The Giants signed Aubrey Huff on this date in 2010. The first baseman hit .290/.385/.506 and the Giants won the World Series. Here are some links and news items to look through while we await the bargain signing of the 2010-11 offseason…
- Jack Curry of the YES Network tweets that while the Yankees continue to monitor the starting pitcher market, we shouldn't expect them to sign Jeremy Bonderman. The Yanks showed interest in the right-hander about a week ago.
- "I think I'm done," said Reds GM Walt Jocketty to MLB.com's Mark Sheldon. "[Today's Fred Lewis and Edgar Renteria signings] are a couple of pieces we felt we needed."
- ESPN's Buster Olney wonders if the Twins' interest in Jim Thome is limited because they know he won't play as much in 2010 with Justin Morneau returning (Twitter links). He adds that once Thome comes off the board, the free agent DH logjam should clear up. Earlier today we learned that the Rangers' were after the man with the eighth most homers in baseball history (589).
- Padres' GM Jed Hoyer told MLB.com's Corey Brock that the team's payroll is in the mid-$40MM range, so they do have a little more money to spend (Twitter link).
- Scott Thorman and Fu-Te Ni are among the Tigers' non-roster invitees, according to the team. Manager Jim Leyland's son Patrick will also be in camp.
- As Yahoo's Jeff Passan explains in his examination of the Padres' offseason, it doesn't make sense for San Diego to extend Heath Bell. You can discuss Bell's future right here.
- Chad Jennings of the Journal News takes our list of top remaining free agents and considers whether those players would fit on the Yankees.
- MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince points out that the Cardinals have limited time to figure out an extension with Albert Pujols. The Cards started talks with their first baseman and they appear to be going well at this point.
- Angels manager Mike Scioscia tells MLB.com's Lyle Spencer that he'd like to add a player with a high on base percentage.
I know Patrick is Jim Leyland’s son, but giving him an invite is ridiculous. The guy had a .499 OPS in rookie ball.
At least theirs one player in spring training he can ground for not hustleing.
We all know about the old boys club in the Tigers clubhouse. With Alex Avila’s .620 OPS (might even be lower) and Gene Lamont’s horrible decisions as a third base coach, it’s no wonder that Patrick Leyland has a shot at making the team.
If I’m correct, I believe he doesn’t have an invite, but he’s merely working out at camp with the team before heading to minor league camp. He’s done it before when he was in high school too. Dont just assume. Get your facts straight.
Sorry Mike. Adam Dunn already signed when the FO wasn’t looking. There’s your high on-base percentage….
It is probably the case that Pujols’ agent won’t let him complete the negotiations until Adrian Gonzalez signs.
Then Pujols will be a FA cuz he said thats what would happen if unsigned by Spring Training! And AGonz probably wont sign till opening day!
!!
hey if neither one signs, want to swap them at the deadline?
Imagine Pujols in Fenway…even for just half a season.
as much as it makes me wince, that sounds very attractive.
Anyone who would trade Pujols for any first baseman, even AGon, and even Texiera are completely out of their minds…I bet the Red Sox front office is watching this saga more than anyone realizes and secretly this is why AGon wasnt extended, Yankee fans spit venom now that they have an equal first baseman, if they get Pujols, there is no competition, .330 BA 40 plus bombs 120 RBI on a consistant basis year in and year out since 2001? this guy is on God’s fantasy team.
AGon wasn’t extended because AGon’s agent knows that AGon will command much more money AFTER putting up a monster offensive season now that he is out of the canyon he had been playing at in San Diego.
As for Puljos to Boston, I think you have a better chance of seeing Tupac in concert than you do Albert in a Red Sox uniform.
Tupac is performing next friday at a local pub in barabados.
I literally have zero worries that the Cardinals will resign Pujols. It is inevitable.
Agreed….No news on the contract talks is good news right now IMO.
Agreed….No news on the contract talks is good news right now IMO.
Albert Pujols will never play for the boston red sox even if he makes it to free agency, because he is on pace to break the homerun record and fenway would bring alberts homerun rate down.
A lot of Pujols’ homeruns are line drives. I bet Fenway limits his homerun totals.
The whole Pujols contract talk is getting nauseating because if Albert really intended to stay with the Cards this would all have been said and done already. The reason the team cannot put a Champ team on the field is because of worrying about his pay check. Even though I am a life long Cards fan, I have no sympathy!
actually…the expected sign date is January 15 (STLP-D) and they’re just simply keeping this out of the media unlike the Yankees w/ Jeter.
I know I am going to loose all credibility with this one, but when I hear the name “Fu-Te Ni” my first thought is “that kinda sounds like the noise the Jawa’s made in Star Wars.”
I don’t know why you would “loose” any credibility…………
lose is lose
I know I am going to loose all credibility with this one, but when I hear the name “Fu-Te Ni” my first thought is “that kinda sounds like the noise the Jawa’s made in Star Wars.”
The Cards have fallen at an interesting time toward Pujols’ contract renewal. As a matter of fact, the entire free agent class after the 2011 season has fallen on a breaking point. The current collective bargaining agreement expires Dec. 11, 2011 while the behavior indicates MLB as a horribly run feast-or-famine business and the majority owners to push for expanded revenue sharing, a floor, and maybe even a cap onto the table for the next agreement. If they get it, then contract prices correct going forward where the Cards may just want to hold out on negotiating a new contract until the new agreement’s established. With Pujols fallen into free agency and more revenue to go around, the Cards would be in better position then versus now. Why let his agent and Pujols cash in for more now under the circumstance? Then again, they might want to avoid sending Pujols the wrong signal with making a the reasonable offer. And if he doesn’t accept, they’ve conveyed their desire to retain him while content to hold out under the pending circumstances.
The Cards have fallen at an interesting time toward Pujols’ contract renewal. As a matter of fact, the entire free agent class after the 2011 season has fallen on a breaking point. The current collective bargaining agreement expires Dec. 11, 2011 while the behavior indicates MLB as a horribly run feast-or-famine business and the majority owners to push for expanded revenue sharing, a floor, and maybe even a cap onto the table for the next agreement. If they get it, then contract prices correct going forward where the Cards may just want to hold out on negotiating a new contract until the new agreement’s established. With Pujols fallen into free agency and more revenue to go around, the Cards would be in better position then versus now. Why let his agent and Pujols cash in for more now under the circumstance? Then again, they might want to avoid sending Pujols the wrong signal with making a the reasonable offer. And if he doesn’t accept, they’ve conveyed their desire to retain him while content to hold out under the pending circumstances.
I have to say, I’m disappointed in the Tigers for not signing Fu Te Ni this year. With a bit of solid coaching, he’s probably the best lefty reliever they’ve got. I saw nothing in his performance last year to say he can’t handle the big game with the exception of his confidence once runners get on-base.
He seems to focus a bit too much on 1st and 2nd and lets his balls-to-strike ratio go down as a result.
I have to say, I’m disappointed in the Tigers for not signing Fu Te Ni this year. With a bit of solid coaching, he’s probably the best lefty reliever they’ve got. I saw nothing in his performance last year to say he can’t handle the big game with the exception of his confidence once runners get on-base.
He seems to focus a bit too much on 1st and 2nd and lets his balls-to-strike ratio go down as a result.
This Pujols extension coverage is a joke. Everyone has known what these ‘beat’ writers have spewed out these past few days for at least a year if not longer. The Cards, Pujols, and his agents are keeping so tight lipped on these negotiations that the writers are left with nothing new to say, other than to go ahead and beat the dead horse.
Other clubs might take a lesson from this as to how to keep a major deal, arguably one of the offseason’s biggest stories, under wraps.
I always expected Theo would bring in bats and I always knew it wouldn’t be Pujols. There are very few teams that would have an opening or a possibility of landing Albert. I know any team could use Albert no matter who is on their team but who is gonna need him more than the cardinals? He is only going to want to play for a team he feels will add around him and contend so a healthy percentage of the league is out. Then subtract the Angels (IMO) Red Sox (IMO), Yankees, Twins, Tigers, Cincy, Chi Sox, and Philly and who’s left? The Nationals, Giants, Brewers, and Texas? I really just don’t see him leaving St. Louis, and I hope he doesn’t it would be nice if he could go through his entire career in one uniform, especially if he continues to produce and remains uninvolved in PED talk.
If Pujols ever makes it to free agency, I think the Cubs would make him a serious offer. Getting him out of St. Louis, or forcing the Cardinals to overpay would work to the Cubs advantage.
Based on how much he likes St. Louis, is the hope that he is going to give the Cardinals a big home town discount, or is he going for every available dollar out there?
I think if he was going for every available dollar we wouldn’t be seeing anything about extension talks. Obviously he could get more on the open market than the Cardinals are going to offer right now. I’m not sure how big of a discount, but I’m sure if he wanted everything he would already be preparing for free agency.
Fu-Te Ni will be a superstar.
Is there any truth to the rumor of the tigers signing Rafiel Soriano?
Do the Tigers have any more money to spend? Boras and the Tigers seem to work well together.
I just want to point that the article says that Buster Onley thinks that Thome won’t play as much in 2010 (should be 2011) seeing that Morneau is returning from injury.