Rumor Roundup

you forgot Carlos Pena being released by the Tigers...any rumors?

good stuff i kept thinking that tony was a good 2b but most teams all ready had one. this doesn't surprise me.

Looks like Cruz has been dealt already to the D'Backs for Brad Halsey... Good deal for the backs, although I still think Halsey has upside

Graff will be a met because-

1.)The marlins would never take Graffanino's salary.

2.)The cubs have too many second baseman

3.)The blue Jays are content with Aarron Hill

4.)The mets are in front of the cardinals in the waiver order(I think)

He will be a Met unless an undisclosed team comes out of no where to get him.

What does a mama bear on the pill have in common with the World Series? No cubs.
- Harry Caray

Aaron Hill is going to be a lot better than most expect this year.

xxJamesxx i agree 100% with you

Thompson to Houston is a good possibility. Houston won't give up Lidge or Wheeler, but Qualls or Buchholz may be traded for Thompson and cash.

Buchholz is a starter but the Astros have talked about moving him to the bullpen like they did with Lidge a few years ago.

Carlos Pena was released today. So far no takers...

Good call on the whole Cruz thing, you didnt even list arizona

Hey Rumor did you hear about the rumor of Rheal Cormier for Dustin Morh is there any truth to that???

Graffanino seems like the perfect stopgap for the Mets. With the Iron Man of Japan Kaz Matsui is your starter, you better have a decent backup. Valentin, Woodward, Keppinger and Hernandez are not looking like very palatable options. Graffanino could keep 2B from turning into a black hole like 2005.

ERR..Mets fan you always want someone no matter what.Any player becomes an option you guys are in the mix.The funny thing you wanna unload your crap for actual decent talent you might as well face it Kaz is gonna be your problem you shouldn't have given jack to a guy that can't play worth a ^%$#.At least the Yanks get players that are half-way good.Graf will probably land in STL.The Cards will be releasing Spivey soon maybe you guy could take a flyer on him too!!!!

With all due respect, Kev, your criticism is unwarranted. Mets fan don't "always want someone no matter what." We are interested in Graf and Soriano because they fill one of the few positions at which the Mets stand to improve. Please find a Mets fan on this site who advocated the acquisition of a 1b, or a 3b, for instance. You won't, proving your entire post wrong and uninformed.

Also, the Yankees have been known to overpay for bad talent (as has every team ever). Did you forget about Kevin Brown? What about Bernie Williams's bad contract? Randy Johnson was a real winner last year. What about the flood of horrible relievers that they've traded for or signed? The Mets made a mistake when they signed Kaz, but they're hardly the only members of the 'bad contract' club.

Please keep your mindless criticism of Mets fans to yourself. Thank you.

"ERR..Mets fan you always want someone no matter what.Any player becomes an option you guys are in the mix."

Uh, Graffanino has been rumored to the Mets before, they have a huge hole at 2B and he's available on waivers. I don't think it's that much of a stretch to think Graffanino could end up on the Mets.

Cruz has already been dealt to Arizona, as said above. Looks like Hasely is set for LOOGY duty if he makes the team at any time.

This MIGHT open up a trade for Joe Kennedy, or it might be just more AAA Fodder like Cruz would have been.

I still think the A's will make another trade though, as there is still the Freddy Bynum situation. Either Bobby Kielty or Bynum is on the way out, and I personally am inclined to believe it is Kielty.

hey kev...hideki irabu ring a bell!

A Yankee fan should talk...

Jose Canseco, anyone?

Apparently, the Boss loves steroid users.

Hey you men out there, have you realized that this WOMAN knows more about baseball than you MEN do?

Get a grip!

I sincerely hope the Mets do go after Soriano....add another clubhouse cancer to your team....and watch the playoffs from your couch vs Shea stadium...LOL...

You guys just don't get it, do you? A great player is more than his "stats"...

At least Houston has team chemistry and all around good guys...that's why we'll make the playoffs again while the Cubs and Mets sit and watch them from their couches

wow wow wow I think announcing that you know more then all the men here is abit silly . Even more so being a Houston fan, I tend to agree you likely know more then these NY fans and likely the Red Sox and Cubs fans. However us Elite Fans of the game that are from North of the Border from a Country that showed Team USA how to play thew game in the WBC. Are obviously more knowledgeable.

Cubs are chillin' at 2b, the three possible options for 2b are each better than Graffanino, so word is bond, that don't make no sense.

I only threw it out there because the Cubs are known to have expressed interest...

Cub's won't do it, see this from this morning's Sun Times and Mike Kiley:

"Even though the Cubs discussed a deal with the Boston Red Sox in the offseason about infielder Tony Graffanino, they have no intention of filing a claim after the Red Sox put Graffanino on waivers.

Barring an unexpected trade at the last minute, Todd Walker will break camp with the Cubs. With Walker, Jerry Hairston and Neifi Perez, there is no room for a backup such as Graffanino."

metsfan theres no crying in baseball so just read the comments and stop crying cause they made a comment on your little team

Yeah, and most likely the cubs will use hairston at 2nd (jus read what Krusty baker said). Hairston is overated at 2nd defensively. Walkers and Hairston fielding percentage was the same last year.

And Stros are going no where,the stros just lost too much to even be at top this year. Bagwell and Clemens. Team chemistry wont be enough to even win the wild card.

And hey Devin, watch your mouth bout cubs fans. Im a CUBS FAN who knows more than enough about baseball. i want to improve my knowledge more and more, but i have very good knowledge about the game of baseball.

The Astros will be fine. The team I am most worried about is the Cardinals they have some serious glaring holes in there lineup and if Rolen gets hurt again (which is always a good shot) The Cardinals wont win the NL Central.

The Astros lineup is much better with Bagwell not in it. Taveras, Wilson, and Lane is a solid outfield and Berkman and Ensberg provide a lot of power out of the corner infield. Biggio is a freak I dont know how he is still playing. And while neither Ausmus or Everett hit well both are very good defensively. The pitching will be fine. Oswalt is an ace and I wouldnt be suprised if he gets a couple votes for cy young. Backe should improve and Pettite is very good as always. If they can find a 4 and 5 starter out of there bunch of young guys they will be fine. The NL central has a shot to be the worst division in baseball this year.

"At least Houston has team chemistry and all around good guys...that's why we'll make the playoffs again while the Cubs and Mets sit and watch them from their couches"

Miss Woman-Who-Knows-More-Than-Men-About-Baseball leaves out the fact that Houston has won exactly JACK since coming into the league the same year as the Mets. One World Series appearance, in which you got swept, in 43 years of existence is not a lot to brag about, team chemistry or no.

And Kyle, i agree with you man, the cards have key glaring holes. I have been stating in many blogs the cards won't win the NL Central for sure. THE NL CENTRAL THIS YEAR IS UP FOR GRABS, JUS LIKE THE NL WEST WAS UP FOR GRABS LAST YEAR.

I think the Brewers have the best team in the central, or at very least the best Potential, the team really has no glaring weakness and has solid depth.

The Brewers weakness is at the backend of the bullpen as well as a lack of experience. Turnbow and Kolb dont really strike fear into opposing lineups and its a big question if all the young players (Fielder, Hardy, Weeks) Will preform.

I think Turnbow does strike fear into opposing lineups.

Who exactly on the Mets roster is a clubhouse cancer?

And how exactly is an Astros fan supposed to teach a Mets fan something about clubhouse cancers? You guys are begging the second biggest assh*** in the game to rejoin your team. Also, did you forget that the Astros had Jeff Kent on their roster for a number of years? He's also a real mentsch.

Devin, your last comment regarding the Brewers being the best team in the Central is hysterical! Considering that you had the nerve to put down one of the most knowledgable fan bases (Cubdom) in a previous post.
Seriously the Chicago Cubs are the team to beat in the Central this year.
Reasons why:

The Best NL Central Bullpen:
Closer: Dempster
Setup: Howry
LH Setup: Eyre
RP: Williamson

Now from the 6th inning & on, the opposing team will find it difficult to comeback when their behind.

Best balanced lineup:

1. Pierre
2. Walker
3. MV-Lee
4. A. Ramirez
5. J. Jones
6. M. Barrett
7. Murton
8. Cedeno

Speed & Power!!!!

& Come June & July:

1. Zambrano
2. Prior
3. Wood
4. Maddux
5. Williams/Rusch

One of the best 1-4 combo in the NL!

So please Devin do yourself a favor and get a clue about the best team in the NL Central.

"And how exactly is an Astros fan supposed to teach a Mets fan something about clubhouse cancers? You guys are begging the second biggest assh*** in the game to rejoin your team. Also, did you forget that the Astros had Jeff Kent on their roster for a number of years? He's also a real mentsch."

Sorry guys, about my last comment... I'm still bitter about my team losing the 2000 W.S. & the fact that the Yanks are NY's Team!
I will however continue to attack the Skankees & all they stand for

"Wow, O'Neil you really are a GAY Warrior!"
- Michael Kay commenting on Paul O'Neil crying in the dugout as the D'Backs slay Rivera in the 2001 W.S.

For one the cubs arent good. Here are there Zips projections for next year:
1. Pierre .308/.359/.382 52 SB
2. Walker .277/.336/.435 13 HR
3. MV-Lee .309/.398/.582 38 HR
4. A. Ramirez .302/.359/.541 32 HR
5. J. Jones .259/.317/.436 22 HR 11 SB
6. M. Barrett .276/.342/.468 14 HR
7. Murton .289/.350/.430 14 HR
8. Cedeno .287/.332/.412 13 SB

Now I will give you that Pierre Lee and Ramirez are all good but this team does not get on base enough to support the craptastic pitching staff. You are being way too optimistic with your pitching prediction. Zambrano will be good and he could make a bid for a cy young award. But neither Wood nor Prior will break 30 starts. Maddux is getting old but he still should be solid. And the guys who will be filling in when Prior and Wood are on the DL are not promising. Rich Hill, Glendon Rusch, Angel Guzman, Jerome Williams. The cubs will be in fourth this year. It will be a close three horse race between the Astros(who have a better lineup then the cubs), the Cardinals, and the Brewers

Cubs fans always use blinders.Your team sucks start to understand so u don't look like a drunken South sider.The only way the Cubs win the Cental is if the Cards lose all 3MVP's and Mr.Cyarpenter and the chances of that slim.Your team doesn't even have a healthy pitching staff.Oh and enough of "IF's" on prior and wood u been saying that for a while 3+ years that dribble gets old fast.

And "A mess fan" move on guy. The 2000 series was more then 5 years ago you guys were lucky to make that you should be happy you had the oppurtunity. Dont hate the Yankees because they run a better team onto the field every year, play in a nicer stadium, have more money, have a better cable station, and are more liked in new york.

Just be happy this year you have a shot at beating the braves

Kyle, SHUT YOUR MOUTH!!!
You wouldn't understand the $hit us Mets fans have to put up with in NY! Its just unimaginable ->
Newspaper, Radio, TV, etc Yankees This...Yankees that...Yankees BLAH BLAH BLAH!!!!
I like to see you living in a city where a dispicable sports franchised is so beloved!
So please Kyle, shut your mouth & go back to your Cubbie Circle jerk! OKAY

Yo kev, you seem to have forgotten that your dead birds lost Walker, Sanders, Morris, Grudz, etc. Yu guys did not improve one bit this offseason! Your time is up, move aside boy! The Cubbies with an improved bullpen & lineup are winning the Central in 06! Oh wait, hendry did get Wade Miller. Now that staff in June is even more formidable than ever before! RIP 2006 Cards, You guys are done!

Alright, alright, enough boys. None of us is good enough to know what will happen in the Central this year--every team has ? marks, so it's all a matter of opinion (and which fan you are) as to who's going to win it.

The Cubs starting pitching is suspect, the Cardinals have lost alot of key pieces, the Astros lost Clemens and Bagwell, and the Brewers have some ? marks at certain positions.

Thus--good luck to all. We'll see what happens starting in a week!

By the way--as for the Cubs young pitchers--Ryu, Marshall and Guzman all have looked pretty good this spring. Hill has turned around his bad outing. They're not major league ready yet, but look promising in the next year or two. We've just got to get through Prior and Wood.....

Hey Kyle--wanna bet the Cubs finish better than fourth? I can understand you don't like the Cubs (or some fans) but your anger has clouded your judgment son.

Yeah, I'll bet that the Cubs finish 4th this season because its simple:

1. The Cubs are managed by a Moron
2. Their Starting Rotation is weak even if Miller, Prior, & Wood make it back by May
3. They do not have a #2 hitter & Murton as well as Cedeno are "Cory Patterson the Sequel" (OVERHYPED!)
4. THE CARDS, STROS, & BREW CREW ARE STILL BETTER (Pitching & Defensively)!!!

Oh by the way Erik, Stop with your whining. Mets fans should be happy to have the chance every late July to go home & put on their Yankee Hats & Jeter Jersies. We all know Mets fans = Closet Yankee Fans!
;)
Right!

Kyle, and all fans in baseball, you cant decide for sure who will win the central, or hell, decide who will win the WS. HAVENT YOU GUYS LEARNED ANYTHING FROM THE PAST 3-4 YEARS. I mean come on, the whitesox winning it all (nobody even thought they would go far), the marlins winning it all, and hell, who ever thought in 03 the cubs would even make it to the NLCS. Seriously, they were picked to finish third or fourth that year too.

And who ever THOUGHT THE REDSOX WOULD COME BACK FROM A SERIES 0-3 DEFECIT, AND BEAT THE YANKS.

BOTTOM LINE IS, BASEBALL IS UNPREDICTABLE, YOU CAN PREDICT IN THE NBA, BUT IN THE MLB, YOU DONT KNOW WHATS GOING TO HAPPEN. Who knows, the Breweers might win the WS. Who knows, the cards may dominate, or not. The Cubs may able to survive the first month without Prior, Wood, and Miller, OR JUS BE ANOTHER BUST YEAR. We can argue all we want, I have my opinions, so does Kyle, and EVERYBODY ELSE, but WE ARE JUST GOING TO WAIT AND SEE WHO WILL BE THE KINGS OF THE DIAMOND. Theres less than two weeks till MLB Seasons starts so just keep your heads cool.

Here something you fools can look forward to:

A 2006 W.S.
Mets VS Red Sawx
An 86' Rematch
& The Mets WIN just like in 86!!!!

Come Octoberm, Cubs will be putting on their Red Sawx gear & wait to have their hearts ripped right out of them....

well see eric, you may be wrong, or right. But hey, ill let the game do the talking.

Erik,

Love the optimism, brother. I really doubt the Mets will make the world series, but I do sincerely hope that they win the wild card, at least.

Barring injuries, I think the Mets can win 92 games, at least, especially since their Pythagorean win total last season was 88 games, or so.

I think Erik and Kyle are closet cubs fans....they're just too afraid to admit it! (sarcasm)....Kyle, you are wrong about Murton. I would be very surprised if he flops based on his stints in the minors, last year in the bigs, as well as the spring he is having. The scary part is that he hits for power to the opposite field AND hits for average. We'll see how he does once pitchers adjust to him. I think it's safe to say he'll hit .300 with 15-20 HRs. Don't think he'll k alot.

Oh, and the Cubs have several great options for a #2 hitter--Murton, Walker, Hairston (remember he was playing at 75% last year) and Cedeno. I think odds are one of those guys will work out and the others will be further down in the line up....

Are you kidding me? How in the world are the Cubs the best in the central? Not a chance! They are not even the second best in the league. The Cardinals will win the division by 6 games with the Brewers in second. The Cubs will finish fourth with the Astros ahead of them. Thats That!

Wow, didn't know Adam was such an authority on MLB, particularly, the NL Central. Nobody else can have other opinions, b/c Adam is right and says the Cubs will finish 4th. THAT'S THAT!

Thats That, o yeah! And thats the bottom line, becuase adam said so!

You know, all you really need to do to be an Authority is to start calling yourself one. Ask that jerk the RotoAuthority.

I call the shots, i decide who wins it all. The Cubs will not win! Its all setup for them to lose, and finish 4th place. Thats that!

I think the cubs might be in the race, I'm pretty sure they are better then the "clemensless"Astros. I merely pointed out that I think the Brewers have the Potential to be the best team. They have 5 solid starters and turnbow is a solid closer. Their lineup could be a monster or a big flop. However if everyone in their lineup lives upto expectations they will be in the division/wildcard hunt.

The Cards the Favorites I think need to Deal Reyes for an OFer, Graf would improve their 2nd bagger alot aswell.

Depth is a huge issue for the Cards tho.

I think the Reds will win the central. They are just too good

Are you on crack? The Reds are gonna win the NL Central? Hahahaha... that's not gonna happen for a number of reasons:

1) Scott Hatteberg's cranky back. He'll probably miss 50 games because of it. What then?
2) They changed frankfurter suppliers at the Great American Ballpark. The lower quality of the hot dogs will surely bring attendance and revenue down, crippling the club's ability to go out and make mid-season upgrades through the trade market.
3) The bad blood between Chris Denorfia and Dane Sardinha that developed during spring training. If that feud explodes it could plunge the whole organization into chaos.

The Pirates are totally gonna win the NL Central this year.