MLBTR's 24-hour coverage of the the Winter Meetings has come to an end, as most team executives, agents, and reporters catch flights out of Dallas. With the week's action winding down, it's time for a recap of the major moves and rumors from the meetings:
- The Angels made the biggest news of the week, committing over $330MM to Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson. Pujols signed a ten-year deal, while Wilson inked a five-year pact. So much for the Angels' budgetary limitations. And so much for the club's agreement with LaTroy Hawkins being their major move of the week.
- While the Halos dominated headlines today, it was the Marlins who made a splash earlier in the week, signing Jose Reyes to a six-year deal north of $100MM and agreeing to a four-year contract with Mark Buehrle. Hanley Ramirez reportedly isn't thrilled about moving to third base, but the Marlins expect to have him playing alongside Reyes going forward.
- Teams that missed out on Wilson and Buehrle got some good news — another top arm became available this week, as Yu Darvish was posted by NPB's Nippon Ham Fighters.
- Prince Fielder rumors didn't really heat up this week, with Scott Boras exercising his usual patience, but here's the latest on the biggest bat left on the market.
- The Mets gave new meaning to the term "arms race," striking three deals for pitchers in the span of about an hour on Tuesday. Frank Francisco and Jon Rauch join the club as free agents, while Ramon Ramirez arrives along with Andres Torres as part of a trade that sent Angel Pagan to the Giants.
- A pair of AL East teams looked to solidy the back of their bullpens, as the Blue Jays acquired Sergio Santos from the White Sox, while the Red Sox unsuccessfully attempted to land Andrew Bailey from the Athletics.
- David Ortiz, Francisco Rodriguez, and Kelly Johnson were the only three free agents to accept arbiration offers from their current clubs, so they'll remain with the Red Sox, Brewers, and Blue Jays, respectively.
- In addition to re-signing Matt Capps, the Twins also proposed a three-year contract to Michael Cuddyer, and dealt Kevin Slowey to the Rockies.
- Huston Street will make the best ballpark move a pitcher could hope for, as he heads from the Rockies to the Padres in a trade.
- The Rockies made another deal as the meetings neared an end today, sending Ian Stewart to the Cubs in a four-player swap.
- The Dodgers continued to add free agents to the fold, signing Aaron Harang to bolster their rotation and adding Jerry Hairston Jr. on a two-year deal.
- Although the Yankees won the rights to negotiate with Japanese infielder Hiroyuki Nakajima, his odds of spending 2012 wearing pinstripes don't look great.
- The Pirates may have landed themselves a nice bargain in Erik Bedard, who inked a moderately priced one-year deal.
- The Brewers reached an agreement with Alex Gonzalez, which should put them out of the running for Jimmy Rollins. Rollins appears likely to return to the Phillies.
- His departure from St. Louis wasn't quite as publicized as that of another longtime Cardinal, but Jeff Luhnow will certainly be missed by the club. The Astros, the Cards' division rivals for one more year, hired Luhnow to be their new general manager.
- The Athletics' Gio Gonzalez and Mets' Jonathon Niese drew plenty of interest in Dallas, but neither pitcher was close to being moved by the end of the meetings.
- Manny Ramirez has filed for reinstatement, though he'll have to serve a 50-game suspension before he sees big league action.
- The Orioles acquired Dana Eveland from the Dodgers.
- The Diamondbacks will sign Lyle Overbay.
- Octavio Dotel agreed to a one-year deal with the Tigers.
- Here are the results of today's Rule 5 draft.
- For more in-depth recaps of Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, check out MLBTR's Steve Adams' Day in Review posts.
Pujols is a heart breaker. CP3 and Albert both moving to SoCal and instantly becoming loathed. Screw them both.
Loathed? No…The red sox are loathed. Pujols is one of the most respected players ever.
Not anymore…
Why? Because he left for a team he’d rather play for? I know your Sox had a hard year, but you don’t have to hate everyone for it. What would you say if Pujols came to the Red Sox? OHHH MA GAWD HES THE BEST EVAR!!!
Hardly…if Pujols came to the Sox I would worry about the state of baseball as a whole. The parity in the game is already skewed enough without Pujols on the Red Sox. Pujols just showed how evident it is that there is no loyalty left in sports and it’s all about $$.
Or maybe that he should play where he wants to play? Why should there be loyalty? It’s his decision. You think he should have taken 50m less to play on a team that will be worse than the Angels in three years?
I have no problem with what you said. But, why do you think the Angels will be better than the Cards in three years?
i dont think they will, because their talking about trading morales AND Trumbo….i dont understand why they went after pujols, Trumbo had a great year as a rookie. hell he was even a ROY finalist. and even wilson wasn weird. their rotation was fine, they didnt even give chatwood a chance. its going to hurt the angels in the long run especialy when they try to trade pujols in 4 or 5 years.
because Trumbo is not Pujols lol. also, don’t forget about the no-trade clause.
no trumbo isnt but at the same time he is younger and cheaper and still has 30 HR’s in a season in him. still enough production.
yeah, and a sub .300 OBP. it’s production sure, but pedestrian in quality compared to Pujols. Can you honestly tell me you wouldn’t take Pujols over Trumbo any day?
lol trumbo is so overrated
Pujols is still one of the best hitters in the game, and CJ wanted to pitch for LA close to his home, and adding another arm just makes that rotation so much deeper. The Angels like to spend money.
joe mauer, ryan braun, troy tulowitzki, and jered weaver would all beg to differ, among others.
The first three guys you listed are being paid very very well. In fact the overall total is around $150 million for each one of those guys. They would’ve gotten the same price if not lower on the open market. Weaver took less money but its nothing to scoff at.
they’re being paid well, but they were also all below market deals. except maybe mauer, that was fair market but there’s no doubt if it were FA some team would have tried to throw even more at him.
Reports are that the Marlins gave him more money, without a trade clause. So I don’t think money was the only issue. I think it was money and security with a team that has a chance to win several times.
Respected? After he complained about not winning the MVP when Ryan Howard got his? And now after the Cards offered a 10 year deal? He is a jerk! And this will go down as one of the worst signings ever for a baseball team. Especially once they test him for HGH.
wow, have you heard they already test him for HGH & they never found it in him 1 time?
No I have not heard, and in fact I believe you are wrong. HGH testing has not been performed in MLB, and has just been added last month when the new CBA was just agreed to. So unless he did it on his own with a blood test, you are mistaken. Yahoo search on Pujols and HGH test also does not back you up. So unless you can provide a source for your fantasy testing, I think are either misinformed or lying to stick up for this punk.
wow, have you heard they already test him for HGH & they never found it in him 1 time?
Pujols is definitely loathed. If the Angels ever come to town against the Cardinals, you can bet he’ll be booed.
It’s okay. He only gave them two rings, 3 MVPs, and 11 great seasons. He sucked with the Cards anyway. What do the fans owe him?
Forgot he didn’t get paid for all that…………
Much less than for what he was worth.
Stay classy card fans.
Awesome 24 hour coverage from the entire MLBTR team. Thank you!!
Loved it! So many posts… It was great.
Here here! Thank you guys for bringing us this quality site. You’re my one-stop shop for anything baseball related!
Here here! Thank you guys for bringing us this quality site. You’re my one-stop shop for anything baseball related!
much agreed!!!
Gotta love the baseball offseason!
Do you think Pujols would waive the no trade clause to go back to STL if the Angels ate $50 million of the contract?
Interesting question… It could be me, but I think signing with an AL team – giving him the ability to DH was a big factor to Pujols… seems like if it was ONLY about the money, he would have become a Marlin.
Honestly I’m not sure what the major factor was but I’m betting the no-trade clause, the ability to control his location was a big factor. But I certainly think he has to realize that guys like him aren’t typically playing first in their late 30s. Being a DH could potential extend his career.
It was a joke because they’re going to regret the contract almost immediately.
Correct me if I’m wrong…but isn’t Manny Ramirez’s suspension 100 games this time, not just 50?
It was supposed to be but he supposedly served 50 games of it last season before he filed for retirement
Was it maternity leave?
Wrong still!
When does the new CBA kick in and HGH testing go into full effect? I dont care about the fans of pujols but he needs to be tested. i think every ball player should have to submit a test right before the season starts, at all-star break and right after the season. lets see how many players fail it. bet you pujols is one of them. he has not been tested and with his reaction to the accusation, i would test him anyway.
want him to supply you his birth certificate along with that blood sample?
No 13th rounder should hit that good AMIRITE!?
A’s and Mariners fans are currently on suicide watch.
I’m so tired of this sour grapes junk. Puhols signed with the Angels. Stop hating. You guys should just remember all the outstanding things he did in the Cardinals uni. Quit crying about it. Before he left StL he was the cleanest player in the game. Now he needs to be tested? And all this time I thought StL. Had the greatest baseball fans…not whiners. Aargh!!!
You forgot to mention Heath Bell signing with the Marlins as well. The Marlins went out and got the best available shortstop, starting pitcher and closer all while the SEC is investigating the entire franchise and ownership’s ability to build a new stadium a new stadium in Little Havana, just outside of Miami
best time of year