2012/2013 MLB Offseason Thread

[The Buscher]

The Mets already have their primary lefty specialist (Edgin) and flamethrower (Parnell) in place - plus no shortage of long reliever options. Feliciano or another camp invite will be a 2nd lefty specialist (which is massively important in the NL East, and a job that got him an $8 million deal with the Yankees) while Hawkins and Atchison could serve the same purpose that Jon Rauch and Ramon Ramirez did at far less of a cost. I'd much rather have a veteran on the cheap for basically league minimum so that he can be easily cut and replaced with one of their more promising bullpen prospects (Mejia, Familia, etc.) as soon as the season falls out of reach. Barring a major injury bug I just don't see how the Nationals and Braves get less than 90 wins apiece...so investing a multi-year deal when their absolute ceiling this year is probably 3rd place and in contention for the 2nd wild card just wouldn't be a smart move.

The 2006 Mets bullpen was one of the best in their history and it was largely comprised of veterans that they picked up off the scrap heap, particularly Chad Bradford and Darren Oliver. Kinda funny to look back and realize that Oliver was going to retire at age 35, only to make the team, experience a late career rejuvenation, and he's still pitching at 42. Then Omar let them walk because he didn't want to give multi-year deals to specialists...only to promptly give Scott Schoeneweis a 3 year deal. Stupid Omar.

[9 to 5]

Can I ask, for something a bit dumb from you guys? A census? I really want to follow baseball alot this season so can everyone tells me who supports who so i know who to attack and when?

[Toe]

I believe we are all huge New York Yankee fans and we shun anyone who isn't. Right?

[9 to 5]

Then we have a problem.

[gunnar hendershow]

I'm a huge fan of the Louisville Colonels.

[naiwf]

I'm a Mets fan. My second favorite team is whoever is playing the Yankees that day/night.

[9 to 5]

I'm a Mets fan. My second favorite team is whoever is playing the Yankees that day/night.

We have so much in common.

[MalaCloudy Black]

GO CUBS GOOOOOOOOOOOOOO


Don't worry about mocking me (or JHS), we do bad enough on our own. We let our play speak for itself.

[livid]

Cardinals fan!

aka never a Cubs a fan.

[Your Mom]

GO CUBS GOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Don't worry about mocking me (or JHS), we do bad enough on our own. We let our play speak for itself.

This is totally our year!

[Kane's Mullet Slacker]

GO CUBS GOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Don't worry about mocking me (or JHS), we do bad enough on our own. We let our play speak for itself.

This is totally our year!

Every year is your year.

I'm a Chicago White Sox fan.

[The Buscher]

Ryan Braun's name has popped up in the Miami PED thing.

[Maxx]

Well that's not surprising, the dude only got off previously because someone handled his samples incorrectly. Hardly a declaration of innocence.

[Your Mom]

King Felix just got 175 million over 7 years to stay in Seattle. Largest contract ever for a pitcher. A little shocked the Mariners shelled out that much

[gunnar hendershow]

Damn I did not expect Seattle to spend that kind of money on him. I thought for sure King Felix was headed to a big market for his big payday.

[The Buscher]

Marlins single game tickets went on sale yesterday:

[DMN in the House]

Thanks Seattle, do you know how much Kershaw is going to cost us now?

925, I'm a fan of the Yankees West... I mean the Los Angeles Dodgers.

[gunnar hendershow]

kbucsch, that pictures doesn't work.

And yeah, the Mariners giving King Felix that kind of money just completely blew up the market for young staff aces, extra money if they have a Cy Young under their belt. David Price getting $30 million a year would not surprise me at all.

[The Buscher]

The pic is showing up for me. Basically it is a picture of the line at Marlins Stadium just 30 minutes before single game tickets were set to go on sale. There were literally only 4 people in line.

[MalaCloudy Black]

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/8933842/elbow-condition-eyed-seattle-mariners-felix-hernandez-deal-source-says

But as of Sunday afternoon, sources say, the Mariners and Hernandez are not close to finishing an extension, because there are issues that the two sides are sorting through.

The elbow issue is perceived by at least one of the parties in the deal as being a possible impediment to the completion of the new contract.

"It's an issue," said one source.

Hernandez has been a workhorse in his career, throwing 1620 1/3 innings already; in fact, since 1969, only three pitchers have thrown more innings before their 27th birthday, according to Elias Sports Bureau -- Bert Blyleven, Fernando Valenzuela and Dwight Gooden.

But as salaries have skyrocketed over the last 15 years, teams have become increasingly wary of medical concerns.

This winter, for example, the Boston Red Sox blew up a proposed three-year, $39 million with Mike Napoli because of a hip condition, and the Cubs killed a deal that would've sent reliever Carlos Marmol to the Angels for Dan Haren, again because of a hip issue.

Hernandez is signed for the next two seasons, so there is time for the two sides to continue to work to a deal; the team wants Hernandez, and Hernandez has said he wants to stay in Seattle.

Also, Jerry Hairston's younger brother Scott has signed with the Cubs. He was one of only eight NL outfielders to have at least a .500 slugging percentage and reach 20 HR/25 doubles last season.