Monday, November 17, 2003
RANDOM RAMBLINGS REGARDING RUMORS RELATED TO BASEBALL
Below is from a Baseball Prospectus chat with Houston Assistant GM, Tim Purpura prior to the Wagner deal to Philly.
phil (tx): Given the exceptional performances given by Lidge and Dotel this year, what is the probability of moving Wagner?
Tim Purpura: As we have been doing for the past 6-7 years, we'll look this off-season to gain payroll flexibility and improve our club. As for trades, you are always better dealing from a position of strength and we do, as you note, have strength in the bullpen. So that maybe a target. However, to use Wagner as an example, when you make a trade it's about talent and now days it's about money. We have $8 million committed to Wag's for 04 and $9 for 05 (or a $3million buyout) so you have to find a club willing to take on that amount. Easier said than done.
Tim, your guys made it look easy.
Jason Starks take on Curt Schilling:
"There are two teams the Diamondbacks know I'll talk with if they try to make a trade with them," Schilling said. "That's the Yankees and Phillies. Other than that, there are no hidden factors, no hidden agendas."
Trading Schilling is still the Diamondbacks' most clear-cut way to open enough payroll space to make budget and deal for a one-year rental of Richie Sexson. And Schilling is an astute enough observer of the baseball scene to know that the free-agent crowd, a year from now, will include Pedro Martinez, Javier Vazquez, Matt Morris and Kerry Wood. And at 38, he'll be considerably older than all those other aces.
And if he's going to be a sensible businessman about this, given his alternatives, wouldn't it be wiser to negotiate his best deal with the Yankees now than to wait and take his chances in a year? Heck, yes.
"You know," Schilling laughed, "it's not rocket science."
It is about the Benjamins for Schilling. The Sox are out because they will not extend the aging power pitcher. Schilling will be a MFY because they are the only club that has the resources and the tolerance for foolish contracts. Schilling will get three years at $36 million. BTW, the Sox should pull a Corleno-esque scheme by drugging Brian Cashman, planting him with a dead hooker and have Mike Port take care of the situation. Cashman would be in debt to Don Theo. It could happen; the winter meetings are in the Southern City of Sin, New Orleans.
Good news from Stark is that...Sources who have spoken with the Yankees say they're convinced Guerrero has no serious interest in playing in New York, and they're wary of being used to drive up his price tag.
Back to bad news...teams and agents that have spoken with the Astros think there's no way they could even come close to the four-year, $52-million deal the Yankees are reportedly ready to hand Pettitte.
The decision for A.P. seems like a family versus career decision.
More from Stark...One GM predicted last week that Greg Maddux will wind up in Boston. But every indication is that Maddux prefers to stay in the National League, for all sorts of reasons...Atlanta, then one of the NL West teams not located in Colorado
No way Maddux in Beantown; San Diego appears to be a good fit. Word is it is Maddux or Wells. If David Wells signs with San Diego, just a short train ride to Tijuanauina, it has international incident written all over it and possibly the repeal of NAFTA.
Jason gets all the good stuff..."I think Fred is obsessed with bringing a big name into New York," our source says. "And he might do it whether it makes sense or not."
Rebuilding is not an option and it would substantiate the daily rumors from the New York tabloids that Cameron, Millwood, Koch, Foulke, Escobar, Urbina, Tejada and A-Rod are all heading to Flushing. Hey, what about Ramirez?
Speaking of Manny...I concur with Ed Cossette regarding Gammons' latest tease in Manny-gate.
Adam Kennedy was believed to be a potential non-tender option for the Angels, but The Post has learned Anaheim is certain to offer him a contract and not expose him to other teams.
If this turns out to be true, which would not be a surprise since the new owner will raise payroll to $90 million, it squashes my first choice for the Sox second base vacancy.
Toronto Sun: "J.P. Ricciardi yesterday went shopping for a closer. In the afternoon he met with Rick Thurman, agent for free agent right-hander Tom Gordon."
Gordon could be the steal of the relief pitching free agent market. J.P. is a smart man and I bet he has had ice cream from J.P. Licks.
Below is from a Baseball Prospectus chat with Houston Assistant GM, Tim Purpura prior to the Wagner deal to Philly.
phil (tx): Given the exceptional performances given by Lidge and Dotel this year, what is the probability of moving Wagner?
Tim Purpura: As we have been doing for the past 6-7 years, we'll look this off-season to gain payroll flexibility and improve our club. As for trades, you are always better dealing from a position of strength and we do, as you note, have strength in the bullpen. So that maybe a target. However, to use Wagner as an example, when you make a trade it's about talent and now days it's about money. We have $8 million committed to Wag's for 04 and $9 for 05 (or a $3million buyout) so you have to find a club willing to take on that amount. Easier said than done.
Tim, your guys made it look easy.
Jason Starks take on Curt Schilling:
"There are two teams the Diamondbacks know I'll talk with if they try to make a trade with them," Schilling said. "That's the Yankees and Phillies. Other than that, there are no hidden factors, no hidden agendas."
Trading Schilling is still the Diamondbacks' most clear-cut way to open enough payroll space to make budget and deal for a one-year rental of Richie Sexson. And Schilling is an astute enough observer of the baseball scene to know that the free-agent crowd, a year from now, will include Pedro Martinez, Javier Vazquez, Matt Morris and Kerry Wood. And at 38, he'll be considerably older than all those other aces.
And if he's going to be a sensible businessman about this, given his alternatives, wouldn't it be wiser to negotiate his best deal with the Yankees now than to wait and take his chances in a year? Heck, yes.
"You know," Schilling laughed, "it's not rocket science."
It is about the Benjamins for Schilling. The Sox are out because they will not extend the aging power pitcher. Schilling will be a MFY because they are the only club that has the resources and the tolerance for foolish contracts. Schilling will get three years at $36 million. BTW, the Sox should pull a Corleno-esque scheme by drugging Brian Cashman, planting him with a dead hooker and have Mike Port take care of the situation. Cashman would be in debt to Don Theo. It could happen; the winter meetings are in the Southern City of Sin, New Orleans.
Good news from Stark is that...Sources who have spoken with the Yankees say they're convinced Guerrero has no serious interest in playing in New York, and they're wary of being used to drive up his price tag.
Back to bad news...teams and agents that have spoken with the Astros think there's no way they could even come close to the four-year, $52-million deal the Yankees are reportedly ready to hand Pettitte.
The decision for A.P. seems like a family versus career decision.
More from Stark...One GM predicted last week that Greg Maddux will wind up in Boston. But every indication is that Maddux prefers to stay in the National League, for all sorts of reasons...Atlanta, then one of the NL West teams not located in Colorado
No way Maddux in Beantown; San Diego appears to be a good fit. Word is it is Maddux or Wells. If David Wells signs with San Diego, just a short train ride to Tijuanauina, it has international incident written all over it and possibly the repeal of NAFTA.
Jason gets all the good stuff..."I think Fred is obsessed with bringing a big name into New York," our source says. "And he might do it whether it makes sense or not."
Rebuilding is not an option and it would substantiate the daily rumors from the New York tabloids that Cameron, Millwood, Koch, Foulke, Escobar, Urbina, Tejada and A-Rod are all heading to Flushing. Hey, what about Ramirez?
Speaking of Manny...I concur with Ed Cossette regarding Gammons' latest tease in Manny-gate.
Adam Kennedy was believed to be a potential non-tender option for the Angels, but The Post has learned Anaheim is certain to offer him a contract and not expose him to other teams.
If this turns out to be true, which would not be a surprise since the new owner will raise payroll to $90 million, it squashes my first choice for the Sox second base vacancy.
Toronto Sun: "J.P. Ricciardi yesterday went shopping for a closer. In the afternoon he met with Rick Thurman, agent for free agent right-hander Tom Gordon."
Gordon could be the steal of the relief pitching free agent market. J.P. is a smart man and I bet he has had ice cream from J.P. Licks.
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