Hot Stove League

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Tons of moves in MLB this off season. The relatively weak free agent market and Loria's traditional salary dump have resulted in a trading frenzy.

Here's a pretty complete list of moves up to this point:

Beckett - Boston
Bigbie (Larry) - Cardinals
Blum - Padres
Brazelton - Padres
Burnett - Blue Jays
Burroughs - Devil Rays
Bush - Brewers
Byrd (Paul) - Indians
Cameron - Padres
Carrasco (Hector) - Angels
Carvajal - Seattle
Casey - Pirates
Castilla (Vinny) - Padres
Castillo (Luis) - Twins
Cormier - Braves
Cruz (Deivi) - Cardinals
Damon - Yankees
Delgado - Mets
Dessens - Royals
Estrada - Arizona
Eyre - Cubs
Farnsworth - Yankees
Franco (Julio) - Mets
Furcal - Dodgers
Garciaparra - Dodgers
Gordon - Philly
Gross (Gabe) - Brewers
Hawkins - Baltimore
Hernandez (Ramon) - Baltimore
Hill (Bobby) - Padres
Howry - Cubs
Jackson (Zach) - Brewers
Johjima - Seattle
Jones (Todd) - Tigers
King (Ray) - Colorado
Kline - Giants
Kolb - Brewers
Lawrence - Nationals
Loaiza - A's
LoDuca - Mets
Loretta - Boston
Lowell - Boston
Mackowiak - White Sox
Marte (Andy) - Boston
Marte (Damasco) - Pirates
Mesa - Colorado
Miles (Aaron) - Cardinals
Mirabelli - Padres
Morris (Matt) - Giants
Mota - Boston
Myers (Mike) - Yankees
Nady - Mets
Obermueller - Atlanta
Otsuka (Akinori) - Padres
Overbay - Blue Jays
Pierre - Cubs
Pratt - Braves
Redman (Tike) - Mets
Redmond (Mark) - Royals
Renteria - Braves
Romero (J.C.) - Angels
Rowand - Philly
Ryan (B.J.) - Blue Jays
Sledge - Rangers
Soriano - Nationals
Stinnett - Yankees
Sweeny (Mark) - Giants
Thome - White Sox
Torrealba - Colorado
Valentin (Jose) - Mets
Villareal - Braves
Wagner (Billy) - Mets
Wilkerson - Rangers
Williams (Dave) - Reds
Williams (Bernie) - Yankees
Womack - Reds
Worrell - Giants
Young (Eric) - Padres

From a roto standpoint, I can't wait to see Ramon Hernandez destroy AL pitching in Baltimore next season.

I expect a big bounceback season from Wilkerson in Arlington, too.

Wagner will be filthy for the Mets. He's put up excellent numbers in extreme hitter's parks and now he'll go a park that favors pitchers. My only concern is the Mets might try to overwork him.

I think Soriano, Burnett and possibly Beckett will show a dropoff statistically in their new surroundings.

I believe Thome is done.

I like Garciaparra's multi-position eligibility next season 1B/3B/SS, but he seems to be made out of porcelain now.

Guillermo Mota might turn out to be Boston's most valuable off season acquisition.

[Clockwork Orange]

This speaks to how poor the baseball coverage is here in Colorado these days, I hadn't even heard that the Rockies signed King & Torrealba until now.

King I like, Torrealba isn't horrible and Joe Table is done. I will give them a measure of credit for getting Brian Fuentes signed to a new 2 year deal at a reasonable price. Though I'm pretty sure that if the price wasn't reasonable, he'd be playing elsewhere.

[OrangeShadow]

why do you think beckett will drop off?

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why do you think beckett will drop off?
His home/road splits are not promising.

JOSH BECKETT 2005 SITUATIONAL STATS

W L ERA G GS CG SHO SV SVO INN H R ER HR HBP BB IBB SO AVG

HOME 10 2 2.47 14 14 2 1 0 0 91.0 64 27 25 5 6 31 0 88 .205
AWAY 5 6 4.31 15 15 0 0 0 0 87.2 89 48 42 9 1 27 2 78 .261

Also, the transition from NL to AL is generally tough on any pitcher. More hitter's parks in the AL and the addition of the DH instead of a near automatic out from the pitcher's spot are the difference.

[Bronco LB 59]

Slap

What did you make of the Finley-Alfonzo trade today? Will Finley find his stroke against familiar competition again or has age finally caught up with him and his 2005 season was a reflection of that.

Bill Stoneman says Alfonzo will split time at 2B or 3B. Either Erstad or Figgins will move back to center. It looks like the young kids Kotchman and McPherson will serve in platoon roles for the time being.

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Slap

What did you make of the Finley-Alfonzo trade today? Will Finley find his stroke against familiar competition again or has age finally caught up with him and his 2005 season was a reflection of that.

Bill Stoneman says Alfonzo will split time at 2B or 3B. Either Erstad or Figgins will move back to center. It looks like the young kids Kotchman and McPherson will serve in platoon roles for the time being.
I think they're both fairly well washed up as everyday players. This was a deal that had to happen, though. No way Finley could return to the Angels. The fans just killed him last year. I've always liked him, so I was sorry to see him struggle so badly, but he's had a pretty nice career. He's always been streaky, but last year he never seemed to get hot. He should be able to contribute as a fourth outfielder for the Giants. Hopefully he'll get 600 ABs when Bonds suffers a career ending injury in spring training, though.

I think Alfonzo will be a nice veteran backup at 2B and 3B, but I'm sure the Angels would prefer not to have to use him too much. If he gets too many ABs it means Dallas McPherson is having another disappointing season.

[OrangeShadow]

His home/road splits are not promising.

JOSH BECKETT 2005 SITUATIONAL STATS

W L ERA G GS CG SHO SV SVO INN H R ER HR HBP BB IBB SO AVG

HOME 10 2 2.47 14 14 2 1 0 0 91.0 64 27 25 5 6 31 0 88 .205
AWAY 5 6 4.31 15 15 0 0 0 0 87.2 89 48 42 9 1 27 2 78 .261

Also, the transition from NL to AL is generally tough on any pitcher. More hitter's parks in the AL and the addition of the DH instead of a near automatic out from the pitcher's spot are the difference.
Hes young plus having varitek catching him will do wonders. look at what clement did until he got hit in the head.

[Play2win]

Pierre - Cubs

Is definitely my favorite Acquisition so far, and the best the CUBS have done in quite a few years, except, of course, for DERRICK LEE. Of any guy we could have gotten, in all of Baseball, he is THE GUY I wanted most.

Pierre leading off, with ARAM and DLee backing him up. Atleast I can be very hopeful of this upcoming season, even if we still HAVE DUSTY AS OUR MANAGER...

[Clockwork Orange]

Just heard on ESPN that the Orioles & Cubs are discussing a deal that would send Miguel Tejada to Chicago for Mark Prior.

Interesting to say the least.

[Bronco LB 59]

Pierre - Cubs

Is definitely my favorite Acquisition so far, and the best the CUBS have done in quite a few years, except, of course, for DERRICK LEE. Of any guy we could have gotten, in all of Baseball, he is THE GUY I wanted most.

Pierre leading off, with ARAM and DLee backing him up. Atleast I can be very hopeful of this upcoming season, even if we still HAVE DUSTY AS OUR MANAGER...

Pierre is a player. I don't care what the stat geeks say. He's a throwback, too. He works extremely hard on many of the lost arts in baseball like drag bunting. Pierre is coming off a real down year in 2005, but I think he will return to his 2004/2003 level at Wrigley.

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Pierre is a player. I don't care what the stat geeks say. He's a throwback, too. He works extremely hard on many of the lost arts in baseball like drag bunting. Pierre is coming off a real down year in 2005, but I think he will return to his 2004/2003 level at Wrigley.
He hurt his calf in spring training and tried to play through it all year. Since speed is his game, it really hobbled him. He'll be a huge improvement over the Cubs recent leadoff hitters.

[Bronco LB 59]

Peter Gammons is reporting the Diamondbacks and Blue Jays have agreed to a trade that will send Troy Glaus to Ontario for 2B Orlando Hudson, swingman Miguel Batista and a prospect.

[Bronco LB 59]

Some players will jeopardize their long-term success just for a boatload of money.

Kevin Millwood agreed a 4 year, $48 million dollar deal with the Rangers today. The contract has an option for a fifth year that could escalate the total value to $60 million.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2271734

Meanwhile, the Tribe signed ex-Tigers and Orioles starter Jason Johnson to a one year contract. The Indians will enter 2006 with a C.C. Sabathia, Cliff Lee, Jake Westbrook, Paul Byrd, Jason Johnson starting rotation. A deep staff that doesn't cost a boatload of money.

[-Slap-]

Some players will jeopardize their long-term success just for a boatload of money.

Kevin Millwood agreed a 4 year, $48 million dollar deal with the Rangers today. The contract has an option for a fifth year that could escalate the total value to $60 million.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2271734

Meanwhile, the Tribe signed ex-Tigers and Orioles starter Jason Johnson to a one year contract. The Indians will enter 2006 with a C.C. Sabathia, Cliff Lee, Jake Westbrook, Paul Byrd, Jason Johnson starting rotation. A deep staff that doesn't cost a boatload of money.

You want to see something crazy? Check out Jason Johnson's home/road splits.

2005 SITUATIONAL STATS
W L ERA G GS CG SHO SV SVO INN H R ER HR HBP BB IBB SO AVG

HOME 5 4 2.76 17 17 0 0 0 0 114.0 104 44 35 10 2 28 1 53 .245
AWAY 3 9 6.66 16 16 1 0 0 0 96.0 129 73 71 13 4 21 3 40 .329

I actually plucked him off the WW and spot started him at home a couple times last year.

[Play2win]

I thought some might get amusement off of this one:

http://img276.imageshack.us/img276/8940/godsays2gt.jpg

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He needs some divine intervention with his freak injuries.

[Foot2balls]

I don't want to make a new thread on this, but does anybody have openings in their fantasy baseball league? (Looking for keeper, but will settle for any)

[Foot2balls]

E. Byrnes to the Diamondbacks pending physical.

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/sports/articles/1229dbacksnb1229.html

Sucks for newly acquired Chris Young!

[Bronco LB 59]

E. Byrnes to the Diamondbacks pending physical.

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/sports/articles/1229dbacksnb1229.html

Sucks for newly acquired Chris Young!

Arizona is stockpiling outfielders but they don't have room for all of them. Luis Gonzalez is not going anywhere and Shawn Green's demand is not real high unless you pay a portion of his contract.

Carlos Quentin deserves to play but Luis Terrero is probably more of a defensive fit for center field and he is not much of an offensive force. I am also disapointed they moved Scott Hairston to the outfield who doesn't have much of a chance to stick other than a 5th OF type.

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I guess the D-Backs are what passes for my favorite team these days. I have to say, I was encouraged by the Orlando Hudson acquisition. He's a great clubhouse guy and another good glove up the middle, all the better for ace sinkerballer Brandon Webb.

I like Troy Glaus, but Tracy can fill the hole at third base ably and Tony Clark and Conor Jackson can handle first base duties. This will free up Craig Counsell to fill a super sub role.

One reason I'm not sorry to see Glaus go is because the D-Backs had all these streak hitters in the middle of their lineup - Gonzo/Green/Glaus - and when those guys all went cold at once, the offense complately collapsed.