.A lot of speculation on the writers and bloggers part for much of the week as GM's send out rumors through writers or people (like Peter Gammons or Ken Rosenthal) are able to gather up some very interesting tidbits, most of which won't come true but who doesn't like to play the speculation game, nothing ever goes wrong there, all happy thoughts, for the most part. And then there's super agent extroardinaire Scott Boras. He's like Nick Naylor, except instead of convincing you cigarettes aren't bad he's selling you that his players won't underachieve throughout the life of the contract, and it works time and time and time again. Derek Lowe, Jason Varitek and Mark Teixeira may have not signed with anyone yet but they're waiting for the market to set and I can guarantee Teixeira is going to get at least 19 more likely 20 million a year.
But now talking about the deals that went down over the week:
- C.C Sabathia - signs with Yankees 7 years 161 million
With plenty of salary coming off the books for the New York Yankees you knew they were going to be active, even before the meetings, letting go Andy Pettite, Jason Giambi and Bobby Abreu (though they all could be back) re-signing reliever Damaso Marte and acquiring Nick Swisher from the White Sox on the cheap after he had a down year. So as I said, the Yanks had money to spend and there target was #1 free agent and future staff ace CC Sabathia. He signed a 7 year 161 million dollar deal with a clause in his contract that he can opt out of after the 3rd year if he so chooses. This is a very risky move, but could be have a huge payoff if he fetches them a World Series trophy, the Yankees struggled with there young starting pitching and also experiences plenty of injuries too so obviously this was there main priorities.
This entire deal in my opinion heavily favors C.C. instead of being a team friendly deal, if he picks up where he left off and is a top 5 pitcher for the next 3 years, he can opt out and get another 7 year deal (he'll only be 31) plus he has a full no trade clause. Also if C.C. gets injured that's another risk to the deal in his favor, he has thrown nearly 500 innings in the regular season the past 2 years and by the time the playoffs have come around he has been gassed, giving up 20 ER in 4 post season starts. And everyone is always going to be worried about his weight, it's not as big a deal to me as potential arm injuries are but when you weigh over 300 pounds that will be the 1st thing people want to talk about, especially since the media is so weight conscience.
All in all, you figured this deal was going to happen, the Yanks always make the big splash when they see someone they like and he and newcomer AJ Burnett help solidify this rotation with Chien-Ming Wang and hopefully a healthy Phillip Hughes and Joba Chamberlain at the back of the rotation. It's a risky proposition but when you're making the kind of dough the Yankees are pulling in you tend to not worry about such trivial things. Now all they really need to do is get 1 more decent starter for some added depth.- AJ Burnett - signs with Yankees 5 years 82.5 million
When people say don't give pitchers long term contracts this is what they mean, in 2 years we may look back on this as one of the dumbest moves in the last 5 years when it comes to free agnecy. I'm curious if part of the reason they signed him was because of his recent sucess vs. the Yankees (2007 15 IP 1 ER 13 K's, 2008 38.1 7 ER 43 K's) This guy's always had the stuff and the heat which has what's been attractive about this fireballer but he's constantly hurt, the only 2 times he's gone over 200 IP's were both in contract years. Now aside from his contract years in the past 5 years he's been a good pitcher but he's also going to miss 10 starts a year for various injuries, and I won't be shocked if it happens this year (or any year) as the Blue Jays pitched him a career high 221 innings this past year. If they wanted to sign an oft-injured but effective starting pitcher they could have gone after Ben Sheets, his contract would have twice as short and twice as cheap. Last year at 118 innings he had a 5.23 ERA and his last 100 innings pitched was able to widdle it down to 4.07, now maybe he sorted some things out or it could have been the money motivating him to get his ERA down to respectability.- Francisco Rodriguez - signs with New York Mets 3 years 37 million
- I was shocked that this deal went down so fast, it's like K-Rod took the 1st offer and was fine with that, if you would have told me 2 months ago he would have gotten this deal I would have laughed at you, I was damn near convinced he'd get at least 5 years for around 12 million a year. So in that sense it's a steal, especially given the short coming of the Mets bullpen the last 2 years. But I'm still expecting him to break down, given his already 450 IP as a reliever and he's not even 27, his violent delivery and his K rate falling and his WHIP rising, there just isn't much to like aside from past reputation. He just better not screw up in the 1st month of the season where the fans will be edgy after the last 2 years of September collapses.
- In a 3 team trade: Seattle trades relievers JJ Putz and Sean Green and OF Jeremy Reed. They received reliever Aaron Heilman, LHP Jason Vargas outfielders Franklin Gutierrez and Endy Chavez along with 3 minor leaguers. The Mets received JJ Putz, Sean Green and Jeremy Reed and traded Heilman, Vargas, Chavez and traded RP Joe Smith to the Indians. The Indians received Smith and 2nd baseman Luis Valbuena and traded Gutierrez.
The Mets did a good job reshaping there bullpen this week and provided JJ Putz can stay healthy they come out big in this trade as he could possibly be a top setup man in the game, Reed can provide quality defense (and come in late games) and Green gets groundballs and be a decent guy to come in the 6th and 7th innings.
For the Mariners I really think it's a bunch of mediocrity they're getting back, Gutierrez has a shot to become a solid everyday starter (and he's already an above average defender) But there's nothing special about Vargas utility player Endy Chavez or Aaron Heillman. This just makes me wonder who the closer will be for Seattle because I assume stud pitcher Brandon Morrow is going back in the starting rotation. The minor leaguers are interesting, they acquired 1st baseman Mike Carp who looks like he can step in at the start or middle of next season and be the team's 1st baseman, he's got decent power but nice OBP skills. And then there's 19 year old Maikel Cleto who throws 95 MPH, down the road he could possibly work out as a back end of the bullpen piece.
For the Indians the 2nd baseman appears to be a spare part but Joe Smith is a solid guy for them to plug into the 7th inning. I'd say the Mets come out big winners in this trade and the Indians come out pretty good considering they were the 3rd wheel in this trade. The Mariners finished 3rd with there collection of mediocrity, although if there minor leaguers they got work out they can move up on this list. Interesting trade by there new GM. - Raul Ibanez - signs with Philadelphia Phillies for 3 years 31 million dollars
This move was just a dumb move, I mean don't get me wrong Ibanez is a good player who's had 20 homers and 100 rbi's the last 3 years, but he'll also turn 37 next June and he's already a terrible defensive player, something you can't hide in the National league. I realize they were hesitant to resign Pat Burrell but he would have been a lot smarter signing then Ibanez, who's also a left hander I might add. So if they go a 3-4-5 of Utley/Howard/Ibanez you have 3 left handers up in a row, not exactly a good strategy. I suppose if Jayson Werth picks up where he left off last year he will hit 3rd inbetween Utley and Howard but that's still 3 out of 4 lefties in a row and 2 of those guys have struggled against lefties. Burrell is younger, has more power and a higher slugging % and gets on base more. It appears whoever signs him will be getting a bargain. He'd be great for a team in need of a DH.- Tampa Bay Rays trade SP Edwin Jackson to the Detroit Tigers for OF Matt Joyce
This was a smart move for the Rays, they were in need of another outfielder and needing to get rid of either Andy Sonnanstine or Edwin Jackson to make room for incoming superstar David Price. Jackson has the upside but with his lack of control Sonnanstine was a safer pick. Jackson was a league average pitcher last year but he was a bit lucky too, with a 1.50 WHIP 199 hits given up and 77 walks in 183 innings. Plus his strikeout numbers decreased by 20 despite throwing 22 more innings, not a great sign for a pitcher who lacks control. But he may be helped by the spacious Comerica Park in Detroit. Matt Joyce on the other hand had a very high slugging % and a .830 OPS in 300 AB's last year as a rookie, he profiles as a platoon player who can hit righties. I'd say the trade is about even with the upside of Jackson possibly swinging in there favor if he ever figures it out. - Kyle Farnsworth - KC Royals for 2 years 9.25 million dollars
This signing kind of reminds me of Family Guy when Chris Griffin walks out of a movie starring Kevin Costner and he replies, "How does Kevin Costner keep getting work?" Oh what I would give to have a 100 MPH fastball, as long as you have that you will always have a contract (wait for recently released Daniel Cabrera to get snatched up) I'm sure there were cheaper more effective relievers the Royals could have signed but maybe it's because current GM used to work as an asst. in the Atlanta Braves front office (although Farnsworth was only there for half a season) Dumb signing, only positive is this "experiment" can be done in 2 years. - Kerry Wood - Cleveland Indians 2 years 20.5 million with club option
- Fantastic signing by a fantastic GM in Mark Shapiro, Wood was an effective closer for the Cubs last year and as long as he's in relief appears to be able to stay healthy. He had a 3.26 ERA converting 34 out of 40 save opportunities and 84 K's in 66.1 innings. This helps Cleveland adress a major weakness in the back of there bullpen as they look to be contenders next season. And if it doesn't work out, he'll be gone in 2 years anyways, nice signing.
Ramon Vazquez - Pittsburgh Pirates 2 years 4 million- I'm going to miss this beautiful mustache. He was another success for hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo and he was a great #9 hitter for the Rangers this year. He provided some timely hits but shaky defense. He also was the guy who hit a 3 run homer 2 seasons ago in Baltimore to give the Rangers 30 runs, so you have to love him for that. He got a big of a big head at times feeling entitled to playing time despite being a utility player his entire career, almost not being able to accept going back in that role. I wish him the best, cheap but effective signing by a team that doesn't make them that often.
- IF'ers Casey Blake & Mark Loretta - Dodgers Blake signs for 3 years and Loretta for 1.
The Dodgers now found there everyday 3rd baseman in Casey Blake, he'll provide good defense and decent power, offensively he is slightly above average and I imagine those #'s will go down when he plays his games in Chavez Ravine. Loretta is an underrated player, he won't provide much power but the past 4 years he's hit .280 and a .350 OBP, a quality backup who can fill in at multiple positions at this point in his career. - Baltimore Orioles trade Ramon Hernandez to the Cincinatti Reds for Utility man Ryan Freel and minor leaguers Justin Turner and Brandon Waring
This trade was done so the Orioles could make room for the best position player prospect in the game catcher Matt Weiters. It works for the Reds as they get rid of the overpaid Freel and fill a position of starting catcher that they had been looking for since last season. Freel had been a decent utility man playing multiple positions but had missed over half the season the past 2 years. He's the type of player fans love to come see for his all out hustle and diving for balls in the outfield. Hernandez I feel is better then this package though, the Orioles last year had embarrassing play at SS and this trade should have been able to provide them either a decent starter at SS or a future piece, and if not that, why not try and get a decent pitcher (like Homer Bailey?) The important thing for them is that Weiters (the early favority for rookie of the year) won't have to split time at the major league level next year and doesn't have to look over his shoulder in case he struggles at the start. He'll be a fantastic catcher sooner rather then later and an MVP candidate in a few years.
After this trade the Reds also signed 37 year old lefty reliever Arthur Rhodes to a 2 year deal, another nice cheap signing for someone who had a bounceback year last season.
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