Hot Stove: MLB Offseason Thread

[pmoehrin]

The Giants have 13 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

They got that great farm system, I wouldn't be surprised if they weren't one of the more active teams in the trade market over the next few seasons, because they're really hamstrung with what they can do via free agency. Anything beyond a fourth starter or utility infielder the Giants have almost no chance at signing because they're too busy trying to resign their own guys.

[FiddySicks]

And in the long run, that's what they should be doing. Pujols would be great, but Brandon Belt will fill the position really well in the next few seasons. Considering the price, the fact that they're already strapped, and that first base isn't a HUGE prriority, they'd be better off trying to work out a trade for a guy like Ramirez. They need middle infield help in the worst possible way, and while Ramirez has struggled defensively, he's still gotta be better than that dumpster fire that was the platoon of shame in Miguel Tejada and Orlando Cabrera. Team that up with his bat to compliment guys like Buster Posey and Freddy Sanchez and they could be a really good team for awhile.

Realistically though, there isn't much reason why they couldn't go after big names. They won the World Series in 2010, sold more tickets then they ever have at a higher price than they've ever sold them at, and make more money per fan than any team in the league. The main reason they find themselves strapped so often is because of the AWFUL job Brian Sabean and the majority partners have done managing contracts. They tend to almost always be conservative, and then out of nowhere they overspend for awful players like Zito and Rowand. That's the most frustrating part of this team.

BUT, if they decide to stand pat this year and end up resigning Lincecum, Cain, Posey, and guys like that then it'll be all worth it. If they just cry poor and let those guys walk, then I'll riot.

[Braden]

Wait... Kelly Johnson accepted arbitration with the Blue Jays?

I thought there would be demand for him given the slim 2B market and the fact that under the new CBA, the team that signed him would instead keep their 1st round pick.

Oh well, good news then.

[pmoehrin]

And in the long run, that's what they should be doing. Pujols would be great, but Brandon Belt will fill the position really well in the next few seasons. Considering the price, the fact that they're already strapped, and that first base isn't a HUGE prriority, they'd be better off trying to work out a trade for a guy like Ramirez. They need middle infield help in the worst possible way, and while Ramirez has struggled defensively, he's still gotta be better than that dumpster fire that was the platoon of shame in Miguel Tejada and Orlando Cabrera. Team that up with his bat to compliment guys like Buster Posey and Freddy Sanchez and they could be a really good team for awhile.

Realistically though, there isn't much reason why they couldn't go after big names. They won the World Series in 2010, sold more tickets then they ever have at a higher price than they've ever sold them at, and make more money per fan than any team in the league. The main reason they find themselves strapped so often is because of the AWFUL job Brian Sabean and the majority partners have done managing contracts. They tend to almost always be conservative, and then out of nowhere they overspend for awful players like Zito and Rowand. That's the most frustrating part of this team.

BUT, if they decide to stand pat this year and end up resigning Lincecum, Cain, Posey, and guys like that then it'll be all worth it. If they just cry poor and let those guys walk, then I'll riot.

I just can't believe Zito still has three years left on his contract. (well two because I'm sure the Giants will gladly give him that $7 million opt out option in three years but still)

They are a big market team, but I see no reason for them to sign anybody. Why should they? I look at them as an 85 win team in rebuilding mode. If they get lucky and 55 wins at the All-Star break or something then they can afford to trade one of their big prospects for a rent a player type and go for a World title. Or they can fall flat on their faces, unload a couple of their more high priced guys as rent a players and come back the next year with these prospects like nothing ever happened.

Short of having a completely dominating team that you know is going to win 95+ games that's the next best situation you can be in.

The only reason the Giants should ever spend on a free agent in the next three seasons is if they lose a starter and don't have an immediate replacement to call up.

[Dexter Morgan]

Jon Morosi

Source confirms: Yu Darvish will be posted Thursday by the Nippon-Ham Fighters.

[TBGKon]

MLBTradeRumors.com Reports Pujols to Angels:

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2011/12/angels-to-sign-albert-pujols.html?utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=twitterfeed

[epper]

Shocker from Dallas, per Yahoo's Tim Brown:

Source: Pujols will sign with Angels for 10 years for between $250 and $260 million. Full no-trade. Pujols decided Thursday morning.

They gave him the moon. Wow. Kudos to LAofA.

[TBGKon]

Mystery team strikes again....

[Island_Style]

MLBTradeRumors.com Reports Pujols to Angels:

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2011/12/angels-to-sign-albert-pujols.html?utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=twitterfeed

Whew, Marlins dodged a bullet.

[epper]

I haven't seen the breakdown of Albert's deal, but if the money isn't backloaded, the Angels will have around $50M tied up between Pujols and Vernon Wells in 2012 alone.

Or, about the same as the 2011 Cleveland Indians entire payroll.

[charger77]

Wow, I really thought he'd stay in St.Louis.

[McCall]

F$&@.

[dfwabel]

With a ten year contract, this is so risky since at 31, Pujlos is about to be on the downside of his career.

However, is he really 31 or is he older than that? If so that makes it even worse.

[charger77]

With a ten year contract, this is so risky since at 31, Pujlos is about to be on the downside of his career.

However, is he really 31 or is he older than that? If so that makes it even worse.

But at the end of his deal he can move into a DH role.

[Island_Style]

Wow, I really thought he'd stay in St.Louis.

If he really cared to stay he would have signed earlier. I think he was ready to go.

[Gary]

With a ten year contract, this is so risky since at 31, Pujlos is about to be on the downside of his career.

However, is he really 31 or is he older than that? If so that makes it even worse.

But a risk willing to take, for at least 4-5 years you will still get one of the best natural hitters. Angels have just become a scary team.

[FiddySicks]

The Angels? Pujols just left the Cardinals for the ANGELS?!?! You've got to be kidding me. I can't wait to see the particulars of this deal, someone's rep is about to get torn to shreds depending on the comparison on the contract details between both teams.

[evanmaldonado]

Ridiculous amounts of money > defending World Series Champions.

Who leaves the offseason after winning a championship?

[DaytonBlue]

The Cardinals would have been nuts to try to match that.

He'll be an expensive DH in 5 or so years.

Two sports statements which we need to always consider lies:

1. I want to play in ______ for the rest of my career.

2. The lease for the ______ is impossible to get out of early.

[LMU]

I'm even happier than when we scored Vlad. I'm almost developing a man crush on Jerry DiPoto