Hot Stove: MLB Offseason Thread

[pmoehrin]

The sign-and-trade is a mechanism born out of the NBA's byzantine salary regulations. There's no reason to do it in baseball.

I'm looking up the details now, I'm not even sure if its legal which I wasn't aware of. I can name you plenty of guys that were traded before their contract was up but nothing like an obvious sign and trade, which I almost certain would have happened at least once.

The CBA from what I can tell is not very clear on the issue, but any team that wanted to do this would have to get prior approval from the commissioner's office. A few teams apparently have inquired about doing it but that's as far as its ever gotten.

I'm not really sure why this would be the case either because if teams were allowed to do a sign and trade guys like Jermaine Dye may still be playing.

[BBTV]

The sign-and-trade is a mechanism born out of the NBA's byzantine salary regulations. There's no reason to do it in baseball.

I'm looking up the details now, I'm not even sure if its legal which I wasn't aware of. I can name you plenty of guys that were traded before their contract was up but nothing like an obvious sign and trade, which I almost certain would have happened at least once.

The CBA from what I can tell is not very clear on the issue, but any team that wanted to do this would have to get prior approval from the commissioner's office. A few teams apparently have inquired about doing it but that's as far as its ever gotten.

I'm not really sure why this would be the case either because if teams were allowed to do a sign and trade guys like Jermaine Dye may still be playing.

It's never happened and will never happen unless there's a major change in the CBA. The only benefit to the former team would be to receive something better than the draft compensation from the signing team. The only benefit to the signing team would be to give up something lower than the draft compensation.

The former team wouldn't want something lower, and the signing team wouldn't want to give up something higher, therefore it's beyond absurd.

[BigBubba]

Not to mention that signing a player and trading him immediately after would kill your reputation and hamper your ability to sign free agents.

[rams80]

The Marlins have spent $191M on free agents this year after having spent $170M the last 14 years... COMBINED.

Prediction: We're going to see Jeffrey Loria do a perp walk with the SEC inside of a year.

[infrared41]

Supposedly, it's down to the Angels and the Marlins for CJ Wilson.

With any luck, the Marlins will win out. I just can't see paying CJ Wilson big bucks for a long term deal. He's a solid 3-4 starter and should be compensated as such. He's not going to be worth the money he'll get. If the Angels want to get in the FA game, there's this first baseman out there who's a pretty good right handed hitter.

[oddball]

If I'm Hanley Ramirez's agent, I tell him, "Just go play third for a few games. We all know 3/4 of Reyes' contract he will spend time on the DL." As far as Pujols goes, could anyone see him signing in San Francisco? They need a bat in that lineup and don't exactly have a top-notch 1B. I'm not saying he will, but I could see that happening.

[FiddySicks]

If I'm Hanley Ramirez's agent, I tell him, "Just go play third for a few games. We all know 3/4 of Reyes' contract he will spend time on the DL." As far as Pujols goes, could anyone see him signing in San Francisco? They need a bat in that lineup and don't exactly have a top-notch 1B. I'm not saying he will, but I could see that happening.

As much as I love it, and even though it makes great sense, I just don't see them having the cash unless Zito pays him personally out of his pocket. I could see the Giants finding some interest in Fielder or even in a trade for Hanley Ramirez.

[dfwabel]

Supposedly, it's down to the Angels and the Marlins for CJ Wilson.

With any luck, the Marlins will win out. I just can't see paying CJ Wilson big bucks for a long term deal. He's a solid 3-4 starter and should be compensated as such. He's not going to be worth the money he'll get. If the Angels want to get in the FA game, there's this first baseman out there who's a pretty good right handed hitter.

Three things of note to remember about CJ.

1- He is a SoCal native, so he may want to return home.

2- He may choose LAA since the 20-25% of his career starts have been against OAK/SEA. He has 11 of his 43 career wins against those two. Two of the poorest offensive teams in MLB.

3- He owns a race team, and it now based in Arlington, TX but both SoCal and South Florida have multiple road courses for his race team to use if he decides to move them.

[Dexter Morgan]

Not really the same thing, but the Yankees picked up Gary Sheffield's option years ago and immediately traded him to the Tigers.

[Shumway]

From MLB trade rumors:

The Angels are close to signing LaTroy Hawkins, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. This matches up with comments made earlier today by GM Jerry Dipoto, indicating the Angels were moving toward shoring up their bullpen.

The Brewers also have interest in Hawkins, who posted a 2.42 ERA in 48 1/3 innings for Milwaukee in 2011.

It's bullpen depth....and it's not Fernando Rodney. I can dig it.

[Still MIGHTY]

From MLB trade rumors:

The Angels are close to signing LaTroy Hawkins, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. This matches up with comments made earlier today by GM Jerry Dipoto, indicating the Angels were moving toward shoring up their bullpen.

The Brewers also have interest in Hawkins, who posted a 2.42 ERA in 48 1/3 innings for Milwaukee in 2011.

It's bullpen depth....and it's not Fernando Rodney. I can dig it.

Seconded. Seconded. And Seconded.

[LMU]

Rodney can take his crooked, flat-billed cap and shove it.

[Sodboy13]

The Marlins have spent $191M on free agents this year after having spent $170M the last 14 years... COMBINED.

Prediction: We're going to see Jeffrey Loria do a perp walk with the SEC inside of a year.

pleaseohpleaseohplease

[Shumway]

From MLB trade rumors:

The Angels are close to signing LaTroy Hawkins, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. This matches up with comments made earlier today by GM Jerry Dipoto, indicating the Angels were moving toward shoring up their bullpen.

The Brewers also have interest in Hawkins, who posted a 2.42 ERA in 48 1/3 innings for Milwaukee in 2011.

It's bullpen depth....and it's not Fernando Rodney. I can dig it.

....and it's official

The Angels and LaTroy Hawkins have agreed to terms on a one-year deal, according to Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports first reported that the two sides were nearing an agreement.

The Angels had been pursuing bullpen help aggressively for weeks, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today (on Twitter), and figure to use Hawkins as a setup man in front of closer Jordan Walden. The Angels turned their attention to Hawkins after unsuccessfully trying to acquire Ramon Ramirez from the Giants, tweets Danny Knobler of CBS Sports.

[Dexter Morgan]

Jon Morosi

Source with knowledge of C.J. Wilson talks expects him to sign five-year deal with #Angels.

Sources: #Marlins have offered 6 years. #Angels have offered 5. But Wilson being swayed by chance to play at home.

[infrared41]

As far as Pujols goes, could anyone see him signing in San Francisco? They need a bat in that lineup and don't exactly have a top-notch 1B. I'm not saying he will, but I could see that happening.

I'm a little surprised the Giants haven't come up in all the Pujols talk. Back towards the end the season, I was thinking about potential teams that Pujols could end up with and outside St. Louis, San Francisco seemed the most logical team to me. Maybe the Giants just don't want to commit the number of years Pujols wants. Anyway, I agree that he'd be an ideal fit for the Giants.

[Shumway]

As far as Pujols goes, could anyone see him signing in San Francisco? They need a bat in that lineup and don't exactly have a top-notch 1B. I'm not saying he will, but I could see that happening.

I'm a little surprised the Giants haven't come up in all the Pujols talk. Back towards the end the season, I was thinking about potential teams that Pujols could end up with and outside St. Louis, San Francisco seemed the most logical team to me. Maybe the Giants just don't want to commit the number of years Pujols wants. Anyway, I agree that he'd be an ideal fit for the Giants.

There is still a "mystery team", isn't there?

[infrared41]

As far as Pujols goes, could anyone see him signing in San Francisco? They need a bat in that lineup and don't exactly have a top-notch 1B. I'm not saying he will, but I could see that happening.

I'm a little surprised the Giants haven't come up in all the Pujols talk. Back towards the end the season, I was thinking about potential teams that Pujols could end up with and outside St. Louis, San Francisco seemed the most logical team to me. Maybe the Giants just don't want to commit the number of years Pujols wants. Anyway, I agree that he'd be an ideal fit for the Giants.

There is still a "mystery team", isn't there?

There is indeed. Good call.

[dfwabel]

The Giants have 11 players eligible for arbitration: Tim Lincecum, Pablo Sandoval, Ryan Vogelsong, Melky Cabrera, Santiago Casilla, Sergio Romo, Nate Schierholtz, Eli Whiteside, Jeff Keppinger, Andres Torres, Ramon Ramirez, Mike Fontenot and Emmanuel Burriss. They have until Monday to tender contracts.

They also have $81M committed to players already, including the released Aaron Rowland.

In the past three weeks, Larry Baer and Brian Sabean has said that their budget will go up from $124M to about $130M. They have also increased season ticket prices by about 7%, but the team's executive committee wants more return on their investment and a "rainy day fund".

And FWIW, Sabean said, "Pure and simple, we've got to build in some contingencies because of arbitration," said Sabean, who is likely to tender contracts to 10 arbitration-eligible players – including Tim Lincecum. "So the $130 (million) is more iron-clad. It has to be." Link

EDIT: Torres and Ramirez were officially traded to NYM today for Angel Pagan.

[McCall]

Giants have said they won't re-sign Beltran because they are basically out of money with the raises Cain and Wilson will get, so Pujols is essentially out of the question.