 years

I don't think they're going to trade Votto unless the bottom completely falls out and they decide to tear it up and start over.

I think they are willing to live with Alonso in LF, figuring he's no worse than Gomes (he is A LOT worse than Gomes, but follow me here), and they still have Heisey hanging around for the last two innings every night (Dusty loves those late inning defensive replacements, something that has won us games and more managers should embrace).

For the first time ever, Jocketty actually came out the other day and said that they are working on locking up Votto, but Votto doesn't want to talk yet. He is usually non committal about that topic.

 

[Obst]

The Phillies have come to terms with another high-profile pitcher, agreeing to a one-year deal with Dontrelle Willis.

Phillies are paying him $1MM and he will pitch in relief.

 

[Sharkweather]

#Phillies signings this offseason so far...Papelbon, Thome, Nix and now Dontrelle Willis....#IdontGetIt

#guysthatusedtobegoodin2003?