The WINTER MEETINGS Thread

So the Giants are optimistic about getting Lester. Is it me, or does it always seem like the optimistic team never gets the player?

 

i also agree with Gebbeth, but only to an extent. i do believe that getting value in return for these overpaid/still productive outfielders was a part of why Friedman was brought in..you can make the argument that nobody does it better. however, i don't believe the days of going after big money/big name free agents is over and that's going to be the difference between his last job and this one. i think they'll go after guys..they're just gonna be smart about it. smart about how far they'll go, smart about how they draw up offers, smart about not getting tied down to old flameouts, bad fits, etc.

i mean for example: the Dodger FO just came in 2nd for Russell Martin..they offered 4yrs/72M. 18.5AAV over 4yrs is a pretty big contract, but they needed a catcher. however, if you look at Martin's numbers..the guy is probably gonna catch 110 reg-season games on average over the next 2 or 3 yrs and by the 4th year you're certainly talkin about him splitting time with a Julian Leon. so what you're really talkin about is him filling in for 3yrs, and so there's no way you're offering 5yrs ( like Toronto did) when really you might be lucky if you get 110 reg-season games out of him in the 3rd year. the FO is just gonna be more fiscally responsible than that now.

and supposedly the LAD FO has now offered Lester something in the range of 6yrs/150M..if that's true, and i doubt they'll admit that's true if they lose out since Friedman wouldn't say a word about Lester yesterday and he's embracing the " say nothing " approach, i'd expect there to be an option in the offer for Lester to opt out ( and they'd let him go) and also vesting years at the back of the offer. Lester is a smart addition on the right deal..no draft pick attached, protection for a likely Greinke departure as well. so yea, Friedman's area of expertise is finding value when the opportunity is ripe, but it looks as if he'll also have the freedom to sign big money guys when they need to. he's just gonna be smart about the latter..that's part of building the team the way he wants.

 

and the lack of a meeting with Lester probably comes down to Byrnes and Zaidi already having a good relationship with the guy and not feeling like it'll make a difference.

you might counter with " Lester knows the Sox too ". however, reportedly the Sox owner is trying to patch up a burned bridge there because of what they offered Lester last year..70M. Lol he's about to get double that.

and the Giants' FO has no connections to Lester..their one connection was Tim Hudson, who won't even be around after next season. they had to get Bochy off his front porch and to Lester's front door.

and the Cubs just have to kiss every big name guy's toes because they're the Cubs..they have an extra-large loser label on their forehead's. i still think they get him in the end..Theo-powered.

 

Cubs Nearing Deal To Acquire Miguel Montero
By Jeff Todd [December 9, 2014 at 10:58am CST]
The Cubs are “on the verge” of striking a deal to add catcher Miguel Montero from the Diamondbacks, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports on Twitter. A deal is “expected” by the close of business today, per Nightengale.

 

It may be flogging a dead horse (I guess you didn't ignore me as you said you were), but doing nothing or little about it is the point.

 

Ken Rosenthal ‏@Ken_Rosenthal 2m2 minutes ago
Sources: #Padres, #Dodgers working hard on Kemp deal, getting closer. LAD wants strong piece besides Grandal. SD’s Wisler one possibility.



Wisler in rookie thru Double-A: 2.73 ERA, 279 K / 69 BB, 11 HR in 280 IP
in PCL (2014): 5.01 ERA, 101 K/36 BB but 19 HR in 117 IP

 

If you split novel length posts into two separate posts, is it then not a novel ?

 

add one more and you have a trilogy?

 

Rosenthal says we're moving closer to Kemp deal with the Pads. Grandal and some spec named Matt Wisler could be in it.

 

Before everyone jumps off a bridge about Wisler and compares him to Lee, Wisler averaged 2Ks/9 more than Lee, so he missed bats.

 

Grandal and Tyson Ross or Cashner is the ONLY deal I would agree with.

 

What a pathetic return for Kemp. A crappy roid head and a pitcher we don't need. Excellent.

 

Seriously, the fuck are they thinking if that is the deal being discussed.

 

That's not a good enough return for Kemp and would seriously put a damper on the Dodgers chances to compete in 2015.

 

Yasmani Grandal is shit. I don't understand why they are will to trade Kemp for him.

The only thing that would make sense is if this was part one of two big trades.

Zach Lee sucks though.

 

like Wisler a lot..hold out for Gabe Quintana

 

Consider this, maybe Wisler provides them with an asset they need to make another deal? Also, I can't imagine they are eating much (if any) money on this deal, considering the return, so a lot of financial flexibility.

 

so you're gonna be one of those guys that ignores the fact that you can never have enough pitching..

 

and frankly I don't understand why we need any more pitching prospects. We only have Lee, Reed, Anderson, Urias, and Holmes. How much more do we need?

 

I am not saying the value is appropriate, I am just trying to say that Wisler is a pretty darn good little spect, he's no thrown in. And as I said in another post, they likely have to retain very little if any money.