MLBTR has the rundown on your team's arbitration eligible players. Be sure to read Tim Dierkes' series for insight into how each team's offseason will develop. Here are the latest links from around MLB…
- Manager Don Mattingly said the Dodgers need offense this offseason in an interview on 710 ESPN's Mason & Ireland Show (link at ESPNLosAngeles.com) and he acknowledged that Prince Fielder and Albert Pujols are on Los Angeles' radar. "Those are nice thoughts, there's a lot of teams talking about those type of guys … but you gotta have a Plan B, a Plan C."
- Sportsnet.ca's Shi Davidi looks back at the trade that sent Marc Rzepczynski and Octavio Dotel to St. Louis. Though critics panned the Cardinals' decision at the time, it has proven to be crucial to the team's late-season surge and postseason success.
- Matthew Leach of MLB.com credits GM John Mozeliak for constructing the Cardinals' roster. MLBTR's Transaction Tracker provides a look back at Mozeliak's moves.
- A number of teams are targeting Michael Cuddyer, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney (on Twitter). It's likely that the Red Sox will show interest in the versatile free agent, according to Olney.
Glad to see Mattingly stating the obvious. Add Fielder or Pujols and sign Kemp/Ethier long-term, and the Dodgers are competitive for the next several years. Personally I think that this is a real possibility. The Dodgers are going to be sold at some point in the next few months, and even if it doesn’t happen right away, MLB is going to sign off on a 7/150-ish type deal for the likes of a Fielder.
No they won’t. The Dodgers are broke. There’s no way MLB lets them spend what it would cost to sign Pujols or Fielder. If they allowed that, they’d allow practically anything, and then there’d be no point in MLB saying they need to sign off on the Dodgers’ spending.
Not what I’m hearing in LA. Now it’s certainly no lock to happen, but while McCourt is broke, the organization overseeing the Dodgers is not.
Why would Major League Baseball just give them money outside of the normal revenue sharing, especially since they’re the ones who nixed McCourt’s media deal and have to sign off on their spending?!
it has proven to be crucial to the team’s late-season surge and postseason success.
To get into the playoffs? Yes. Postseason success? Hardly. I hate using regular stats, but since the sample size is so small, I suppose it’s alright:
Edwin Jackson: 5.84 ERA, 4 HR in 12.1 IP
Marc Rzepczynski: 6.35 ERA
Octavio Dotel: 1.35 ERA (beast, though I’d imagine he’s used as a ROOGY)
Corey Patterson: Bench-warmer
I think you were getting ahead of yourself a little there, Ben (unless it was the article that stipulated the trade = post-season success).
Rzep allowed 3 runs in 1 inning the DS series, but in 4.2 IP against the brewers he allowed 1 run 1 hit while k’ing 4..its also who he replaced.. imagine tallet and miller still pitching? ouch
however I agree with you, all of a sudden its this trade that got them there
how bout some credit for Freese, pujols and Holliday all whom are OPSing .975+ so far in the postseason..
Marc had one bad game against the phillies where he gave up a few runs. He was lights out against fielder and Howard. Dotel shut the door on many potential crooked run innings (not to mention his odd dominance of Braun). Jackson had a strong game against the phillies (I believe it was 6 innings and 2 earned runs). His start against the Brewers was shaky as he gave up 4 runs in 2 innings (maybe 3, can’t remember). Patts is not on the roster. These main three guys have been huge. Big reason we’re in the WS.
Freese, Pujols have more to do with it.
Obviously. I was just saying with out their clutch performances in pivotal moments we aren’t likely this far.
You do realize that no one is going to actually read your stupid blog specifically because you keep posting this on here.
I Checked it out. It Sox.
I’m not going to lie I checked it out it
Off Season Ideas: Lincecum to the Sox?
so worth it.
That’s perfect
it’s exactly what you would expect.
so everyone can get a good laugh:
Compensation for Theo suggestion: Take Lackey and Jenks too. Give us Garza. Then we package Garza with Bowden,
Doubront or Miller, Reddick, Lowrie, and either Tejeda or Pimentel for
Tim Lincecum and Sergio Romo.
I’ve read the very same lucrative trade proposal in one of your posts I’m pretty sure..
I think yours had Posey coming your way as well though.
you are remembering it wrong. posey was flipped to AZ for upton and $200M
Sounds totally fair to me.
notsureifsrs = Alex Anthopolous
Alex Anthopolous = notsureifsrs
do you realize what you’ve done
Blown your cover?
I forgot, I stopped going to your blog because its stupid
You need a Lars Anderson in every ridiculous Red Sox trade proposal.
at what point can people be banned from this site?
Hmmmm.. touchè on the Tallet bit.
Cards had to go 18-8 in September to beat the Braves by 1 game. If they go 16-10 they don’t make it. If they go 17-11 they tie and who knows what would of happened.
This ↓
You stay classy now
The arrow pointing down is key so hey knows exactly where to look.
Hey now, just because he has needs and is special doesn’t make him special needs.
*rolls eyes*
So Cuddyer wouldn’t want to take the Red Sox money because they missed the playoffs by ONE GAME? And whoever drank that ONE BEER per day was now DRUNK? Must be some total lightweights! You should tell that to the Three Amigos – who must average 6′ 4″, 225 lbs. each…..On the contrary, I predict that the Red Sox sign a quality right fielder, add two starters and are in the playoffs next Sept. This team has the resources to reload each year and come back stronger than before. “Belly up”? Sounds like the Yankees in the first round of playoffs!
I hope Cuddyer bolts for the Red Sox. I’d be happy to take 2 supplementary picks if that means we don’t sign him for 10 mill over the next 3 or 4 years. Twins would be better off signing Kubel. Better player, younger, and cheaper.