MLB Winter Meetings: Who's Dealing?

The Major League Baseball offseason is well underway by now, and we're just getting into the climax of the winter meetings. A couple of teams have been steady making deals while others are sitting back and watching the action from their chairs.

For one, the New York Yankees are dealing for starting pitching after Mike Mussina's retirement earlier in the offseason. Chien Ming-Wang has been surrounded by injuries the past year of two, so the Steinbremmers must think it's time to go all out. The Yanks have already pretty much wrapped the C.C. Sabathia deal up and put a bow on it for Christmas. But, they have reportedly offered A.J. Burnett a contract as well.

New York's inter-division rivals, the Baltimore Orioles, have also shown that they are ready to step their game up after dealing veteran catcher Ramon Hernandez to the Cincinnati Reds for OF Ryan Freel and two prospects. This shows that Peter Angelos is ready for the younger guys to step up. Getting rid of the 32-year old catcher makes room for the young AA-er, Matt Wieters, who was this past seasons Minor League Player of the Year winner. The 22-year old catcher, a two-time All-American at Georgia Tech, has a great mixture of power and average on both sides of the plate while his big frame (6 foot 5, 230 pounds) makes him an easy target behind the plate.

Believe it or not, this isn't the only move Baltimore has made this offseason. The front office is close to completing a two-year, $6 million deal with former Blue Jay, Dodger, Cub, Pirate and Cardinal shortstop Cesar Izturis. The O's have had major issues at the shortstop position since the end of the Miguel Tejada era. Izturis does not have much power, or even all that much consistency in his eight seasons, but he does have a great glove. That is what they are looking for as of this point. Just someone who can hold the spot and get the job done. Izturis' career fielding percentage (.979) is better than Tejada's MLB career and, like most middle infielders, Izturis has speed.

I'm still not done with the O's. Angelos also finds himself in the middle of the Mark Teixeira talks. He may actually be in the lead, as of right now. They have reportedly offered Teixeira a seven-year, $150 million contract. The O's, as a matter of fact, are also said to be one of the four remaining teams going after Teixeira. The other three teams; Angels, Nationals, Red Sox.

Jake Peavy is not packing for Chicago after all. The Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres have called off the deal that would have sent the NL Cy Young winner, Peavy, to Chicago. The multi-player deal was reportedly called-off by Chicago GM Jim Hendry.

Of Saving Phil Hughes and Trading The Melk Man Anyway

Remember last year around this time: The Twins were shopping Johan Santana to the highest bidder and the Yankees and Red Sox appeared to be the prime contenders. Then the Mets swooped in and acquired Santana for a beavy of prospects and talent...and it still didn't get them into the playoffs.

Anyway, back in late 2007, the Yankees were unwilling to part with two of three pitching prospects: Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes and Ian (Mr.) Kennedy. The Yankees responded by declaring Chamberlain untradable (fair enough) and would only package Melky Cabrera, a lesser pitching prospect and either Kennedy or Hughes, but not both.

Apparently, there was a contingent of fans who did not want to see even Hughes traded. Yeah, click that link...there's a "Save Phil Hughes" site. I wonder who has more egg on their faces, the Phil Hughes folks or the Fire Uncle Charlie guy. I go Hughes, because at least the Fire Uncle Charlie guy say a World Championship in the end.

So what did the Yankees keep? Well, they kept Hughes, who went on to pitch 13 games (before injury) with a 6.62 ERA. Kennedy? 9 starts and an 8.17 ERA. Melky Cabrera? 129 games with a .249 ERA, 37 RBIs, 8 Home Runs and just 9 steals.

So why bring this up now? Well, as I mentioned in the links for today, the Yankees appear primed to trade Melky Cabrera to the Brewers for Mike Cameron. But more than a few people suggested that the Yankees trade Melky and sign Cameron...last year. So in the end, the Yankees have the centerfielder they could have had, and have both Hughes and Kennedy as huge question marks. Sure they got Sabathia...but who would you rather have, him or Santana? And at the same price no less (actually less for Santana).

Oh Yankees, when did you stop being so evil and become simply hilarious?

Mets Make Moves Daily "Linkin' Logs" (12/11/08)

Between yesterday's hijacked K-Rod signing headline (specifically by the Yankees and Sabathia) and today's massive J.J. Putz trade (which probably pissed off a few Fantasy keeper league players), the Mets are easily in much better shape then they were 365 days ago. You could make the argument that Billy Wagner to Francisco Rodriguez is a wash (when comparing last year's Wagner to this year's K-Rod, it seems reasonable, though K-Rod has the edge), but the addition of Putz and possibly the subtraction of Aaron Heilman clearly makes the Mets bullpen so (soooo) much better than last year.

Of course the one thing signing Rodriguez and trading for Putz doesn't do is A) Bring them a World Championship (at least not yet) and B) take the Phillies Championship away. It also shifts the pressure right back on the Mets...again. After the who "team to beat" issue two years ago and then the Johan Santana scenario this year, the Mets created a storm of pressure on themselves to win it (and probably win it all). This year, its just more of the same. That being said, the preservation of three wins over last year (all things holding equal) will certainly give the Mets a much better post season shot. You can point question marks at the end of the rotation: Can Pelfrey continue his success and what will we see out of Brandon Knight and Jonathan Niese? Or you can look at parts of the lineup: What can you expect from the right side of the infield? What can the corner outfielders produce?

The final question mark? What do you get from J.J. Putz. Obviously he has to pass a physical; so its fairly safe to assume he's healthy. But is he okay with being a setup man? Putz has essentially two years left on his deal (this year and a club option for next). So depending on how this plays out, they may be his only two years in Queens.

Oh well, just for shits and giggles.

• First off, as the offseason plays out I cannot stress enough how cool this site is. Its called Cot's Baseball Contracts and is a fascinating and elaborate depiction of every team's payroll and each player's contracts to as much detail as the writer can provide. He doesn't claim to be dead on accurate, but pretty damn close. Its well worth a look around and an excellent resource in my opinion.
• And the Mets struck back by claiming the headlines over the Yankees acquisition of Mike Cameron in exchange for Melky Cabrera. This trade isn't finalized but appears immenent.
  
• Rumor has it the Orioles and Nationals have both offered Mark Teixeira massive contracts estimated at over 20 million per season. The O's are rumored to offer $150 million + and the Nats $160 million plus. It certainly upts the ante on the deal, as teams like the Red Sox, Angels and Yankees may have to pay more simply because of their location (though both New York and Boston have a slight edge). Again, I believe if the Sox offer enough (perhaps even 170 or 180), they'll get their man, though they might be in a worse position given their current first and third base starters.
  
• It appears as though the Clinton Portis - Jim Zorn dispute was over before it started. Zorn cleared with the media yesteday afternoon. In watching PTI last night, Michael Wilbon brought up an excellent point (and agreed that Portis had a valid point): With players always wanting coaches to be up front and "man up" about these issues, why to Portis go to the media first? Valid point or not, this is no way to go about it.
  
• Via PFT, Looks like the Arena League is still on. For now.
  
• All quiet on the western front as the Dallas Stars have been mum on the Avery Situation. Given the Tom Hicks meeting with his major front office players, I have a feeling this is the end of Avery and the Stars, though they may try to trade him. Still, I'm curious why Hicks doesn't let his management handle this, since the baseball offseason is in full swing and he, y'know, might be needed to write checks elsewhere.
  
• Eric Byrnes for Julio Lugo? Really? Am I the only one who's thinking the Sox would be totally hosing the D-Bags for this one?
  
• I'll start for the Lions...on second thought, maybe not...
• Looks like its back to the Tavaris Jackson era in Minnesota.
• Meow, T.O. fights back by verbally sparing "She"-Shawn and Emmitt Smith
• And finally, Florio over at PFT does some fascinating work. I'm curious how Chad Johnson will be back...y'know, all things considered (its addressed in the article). Anyone else weirded out because this guy demanded a trade only 6 months ago?
  

DSRTSV - 12/10/08

At least something cool is happening in Miami. That is to say, here's Dwayne Wade pwning Emeka Okafor.

A Piping Hot Stove Pile of 10 Things I Think Smell Like Shit (12/10/08)

With Baseball's Hot Stove at full burn and the NCAA Football Bowl Games slate coming to a full boil, we have lots to bitch about and there's at least 10 things that smell like shit...

1. C.C. You in New York. If you haven't heard already; it appears as though C.C. Sabathia will sign the richest contract for a pitcher in baseball history. This will blow away the previous record(s)...all set by the Yankees anyway. Its looking like 7 years and $160 million or almost $23 million per year. Plus Sabathia is rumored to have an opt out clause after three years (and $69 million) so that he can either seek a new team or reup for maybe even more. With this economy (even though the Yankees seem uneffected), I can't imagine him getting a better deal elsewhere until his career is over.
   
2. Mets add K-Rod. On the face of it, this looks like a solid move. And moreover, the 3 years $37 million deal is certainly appetizing for a rich team capable of tossing off a few dead years if they really need to. So what's the hitch? Well, the Angels are rumored to be saving cash for Teixeira or Ramiriz, but I believe the real reason they passed is because after they used up K-Rod for the stretch run, they knew he wasn't going to be worth the cash. Why go from 5 years $75 million to 3 and $37 million? So while this solidifies the Mets pen beyond the likes of Sanchez or Wagner, it still leaves questions; especially when they'll be contending with the defending World (Fucking) Champions next year.
3. Porter Defends Burress. Now let's get one thing straight: I'm fine with the 2nd amendment, though I don't own a gun (and wouldn't really buy one save maybe a rifle to go hunting with if I ever became interested). Now Joey Porter went on TV (specifically ESPN's First Take) to defend Plexiglass and his gun. First of all, Plaxico broke the law. There may be an argument that said NYC law violates the 2nd amendment, but the fact of the matter is, the people of NYC (via their legislators) wanted it and its now illegal. So yes, Plaxico broke the law and I believe he should be punished to the extent that anyone with a similar record would. Secondly. Joey Porter? What the shit? If someone's going to rob you, are you just gonna bust out your 9mm and point it back? You're right Joey, I don't know because A) I don't have that kind of cash B) I certainly don't flaunt it (or act like I do) and C) I attempt to avoid those situations in general. Legal or not, I just don't see the value in a firearm, especially when you're going to a club and you've got a few buds surrounding you. A couple of dudes aren't gonna come and stick you up and its not like you're gonna be walking down that dark alley by yourself any time soon. What the hell are you talking about Joey?
4. The C.C. Salary Simulator. I'm not quite sure there's anything more depressing than this. ESPN created a simple calculator program that, using average salaries and statistics will compare your current salary to his. Depressing to say the least. And in this economy, I can't imagine anyone being to thrilled by the results.
5. Saying Goodbye to the Wizard. I'm a Phillies fan, but even I marveled at the Wizard, Greg Maddux's success through the years. He quietly dominated a hitting (and steroided) era, and became the winningest pitcher of said era. Baseball (and its fans) will miss him. Oh, and don't forget; Chicks Dig the Long Ball.
6. Teixeira Sees Sabathia...is he going for a raise? There are quite a few teams that have interest in the second best first baseman in the league (Albert Pujols being numero uno) and the price tag seems fairly close to Sabathia's. And with so many teams rumored to be interested in his services (Nationals, Orioles, Red Sox, Yankees and Angels off the top of my head), its hard to imagine a scenario where there isn't some type of bidding war. The Nats have already offered 8 years and $160 million, which is ideal for Tex because of both the cash and location (his family is in Maryland), but a chance to play for contenders like the Angels or Red Sox cannot be denied. Plus, speaking from experience, a flight from Boston to Baltimore is cheap and easy...not that price will ever be an issue.
   
7. Jerry Jones Pries His Foot Out of His Mouth. If you didn't hear what Jerry Jones said about Marion Barber prior the Dallas-Pittsburgh game, you missed a lot. Essentially, Jones questioned Barber's toughness and dedication to be on the field regardless of the toe injury. Jone "backpedaled" yesterday by saying:

   “We all know how tough Marion Barber is, but when he had his injury I felt, look, you'd have to shoot him to keep him off the football field,” Jones said. “So I was surprised that we didn't have him. That's not meant to be critical of his toughness. It did come out that way, but fundamentally it was because he is so tough that you would have thought that he could play.”

   "old strategy cotton, let's see if it pays off."
   
8. Miller gets got. An interesting story out of Buffalo Sabres camp, especially in the wake of Sean Avery's 6 game suspension for a "sloppy seconds" remark. Apparently during a highly contested Sabres game, Ryan Miller, Sabres goaltender, expressed his concerns over the officiating for the game. Apparently, Miller was "asking a questions" regarding the officiating and claims the official told him "to go[fuck] himself."

   “To be honest, I was respectful. I asked him a question and he told me maybe I should ‘go [bleep] myself.’ ” - Ryan Miller, Sabres Goalie

   Frankly, this is a stunning development, though I am slightly surprised we don't hear about this a bit more often. Its not unusual for the occasional "off the handle" comment, but it certainly is unprofessional. Highlights from tape of the game show a discussion between Miller and the referee and certainly some type of distaste, but its hard to tell what's going on. I'll be anxious to see the response from both the league and official, as the Sabres PR department has no comment.
9. Portis Vs. Zorn...ding! If you haven't seen this one yet, let me just say, it certainly is a sign of the end of the NFL season for the Washington Redskins. After being handled by the Ravens last Sunday and infighting beginning after said game, its just a sign that this team is now lost after going 6-2 in the first half of the season and 1-4 since. Portis was upset over his lack of attention in the 2nd half of the Ravens game (already down 14 points) and his one single carry in the 2nd half on. In 10 previous carries, Portis had 29 yards total. Hard to see why they'd keep going to him when they needed points. And while Portis complained about a lack of playing time, with his injuries and Ladell Betts practice time (to block) its not hard to understand why Zorn kept Betts in.
   
10. And this one stinks for a different reason. Matt Cassel lost his father yesterday. Fortunately, the Patriots were on the West Coast all week, so Cassel simply left Northern California for his home in L.A. I personally can't imagine being age 26 and losing my father, so I think I speak for everyone here are BNB when I say we all send our condolences to the Cassel Family
    

DSRTSV! 12/9/08

How about this one. If you missed last night's game, you missed a barn-burner. Check out Antonio Bryant's amazing red zone catch:

NFC South Edition Daily "Linkin' Logs" (12/10/08)

Wowee. A fantastic game last night with the Carolina Panthers exerting their dominance over the Tampa Bay Bucs. Carolina seemed more than up to the challenge with both DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart leading the way; both with over 100 rushing yards and two TDs.

What this did only slightly clarified the NFC playoff picture:

The Panthers and Giants clearly have the inside track to Byes in the playoffs by virtue of their 11-2 and 10-3 records, with only Tampa just one win back. Minnesota and Arizona the other emminent division winners (AZ has already captured a spot and Minnesota is three games up with three to play, win one and they're in) are two back on Carolina and three behind New York, they seem likely to stay where they are.

In the wild card, Dallas and Tampa have the inside track here, though Tampa has a game in Atlanta that could be crucial to the NFC Wild card picture. Win here and Tampa is all but assured a spot as they'll face San Diego and Oakland to end their season at home. Atlanta, meanwhile, will have to face the aforementioned Tampa, go to Minnesota in a game they may not mean too much to the Vikings and finish up with St. Louis in a gimme game. Dallas has the toughest road, facing the Giants and Ravens at home before traveling to Philadelphia to face the Eagles, in what could be a play-in game if the Falcons lose at least one more game and both Philly and Dallas win their next two. Philly's road is fairly simple. Beat the Browns on Monday night, Beat the Redskins in Washington and beat Dallas. Either Tampa Bay needs to lose two outta three (not likely) or Atlanta needs to lose one (more likely) and they're in. If Atlanta loses next week, Philly will control their own destiny, as will Tampa Bay.

• AGM's Jakeblloyd is talking about the Wolverines. And no, not the football team.
• MLBTR has the scoop on a potential Grienke for Francoeur swap
• In serious news, the NFLPA and NFL have agreed to a Medicare benefit for retirees. While not huge, its a step in the right direction.
  
• Goodbye Bruschi. PFT is saying he is done for the year...maybe his career?
• The sad case of Dominic Raiola and the Detroit Lions. I'd feel bad if he wasn't making millions of dollars.
  
• Wow Steve Young. Balls to your sir, that is one professional move...
• EC's DMt gives us the 12 signs your color analyst is a loose cannon.
• And finally, Stacey Dales is leaving ESPN...Noooooooooooooooooo
  

Not the Sharpest Knife of the Bunch

Derrick Rose must've had an interesting day at work today. The rookie Chicago Bull, according to Yahoo! Sports, missed today's practice because he needed 10 stitches to close a gash in his arm. How he got the gash? Well, apparently he wasn't paying enough attention to what he was doing.

Rose says he was cutting an apple in bed (?!?!) and he got up to get something and when he came back SAT on the knife he had sat down. Wow, ok. Are you sure you weren't doing something else in bed? I don't know of very many people that would slice an apple in their bedroom. Hasn't your mommy always told you to eat your food in the kitchen, or dining room in some cases??

Here's what he had to say about the matter (again, I got the quote and background information from Yahoo.com):

"It was a silly incident," Rose said. "I was cutting up some food and I laid on a knife getting lazy in bed. I went to go get a bottle of water, came back, forgot the knife was there, then sat down and sliced my arm."

Silly goose. I guess your personal chef will have to do all the cutting of apples from here on out, huh?

Rose says he should be able to play against the New York Knicks tomorrow night, fortunately.

Original post by Yahoo! can be found here: http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/Derrick-Rose-cuts-apple-arm?urn=nba,127593