Monday, December 08, 2003
Our Sox
Todd Walker, John Burkett, Jeff Suppan, Todd Jones, Robert Person and Bill Haselman were not offered arbitration. No surprises. Walker is poor in the field and beside his heroics in the playoffs is not a good hitter. He is average. Walker is not worth $3.45 + million would have received in arbitration. It is sad to see Jeff Suppan go. No wait; it is not. What is sad is that nothing was really gained from giving up Freddy Sanchez. If it were not for the Lyon health issue, almost requiring Theo to make the deal "whole", it would have looked like some of Dan Duquette's work.
Dave McCarty signed a minor league deal.
Malaska claimed off waivers from Tampa. Sour-suck should be non-tendered.
Blue Jays
Signed former Red Sox and nearly every other team too, Bruce Chen, to a minor league deal. Will Chen finally live up to the potential scouts loved when he was a prospect in Hot-lanta? If not, I'll steal a line from Earl Weaver; let's see if he can throw side-arm.
Signed Chi-Hung Chen to a minor league deal like Sargeant Schultz or is it Schlitz, "I know nothing."
Signed Kerry Lightenberg to a two-year $4.5 million contract. Did Lightenberg make out after not having his $1.2 million option picked up by the O's or what. It seems like the Jays paid a bit much for the reliever. On the field, Lightenberg is very tough on RHB and durable coming out of the pen.
A's
Finally, traded T Long and Ramon Hernandez to S.D. for Mark Kotsay. Beside the back injury, my issue with this deal is who is behind the plate. It is much easier to find diamonds in the rough for the pen than at catcher. San Diego appears to be hot after Jacque Jones now that Stewart has signed or sign Kenny Lofton. Jones is much better than Lofton. Jones to S.D. deal should get done and quickly before the MFY jump in on Jones. S.D. also signed Rod Beck for $1.85 million to set-up for Hoffman. This doesn't relate to the Sox but this is a must read.
Mariners
Resigned Hasegawa for two years at $6.3 million. Relief pitchers that do not strike out guys should not be signed to big money. Hasegawa has 371 strike outs in 585 innings or 5.7 per nine. This season, his most productive with an ERA of 1.48, his rate actually dropped to 3.95. It has steadily declined. Not a good trend for any pitcher, let alone one at age 35.
Declined arbitration offers to Mike Cameron, Arthur Rhodes, Armando Benitez, John Marby, Mark McLemore, and Rey Sanchez. The only surprise was Cameron. Even though he would not fit into the M's future, there was little chance Cameron would accept a one-year deal. He is the only legit center fielder on the market. The laws of supply and demand are in his favor. Plus, like Cliff Floyd last season, this is his last chance for a big pay day or a multi-year deal approaching $20 million at 30. If the Mets or any team is hot after Damon, the Sox should seriously consider inking Cameron. His rumored price is about $6-7 million per season for a three to four year deal. Rhodes is still a good pitcher, but not worth his likely award. Same for Benitez but he has tremendous upside due to his good K/BB rate. A big park and low pressure situation like Oakland or Florida would be great for him.
Others
Little Matsui signed with the little new york baseball team while the Big New York team has Big Matsui - fitting. The first step is completed in increasing the bargaining power of Theo in dealing with L.A. and Anaheim. Tejada needs to sign in Seattle.
Castillo resigns to crush any foolish media speculation that he might be bound for Boston. Castillo is overrated and his production will fall sharply.
Robin Ventura resigns with L.A. He might not have been a bad platoon mate at the hot corner with someone. Mueller would move to second.
On those same lines, Joe Randa resigned with the Royals. Randa's last two seasons were consistent and productive placing him in the top third among third basemen. A one-year deal for the 33 year-old is a nice move by Allard Baird.
Todd Walker, John Burkett, Jeff Suppan, Todd Jones, Robert Person and Bill Haselman were not offered arbitration. No surprises. Walker is poor in the field and beside his heroics in the playoffs is not a good hitter. He is average. Walker is not worth $3.45 + million would have received in arbitration. It is sad to see Jeff Suppan go. No wait; it is not. What is sad is that nothing was really gained from giving up Freddy Sanchez. If it were not for the Lyon health issue, almost requiring Theo to make the deal "whole", it would have looked like some of Dan Duquette's work.
Dave McCarty signed a minor league deal.
Malaska claimed off waivers from Tampa. Sour-suck should be non-tendered.
Blue Jays
Signed former Red Sox and nearly every other team too, Bruce Chen, to a minor league deal. Will Chen finally live up to the potential scouts loved when he was a prospect in Hot-lanta? If not, I'll steal a line from Earl Weaver; let's see if he can throw side-arm.
Signed Chi-Hung Chen to a minor league deal like Sargeant Schultz or is it Schlitz, "I know nothing."
Signed Kerry Lightenberg to a two-year $4.5 million contract. Did Lightenberg make out after not having his $1.2 million option picked up by the O's or what. It seems like the Jays paid a bit much for the reliever. On the field, Lightenberg is very tough on RHB and durable coming out of the pen.
A's
Finally, traded T Long and Ramon Hernandez to S.D. for Mark Kotsay. Beside the back injury, my issue with this deal is who is behind the plate. It is much easier to find diamonds in the rough for the pen than at catcher. San Diego appears to be hot after Jacque Jones now that Stewart has signed or sign Kenny Lofton. Jones is much better than Lofton. Jones to S.D. deal should get done and quickly before the MFY jump in on Jones. S.D. also signed Rod Beck for $1.85 million to set-up for Hoffman. This doesn't relate to the Sox but this is a must read.
Mariners
Resigned Hasegawa for two years at $6.3 million. Relief pitchers that do not strike out guys should not be signed to big money. Hasegawa has 371 strike outs in 585 innings or 5.7 per nine. This season, his most productive with an ERA of 1.48, his rate actually dropped to 3.95. It has steadily declined. Not a good trend for any pitcher, let alone one at age 35.
Declined arbitration offers to Mike Cameron, Arthur Rhodes, Armando Benitez, John Marby, Mark McLemore, and Rey Sanchez. The only surprise was Cameron. Even though he would not fit into the M's future, there was little chance Cameron would accept a one-year deal. He is the only legit center fielder on the market. The laws of supply and demand are in his favor. Plus, like Cliff Floyd last season, this is his last chance for a big pay day or a multi-year deal approaching $20 million at 30. If the Mets or any team is hot after Damon, the Sox should seriously consider inking Cameron. His rumored price is about $6-7 million per season for a three to four year deal. Rhodes is still a good pitcher, but not worth his likely award. Same for Benitez but he has tremendous upside due to his good K/BB rate. A big park and low pressure situation like Oakland or Florida would be great for him.
Others
Little Matsui signed with the little new york baseball team while the Big New York team has Big Matsui - fitting. The first step is completed in increasing the bargaining power of Theo in dealing with L.A. and Anaheim. Tejada needs to sign in Seattle.
Castillo resigns to crush any foolish media speculation that he might be bound for Boston. Castillo is overrated and his production will fall sharply.
Robin Ventura resigns with L.A. He might not have been a bad platoon mate at the hot corner with someone. Mueller would move to second.
On those same lines, Joe Randa resigned with the Royals. Randa's last two seasons were consistent and productive placing him in the top third among third basemen. A one-year deal for the 33 year-old is a nice move by Allard Baird.
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