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Mailbag: Crisp, Anderson, Fogg, and More
The mailbag can be reached at mlbtraderumors@gmail.com.
What day had the highest readership so far this offseason (yesterday)? How many visitors? - Corbin
Yesterday we had about 200K pageviews, which still pales in comparison to the second day of the Winter Meetings (over 736K pageviews). I am hoping to break this record on July 31st.
There seems to be more of a trend lately for teams to step up and extend key players before they reach free agency. Will this trend continue, and will the FA market at the end of 2008 end up looking as bare as the past market was? Does the Player's Association have any concerns with this trend and the effect it could have on salaries (if any)? - The Stork
I can't speak for the Player's Association, but I can't see what they could do about it even if they were concerned. Players like security, teams like cost certainty and possible discounts. I think the trend will continue. Look at the Cubs with Aramis Ramirez. They let him hit free agency and signed him at 5/75, but could've done better if they signed him earlier.
I was wondering if you really see a place for Coco Crisp somewhere other than Boston. - Tim
The Cardinals, Reds, White Sox, and A's are four possibilities I can think of, and all of these destinations have reasons against. With Crisp under contract through 2010 (assuming his option is exercised), Theo should be in no hurry despite whatever Crisp's agent says.
You clearly need to pay attention to the local press for each team to sniff out trade rumors across baseball. We all know which markets have the heaviest media coverage of their baseball teams. Which markets do you find have the lightest local media coverage? - Kevin
The Orioles seem a bit light from my vantage point - it's only really the Sun getting scoops. The A's are neglected, but fortunately we have Susan Slusser on the beat. The Marlins seem really light to me on blog coverage.
Are there any truth to the rumors that the Chicago White Sox are shopping outfielder Brian Anderson? I have heard that the Cincinnati Reds are a possible destination for him. How would Anderson fit into the Reds plans and what type of package would net a player like Anderson? - Rob
Haven't heard the Reds rumor, Rob. I guess he could make sense for them just to add some depth. Given that Anderson does not have a role on the White Sox, the price should be low. A minor league pitcher or two that I've never heard of.
Tim, what teams do you think had the three best offseasons? The three worst? Thanks! - Judy
The magnitude of the Santana trade has to put the Mets in as one of the three best. I know it's simplistic but I will take the D'Backs and Tigers as the other two, just for adding impact players via trade without hurting their MLB clubs. The Royals are among my worst. I didn't like the Guillen and Olivo signings or the trade of Billy Buckner. The Astros signed Kaz Matsui, didn't get any starting pitching, and traded the farm for Miguel Tejada (who has a few issues). I will also nominate the Pirates, who mostly just sat around.
I know Josh Fogg is not a big-name guy, but do you have anything on his status? - Clay
It's been strangely quiet on the Fogg front. Interest was mostly confined to the Reds. Maybe they'll still get him at a discount. Or maybe he'll re-up with Colorado.
Who are the early favorites of guys who could be moved come July 31st with contracts ending? - Greg
Joe Crede, Mark Ellis, Mark Grudzielanek, Orlando Hudson, Felipe Lopez, Milton Bradley, Adam Dunn, Ryan Dempster, Matt Morris, Mike Mussina, Brian Fuentes, and Damaso Marte are my picks.
Is there any chance of Twins trying to sign another starting pitcher? Without Santanna it leaves Liriano, Bonser, Baker, Slowey for sure to start it seems. It really seems to look like the 4 and 5 spots are going to be filled with unproven pitchers. Is maybe Livan Hernandez or one of the other guys the Mets were looking at a possibility? - Nate
I hadn't thought of this Nate but a bargain veteran does seem possible. Tony Armas Jr., Eric Milton, Jeff Weaver, Odalis Perez, some random $3MM guy like that. Probably not Livan and definitely not Kyle Lohse.
Now that the Johan Santana business is pretty much done with, what are you going to do now? -04Forever
The rumors never stop. They just keep coming and coming and coming. There's never a letup, It's relentless. Every day they pile up more and more, but the more you get out, the more they keep coming. And then the bar code reader breaks. And then it's Publisher's Clearinghouse day.
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You tell 'em Newman.
Posted by: achilles17 | January 30, 2008 at 05:43 PM
Is it just me, or does it seem like their has been ALOT of trading this offseason? Is there any truth to that Tim, or is it just that this offseason is more fresh in my mind?
Posted by: DonCoburleone | January 30, 2008 at 05:58 PM
Because the mail never stops!
Posted by: salmon15 | January 30, 2008 at 06:19 PM
The Cubs DID sign Aramis earlier, and did better. However, they made the mistake of giving him the opt out clause, which he used. But its not like they didn't sign him earlier...
Posted by: Aduncaroo | January 30, 2008 at 06:32 PM
Im gonna have to say that I think that the Braves had one of the worst offseasons IMO.
-Trading RP Oscar Villareal for Josh Anderson
-Then trading Jose Ascanio for Will Ohman and Omar Infante
-Trading Joey Devine and prospect Jamie Richmond for Mark Kotsay negating the need for the Villareal for Anderson deal
-Trading Willy Aybar and prospect Chase Fontaine for Jeff Ridgway after the surgery to Omar Infante's hand that might keep him off the roster to start the season
So basically they traded away a lot of depth in their bullpen and their bench depth for a bunch of CF's and left-handed pitchers (something which they really didn't need with Royce Ring already, Jojo Reyes possibly in their bullpen and Mike Gonzalez coming back midseason or possibly later).
Posted by: jza1218 | January 30, 2008 at 06:36 PM
Brian Anderson is NOT out of options. He has one left so the Sox do not need to trade him nor should they. But,they probably will.
Posted by: Blutarski | January 30, 2008 at 06:57 PM
Tim,
I generally agree with a lot of things posted, but the Royals having the "worst offseason"? They got Jose Guillen. The best out there? Not by a long shot. I give on this one.
Buckner for Callaspo. Buckner had projections of being a 4th or 5th starter, and even though pitching is the currency of baseball, trading him off for Callaspo who with likely take over 2nd for us in 09 can't be seen as too negative of a move. They guy has an electric bat in the minors, and doesn't K. Maybe he has pop. We don't know. It's a "what if.." scenario with both.
Onto Olivo. With John Buck and Jason LaRue last year we had Buck being pushed hard by Buddy Bell for his job, and he performed. Once Buddy kept playing LaRue and his seismic .147 average, Buck slacked off, was told to get rid of his leg kick that was helping him establish a power stroke. This year with Olivo, who has ALWAYS hit well at Kaufman Stadium..we have a 1-2 punch of "power hitting" catchers that combined..hit 34 HR's last year. I will take 34 HR's split between them out of the C position. Plus Trey Hillman plans to use Olivo at DH on days to get his stick in the lineup.
Then we have the Yabuta and Mahay signings. How are these bad things? You have a Japanese pitcher who has seen 3 pretty good bats in the WBC and sat them all down with K's. Mahay has a good history.
Tomko signing. Okay, as a #4 or #5 he's filler. Until Hochevar is ready, then he will likely head to the pen and he seems to know this.
Then we have Tsao and Nomo who will try comebacks. Nomo i doubt...Tsao I could see flourishing.
But the best offseason move of all was Trey Hillman. The Royals finally seem to have a manager who has a winning track record, knows how to play small ball with no power in the lineup and has acclimated himself to KC very well so far.
I don't see the Royals as having the worst offseason by a longshot. I see them as having one of the best...considering they were in on every major free agent it seems (hunter, jones, kuroda, silva etc.)
Posted by: bobhamelin | January 30, 2008 at 07:07 PM
Thanks for answering my question.
Posted by: Redsoxtalk.com | January 30, 2008 at 08:13 PM
Like Blutarski said, Anderson is not out of options. The White Sox aren't obligated to trade him, well, other than him making it bluntly obvious he wants out.
Posted by: gogopalehose | January 30, 2008 at 08:16 PM
I don't know why you continue to bash the Matsui acquisition so much. He's a considerable defensive and speed upgrade from Chris Burke. Where the 'Stros screwed up was trading "the farm" for a has-been SS whose numbers have declined. I would've much rather kept the offensive black-hole that was Adam Everett and enjoy watching what I think could have been the best middle infield in the NL. Just imagine how many runs a Matsui/Everett combination would've saved. (Think: 'Stros '06 middle IF.)
Posted by: thered86 | January 30, 2008 at 08:39 PM
i know its easy to dismiss boston, being they just won and there was no "big name" signings...but i think its safe to say that bringing back nearly the exact lineup that won them a world series and keeping in tact the same rotation is quite an accomplishment. especially considering the sox weren't quick to throw their young talent away for an acquisition like santana.
Posted by: kcjones21 | January 31, 2008 at 12:06 AM
bobhamelin, you undermined a lot of your credibility when you refer to Olivio as a "stick" to get into the lineup. In this day and age, everyone recognizes that OBP is a valuable asset, and Olivio is quite nearly the worst player by that measure there is. In fact, off the top of my head, I can't think of a single player who netted 400 ABs and was that putrid. 123 Ks and 14 walks. If Hillman does indeed use Olivo at DH more than, say, three times, he isn't the manager you think he is. I'm leaning toward Tim here; the Royals offseason was decidedly mediocre.
Posted by: Devlsh | January 31, 2008 at 02:04 AM
IMO...
any activity for the royals is a good offseason. Its good just to see them spending money and trying to build a team. Good luck to the Royals and Brian Bannister.
Tim, I dont understand how you dont put Joe Nathan in your "most likely to be traded at the deadline" list. I dont see him traded before the season and certainly not resigning with the twins.
Posted by: Fish&Mets | January 31, 2008 at 02:06 AM
Fish&Mets, I would't be too sure of that. I just read that Minnesota's manager and pitching coach went to Smith and told him that Nathan needed to be in any future plans for the team. I think I read it on ESPN.
Posted by: harrycaraysghost | January 31, 2008 at 04:07 AM
I disagree with the Royals having one of the three worst off seasons. Regardless how you feel about Guillen, he is a legitimate offensive threat in the OF which the Royals lacked. Miguel Olivo, despite is anemic OBP will be an upgrade over Jason LaRue. The thing I was most disappointed in, was the fact you mentioned Billy Buckner, really? Callaspo will be starting for the Royals before mid-season 2008, and Billy Buckner will be in AAA. All of those moves should be looked at as positives for the Royals, they missed out on other signing that would have made this a better off season, but they did get the best players who were available to them.
Posted by: wcg1380 | January 31, 2008 at 08:25 AM
I disagree with the Royals having one of the three worst off seasons. Regardless how you feel about Guillen, he is a legitimate offensive threat in the OF which the Royals lacked. Miguel Olivo, despite is anemic OBP will be an upgrade over Jason LaRue. The thing I was most disappointed in, was the fact you mentioned Billy Buckner, really? Callaspo will be starting for the Royals before mid-season 2008, and Billy Buckner will be in AAA. All of those moves should be looked at as positives for the Royals, they missed out on other signing that would have made this a better off season, but they did get the best players who were available to them.
Posted by: wcg1380 | January 31, 2008 at 08:25 AM
Easily someone who could be on the most likely to be traded could be AJ Burnett. I guess it all depends on how you see the Jays doing. Personally I see the Jays in the race for the division at the trade dead line, but alot of people see things different thus makign Burnett a likely trade option.
Posted by: Dev0 | January 31, 2008 at 08:51 AM