2009/2010 Hot Stove Thread

[Potomac Cannons]

If I were filling out the Os line up right now, it'd be:

Roberts - 2d
Jones - CF
Markakis - RF
Reimold - DH
Weiters - C
Scott/ Wigginton - 1B
Atkins - 3B
Pie - LF
Izturis - SS

That's not bad.  I'd bat Pie at 7 ahead of Atkins, or in the 9 slot as a second leadoff guy.  McPhail is really getting them headed the right direction.  Gettting Bell up at 3B and finding the next middle infielders (Roberts turns 33 at the end of next season) is all they need on offense.  Their staff and pen are in decent condition and they've got arms coming along.  I think they could sneak into 3rd in the AL East this year.

[ronnynat]

Hoping they've found their setup man on the other side of the globe, the New York Mets agreed to a $3 million, two-year contract with Japanese reliever Ryota Igarashi on Thursday.

http://bit.ly/5N0EiX

[tomterp]

Bowden said tonight on XM that the Mets were very determined to sign both Bay and Molina.

[PatsNats28]

I can definitely see that happening. Bay for like 6 years, 100 million or something near that, and Molina for 3 years, 32 mil or something like that.

[PANatsFan]

The Mets have gone all Sportsfan on this offseason

[The Chief]

The Mets have gone all Sportsfan on this offseason

I thought they hadn't done anything yet?

[PANatsFan]

I thought they hadn't done anything yet?

They are throwing money around now. They got a Japanese reliever, and are throwing money at Bay and Molina, determined to get it done.

[ronnynat]

OT: Oh man, the A's are SO bad. Terrible rotation and their lineup is even worse.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/teams/depth?team=oak

[DPMOmaha]

OT: Oh man, the A's are SO bad. Terrible rotation and their lineup is even worse.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/teams/depth?team=oak

Moneyball baby, Muhn-EE Ball!

[KnorrForYourMoney]

OT: Oh man, the A's are SO bad. Terrible rotation and their lineup is even worse.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/teams/depth?team=oak

Their line-up is a complete joke.  It's astounding.

Anderson and Cahill are intriguing, but they really need a veteran starter to go with them.

[PatsNats28]

Still, you know they're gonna win at least 75 games.

[PatsNats28]

M's get a steal for Milton Bradley.

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/news/story?id=4754761

[ronnynat]

M's get a steal for Milton Bradley.

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/news/story?id=4754761

Yeah, I like that deal for them. Great offseason for the Mariners so far. I still think they need a first baseman, but I do like Mike Carp.

[Potomac Cannons]

OT: Oh man, the A's are SO bad. Terrible rotation and their lineup is even worse.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/teams/depth?team=oak

That's not even that good of a AAA lineup.  Billy Beane we hardly knew ye.

[Potomac Cannons]

M's get a steal for Milton Bradley.

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/news/story?id=4754761

Bradley can hit if you keep him in check.  Losing Silva also frees up cash in the long term.  Don't be surprised if this means they grab another SP or make a surprise move for someone like Bay (and limit Griffey to pinch hitting mostly).

[DPMOmaha]

M's get a steal for Milton Bradley.

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/news/story?id=4754761

I think the Cubs just wanted to get rid of him...

[PatsNats28]

I think the Cubs just wanted to get rid of him...

yea i kno they did.

is milton bradley a good fielder?

[DPMOmaha]

yea i kno they did.

is milton bradley a good fielder?

When he's not getting his 2's and 3's mixed up, I think he's ok.  Don't know that he's a gold glover though...

[PatsNats28]

so basically he's better than bay then?

[DPMOmaha]

Well, as far as talent goes, probably, but he's got so many other ancillary issues, that his bads generally outweigh his goods by the time you get to August.

[Potomac Cannons]

so basically he's better than bay then?

Think of an amplification of all of Jose Guillen's attributes, positive and negative.

EDIT:  Also think 7 teams in 10 years and now team 8 for year 11.

[PatsNats28]

i meant his fielding alone

[Potomac Cannons]

i meant his fielding alone

I'd say his bat and his fielding are better than Bay, but I'd rather have Bay.  I'm thinking Seattle would DH Bay if they sign him and use him in LF on days when one of the other OFs are getting a rest.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

OT: Oh man, the A's are SO bad. Terrible rotation and their lineup is even worse.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/teams/depth?team=oak

Sorry, Ronny, but that's a great young rotation.  Anderson was awesome and had a legit shot for ROY if it weren't for Bailey.  Check out the articles written ahead of the vote.  Cahill had a bit of control problems last year, but he got away from throwing his breaking stuff thathad been successful.  Outman is effective (and a great name) and Gio Gonzalez is a good hard thrower.  Mazzaro I know  little less about, but there is no way that is not a great young rotation.  Moneyball?  finding value.  No need to overpay for free agents with talent like that.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Cahill:

Heading into the 2009 season, Baseball America ranked Cahill as the second-best prospect in the Oakland A’s system (Brett Anderson was first). BA complemented Cahill’s two-seam fastball “with outstanding sink and running life, enabling him to rack up both grounders and swinging strikes.” But that was just the tip of the iceberg as far as his repertoire was concerned: Cahill also came equipped with a “nasty 79-81 MPH knuckle curve,” a low-80’s slider and a developing changeup.

Cahill figured to open the ‘09 campaign at AAA Sacramento. Instead, the A’s jumped the 21 year-old up to the majors. While his minor league tag-team partner Anderson made a seamless transition (3.61 xFIP in 175.1 IP), Cahill just tried to keep his head above water.
. . .
Trevor Cahill didn’t exactly burst onto the scene in 2009, but he really shouldn’t have been expected to do so. He had little experience above A-Ball prior to this past season, and he did manage to avoid getting embarrassed in the majors at an age where most guys are toiling in the lower levels of the minors or gearing up for their junior season in college.

In order for Cahill to live up to his promise, he’s going to have to dust off his breaking pitches and keep lefties from getting so comfortable in the batter’s box. He has a lot of work to do, but don’t get too discouraged. Cahill will only be 22 years old in 2010. There’s plenty of time for him to rediscover his whiff-inducing ways.

Cannons - you notice Anderson's xFIP?

Outman is a bit of moot point this year due to his TJ last June, but his performance was nothing to sneeze at - 67.3 IP, 4-2, 53 Ks, 25 BB, 3.48 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 4.37 FIP.