2009 AL Central Off-Season Transactions and Rumors
by Toxicadam on Nov 26, 2009 12:30 AM EST
137 comments
Maybe this can be a good dumping place to talk about all the AL Central transactions or rumors that happen this winter. I will be able to update this post every day.
- Signed Omar Vizquel
- Signed Andruw Jones
- Signed Mark Teahen
- Signed J.J. Putz
- Acquired Juan Pierre (for 2 minor league PTBNL)
- Signed Bryan Bullington (minor league contract)
- Signed Yasuhiko Yabuta
- Signed Jason Kendall
- Acquired Max Scherzer, Daniel Schlereth, Austin Jackson, Phil Coke (for Curtis Granderson and Edwin Jackson)
- Acquired J.J. Hardy (for Carlos Gomez)
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What about the mockers?
"Nobody ever thinks, 'Hey, maybe I’m actually an idiot.'" - Jay
by woodsmeister on Nov 28, 2009 9:53 PM EST up reply actions
Unlikely, since I don’t even know what that is (other than a photo of Sting).
Lots of Jay commentary today. Boring.
by Jay on Dec 3, 2009 8:45 PM EST up reply actions
Sting as " Ace Face" the coolest of all the Mods who, when he wasn’t brawling with the Rockers, … worked as a bellboy.
I remember him from those crazy days.
The once and future
by Manhattan Tribe Fan on Dec 5, 2009 10:31 AM EST up reply actions
The Tigers have six players making eight figures this year: Magglio Ordonez(notes) (who turns 36 in January) at $18 million, Miguel Cabrera(notes) (hopefully sober for opening day) at $15 million, Carlos Guillen(notes) at $13 million and – get ready to gag on a slice of Little Caesars – $34.5 million for Jeremy Bonderman(notes), Dontrelle Willis(notes) and Nate Robertson(notes) (combined 2008: 3-8 in 43 games, with a 6.53 ERA and a 57-to-64 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 93 2/3 innings). All but Cabrera are dead money…
Wow. I didn’t realize it was all that ridiculous.
The Tigers are still top 5ish (?) in attendance for last year. Unless there is some kind of precipitous drop in tickets for next year, I can’t see them unloading all those players.
Gammons blog:
One Tigers source emphatically told Gammons “there will be no fire sale. [Owner] Mike Ilitch wouldn’t allow it.”
LINK
What am I missing here? Why would the Tigers want to unload Granderson? Isn’t that the same thing as the Indians trying to deal Grady this winter? I can only imagine that Tigers fans would be extremely upset. Even further, he’s a tiny bit cheaper than Grady in 2010, also had a slightly down year (which would undervalue his trade potential at present tense) and is signed through 2012 with an option for 2013. His name isn’t on that list of big contracts, but he keeps getting trotted out as trade bait. What did I miss?
No, not you. Your helmet!
by PatBordersHelmet on Dec 7, 2009 3:50 PM EST up reply actions
Granderson’s tools don’t quite measure up to Grady, and he’s basically a platoon player, albeit one hell of a platoon player.
by Jay on Dec 7, 2009 5:33 PM EST up reply actions
I though if anything tool-wise Grandy had a better arm, but was otherwise pretty similar. Grady hits leftys better, but that’s pretty much the extent of it, no? Granderson played in 160 games last year. Are you saying he should be a platoon player? I only really watch the Tigers when they’re playing the Tribe, but was under the impression that Granderson was pretty damn good.
No, not you. Your helmet!
by PatBordersHelmet on Dec 7, 2009 7:29 PM EST up reply actions
Granderson posted a sub-500 OPS vs-LHP in 2009, for the second time in three seasons. Small sample warning applies, but yes, I am saying he should not be starting against LHP, and I’m not the first one to say it, either.
Grady is also the better baserunner, both on balls in play and on steals. And while you have to respect Granderson’s 30 HR campaign, I think once Grady is healthy, he’s going to show a significantly higher ceiling than that. Remember, Grady his 28 big-league bombs at age 23, the same age when Granderson hit 21 HR in Double-A.
They are similar talents, but Grady is just a little better in a few different ways.
by Jay on Dec 7, 2009 7:45 PM EST up reply actions
Buster_ESPN
Heard this: The Indians’ preference might be giving their internal candidates a chance to play, instead of inking vet FAs to $800,000 deals.
Tweet-a-leet.
Steel Nick
Yes, but only to about 70.
Chugga-chugga chugga-chugga, Choo Choo!
by USSChoo on Dec 1, 2009 2:19 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
This is Ibañez Contract II. The Phillies are willing to take on some unreasonable contract dollars in 2011 and 2012, because they have a championship core of players in place right now, all in their primes, and that won’t last forever. The club is more or less in all-out “go for it” mode.
Howard and Rollins are signed through 2011 (as is Ibañez). Lee and Blanton are under club control through 2010 only, and Hamels may be a guy you trade rather than extend in his 2012 walk year. Utley is locked up through 2013, but he’ll be 33 by the time the 2012 season starts.
by Jay on Dec 3, 2009 5:57 PM EST up reply actions
Man, I didn’t realize Utley was quite that old. If Polanco ends with an OPS over 720 I’ll be surprised. Then again if he OPS 700 in the regular season and 900 in the playoffs, the point is moot.
Welcome back, Sandy! ATALECG...
Sure, if you assume they make the playoffs despite his 700 OPS.
by Jay on Dec 4, 2009 1:53 PM EST up reply actions
Eh, 3-for-18 on BIP.
He sure didn’t look lost in Game 4, when he tied the game twice — RBI single in the 4th off Sabathia, then a solo shot off Justin in the 8th. He started a big rally in Game 3 with double.
He also had the Championship-winning RBI the year before.
I was actually vividly remember these moments, thinking he had a monster playoff season. But I think I actually like these numbers from someone with his expectations. Doesn’t really do much until he sneaks up on you and single-handedly changes the game.
Welcome back, Sandy! ATALECG...
I remember him looking like a fool in the final couple games. Context is everything.
by JulioBernazard on Dec 9, 2009 8:34 PM EST up reply actions
Matt Murton was released by the Rockies today to pursue a career in Japan. This has nothing to do with anything, but a) he is my longest-standing player crush since I came to LGT, and b) I’m pretty sure I like him a lot more than Trevor Crowe for any number of rational or irrational reasons.
Steel Nick
Hoynes today, writing from Indianapolis:
-Just asking? If Ryan Garko gets non-tendered Saturday by the Giants, would the Indians go after him as a right-handed hitting first baseman?
Since Garko is a former Indian at this point, do the cledotcommers pine for the days when he was manning first or is he too recent to count?
Bring back Garko!
You’ve got fingers crossed as you say that, right?
No, not you. Your helmet!
by PatBordersHelmet on Dec 7, 2009 10:13 PM EST up reply actions
-Just asking? If Ryan Garko gets non-tendered Saturday by the Giants, would the Indians go after him as a right-handed hittingfirst basemanoutfielder?
"Nobody ever thinks, 'Hey, maybe I’m actually an idiot.'" - Jay
by woodsmeister on Dec 8, 2009 12:31 PM EST up reply actions
Just asking? IfRyan GarkoHans getsnon-tendereda sub from Jimmy Johns Saturday bythe GiantsSteelyard Commons, wouldthe IndiansTurk go after himas a right-handed hitting first basemanfor being one of those guys never maturing past his college years?
Haha, no I don’t have beef with Jimmy John’s. I’m more likely go after you for patronizing the anti-urban atrocity that is Steelyard Commons.
"You are an LGT success story" -- Jay
by Turkmenbashi on Dec 9, 2009 9:04 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
You don’t hit up IHOP for dinner?
No, not you. Your helmet!
by PatBordersHelmet on Dec 9, 2009 3:57 PM EST up reply actions
Oh I’ve been to that IHOP there once dear sir, as the saying goes, “fool me once, shame on IHOP, fool me twice shame on me”.
Or as a recent President declared, “…won’t get fooled again.” There are just to many amazing budget places to eat in the adjoining neighborhoods to consider eating at Steelyard. It amazes and disgusts me to see all the cars in the parking lot at Steak n’ Shake. I’m confident that land will be an empty lot once again when the 15-year tax abatements are up and the boxes and chains refuse to pay real taxes and vacate for some other excuse.
I do admit buying plastic ponchos at the Deals junk store for Tribe games where I expect rain. Two for a dollar and they’re clear so folks can still admire my jersey.
No, not you. Your helmet!
by PatBordersHelmet on Dec 10, 2009 8:27 AM EST up reply actions
Jon Heyman is reporting a 3-way trade:
yanks to get granderson; e. jackson, i. kennedy to dbacks; scherzer, schlereth, a. jax, coke to tigers.
so:
Yankees trade Kennedy, Austin Jackson, and Coke for Granderson.
Tigers trade Granderson and Edwin Jackson for Scherzer, Schlereth, Austin Jackson and Coke.
Dbacks trade Scherzer and Schlereth for Edwin Jackson and Kennedy.
seems like the d-backs are on the short end of this.
One thing I realized looking at the stats for this is that Jackson is only a year older than Scherzer. Obviously the latter is under team control for a lot longer, but in my mind Scherzer was way younger since he’s only been in the majors two years.
*sigh*
I keep forgetting that two consecutive successful major league seasons is less impressive than none. Particularly at basically the same age.
The once and future
by Manhattan Tribe Fan on Dec 8, 2009 10:43 PM EST up reply actions
The White Sox have extended the Mark Teahen Experience.
"Nobody ever thinks, 'Hey, maybe I’m actually an idiot.'" - Jay
This is too nuts for me to not post somewhere:
Walking through the lobby turned up an interesting find. One baseball official says the Texas Rangers offered pitcher Neftali Feliz and first baseman Justin Smoak for Florida’s Josh Johnson.
That is nuts.
Offer them Grady.
Yeah. Plays good defense, and put up a .845 OPS [yeah, IN] when he got regular playing time in 2008.
Chatted with some Rays fans earlier today. They seem to think the PTBNL is most likely Talbot. I’d be okay with that, but I’m quietly hoping Shapiro made it sting a little harder.
by fleerdon on Dec 9, 2009 1:46 PM EST reply actions
I have to think it’s someone we’ve never heard of. This team is not built for 2010 at all at this point. I’d think he’d want a guy who is a scheduled 2011 arrival at the earliest with some upside left.
Here’s a decent wishlist: http://www.raysprospects.com/search?q=raysprospects+cobb
by fleerdon on Dec 9, 2009 2:17 PM EST up reply actions
I agree … Tox, you’ll want to include who was sent packing in each team’s list of updates, too, I would think.
by Jay on Dec 9, 2009 8:54 PM EST up reply actions
And people wondered why Acta would choose Cleveland over Houston.
"Nobody ever thinks, 'Hey, maybe I’m actually an idiot.'" - Jay
by woodsmeister on Dec 10, 2009 9:41 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Winning the FanGraphs award (even though you hate them) for worst signing of the Winter so far.
Welcome back, Sandy! ATALECG...
Rule V just went down, can’t find a link anywhere except twitter, which I don’t have the ability to link to at work. We lost Lofgren and selected a Diamonbacks pitcher.
I always thought it was based on a specific section of the rule book which was numbered using roman numerals.
It’s a common misconception, though. I’ve seen AP stories today referring to Rule V. The closest I’ve been able to come to an explanation is this, from a Hardball Times piece by Steve Treder:
It’s formally documented in Roman numeral form as "Rule V" in the constitution of the National Association of Professional Baseball LeaguesIt’s Rule 5.
Roger has taken the maxim, “When in Rome, do as the Romans” and generalized it to “Do as the Romans.”
by Logodaedalus on Dec 10, 2009 6:22 PM EST up reply actions
That expression … doesn’t really apply to what we’re talking about.
by Jay on Dec 10, 2009 6:43 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Definitely a bit rusty — my banter needs oiling.
by Logodaedalus on Dec 12, 2009 11:37 AM EST up reply actions
Thank god the Indians aren’t stupid enough to sign Jason Kendall as their everyday pitcher (and pass on Miguel Olivo and John Buck). And sign a 35-year-old catcher to a two-year deal.
White Sox get Juan Pierre from the Dodgers. He can’t hit, but he’s fast and plays a decent outfield. Plus they have need someone to occupy the Scott Podsednik endowed chair of slap-hitting outfielders position.
Chicago is remaking itself as Bad Contract Dump Central.
"Nobody ever thinks, 'Hey, maybe I’m actually an idiot.'" - Jay
by woodsmeister on Dec 15, 2009 11:56 AM EST up reply actions
How many other teams would pay that much for Pierre, or be willing to negotiate on taking Pierre of LA’s hands? Kenny Williams may have found a market inefficiency to exploit. A costly one, to be sure, and highly speculative (which Alex Rios shows up?), but a market niche nonetheless.
"Nobody ever thinks, 'Hey, maybe I’m actually an idiot.'" - Jay
by woodsmeister on Dec 15, 2009 1:18 PM EST up reply actions
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