Four years ago today, the Dodgers claimed Esteban Loaiza off waivers from the Athletics, taking on over $8MM and getting very little from the pitcher in return. I'm sure Billy Beane and Ned Colletti still chuckle about the transaction. Today's links:
- Jamie Moyer, 49 in November, will continue his rehab from Tommy John surgery at the Phillies' Spring Training home in Clearwater, Florida. MLB.com's Todd Zolecki explains that Moyer remains a free agent, but his former team honored his request to use their facilities and expertise. We all look forward to seeing Moyer's 81 mile per hour heater in the Majors once again, perhaps next year.
- Josh Beckett is a family man now, the Red Sox righty explained to WEEI's Rob Bradford. Beckett anticipates a series of one-year deals once his current contract expires after the 2014 season, and plans to disappear without fanfare when it's time to retire.
- Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times has contract details for Jered Weaver's new deal with the Angels. The contract has a full no-trade clause, a $1MM signing bonus, and salaries of $14MM for 2012, $16MM each for '13 and '14, $18MM for '15, and $20MM for '16.
- Baseball America's Jim Callis looks at the 2005 draft for each of the 30 teams, ranking the Red Sox first and the Cubs last.
could the Phillies let Hamels walk in order to sign Moyer to a 3 year deal?!? (yes, I’m joking.) Anyway, it’s nice to see the Phillies let Moyer use their stuff and people. He’s a great, down to earth player and I really hope he gets a chance to pitch at 50 years old.
Isn’t 81 a bit generous?
At this rate, the regression of his average fastball velocity will be faster than his fastball in general.
Is Moyer getting a tryout with the 2011 LLWS team from Huntington Beach, CA for their 2012 campaign or something? He might be viable at that level.
Whoa. Was that a jab at Moyer? What’s up with that?
Not really a jab when it is true.
He still throws harder than Wake.
How fast is his fastball?
Well, flies can land on it.
If it hit a bird the same way Randy Johnson’s did, I doubt the bird even touches the ground and flies away.
The bird would have time to duck out of the way and read the lettering as it passed. 🙂
Mid to high 70’s.
Wake doesn’t try to throw his “fast”ball any harder. Doing so would give it away. Think of his FB as a “changeup” for his knuckleball. He pretty much throws it with the same motion as his KB, it’s just straighter and a bit faster.
Josh Beckett a family man!?!?! Hide your kids… hide your wife…
And hide your husband…
“…I’m sure Billy Beane and Ned
Colletti still chuckle about the transaction.”
I bet Frank McCourt doesn’t.
I wonder if they chuckle about the Either for Bradley trade? I had totally forgotten about Loaiza till now, as if Dodger fans don’t have enough pain from this year, lets bring up more garbage moves.
If bringing up those garbage moves gets Ned fired, I’m all for it
Am I missing something? Wouldn’t a family man want a long-term deal so his family can have financial security and stay in one place? How are those two thoughts in the same paragraph?
Well…tommy john surgery has a history of making pitchers throw harder than before. I expect a solid 83 mph out of him. Look at the bright side…if he can pitch to Adam Dunn every batter he’ll have a spectaular season.
Moyer’s gotta stick around to win 300 games. I’ll cry on the day he retires!
The Cubs will win the world series before he gets to 300 wins.
even if he got 300 — and it would take 33 more wins to get there — it wouldn’t have the same sparkle as other pitchers since he’d be over 50 when he got there. if you play long enough (and pitch for decent teams) you’ll get 300 wins, 3000 hits, a million RBI, etc.
Moyer’s 2010 stats weren’t that terrible. he was an okay 5th starter at home but terrible on the road. oddly, he was giving up lots of FBs, which isn’t a great thing in Philly, but he still managed to pitch OK at citizens bank park.
the phillies don’t need him this year, obviously, and I suspect Vance Worley will stick around in the majors next year, so his time in Philly is probably done. (Even if Hamels walks and Oswalt retires, could you see a rotation of Halladay, Lee, Worley, Moyer? maybe in some bizarre universe.)
I wonder how he might do in a pitcher’s park with a decent offense (think Mets or Dodgers, not necessarily Padres or Mariners). Who knows — he might not have anything left at this stage. fun to think that he could play at age 50.