January 2006

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White Sox Interested In Abreu

Remember that Abreu/Contreras/Dye rumor that was bouncing around last night that couldn't quite graduate from the Unfounded category? We're a little closer to a foundation about this one tonight. A very solid source close to the Phillies tells me that Kenny Williams and the White Sox "love" Bobby Abreu. It's the first I've heard that the club is truly interested in the right fielder. He also mentioned that the Phils would like a pitcher like Jose Contreras. There is some question as to whether the Phils would need to include Gavin Floyd to make an equitable deal. He said that..   Continue Reading

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Alfonso Soriano Trade Possibilities

Ken Rosenthal's latest article mentions that a trade of Alfonso Soriano could happen, but Nationals are more likely to offer Soriano a long-term deal to convince him to become an outfielder. I don't doubt Rosenthal, but let's take a look at some possible suitors for the second baseman. I'll assume that a trade signifies no position change. First off, let's narrow the field by looking at which teams lack an established 2B. Blue Jays - Looks like Aaron Hill is the man at second base for 2006, and he's a fairly solid hitter already. Plus, Soriano probably isn't Ricciardi's type..   Continue Reading

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Unfounded Rumors

It's time for everyone's favorite segment, Unfounded Rumors. It's where I toss out some rumors that have been floating around radio stations, message boards, my inbox, whatever. You never know; we did get Russell Branyan right the last time we did this. Feel free to debunk. Apparently Dodgers GM Colletti is working on two deals, one big, one small. Many have theorized that Bengie Molina would represent the small deal. As for the big one, there are plenty of possibilities. Could Eric Gagne be on the block? It seems he'd have to prove his health first. How about Bobby Abreu..   Continue Reading

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Trade Candidates Part 2

Last time we looked at players in their contract year and trade possibilities. Today we'll open the field and see who else could be available. Dealing Shea Hillenbrand or Eric Hinske would probably make sense for the Blue Jays. It looks like the two will enter 2006 splitting DH duty for the Jays, and Hillenbrand may have twice as much value with the bat as Hinske. The problem is figuring out which team actually has a need for a middling 1B/3B/DH type. The Red Sox have six starters (seven if you think Papelbon is rotation-ready), but they shouldn't be so..   Continue Reading

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Sunday Night Reading

Over at RotoAuthority: Fantasy Hotsheet discussing Piazza, Willingham, Kubel, and Kendall. My Frank Thomas projection. Speaking of fantasy baseball, The Closer Watch is the best resource on the web for closer depth charts. It's worth checking out even if you don't play fantasy baseball, actually. Don't forget to swing by HoopsBuzz and see what's happening in that other sport. AllCubs.com applicants, don't despair if you haven't heard back from me after emailing about the gig. Right now I'm just collecting the interested writers; I have yet to sort through the emails   Continue Reading

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Angels Should Pursue Javy Lopez

Javy Lopez and his agent have been making a stir lately, pushing for a contract extension or a trade. Lopez is in the last year of a three-year deal, and will make $8.5MM in 2006. A recent Baltimore Sun article mentioned: "The Orioles have had some discussions with teams about Lopez, including a potential trade for Angels first baseman/outfielder Darin Erstad during the winter meetings, but the Angels weren't interested in making the deal." In between the flurry of rumors back in December, this is one I missed. The Angels should not have dismissed this trade so quickly. Erstad makes..   Continue Reading

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Piazza Signs With Padres

RotoWorld and other sources are reporting that the Padres have signed Mike Piazza to a one-year, $2MM deal with an $8MM mutual option for 2007. The Padres were one of a handful of teams that stood to better their club by acquiring Piazza or Bengie Molina. At this point, Molina should be begging the Angels to take him back, as they're one of the few teams he can help. The Padres probably added 2 or 3 wins by signing Piazza, so they're getting good bang for their buck. There's approximately zero chance they exercise that 2007 option. Here's a look..   Continue Reading

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Possible Kearns/Westbrook Swap

Reds interim GM Brad Kullman certainly seems more open-minded than his predecessor, Dan O'Brien. But one of O'Brien's final non-moves may have been one of his few wise ones. Sheldon Ocker's Beacon Journal article today reports that O'Brien turned down an Austin Kearns for Jake Westbrook all-Ohio trade prior to his firing. Such a one for one trade would lean heavily towards the Indians, in my opinion. Here's my reasoning. The 25 year-old Kearns has yet to reach his potential, while Westbrook has topped out at age 28. Let's look at 2005. In just 387 at-bats, Kearns was worth 3.6..   Continue Reading

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Recruiting Writers For New Cubs Blog

Well, the time has come. This website is bursting at the seams with Cubs fans who need another outlet for their Cub-centric minds. A place where it's OK to argue about Matt Murton's HOF chances. A place where it's acceptable to profess your undying love for Joe Kmak. A website where Cubs fans can congregate before, during, and after every game. An outlet where the wackiest, most lopsided Cubs trade proposals are tolerated. AllCubs.com should be live within a couple of weeks. It'll be a full-service Cubs blog, with perhaps dozens of established, unique, Cub-savvy authors chiming in on every..   Continue Reading

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Crisp For Marte Done Deal?

According to a source: "I've been told it's a done deal with a contingency regarding Mota's health. If he hits the DL a predetermined amount of times Sox might have to give up another player to be named later." This is the same rumor/source cited in the recent RotoWorld blurb on the topic. RotoWorld also points to a Paul Hoynes Cleveland Plain Dealer article from this morning. Here's that info: "There is movement in the Coco Crisp trade to Boston. Indians left-hander Arthur Rhodes, according to a major league source, flew to Philadelphia on Friday morning to undergo a physical..   Continue Reading

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Trade Candidates Part 1

With the hot stove not all that hot at the moment, I thought I'd run down some guys who could be traded between now and July 31st in an attempt to peer into the future. Part 1 of the series will focus on some of the players in their contract year. Barry Bonds is unlikely to be dealt, given that the Giants have pinned most of their offensive hopes on him. But if, for some reason, the team is out of contention in July and Bonds is looking more awful than usual in the field, a deal to the AL..   Continue Reading

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HoopsBuzz In Full Swing

Just wanted to make sure anyone who is remotely interested in basketball has bookmarked the new site HoopsBuzz. We've got twelve sharp guys currently writing for it, so several posts appear every day. It's in the general style of this blog, and I think you should get acquainted. Leave some comments, the authors would love some feedback   Continue Reading

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RotoAuthority Poll: Keepers

I am trying to get a read on how many people use keepers in their 5x5 mixed 12 team fantasy baseball league. So far it seems like a good chunk of people, so I'm considering adding some sort of keeper-related feature to the 2006 RotoAuthority Fantasy Baseball Guide. Please take this poll over at RotoAuthority if you qualify   Continue Reading

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Help Kenny Williams Trade Contreras

White Sox GM Kenny Williams made a funny comment yesterday in his interview with Daily Herald writer Scot Gregor. Below is Gregor's question followed by KW's answer. Gregor: Pitchers and catchers report to spring training in three weeks, and you still have six starters (Mark Buehrle, Jose Contreras, Freddy Garcia, Jon Garland, Vazquez and Brandon McCarthy) and only five spots in the rotation. Is it safe to assume one of the starters will be traded before Opening Day? KW: I’m at the golf course right now, so I’m trying not to think about trades. But I go online sometimes and..   Continue Reading

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Unfounded Rumors

Inevitably someone will sneak in here and say that none of my rumors have a foundation. Well, they do, but I am thinking of starting a segment here called Unfounded Rumors. It'll just be a dumping ground of things I couldn't confirm. Maybe it was heard through the grapevine, on a message board, or from a source I don't know too well yet. Doesn't make it any more true or false, I just can't vouch for it at the moment. A lot of things end up in my inbox that would at least make good fodder for discussion. I figured..   Continue Reading

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Piazza And Cubs A Match?

Surprising bit of info out of the Philadelphia Inquirer this morning courtesy of Todd Zolecki. According to the article: "The Phillies have talked with free-agent catcher Mike Piazza about a possible contract, a baseball source said, but it seems Piazza might have better options with the San Diego Padres or Chicago Cubs. Piazza could make a decision before the end of the week." The extent of Jim Hendry's talks, if any, with Piazza's agent (Dan Lozano) is unknown currently. For what it's worth, Lozano also represents Jacque Jones. My thoughts on this: if it was for $4MM or so for..   Continue Reading

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Fielding Statistics

If you're baffled by the current state of fielding statistics in baseball, welcome to the club. Dave's latest post at U.S.S. Mariner outlines the contenders and rates the usefulness of the various defensive metrics. And don't forget to swing by HoopsBuzz regularly. Check out the latest rumors involving Chris Bosh, Darko Milicic, and Ron Artest. Finally, I've got a Wade Miller projection up at RotoAuthority   Continue Reading

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Comparing Crisp And Damon

Both Coco Crisp and Johnny Damon came at a very steep price. The Red Sox mortgaged part of their future, while the Yankees simply coughed up $52MM for four years. Tossing salaries and cost of acquisition aside, which team actually has the better player for 2006? Let's start by looking at Baseball Prospectus's WARP statistic. Wins Above Replacement Player is a measure of value that combines both offense and defense into a single number. Damon was worth 5.5 wins in 2005, while Crisp tallied 5.6. So the players had very near equal value. Baseball Prospectus projects Crisp at 4.6 wins..   Continue Reading

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Cubs Sign Wade Miller

Jim Hendry took a nice low-risk gamble today, inking Wade Miller to a one-year pact for $1MM. He can reach $2MM with incentives. Miller gutted his way through 91 innings in 2005 for the Red Sox, posting a 4.95 ERA. Miller had the dreaded labrum surgery on his shoulder in late September 2005. UPDATE: First, a few notes on labrum tear survivors. Chris Carpenter and Jose Valverde are the best examples, and Carpenter sat out almost two years. Valverde still hasn't matched his per-surgery velocity. Six months is a general guideline for a pitcher to resume activity. (Tip of the..   Continue Reading

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On Michaels For Rhodes...

Obviously there are a lot of conflicting reports and general confusion surrounding this whole Crisp/Marte/Michaels/Rhodes thing. I've read several iterations, sometimes with catchers involved. I apologize for contributing so little information on this one, but rest assured I've been trying. Here's what little I know: A Cleveland source tells me the Indians are really keeping a lid on everything. He's a lot closer to the team than I, and he hasn't been able to dig up details. I also spoke to a source familiar with the inner workings of the Phillies. He's scrambling for information as well. He told me..   Continue Reading

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Reds Can O'Brien

Ken Rosenthal reports that the Reds have fired GM Dan O'Brien. It's about time. O'Brien was hired at the end of October in 2003. Now, O'Brien is an easy target for a lot of baseball fans. I think it'd only be fair to dedicate this post to the things he did right. Hmmm. The Kent Mercker signing? He posted a 3.65 ERA in 61 innings for the Reds so far. Could've been worse. You gotta respect the Sean Casey for Dave Williams swap. That was solid. Of the logjam created by Griffey, Kearns, Pena, Dunn, and Casey, Casey was the..   Continue Reading

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White Sox Never Pursued Prior

I spoke to my White Sox source today, and he was able to offer up a little bit of information. Remember this tantalizing tidbit from Gordon Edes's January 15th article for the Boston Globe? "Would you believe that the White Sox were hovering on the fringes of the Tejada trade talks, not because of any interest in Tejada but in the hopes that if the Orioles peddled him to the Chicago Cubs for ace Mark Prior, they would have been willing to flip Prior to the crosstown White Sox in a package?" Not so, according to my source. The White..   Continue Reading

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Crisp For Marte Trade Complete?

Tony Massarotti of the Boston Herald had the scoop last night: "According to baseball sources, the Red Sox and Cleveland Indians have agreed in principle on a deal that will bring outfielder Coco Crisp to the Sox in a multi-player trade. The deal was agreed upon several days ago under the condition that Cleveland be able to acquire another outfielder to replace Crisp, presumably Jason Michaels from the Philadelphia Phillies." While everyone seems to agree that Crisp and Marte are the principles and the teams have been talking quite a bit, no other source that I've found has confirmed this..   Continue Reading

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Maine Offered To A's For Hudson?

I was all set to point out that Billy Beane has indeed had previous interest in John Maine, but MetsBlog and a lot of message boards beat me to the punch. That's what I get for taking the afternoon off. For what it's worth, I did find this Peter Gammons article from December of 2004 mentioning that Maine was offered by the Orioles for Tim Hudson along with Erik Bedard and Hayden Penn. Man, why didn't Billy Beane take that offer? That's 3/5 of a starting rotation right there   Continue Reading

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Baseball Notebook Sleepers

Even if you're not a fan of fantasy baseball, I think you'll enjoy David Luciani's four-part feature over at Baseball Notebook. It's called "If Sleepers Existed"; David is not fond of calling players sleepers after they're identified by forty different magazines and overhyped. Anyway, it's a great read. I'm fortunate to have taken a similar stance on a lot of the players mentioned in my 2006 RotoAuthority Fantasy Baseball Guide. Luciani clearly knows his stuff. If you're a basketball person, you should bookmark HoopsBuzz and check it daily. We've got a stable of eager writers posting on all the newsworthy..   Continue Reading

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Benson Dealt To Orioles; Zito Implications?

Many of you have already noticed by now that Newsday is reporting that the Mets traded Kris Benson to the Orioles for Jorge Julio and John Maine. A tip of the cap to Orioles Hangout; I'm pretty sure they confirmation first. The question on most people's minds is this: is the Benson swap the initial movement indicating a trade of Barry Zito to the Mets? If you recall, my Mets source indicated yesterday that Benson would be traded to Baltimore to acquire a prospect to Billy Beane's liking. I've got word out to a couple of sources to see if..   Continue Reading

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New Possible Zito Scenario

Just got a note from my Mets source on a possible Barry Zito trade scenario. Here's how this could play out: The Orioles still have some interest in Kris Benson; VP Jim Duquette likes him. Benson would be dealt to the O's for young players of Billy Beane's choice. Victor Diaz would be shipped off by the Mets as well, but again for prospects coveted by Oakland. The A's don't have room for Diaz given their glut of 1B/DH/OF types. The prospects from both deals would then be packaged with Aaron Heilman and the Mets would receive Zito. The Mets..   Continue Reading

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Jeremy Hermida Projection

All sorts of good stuff to read in recent days: The Jeremy Hermida projection over at RotoAuthority. My latest Hot Stove Roundup at RotoWorld. Many thanks to all who applied for a blogging gig at HoopsBuzz. I've got about ten talented writers beginning to contribute now, so bookmark the page and check it daily. Spread the word about the site! I think it's going to be a cool community for basketball very similar to this one. The latest: Grizzlies Looking For A Point Guard Mark Blount Trade Rumor   Continue Reading

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Griffey To Boston For Arroyo?

Well, Boston Dirt Dogs has an interesting one up just now. Boston's WEEI 850 is reporting that a possible Ken Griffey Jr. for Bronson Arroyo trade could be in the works. I'll do my best to find more. On the surface, that seems like a terrible deal for the Red Sox. Arroyo is about to be locked in for three years at a great price, and Griffey is probably a lock to play less games in '06 than he did in '05. Not to mention Griffey's huge contract and lousy defense   Continue Reading

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The Bengie Molina Sweepstakes

Bengie Molina has strangely emerged as neglected free agent, facing very little interest from teams and a possible one year deal. Coming off a career best .295/.336/.446 line, this is a curious situation. Molina will be entering his age 32 season in 2006, and I've projected him at .289 with 17 HR next season. While his defense is no great shakes, one would think a few clubs would come out ahead in offering him a reasonable two-year pact. However, once you factor in defense, Molina ranked 15th among catchers in 2005 despite his solid showing at the plate. He presents..   Continue Reading

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Phils' Attempted Starter Acquisitions

Remember about a week ago, when Pat Gillick mentioned that the Phillies's deal for a #1 or #2 starter had fallen through? I'm received a fair amount of emails on this topic, so I wanted to address it. I talked my Phils source, and he gave me the lowdown. He mentioned that most if not all of these names had previously appeared in the media linked to the Phillies, but I'll present the information anyway. Mark Prior was never the Phillies' number one choice. They've always been lukewarm on him due to his health record. Had the Cubs parted with..   Continue Reading

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Attention Basketball Writers

I'm looking for a few good writers. Could be bloggers, journalism majors, or anyone else who can write a few paragraphs five times a week. We've got a sister blog called HoopsBuzz, where I'm attempting to create a community based on basketball trade rumors and signings. It'd be very similar to this blog, but all about the NBA and college hoops. I've got a couple of openings for worthy bloggers. I can't pay anything currently because I doubt the site will make money. If you can build an audience and consistently post quality material, there will be compensation down the..   Continue Reading

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Carlos Zambrano Fires Boras

According to ESPN 1000 out of Chicago, Carlos Zambrano has fired agent Scott Boras. His new agent is unknown. Zambrano has pitched 3.5 excellent seasons and made $3.76MM in 2005 according to Cot's Baseball Contracts. He'll be part of the free agent class after the 2007 season. That group also includes Bartolo Colon, Freddy Garcia, Roy Halladay, Josh Beckett, and Roy Oswalt. Also, WSCR 670 and ESPN 1000 are reporting that the White Sox have signed Joe Crede to a one-year contract for $2.675MM. Crede has a career line of .255/.303/.439 and plays top-notch defense. He earned $400,000 in 2005...   Continue Reading

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Latest Mets Rumblings

I spoke with my Mets source recently, and here's what I came away with. With Danys Baez out of the picture, the club will just focus on minor league invites and doesn't plan on making any major acquisitions. However, there is still an outside shot the Mets trade for Barry Zito; they are currently monitoring the situation. Such a deal would be preceded by a trade of Kris Benson. Zito is certainly someone the Mets will revisit during the season if nothing is worked out this winter. According to my source, the Mets feel "very good" about their starting pitching..   Continue Reading

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Sporting News Sleepers And More

Sporting News has the first fantasy baseball magazine on the market, and I evaluated some of their sleepers over at RotoAuthority. Also, have a look at my Chris Ray projection. If you like this projection stuff and want to see player rankings, comments, and sleepers, consider buying the 2006 RotoAuthority Fantasy Baseball Guide for ten bucks. It's a damn good value and is updated throughout the season. Speaking of closer rankings for fantasy baseball, The Closer Watch has an excellent depth chart and mailing list that will keep you informed. Orioles fan? Orioles Think Tank is a quality blog that..   Continue Reading

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Huff Staying Put For Now

Apparently the Devil Rays have not found a deal they like for Aubrey Huff. He's not going anywhere right now, and we can put the Houston rumor to rest. These things change quickly; that's the latest on it   Continue Reading

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Breaking News: Baez To Dodgers

This just in: the Devil Rays have traded righthanded relievers Danys Baez and Lance Carter plus a player to be named later to the Dodgers for starting pitching prospects Edwin Jackson and Chuck Tiffany. Ken Rosenthal had a whiff of the deal earlier this afternoon, and it's a variation on the trade rumor we reported back on Tuesday. Jackson and Tiffany had fallen out of the Dodgers' top ten prospect list. Before the 2005 season, Jackson ranked 3rd and southpaw Tiffany 10th. Edwin Jackson brings a mid 90s heater and dangerous slider to the table. Despite throwing 55 innings of..   Continue Reading

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More Jeff Weaver

I was wondering whether the Cardinals could fit Jeff Weaver into their payroll if they moved some parts around, and called upon Viva El Birdos to determine the answer. Lboros thoroughly dissected the issue yesterday. The verdict: "So I guess my answer is: yes, there are knots the Cardinals could tie themselves into in order to fit Jeff Weaver into the payroll; but no, I don't think they would be inclined to go that route." Read the post and you'll probably be inclined to agree. In addition, I spoke to my Mets source today. He said the club is not..   Continue Reading

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Aubrey Huff To Houston?

Got a good one today. I admit I was skeptical at first, but an independent source verified the rumor. It seems that Arizona, Houston, Los Angeles, and Tampa Bay have some sort of deal in the works. It is known that Jayson Werth and Aubrey Huff are involved, but the other players have not yet been revealed. Apparently Werth is headed to Tampa Bay or Arizona - my sources differ in opinion here. Both sources indicated that Aubrey Huff will be joining the Astros. Such a move would certainly cloud up the Astros' 1B/OF situation. They'd have Lance Berkman, Jeff..   Continue Reading

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Jose Reyes Projection

Today at RotoAuthority: my Jose Reyes projection. If you like that sort of thing, consider purchasing my 2006 Fantasy Baseball Guide, which is less than ten bucks for a limited time. A couple of interesting posts over at MetsBlog recently. This one is an open letter that touches on the challenge of trying to establish credibility as a blogger. Especially one that posts the occasional trade rumor. This post contains some reasoning supporting keeping Aaron Heilman in the bullpen. How about some daily graphing on Sammy Sosa? Outlook: not so good   Continue Reading

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Jeff Weaver: Last Man Standing

I ranked Jeff Weaver 18th overall on my Top 50 Free Agents for 2006, and he's easily the best remaining starting pitcher (Roger Clemens aside). After Weaver the dropoff is huge - it's Kevin Brown or Lima Time. Kind of remains me of this, a memory I've been trying to repress for ten years. For a while it seemed like Weaver was being strangely undervalued in the market. He's a very dependable starter and he's still 29. He's thrown 444 innings over the past two seasons with the Dodgers, compiling a 4.11 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, and 6.3 K/9 during that..   Continue Reading

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Will Carroll Interview Part 2

Yesterday's Part 1 of my Will Carroll interview is available here. Here's the rest. MLBTradeRumors: Would you agree with Buster Olney that the Mets are the most likely destination for Sammy Sosa? The Pirates are out of it now, so there aren't many vacancies. Will Carroll: If you can get him for nothing plus incentives, why not? I think the Mets would be a nice fit, but that team is trying to win, not get fans in there. I'd think a team that looks like a 500 team in a weak division could take the gamble. San Francisco? MLB: What..   Continue Reading

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Oakland A's Buzz

I've got a source out of Oakland who filled me in on the latest buzz from the club recently. Frank Thomas has told his agent, Arn Tellem, that he wants to join the A's. Billy Beane holds all the cards here, as Thomas's confusing medical reports have scared off all other suitors. Gambling on Thomas's health is another example of Beane snagging a player undervalued in the market. Word is that the A's really don't want to go to arbitration with Milton Bradley. Bradley's due for a sizeable raise from the $2.5MM he made in 2005, and he's using his..   Continue Reading

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Manny To Philly Rumor Looks False

This trade rumor has been lighting up forums across the Internet all day long: Manny Ramirez to the Phillies for Bobby Abreu. According to the rumor, it's "basically a done deal." I got in touch with my very best Phillies source for the scoop. According to my source: "I checked it out with high-ranking sources as early as 4 p.m., then again at 7. Nothing is going on." This is definitely an authentic, reliable source, so I have to assume that this trade rumor doesn't have a leg to stand on. I'm the last guy to want to kill an..   Continue Reading

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Will Carroll Interview

Today I was privileged to have a chance to interview Baseball Prospectus's injury analyst, Will Carroll. In addition to the injuries, Will does a Rumor Mill column a couple of times a year and always has some good info. In case you're interested, I interviewed Will back in August about all sorts of pitching topics. Anyway, his answers to my questions are in bold below. This is Part 1 of the interview; I'll post the rest tomorrow. MLBTradeRumors: Does Kevin Brown have anything left? Any teams that might take a chance on him, given that he was solid in 2004?..   Continue Reading

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Baez To Dodgers?

Tony Jackson of the Los Angeles Daily News reported a new Danys Baez rumor today. Apparently, the Dodgers have inquired on him given Eric Gagne's impending free agency. Of course, Baez is due for a big contract himself when he hits free agency after 2006. These talks are still preliminary, but I was able to uncover some more info from a source close to the Devil Rays. Word from that end is that Edwin Jackson and Dioner Navarro would go to Tampa Bay in a deal for Baez and Toby Hall. The Dodgers may find Navarro expendable with top prospect..   Continue Reading

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Win A Free Copy Of The 2006 RotoAuthority Fantasy Baseball Guide

That's right - this is your opportunity to snag a bona fide 2006 RotoAuthority Fantasy Baseball Guide, absolutely free. There's just one catch - you have to be a member of the RotoAuthority mailing list to be eligible for the random drawing. Just go to RotoAuthority and sign up; it's on the sidebar under Mailing List. I'll annouce the winner in one week   Continue Reading

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Details On Tejada Negotiations

Just got a little bit of info from my White Sox source concerning the now deceased White Sox trade for Miguel Tejada. Word is that the White Sox bowed out late Friday when the Orioles insisted on Brandon McCarthy or Lance Broadway in addition to the other players. It seems Broadway's status pick in the 2005 June draft would've necessitated his inclusion as a PTBNL. The White Sox wouldn't budge, and the deal died. One other new tidbit is that the Orioles changed gears and attempted to engage the White Sox in an Erik Bedard trade. It is speculated that..   Continue Reading

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Patterson To Orioles For Minor Leaguers

According to ESPN and other sources, Corey Patterson has been dealt to the Orioles for 20 year-old 2B/SS Nate Spears and 23 year-old southpaw starter Carlos Perez. Spears is a scrappy middle infielder in the David Eckstein mold. He hit .294/.349/.429 for advanced Class A Frederick in 2005. Perez posted a 4.28 ERA in 151 innings for Class A Delmarva this year. Click here to view my Corey Patterson projection   Continue Reading

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Fantasy Baseball: Top 20 Catchers

I'm proud to announce a new writing gig with The Hardball Times. It's a fantastic website, and I'll be contributing some fantasy articles. My first is catcher rankings, which were based on my 2006 RotoAuthority Fantasy Baseball Guide, which is less than ten bucks for a limited time. Top 20 Catchers For 200   Continue Reading

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Fantasy: Hot Stove Roundup

My latest fantasy baseball column is up over at RotoWorld. Players such as Alfonso Soriano, Rafael Furcal, and Esteban Loaiza are profiled. Also, the 2006 RotoAuthority Fantasy Baseball Guide is currently available for less than ten bucks. Everyone who's bought it has been quite satisfied so far. Get it now to secure the early-bird price   Continue Reading

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Phil Rogers On Burnitz

Some interesting items for Cubs fans in Phil Rogers's column today. Rogers calls the Cubs' decision not to exercise Jeromy Burnitz's $7MM option a gaffe. He points out that Jacque Jones is basically Burnitz's equal in right field. That's true, even when you take fielding into account. In my opinion, letting Burnitz go was a smart move. However, signing Jones for three years is a poor way to solve fill the vacancy. At least, that's been my stance on this site. But after perusing the right fielder rankings from 2005, I had to ask myself: what alternative would I have..   Continue Reading

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Preston Wilson Projection

Wondering how new Astro Preston Wilson will perform in 2006? Check out the latest RotoAuthority projection. Miguel Tejada backed off on his trade demand. Translation: the Orioles didn't find an offer they liked. Read about the Diamondbacks' new philosophy towards team defense under Josh Byrnes over at Baseball Prospectus. Some lesser known breakout prospects over at Baseball Analysts   Continue Reading

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Four Teams After Patterson

According to Bruce Levine on ESPN Radio 1000, four different teams have interest in Cubs former phenom Corey Patterson. The contenders are the Orioles, Mariners, Rangers, and Nationals. Hendry apparently wants at least two young players in return. A trade is possible next week. Personally, I hope Hendry chooses quality over quantity here. Running down the teams: The Orioles have nothing to lose by throwing Patterson in CF and seeing if he can reignite his career. The club doesn't seem fond of Luis Matos at this point. A trade to the Mariners would imply the departure of Jeremy Reed, which..   Continue Reading

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Brewers Acquire Corey Koskie

The Miami Herald and WTMJ in Milwaukee are reporting that Brewers GM Doug Melvin has swooped in and acquired third baseman Corey Koskie. To get him, they sent righthanded reliever Brian Wolfe to Toronto. Wolfe is a 25 year-old career minor leaguer with little chance of ever seeing the big leagues. This was a salary dump, as Koskie is owed $5.25MM in 2006 and $5.75MM in 2007. His $6.5MM 2008 option can be bought out for $500,000. However, the option becomes guaranteed if Koskie gets at least 796 plate appearances over the next two seasons. Koskie will be entering his..   Continue Reading

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Felix Hernandez Projection

Check out my Felix Hernandez projection for 2006 over at RotoAuthority. These always bring about good debates, so get to it! You can purchase projections for 573 other players and much more in the 2006 RotoAuthority Fantasy Baseball Guide for the early-bird special price of just $9.99   Continue Reading

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Kaplan: Cubs "Trying Hard" For Tejada

Late last night I talked to Dave Kaplan, co-host of WGN's Sports Central. Dave gave me a different take on the Miguel Tejada situation than what my source told me. He said his sources indicate the White Sox are out of the Tejada sweepstakes and that the Red Sox are also backing away now that Manny said he'll stay. According to Kaplan, the Cubs are "trying hard." He also mentioned that there's "still a long way to go to get a deal done, but if the Cubs will include Felix Pie they could get it done." FoxSports's Ken Rosenthal threw..   Continue Reading

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White Sox Miguel Tejada Update

Alright, I've got the goods on the current state of the White Sox's attempt to acquire Miguel Tejada. Remember the unknown prospect I referred to in the Orioles' proposal? Turns out the pitching prospect the Orioles wanted was either Lance Broadway or Brandon McCarthy. Neither player was on the list agreed upon earlier, and the Sox scoffed at the idea of including Broadway or McCarthy. Despite reports in both the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times today, the deal is very much alive at this point. Unfortunately, my source is more involved with the financial approval aspect of the deal (hence..   Continue Reading

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Craig Wilson, Cubs Bullpen, and More

Today seems to be a bit of a slow day on the trade rumors front. I'm still working on gathering some Tejada info. For now I'll just say that you shouldn't discount the White Sox even after both major Chicago newspapers quoted Kenny Williams saying no deal will happen. As commenters in this thread pointed out, Williams has been known to keep a low profile and be less than forthright when talking to the media. Somehow, a rumor came about yesterday that San Francisco's KNBR 1050 was reporting that the Pirates had dealt Craig Wilson to the Athletics for Kirk..   Continue Reading

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White Sox Receive Tejada Offer

Remember when I decided to start calling Kenny Williams "spunky" based on his Javier Vazquez and Jim Thome trades? I'm starting to think I should stick with "bold," as cliche as it may be. As I mentioned earlier on this site, the White Sox submitted two trade proposals for Miguel Tejada with a deadline of December 31st. Now the White Sox have re-entered the Tejada fray. A rock-solid source of mine close to the White Sox tells me that the team is "lying in the weeds" and allowing the Mets, Devil Rays, Orioles, and Red Sox to beat each other..   Continue Reading

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Cubs/Red Sox/Mariners Trade Possible

A reliable source told me today about a three-way deal that is "imminent." It's always risky to throw around "imminent," but I'm just quoting him here. Here's the scenario: BOS gives: Bronson Arroyo, Tony Graffanino, PTBNL BOS gets: Jeremy Reed, Will Ohman CHC gives: Corey Patterson, Ohman CHC gets: Raul Ibanez, Graffanino, cash SEA gives: Reed, Ibanez, cash SEA gets: Arroyo, Patterson, PTBNL Let's evaluate. There's no doubt the Cubs would be making out like bandits in this trade. Corey Patterson is useless to them, even as a fourth outfielder. 28 year-old lefty Ohman tossed a solid 43 innings this..   Continue Reading

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Latest Astros Buzz

Today we've got some Astros info for you to digest. According to an emailer, Richard Justice recently spoke with Astros GM Tim Purpura on Sports Radio 610. Here's what came out of the discussion: The Astros aren't expecting much from Jeff Bagwell, surprise surprise. The main concern is, of course, his inability to throw. In Brian McTaggart's article in the Houston Chronicle today, he mentions that Bagwell "will have his shoulder analyzed next week by respected orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham." Expect Bags to be relegated to pinch-hitting duties given the Preston Wilson signing. I don't have anything..   Continue Reading

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2006 RotoAuthority Fantasy Baseball Guide Preview

Still on the fence about whether the 2006 RotoAuthority Fantasy Baseball Guide is worth your ten bucks? Download 2006_rotoauthority_fantasy_baseball_guide.ppt to check out a quick preview of the Guide in PowerPoint format   Continue Reading

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Cards Make Offer to Felix Rodriguez

A source close to the Cardinals' organization is informing me that the club has an offer out to righthanded reliever Felix Rodriguez. Details of the team's proposal are not yet known. Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch previously reported that the Cards were close to signing Rodriguez on December 21st. The 33 year-old reliever has pitched 556 innings in his career, posting a 3.51 ERA and 1.37 WHIP. Rodriguez's prime came with the Giants. In 2001, he won 9 games with a 1.68 ERA and 1.00 WHIP in 80 innings for San Francisco. Torn knee cartilage limited Rodriguez to..   Continue Reading

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Agreement For Manny Trade?

The latest Manny rumor making the rounds comes courtesy of commenter Wild Bill from the Orioles Hangout Forum. As far as Bill's track record, I can direct you to a thread over at Sons of Sam Horn. According to the poster: "There are three reputed "insiders" [at Orioles Hangout] and all three seem to agree that the trade has been agreed upon in principal but that Manny's request for an extension will likely cause the deal to fall through. As for their validity, it seems each does have a source either within the Orioles organization or one who is once..   Continue Reading

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2006 Projections Now On Sale

For a mere $9.99, you can now purchase the 2006 RotoAuthority Fantasy Baseball Guide. Click here to read the details   Continue Reading

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Cubs Still Discussing Zito, Tejada

Just got off the phone with Dave Kaplan, host of Sports Central on WGN Radio 720 out of Chicago. He gave me the latest on where the Cubs stand with Barry Zito. Billy Beane is not sure whether he'll deal Zito now or in July. However, the teams have had discussions recently, and the A's like the Cubs' farm system quite a bit. A deal for several of the Cubs' young arms is a distinct possibility. The A's aren't looking for Matt Murton in the trade, but rather pitchers like Rich Hill, Angel Guzman, and Sean Marshall. There's been plenty..   Continue Reading

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Not Buying Baez

There's about a dozen different trade scenarios floating around where reliever Danys Baez ends up with the Mets. In every one, the price is steep - it typically involves surrendering Aaron Heilman. I was curious as to whether Baez is worth all this hype. Let's take a look. Vital Stats Danys Baez is still young; he'll be entering his age 28 season in 2006. The Cuban righthander throws a high 90s heater. The D-Rays signed him as a free agent from the Indians through some sort of loophole, and he'll make $4MM in 2006. For his career, Baez has a..   Continue Reading

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Cliff Lee Projection

The latest over at RotoAuthority: Cliff Lee Projection Low-Rent Closers Also worth a read: Paul Swydan of Baseball Prospectus discusses why the Red Sox actually don't need any further improvements besides a centerfielderto be ready to compete in 2006. Of course, the media will be up in arms if the Sox don't acquire a proven shortstop this offseason   Continue Reading

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Pirates Interested In Sosa

Emailer Joe tipped me off to a blog referencing an article from a Dominican news service. The article discusses Pittsburgh's interest in Sammy Sosa. Despite my pathetic grasp on the Spanish language, here's what I've pieced together from Rob Rossi's article. With Joe Randa in tow as the Pirates' third baseman, they'd like to make one more free agent acquisition this winter. Now that first choice Eric Byrnes has a tentative agreement with the Diamondbacks, Sammy Sosa is the primary target for right field. Apparently several teams desire Sosa's services (I must've translated that part wrong.) The Pirates plan to..   Continue Reading

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