Here's a look back at the top stories from the first day of the 2011 Winter Meetings (dating back to Sunday evening):
- The Marlins proved they meant business with their big name free agent pursuits when they reeled in Jose Reyes on a six-year, $106MM contract that will likely push franchise cornerstone Hanley Ramirez over to third base. Incredibly, the Mets will only receive Miami's third-round pick (at best) plus a supplemental rounder as compensation for Reyes.
- You'd think that would be it for the Marlins, but they've got a reported ten-year offer on the table to Albert Pujols. That number has to make Cardinals fans nervous.
- The Angels have emerged as the front-runners for C.J. Wilson, but the Marlins are in on him as well. The Rangers are set to make their first formal offer today, and the Nationals have shown interest as well.
- Wilson isn't Washington's top priority though; that honor goes to Mark Buehrle, who also has offers from the Rangers, the Marlins (surprise!), the Twins (actual surprise!), and a mystery team.
- Prince Fielder just doesn't seem to be a good fit anywhere. Currently, the Orioles and Mariners have shown some degree of interest, while the Dodgers and Brewers likely can't afford him.
- The Phillies' first meeting with Jimmy Rollins' agent Dan Lozano didn't go well. The Phils would love Rollins back, but not at five years, which has led them to pursue Aramis Ramirez as a backup plan. They're shopping Placido Polanco to make that fit more logical.
- The Twins re-signed Matt Capps to a one-year, $4.5MM deal with a $6MM club option ($250K buyout). Minnesota could've netted a free supplemental round pick by letting Capps sign elsewhere.
- The Dodgers signed Jerry Hairston Jr. to a two-year, $6MM deal and are nearing another two-year pact with Aaron Harang, believed to be worth around $12MM.
- Rays executive VP of baseball operations Andrew Friedman has decided against becoming the next general manager of the Astros. Friedman, a Houston native, was said to be their top choice.
- The Red Sox and Athletics will meet on Tuesday to discuss a potential Andrew Bailey trade.
- I'd be remiss not to mention the return of Manny Ramirez to the baseball world. Ramirez has filed for reinstatement and will only be required to serve a 50-game suspension, should a team decide that gambling on the upside of his bat is worth the front row seat to the "Manny Being Manny" show.
Thanks for 11 unbelievable years and 2 World Series titles, Albert. See you back here when you’re going into the hall.
The Sox, when they find out what Moneyball wants for Andrew, may decide Aceves and Jenks can close.
As a New Yorker I love to root for the local teams….maybe I should move to Miami.
Nothing but Yankee fans in Florida.
It would be crazy if Marlins sign Pujols and then trade for some front end rotation starter to boot.
Like before the 1997 and 2003 seasons?
JUST don’t check what happened after those two seasons LMAO.
After they won in 1997, ownership made sure that it didn’t happen again, retaining just Edgar Renteria from the starting 8, and just Livan Hernández was the only starting pitcher they kept (plus Ojala, Alfonseca and Powell as relievers).
After they won in 2003, ownership once again made sure that it didn’t happen soon, retaining just three regulars in Castillo, González and Lowell (while promoting Cabrera from part time player to full time player in 2004), and by 2005 they just had Dontrelle and Beckett left, with AJ in the mix (in 2003 just played a handfull of games).
Now… i think this new team will be kept at least 3-4 years to justificate the owner’s petition of a new stadium, one where he would contribute just a tiny amount of money while spending the teams earnings contracting services off of his own enterprises.
TEN?
AA is hopeless…that guy couldn’t sign a Christmas card… way to set up for the future does anyone really expect the jays to win the series with 24 yr olds???? Name one player in the minors who will come close in terms of numbers to what Fielder will put up….I didn’t think so
AA couldn’t sign a Christmas card…
AA couldn’t sign a Christmas card.
I think Theo is going to jump in on Fielder at some point.
based on track record it wouldn’t be too surprising
I’m going to laugh and laugh if Fielder ends up going for a bargain price. Like, if the Rangers are all, “We didn’t particularly want him, but he was so cheap! We just couldn’t resist.”
So if the Fish do manage to land Pujols, is their lineup going to look something like this?
Reyes
Ramirez
Pujols
Stanton
LoMo
Dang, that’s got to be THE most stacked 1 through 5 in baseball. Have fun pitching to that NL East pitchers.
Fielder can always accept arbitration from the Brewers and try next year. It’s not like he’s not going to be a very wealthy man. The Boras asking price has always been ridiculous.
It wasn’t one of the big ticket items on this post, but it was nice to see the Dodgers pick up Hairston Jr. He’s an upgrade over Miles and Carroll, and his versatility will provide them with some decent short-term insurance on Dee Gordon, Juan Uribe and the OF. If they could possibly move Billingsly for some offense( Reds, Marlins, etal) it’s not out of the realm of possibility to see them maybe battle for the 2nd wild card, especially coming out of the West.
the twinks had a bad day we could’ve signed Harang and didnt then we did sign Capps for almost the same amt for this season.
2 things, 1-could the mystery team for Buehrle be the Red Sox? & 2-Why don’t the Marlins just sign Fielder so that the rest of the league can be at peace so Pujols can sign back with the Cardinals?