The GM Meetings could be busier than usual this year, Jon Paul Morosi writes at FOX Sports. Morosi suggests the Red Sox and Indians line up as potential trade partners given each team’s needs. The meetings take place in Indian Wells, California beginning tomorrow. In the meantime here are today’s links…
- Jim Bowden estimates the cost of the offseason’s top free agents in an ESPN piece that’s worth checking out.
- ESPN.com’s Keith Law provides a guide to available and potentially available outfielders. Law believes Melky Cabrera will be a good value signing, but he doubts Cody Ross has value outside of Boston on a multiyear deal.
- Tom Verducci of SI.com ranks this year free agent outfielders starting with Josh Hamilton. Verducci suggests we shouldn't expect Hamilton to end up signing a bargain deal given his skills.
- Brandon League's $22.5MM contract with the Dodgers could be worth as much as $33.5MM, Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times reports. Incentives based on games finished could push the value of the 2016 option as high as $9MM, according to Hernandez.
- The Astros announced the hiring of David Stearns as their new assistant GM. Stearns, 27, spent the 2011 season with the Indians and has also worked in the front offices of the Mets and Pirates.
$33.5mill for brandon league? good god
No chance of him reaching most of those. Look at the breakdown. They are based on him closing games. Belisario and Jansen will close most of the games in the next few years
Except League has been named the closer. We’ll see if that holds – doubt it.
At first I thought it was ridiculous. Then I realized he was being paid to be the closer. (I’m not a Dodgers’ fan, I admit)
IF (and it’s a big if) he can find success as a closer, he would be worth it.
IF he fails as a closer, then they overpaid for a middle reliever.
In my opinion, Coletti still too much of a gamble.
Indian Wells, California is where the meetings are taking place? That’s an odd coincidence of names – Vernon Wells to the Indians?
Verducci wrote a pretty good article and I happen to agree with him. He ranked Hamilton #1 and Swisher #2, however, I would like the O’s to sign Swish to play first base.
He’s a bit shorter than I like, but I was really impressed with the way he handled the position. I really was and I had no idea that he played 1st base ever.
Back to Hamilton, I wonder if he would accept a 3 yr / 75 million dollar deal?
Also, before any contract is signed, Hamilton and the signing team better get it straightened out about what happens if he falls off the wagon or if he starts with the dropsies (A’s Series) or when he argued with the base coaches (1st and 3rd) during that one game. I mean Pettis is one of the best position coaches out there. After that is sorted out, I wouldn’t have a problem signing him.
Lastly, I do not want the O’s signing Melky! As far as I am concerned he is persona non grata! I am not interested, Period!
Choo would be a nice fit for Boston. Cabrera would certainly sure up SS. Masterson would be a nice addition to the team as well. I wonder what it would take to get all 3? I’m not overly sold on giving up half the farm for those 3, as you could probably find better talent in terms of cost/prospects elsewhere like the FA market. If they do anything with Cleveland I see it being for Choo. Wishful thinking would be all 3 at a price that isn’t bad.
Would rather have Torii Hunter, honestly he’s going to put up monster numbers if he stays healthy.
We need two outfielders. Getting Choo doesn’t rule out Hunter.
I’d hold off on Choo. Boras client the reason. ** maybe** after 2013 when he is a FA and see if a reasonable deal can be worked out, but we all know how the word reasonable and Boras go together in the same sentence when a contract is the final goal.
Well, that’s why I’m figuring he will be the best fit. Shouldn’t be too big a problem to get him since he only has one year left and then we won’t really lose anything if he leaves via free agency.
Don’t get me wrong.. I like Choo and think he is (yet) another one of the ball players doing himself a deservice having Boras as an agent.
After 2013? I see Boras really trying to sell him off as a top flight, middle of the order bat.. Something he isn’t. Choo is a complimentary piece and would do well having an agent that realizes that and probably also coming to terms with Cleveland on an extension for that matter..
Anyway.. Once boras finds out nobody is going to bite on Choo being a #4-5 bat, I’d like For whomever is the GM in Boston next off season approaching Boras on a 2-3Y deal. No longer than 3Y, but think his swing is one of those perfect LH ones for fenway.
Acquiring him now would just fit into Boras’s grand scheme of things and “pump up” his value by adding to his numbers and cost propsects, unles Boras would be willing to negotiate a S/T extension..
Who do you want in center then that’s swing fits Fenway perfectly? We got Choo & Ross in the corners
I think Keith Law is way off on his prediction about Cody Ross. I think
Ross will have plenty suitors and will definitely be offered multi year
deal but most, if not all.
The Sox lucked out with that trade, BIGTIME. Let’s hope Cherington spends that extra $$$ wisely.