MLB 05-06 Hot Stove Thread

[amare32]

Sox reach deal for CF Crisp: The Red Sox will send a package including reliever Guillermo Mota and prospect Andy Marte to the Indians.

Crisp is nice and fills a gaping hole in CF, but this strikes me as a very steep price to pay. Nice deal for the Tribe.

[Audiodrama]

Sox reach deal for CF Crisp: The Red Sox will send a package including reliever Guillermo Mota and prospect Andy Marte to the Indians.

Crisp is nice and fills a gaping hole in CF, but this strikes me as a very steep price to pay. Nice deal for the Tribe.

That was my initial impression too, but people need to keep in mind that Marte is just a prospect, and nothing more. Could he develop into something great? Yes. But the chances are much greater that he develops into a Scott Cooper-esque player. (Look up Scott Cooper if you don't know/remember who he is.) The Sox are trading a promising prospect and the odd man out from their bullpen for a young, productive center-fielder who can patrol the triangle at Fenway for years to come. I like this deal for Boston.

[Brass]

SLUR OF RUMORS!

Apparently the Phillies are in deep talks with Mike Piazza. The Blue Jays, Padres, Orioles, Angels, and Yankees have also all expressed interest in him.

Also, former Red Sox and Astros pitcher Wade Miller has signed a one-year deal with the Cubs.

Bengie Molina is considering sitting out the '06 season.

Frank Thomas is apparently in talks with the Oakland A's.

Austin Kearns could be traded by the Reds before spring training. The Indians have offered Jake Westbrook for him. The Royals, Cardinals, Cubs, and Nationals have also expressed interest. The Royals offered Zack Grienke as well for Kearns.

The Red Sox have basically signed SS Alex Gonzalez.

[Korkie]

Apparently, Mota failed his physical with the Indians so the deal is off as is any lingering deal with the Phils sending Jason Michaels to the Indians for a reliever.

[BJ Sands]

The Royals offered Zack Grienke as well for Kearns.

Are the Royals serious? Because if they are, the Reds have to do this deal NOW!! And Royals GM Allard Baird has to be fired.

[Brass]

Blue Jays sign RHP James Baldwin to a minor league deal.

[CC97]

Sox reach deal for CF Crisp: The Red Sox will send a package including reliever Guillermo Mota and prospect Andy Marte to the Indians.

Crisp is nice and fills a gaping hole in CF, but this strikes me as a very steep price to pay. Nice deal for the Tribe.

That was my initial impression too, but people need to keep in mind that Marte is just a prospect, and nothing more. Could he develop into something great? Yes. But the chances are much greater that he develops into a Scott Cooper-esque player. (Look up Scott Cooper if you don't know/remember who he is.) The Sox are trading a promising prospect and the odd man out from their bullpen for a young, productive center-fielder who can patrol the triangle at Fenway for years to come. I like this deal for Boston.

Replace Marte with Edgar Renteria... which is realistically what happened... is it still a good price?

[Brass]

Frank Thomas officially signs a 1-year deal worth $500,000 with incentives with the Oakland A's.

[Audiodrama]

Sox reach deal for CF Crisp: The Red Sox will send a package including reliever Guillermo Mota and prospect Andy Marte to the Indians.

Crisp is nice and fills a gaping hole in CF, but this strikes me as a very steep price to pay. Nice deal for the Tribe.

That was my initial impression too, but people need to keep in mind that Marte is just a prospect, and nothing more. Could he develop into something great? Yes. But the chances are much greater that he develops into a Scott Cooper-esque player. (Look up Scott Cooper if you don't know/remember who he is.) The Sox are trading a promising prospect and the odd man out from their bullpen for a young, productive center-fielder who can patrol the triangle at Fenway for years to come. I like this deal for Boston.

Replace Marte with Edgar Renteria... which is realistically what happened... is it still a good price?

That would make the deal even better for Boston.

[FiddySicks]

Frank Thomas officially signs a 1-year deal worth $500,000 with incentives with the Oakland A's.

Awesome. Just what Oakland needed, a big bat. He cant play the field worth his life, but hes an excellent replacement for Durazo at DH.

[PeytonManningRocks]

The Red Sox have basically signed SS Alex Gonzalez.

Which Alex Gonzalez? There's like a million of them

I'm assuming you mean the one who played for the Rays last year, not the one from the Marlins.

[Audiodrama]

The Red Sox have basically signed SS Alex Gonzalez.

Which Alex Gonzalez? There's like a million of them

I'm assuming you mean the one who played for the Rays last year, not the one from the Marlins.

Actually it is the one from the Marlins. The one from the Rays is Alex S. Gonzalez.

[Audiodrama]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2308605

Jason Michaels for Arthur Rhodes done.

Edit: Cleveland press reporting Crisp-to-Boston done:

http://www.cleveland.com/newslogs/plaindea..._01.html#108231

Done deal: Indians trade Crisp to Red Sox

7:42 p.m.

Paul Hoynes

Plain Dealer Reporter

The Coco Crisp trade is done.

Left-hander Arthur Rhodes' physical was the only thing delaying the three-team deal, but the Phillies were expected to make the acquisition of the veteran reliever official at 8 p.m.

The Indians received outfielder Jason Michaels in exchange for Rhodes.That allowed the Indians to send Crisp, switch-hitting catcher Josh Bard and right-hander David Riske to Boston for third base prospect Andy Marte, catcher Kelly Shoppach, right-hander Guillermo Mota, cash and a player to be named.

Boston right-hander Manny Delcarmen was not included in the deal. The trade, which stalled in midweek, regained momentum Friday morning when Rhodes flew to Philadelphia for a physical.

The Associated Press reported the Indians agreed to Rhodes for Michaels portion of the trade pending his physical. Michaels will replace Crisp in left field. The Indians believe Marte, scheduled to open the season at Class AAA Buffalo, will be their third baseman of the future.

They think he could develop into the middle-of-the-order right-handed hitter they've lacked. Shoppach hit 26 homers at Class AAA Pawtucket last year. He will compete to be Victor Martinez's backup.The player to be named would come from a list of prospects made available to the Indians.

[See Red]

I love this pickup for the Sox. I'd love to have kept Marte, but Coco's the guy I wanted to bring in for him.

Coco's numbers were similar to Damon's and he didn't have the benefit of playing his games in Fenway -- in fact, Jacob's field is very much a pitchers park. He hit .323 and 12 of his 16 HR's away from home. Plus, you're replacing a guy that fans loved with another one that the fans will eventually grow to love.

Adds some speed as well.

Can't wait to see him playing in a Red Sox uniform! Fantastic move. Dare I say it's an upgrade* in Center? We'll see. I'd rather have him than Damon out there for 4 more years.

[Davey]

Mike Piazza signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the Pardres. Waste of money, im glad Toronto didnt pick him up.

[FiddySicks]

I love this pickup for the Sox. I'd love to have kept Marte, but Coco's the guy I wanted to bring in for him.

Coco's numbers were similar to Damon's and he didn't have the benefit of playing his games in Fenway -- in fact, Jacob's field is very much a pitchers park. He hit .323 and 12 of his 16 HR's away from home. Plus, you're replacing a guy that fans loved with another one that the fans will eventually grow to love.

Adds some speed as well.

Can't wait to see him playing in a Red Sox uniform! Fantastic move. Dare I say it's an upgrade* in Center? We'll see. I'd rather have him than Damon out there for 4 more years.

Upgrade? No. Very good pickup for the Sox, and a guy that will help out for quite a long time? Yes.

[See Red]

I love this pickup for the Sox.  I'd love to have kept Marte, but Coco's the guy I wanted to bring in for him.

Coco's numbers were similar to Damon's and he didn't have the benefit of playing his games in Fenway -- in fact, Jacob's field is very much a pitchers park.  He hit .323 and 12 of his 16 HR's away from home.  Plus, you're replacing a guy that fans loved with another one that the fans will eventually grow to love.

Adds some speed as well.

Can't wait to see him playing in a Red Sox uniform!  Fantastic move.  Dare I say it's an upgrade* in Center?  We'll see.  I'd rather have him than Damon out there for 4 more years.

Upgrade? No. Very good pickup for the Sox, and a guy that will help out for quite a long time? Yes.

Well, similar numbers despite Damon playing in a hitters park and Coco Crisp playing in a pitchers park. Comparing the two's numbers outside of their home ballparks, Crisp has Damon beat in every category.

You also don't know what Damon's going to show up next season... The one that hit .343 before the break, or .282 after the break -- I'd say the latter is more likely. Coco also hasn't had the benefit of slapping balls off the Green Monster, which are outs in any other ball park.

When the Red Sox brought in Damon, they brought in a guy that was usually well under a .300 average with, probably, less than 10 HR's a season and turned him into an MVP candidate. Fenway Park should have a similar effect on Crisp. Not saying he'll be an MVP candidate, but he'll improve on some already good numbers. And I imagine he has to have a better arm than Damon does.

Can't say yet, whether or not it's an upgrade. Long-term... it most certainly is.

[gosioux76]

Twins sign Ruben Sierra to a minor league contract.

Link

[Joshawaggie]

Twins sign Ruben Sierra to a minor league contract.

Link

thats cool

[gosioux76]

Twins sign Ruben Sierra to a minor league contract.

Link

thats cool

Yeah, I see no real harm in it unless he takes up the roster spot for someone we could develop.

The Twins need a big bat off the bench, especially a lefty. Sierra's a switch-hitter that, despite being old, can still spark some fear in the opposition when he's healthy.

Because of that, he could provide protection in the line-up for someone like Morneau who could use the help developing his confidence.