MLB Hot Stove 2005-06

[Mofoticon]

How does a career 49-50 pitcher get 55 million from a team? This smells of Darren Dreifort all over again

A pitcher with a lifetime ERA of 3.73 who recorded 198 strikeouts in 32 games last year? Say what you will but if it pans out, there aren't going to many teams in the league with a 1-2 punch better than Halladay-Burnett.

[Lowerdeck]

Burnett is a HUGE overpay. He isn't that bad, but that's ace money, where as he's maybe a #3 pitcher. He won't do nearly as good in the AL as he did in Florida.

[Green Demon]

DALLAS -- The Florida Marlins likely finished their salary purge on Wednesday, sending center fielder Juan Pierre to the Chicago Cubs for right-hander Sergio Mitre and Double-A pitchers Ricky Nolasco and Renyel Pinto.

Marlins' 2005 Opening Day Lineup

CF Juan Pierre -- traded

2B Luis Castillo -- traded

LF Miguel Cabrera -- moved to 3B

1B Carlos Delgado -- traded

3B Mike Lowell -- traded

C Paul Lo Duca -- traded

RF Juan Encarnacion -- FA

SS Alex Gonzalez -- FA

P Josh Beckett -- traded

The only high-priced players remaining on the Marlins roster are 22-game winner Dontrelle Willis and slugger Miguel Cabrera, who are eligible for salary arbitration for the first time but not expected to be traded. Pierre is eligible for salary arbitration and expected to make $5 million to $6 million in 2006.

In all, the Marlins have cut about $45 million in 2006 payroll after starting last year at $60 million. Leaving through trade or free agency are: Josh Beckett, A.J. Burnett, Paul Lo Duca, Luis Castillo, Mike Lowell, Guillermo Mota and Carlos Delgado.

Other Marlins free agents not expected to be re-signed include outfielder Jeff Conine, second baseman Damion Easley and shortstop Alex Gonzalez.

"I'm glad I'm not down there any more. Fire sales are always tough," Burnett said Tuesday after agreeing to a five-year, $55 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. "They'd better teach Dontrelle how to play all nine positions."

The 28-year-old Pierre batted .276 with 181 hits, 96 runs and 57 stolen bases last season.

Mitre was 2-5 with a 5.37 ERA in 60 1/3 innings. Pinto, a lefty, was 10-3 with a 2.71 ERA in Double-A and Nolasco, a righty, was 14-3 with a 2.89 ERA, also with the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx.

[EWRFan]

Mets are also gunning for Sosa, altough more than likely they wont give big money unless they are sure he is 100% healthy. I think Sosa has a couple more good seasons left. To think that the Mets outfield could be Manny, Beltran and Sosa next year....

[Green Demon]

IMO I think that Sosa is done, last year with the Orioles he really didnt do much and right now I think that he is on the back end of his career it may have something to do with playing in the AL but I wont know for sure unless he plays in the NL again.

[Mofoticon]

Sosa is arguably the worst player in baseball right now. He was a clear product of steroid use, and his body has given him all it will give him. Now he's a 220 hitter with no power and speed.

[EWRFan]

For what I know, local diaries have been rumoring that the Mets might try to sign Sosa or Juan Gonzales to 1 year, 1 million contracts to see what they do, sorta giving them a second chance.

It also seems that the Mets are VERY close to signing Bengie Molina this week and representatives from the organization where visiting Molina this week. Strange since the Mets alredy got LoDuca...didnt they?

[Lowerdeck]

Edgar Renteria just got traded out of Boston for a 3B prospect Andy Marte. So yeah, a big paycheck goes to Atlanta.

I'm just waiting for the clubhouse cancer to join Pedro in Flushing. Sure, he's a damn good hitter and gives protection to Papi. But, might not be worth it if he's just going to be a whiner.

[Guest The Legend]

For what I know, local diaries have been rumoring that the Mets might try to sign Sosa or Juan Gonzales to 1 year, 1 million contracts to see what they do, sorta giving them a second chance.

It also seems that the Mets are VERY close to signing Bengie Molina this week and representatives from the organization where visiting Molina this week. Strange since the Mets alredy got LoDuca...didnt they?

[Guest G3NXCMF]

The 2006 Red Sox offense could be pretty intense with a lineup like: Damon, Loretta, Tejada, Ortiz, Lowell, Nixon, Varitek, Youkilis, [insert left-fielder here].

Not to mention the fact that we bolstered our bullpen and we still have Schilling, Miller, Papelbon, Arroyo, Clement, Beckett, Wakefield, and Wells to decide upon for who will start and who we'll trade.

[million$$man]

SAN DIEGO -- Sean Burroughs had a charmed rise through baseball's ranks, until he couldn't hit home runs.

The third baseman, the son of 1974 AL MVP Jeff Burroughs, was traded from San Diego to Tampa Bay on Wednesday for right-hander Dewon Brazelton, who went AWOL for three weeks after being demoted.

Burroughs and Brazelton are both former first-round draft picks who've struggled. Burroughs was the ninth selection overall in the 1998 amateur draft, and Brazelton was taken with the third pick in 2001.

"This is a classic change-of-scenery trade involving two former No. 1 draft picks that are still young players with tremendous upsides," Devil Rays executive vice president Andrew Friedman said.

The 25-year-old Burroughs has a .282 career average in four major league seasons but slumped badly this year and has just 11 career homers. He was sent to the minor leagues on July 23 to work on his swing; he came back 5½ weeks later and finished with a .250 average, one homer and 17 RBI.

Burroughs was on a boat in the South Pacific on Wednesday and not reachable for comment, agent Arn Tellem said.

Joe Randa, obtained from Cincinnati on the same day Burroughs was demoted, finished the season as San Diego's starting third baseman. Vinny Castilla will play third base for the Padres this year after being acquired from Washington on Nov. 3.

Burroughs starred in the Little League World Series in the early 1990s and helped the United States win the gold medal at the Sydney Olympics in 2000.

The Padres thought so highly of him as a rookie in 2002 that they made room for him at third base by moving Phil Nevin to first, and Ryan Klesko from first to right field.

But his first year was interrupted by injury, a slump and a demotion to Triple-A, He returned later that season.

Brazelton, 25, was Tampa Bay's opening-day starter this season, going 1-8 with a 7.61 ERA in eight starts and 12 relief appearances. The 2004 winner of the Tony Conigliaro Award -- which goes to a player who overcomes adversity through spirit, determination and courage -- he struggled personally this season.

Brazelton disappeared for three weeks after being demoted to the minors in May and was put on major league baseball's restricted list. When he returned to the majors, he refused to publicly discuss his absence.

"We did our due diligence, but I don't really want to get into it," Padres general manager Kevin Towers said. "We did a background check. We'll bring him into town next week for a physical and to meet with him. We hope that maybe coming to the West Coast and the chance to be with a contending ballclub might be motivation.

"Sometimes with guys like him and Burroughs, there's much more pressure, being in the organization that spent a lot of money on them and made them No. 1 draft picks," Towers added. "If the performance isn't there, it becomes tough mentally for them."

Brazelton will pitch either out of the bullpen or in the back end of the starting rotation.

Brazelton has an 8-23 career record with a 5.98 ERA in 41 starts and 13 relief appearances during four big league seasons.

[million$$man]

Updated: Dec. 10, 2005, 12:05 AM ET

Free Agent SigningsAssociated Press

Major League Baseball News Wire

NEW YORK -- The 44 free agents who have signed, with name, position, former club if different, and contract. The contract information was obtained by The Associated Press from player and management sources:< ^AMERICAN LEAGUE=

CHICAGO (1) -- Re-signed Paul Konerko, 1b, to a $60 million, five-year contract.

CLEVELAND (3) -- Signed Paul Byrd, rhp, Los Angeles Angels, to a $14.25 million, two-year contract; re-signed Bob Wickman, rhp, to a $5 million, one-year contract; signed Lou Merloni, 3b, Los Angeles Angels, to a minor league contract ($500,000).

DETROIT (1) -- Signed Todd Jones, rhp, Florida, to an $11 million, two-year contract.

KANSAS CITY (2) -- Re-signed Joe McEwing, 3b, to a minor league contract ($650,000); signed Elmer Dessens, rhp, Los Angeles Dodgers, to a two-year contract.

LOS ANGELES (2) -- Signed Hector Carrasco, rhp, Washington, to a $6.1 million, two-year contract; re-signed Tim Salmon, dh, to a minor league contract ($400,000).

NEW YORK (1) -- Signed Kyle Farnsworth, rhp, Atlanta, to a $17 million, three-year contract.

OAKLAND (1) -- Signed Esteban Loaiza, rhp, Washington, to a $21,375,000, three-year contract.

SEATTLE (1) -- Re-signed Jamie Moyer, lhp, to a $5.5 million, one-year contract.

TEXAS (1) -- Re-signed John Wasdin, rhp, to a $600,000, one-year contract.

TORONTO (2) -- Signed B.J. Ryan, lhp, Baltimore, to a $47 million, five-year contract; signed A.J. Burnett, rhp, Florida, to a $55 million, five-year contract.

------= ^NATIONAL LEAGUE=

ATLANTA (1) -- Signed Todd Pratt, c, Philadelphia, to a one-year contract.

CHICAGO (3) -- Signed Scott Eyre, lhp, San Francisco, to an $11 million, three-year contract; signed Bobby Howry, rhp, Cleveland, to a $12 million, three-year contract; signed John Mabry, of, St. Louis, to a $1,075,000, one-year contract.

CINCINNATI (1) -- Re-signed Jacob Cruz, of, to a minor league contract ($625,000).

COLORADO (1) -- Signed Jose Mesa, rhp, Pittsburgh, to a $2.5 million, one-year contract.

FLORIDA (2) -- Re-signed Brian Moehler, rhp, to a $1.5 million, one-year contract; re-signed Lenny Harris, dh, to a minor league contract ($450,000).

HOUSTON (2) -- Re-signed Russ Springer, rhp, to a $750,000, one-year contract; re-signed Orlando Palmeiro, of, to a $1.9 million, two-year contract.

LOS ANGELES (2) -- Signed Rafael Furcal, ss, Atlanta, to a $39 million, three-year contract; re-signed Olmedo Saenz, 1b, to a $2 million, two-year contract.

MILWAUKEE (2) -- Re-signed Rick Helling, rhp, to an $850,000, one-year contract; re-signed Jeff Cirillo, 3b, to an $850,000, one-year contract.

NEW YORK (3) -- Signed Billy Wagner, lhp, Philadelphia, to a $43 million, four-year contract; signed Jose Valentin, 3b, Los Angeles, to a $912,500, one-year contract; signed Julio Franco, 1b, Atlanta, to a $2.2 million, one-year contract.

PHILADELPHIA (2) -- Signed Abraham Nunez, 3b, St. Louis, to a $3.35 million, two-year contract; signed Tom Gordon, rhp, New York Yankees, to an $18 million, three-year contract.

PITTSBURGH (1) -- Signed Terry Adams, rhp, Philadelphia, to a minor league contract ($500,000).

ST. LOUIS (2) -- Signed Gary Bennett, c, Washington, to an $800,000, one-year contract; signed Deivi Cruz, 2b, Washington, to an $800,000, one-year contract.

SAN DIEGO (4) -- Signed Geoff Blum, 3b, Chicago White Sox, to a $650,000, one-year contract; re-signed Eric Young, of, to a $700,000, one-year contract; re-signed Brian Giles, of, to a $30 million, three-year contract; re-signed Trevor Hoffman, rhp, to a $13.5 million, two-year contract.

SAN FRANCISCO (2) -- Signed Tim Worrell, rhp, Arizona, to a $4 million, two-year contract; signed Mark Sweeney, 1b, San Diego, to a $1.8 million, two-year contract.

WASHINGTON (1) -- Signed Marlon Anderson, inf, New York Mets, to a $1.85 million, two-year contract.

[Lowerdeck]

Toronto sure did overpay. They'll look stupid for it later, especially with Burnett.

[million$$man]

Updated: Dec. 10, 2005, 5:28 PM ET

Dodgers sign Sandy Alomar Jr.Associated Press

Major League Baseball News Wire

LOS ANGELES -- Veteran catcher Sandy Alomar Jr. signed a one-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday, where he is expected to serve as a backup to young Dioner Navarro next season.

The 39-year-old Alomar hit .273 for the Texas Rangers last season, getting 35 hits in 128 at-bats and driving in 14 runs.

Alomar began his big-league career with the San Diego Padres in 1988. He played briefly for the Padres in 1988-89 before joining Cleveland, where he spent 11 years with the Indians before going to the Chicago White Sox in 2001.

Alomar had his best season in 1977, achieving career bests with a .324 batting average, 21 homers and 83 RBIss before going 11-of-30 with two homers and 10 RBIss against the Florida Marlins in the World Series.

Alomar also played in the 1995 World Series against Atlanta, going 3-of-15 with no homers and one RBIs.

[Green Demon]

I cant believe Sandy is still playing baseball. I can remember when he use to be good before he left Cleveland and he won the All Star MVP when the game was in Cleveland, those were the days.

[Lowerdeck]

Julio Franco got a two year, 2.2M deal from the Mets.

His birthday is sometime in August, year 1958.

That's right, he's still trying for playing at 50. And well, I'd like to see him do it. He still works hard and still contributes to whatever team he plays for, nice to see he's still getting a chance.

[wCwCreator]

Surprised it hasn't been brought up but Toronto trades P David Bush, OF Gabe Gross and P Zach Jackson to Milwaukee for 1B Lyle Overbay.

They're still looking for more offense and are rumored to have interest on Brad Wilkerson or even Milton Bradley.

[EWRFan]

The rumors about Gonzales,Delgado and Bengie come from local diaries in Puerto Rico.

I am pissed off because the Yankees said NO to Posada's attempts to play for Puerto Rico in the World Cup. I hope Selig does something because as far as I know the rule says that a team cant block a player from playing unless he is hurt and Posada is fine. If he does not compete...well..I dont think we will have much of a hole with Javier Lopez, Pudge, Yadier, Bengie and Jose Molina, Ramon Castro and a ton of others looking for spots.

[million$$man]

Updated: Dec. 13, 2005, 5:57 PM ET

Athletics acquire Bradley from DodgersAssociated Press

LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Dodgers unloaded Milton Bradley on Tuesday, sending the switch-hitting outfielder to the Oakland Athletics along with infielder Antonio Perez for minor league outfielder Andre Ethier, the Texas League player of the year.

Bradley, acquired by the Dodgers shortly before the start of the 2004 season after a run-in with Cleveland Indians manager Eric Wedge, feuded with teammate Jeff Kent last season.

Bradley didn't play after accusing Kent of a lack of leadership and an inability to deal with African-American players on Aug. 23. The following day, Bradley learned he had sustained serious injuries to his left knee that required surgery.

It was made public later in August that police responded three times to Bradley's home in nearby Redondon Beach on domestic violence calls, but he wasn't arrested or charged.

Bradley has had several issues with his temper. He was suspended for the final five games of the 2004 season when he slammed a plastic bottle at the feet of a fan in the box seats in the right field corner at Dodger Stadium after someone threw it on the field. Nobody was injured.

He had anger management counseling during the offseason, and kept his temper in control last season -- even when discussing Kent, although his comments were scathing.

Then-Dodgers manager Jim Tracy later said he was disappointed Bradley was as candid as he was with the media, saying he had told the player to "keep it in-house."

The 27-year-old Bradley hit .290 with 13 homers and 38 RBI in 283 at-bats. He was limited to 75 games, also missing extensive playing time because of an injured wrist.

Bradley hit .267 with 19 homers and 67 RBI in 141 games for the Dodgers in 2004, and .321 with 10 homers and 56 RBI in 101 games for the Indians in 2003.

The 25-year-old Perez hit .297 with three homers and 23 RBI in 259 at-bats as a part-time infielder for the Dodgers last season.

The 23-year-old Ethier, who bats and throws left-handed, hit .319 in 131 games with 18 homers and 80 RBI for Midland of the Texas League. He also had 30 doubles among his 161 hits and scored 104 runs. In addition, he played in four games with Triple-A Sacramento of the PCL.

Ethier was a second-round draft pick of the A's in 2003 after playing at Arizona State.

[Miami Vice]

How did I miss this thread when my Jays have been the biggest story this offseason?

I'm not going into a giant rant. I'll just say I'm very pleased with what they have done and feel that the AL East is now a 3 team race.