Hot Stove Rumors Thread

[Goober]

Brewers gave Alex Gonzalez 4.25 million? And an easy vesting option for another 4?

Wake me up when this bad dream is over.

 

[bcransom]

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

Guess he feels he can pitch in band boxes, but after something of a comeback with the Reds he should have probably tried to go somewhere like SD/SF/Seattle to help himself out a little.

 

[Obst]

Guess he feels he can pitch in band boxes, but after something of a comeback with the Reds he should have probably tried to go somewhere like SD/SF/Seattle to help himself out a little.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/stats/parkfactor/_/sort/HRFactor

:yao:

 

[Rudi]

The Reds couldn't pony up 1M to keep Willis? God damn thats disappointing. I thought he was gunna get overpayed somewhere but thats not the case. Can't believe we are willing to spend money on keeping guys like PAUL SOFT-J YANISH but didnt want to keep a fan favorite in Dontrelle.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

The Reds couldn't pony up 1M to keep Willis? God damn thats disappointing. I thought he was gunna get overpayed somewhere but thats not the case. Can't believe we are willing to spend money on keeping guys like PAUL SOFT-J YANISH but didnt want to keep a fan favorite in Dontrelle.

Yeah I can't believe they tendered Janish, the worst regular player in the majors last year.

Some perspective on how bad Janish was last year...his OPS was lower than the slugging percentage of three players...Votto, Alonso, and DONTRELLE WILLIS.

Yes, a pitcher had a higher slugging than Janish's OPS!

Janish had a lower OBP than three pitchers on the Reds.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

Brewers gave Alex Gonzalez 4.25 million? And an easy vesting option for another 4?

Wake me up when this bad dream is over.

What were they paying Betancourt, and what was Betancourt set to make had they retained him?

Odd Stat - Betancourt led the league in Sac Flies.

 

[bcransom]

http://espn.go.com/mlb/stats/parkfactor/_/sort/HRFactor

:yao:

Huh. I guess it's my misconception of CBP, always had the rep of a great hitters park.

Couldnt that be due to the quality of pitchers the Phillies have though? Looks like they were higher up the list in earlier years.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

Park stats are highly suspect in a lot of cases. There is no question that Philly is a great place to hit for power, especially if you are right handed.

 

[Rudi]

Yeah I can't believe they tendered Janish, the worst regular player in the majors last year.

Some perspective on how bad Janish was last year...his OPS was lower than the slugging percentage of three players...Votto, Alonso, and DONTRELLE WILLIS.

Yes, a pitcher had a higher slugging than Janish's OPS!

Janish had a lower OBP than three pitchers on the Reds.

I'm being completely serious when I saw I would rather have Mike Leake, Dontrelle Willis or Travis Wood at the plate than Janish. God he is terrible.

 

[nflman2033]

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.

I hope you're right

 

[NAHSTE]

Park stats are highly suspect in a lot of cases. There is no question that Philly is a great place to hit for power, especially if you are right handed.

Look at the fucking dimensions and you can tell it's a slight hitter's park. At least now the walls are painted with accurate distances, unlike when it first opened with inflated measurements.

 

[Lanteri]

Sox acquire Mark Melancon

The Red Sox may have traded for their replacement for departed closer Jonathan Papelbon.

Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal was the first to report that the Red Sox have acquired reliever Mark Melancon from the Astros for infielder Jed Lowrie and reliever Kyle Weiland.

Melancon, a hard-throwing 26-year-old righthander, had a 2.78 earned run average and 20 saves in 74.1 innings for Houston last season. He struck out 66 and walked 26. His numbers suggest he could serve as the Red Sox closer in '12, though he may also be the first of many pieces added to the bullpen, especially if Daniel Bard ends up in the rotation. Oakland closer Andrew Bailey is one among a handful of potential relievers the Red Sox could still pursue.

Lowrie, a versatile but injury-plagued infielder, hit .252 with six home runs and a .687 OPS in 341 at-bats last season. In parts of four seasons with the Red Sox, the 27-year-old batted .252 with a .732 OPS in 256 games.

Weiland made his major league debut with the Red Sox last season, going 0-3 with a 7.66 ERA in seven appearances (five starts). Three of those starts came in September, when the attrition on the Red Sox' pitching staff forced them to use him in a role he probably wasn't quite ready for. The 24-year-old sinkerballer projects as a relief pitcher in the majors.

Melancon (pronounced Muh-lansen) began his career in the Yankees organization after being drafted in the ninth round of the 2006 draft. He pitched 15 games for New York in 2009-10 (4.87 ERA) before being traded to the Astros at the July 31 trade deadline in '10 along with Jimmy Paredes in exchange for Lance Berkman.

Melancon made the most of his opportunity with the Astros, going 10-4 with a 2.85 ERA in 91 appearances over the past two seasons.

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2011/12/report_sox_acqu_2.html

 

[moneyman255]

Brewers gave Alex Gonzalez 4.25 million? And an easy vesting option for another 4?

Wake me up when this bad dream is over.

Betancourt had a 6 million option with a 2 million buyout. He was looking for another 2 million in FA.

Would you rather pay Betancourt 1/4 or Alex Gonzalez 1/4.25? He's slightly overpaid but it's a one year deal so meh. If he reaches 525 PA the option vests, so it probably will, but you never know.

I would rather have Alex Gonzalez at 1/4.25 over Furcal at 2/14.

What other options were around? Reyes, no. Barmes? He got over 5 million as well. So did Carroll.

 

[NAHSTE]

According to mlbtr the O's discussed Jurrjens and Prado. This is like the Expectations vs Reality scene in 500 Days of Summer. I'm expecting Adam Jones but we'll probably get stuck with something crappier.

 

[Woy]

The Shredder signs with Boston. 2 yr/$3M.

 

[Leftwich]

According to mlbtr the O's discussed Jurrjens and Prado. This is like the Expectations vs Reality scene in 500 Days of Summer. I'm expecting Adam Jones but we'll probably get stuck with something crappier.

Noland Reimold or Felix Pie... pick your poison.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

Melancon is a sneaky acquisition for Boston, he's good.

 

[Goober]

Betancourt had a 6 million option with a 2 million buyout. He was looking for another 2 million in FA.

Would you rather pay Betancourt 1/4 or Alex Gonzalez 1/4.25? He's slightly overpaid but it's a one year deal so meh. If he reaches 525 PA the option vests, so it probably will, but you never know.

I would rather have Alex Gonzalez at 1/4.25 over Furcal at 2/14.

What other options were around? Reyes, no. Barmes? He got over 5 million as well. So did Carroll.

Barmes and Carroll are both better then Gonzalez. I laughed at the contracts they got, but Foug Melvin just waited another week to go full retard.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

Barmes and Carroll are both better then Gonzalez. I laughed at the contracts they got, but Foug Melvin just waited another week to go full retard.

Not much of an upgrade from Betancourt.

Was there anyone in house who could give you .290 OBA and average defense? Otherwise, you were going to have to overpay someone, because all of these MI are getting paid this offseason.

 

[StealthShot]

I really hope Yanks didn't put an offer out for Yu Darvish, the Japanese pitchers just can't pitch here it's all in the numbers. Hope the rangers blow it up and bid $100 million in cash.