Baseball's general managers are in Dallas this week for the annual winter meetings, discussing what teams are looking to accomplish.
Though every team is looking to achieve success in their own ways, some teams made headlines in November, while others have yet to sign anyone relevant. And some teams — by that I mean the Florida Marlins — are just trying to uproot their roster, unload expensive players and start over.
Early noisemakers
Mets — The team just acquired Carlos Delgado, Billy Wagner and Paul Lo Duca, and now they're going after Manny Ramirez and Mark Grudzielanek to fill their "holes." You'd expect this from a New York team, but not the one in Queens.
Marlins — Although Florida Fire Sale II may disappoint all 14 local fans, remember that the first Fire Sale made way for another championship team. Even with losing Delgado, Lo Duca, A.J. Burnett, Josh Beckett, Mike Lowell and Luis Castillo, the team is now a nuclear stockpile of prospects, with seven pitchers — notably Anibal Sanchez — as well as Mets farm-hen Mike Jacobs. The Marlins are finally the team of Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis.
Red Sox — The other team with some newly acquired Miami Fish, the Sawx add pitcher Beckett and third baseman Lowell to stabilize an uncertain pitching rotation and the infield defense.
In the middle (without Eric and Phillip)
Cubs — With all these East coast moves, it's easy to ignore the Cubs inking deals with two middle relievers, although one of those, Scott Eyre, is the best lefty setup man in the game. Chicago also lured away Bob Howry from the Indians, meaning if the Cubs are to blow games this year, it will be on starting pitching or the 9th inning.
Behind the 8-ball
Blue Jays — The goal was to have a recognizable pitcher on the team not named Roy Halladay. So they poured $47 million into flameballing closer B.J. Ryan. They locked up the coveted Burnett with a $55 million contract. And while there's a combined 12 years of MLB service between them, Ryan only has 36 career saves and Burnett has a 49-50 record. While "promising" is an accurate label for these two hurlers, with a $100+ million price tag "unproven" is more fitting.
Keep what works
White Sox — Re-signing Paul Konerko is tantamount to the Red Sox keeping Jason Varitek after their '04 campaign. The first baseman was their biggest weapon offensively, and will keep that lineup anchored for another run at the World Series next year.
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Article comments
1 - Eric Olsen
ah, but Elarton is also a free agent, so the Indians defintiely needed someone like Byrd. Now they may go after Elarton for the fifth spot and will have gained three wins (9-12) from last year replacing Millwood with Byrd. Now obviously Byrd isn't the pitcher Millwood is and M's low win total from last year was just a fluke given that he won the AL ERA title, but still, you aren't losing many wins.
The Indians are also goingafter Trevor Hoffman, feelign they pressed their luck hard with Wicky last year and that the luck wouldn't continue next year with him.
2 - Eric Olsen
they also need a big right-handed bat
3 - Matthew T. Sussman
I forgot about Elarton's FA status. (Slaps forehead)
But right, that's not their biggest concern. They need someone at the hot corner besides Aaron Boone, like also-former-Red Joe Randa, but that won't happen. From what I've read, Boone's not budging.
4 - Eric Olsen
Boone will be much better next year - it took him three months to get up to speed after a full year off
5 - Matthew T. Sussman
.267 / 24 / 96. Is that good enough for a starter?
'Cause that was Boone's best year, in '03 before the basketball accident.
6 - Tan The Man
Pretty good for a third baseman...
7 - Matthew T. Sussman
Damn, these big trades just keep on comin.
Soriano traded to the Nationals.
Edgar Renteria shipped to the Braves.
Blue Jays traded for Lyle Overbay. (DJRadioHead: I knew he'd be dealt somewhere! Just not that team.)
Red Sox and Padres swap Doug Mirabelli and Mark Loretta.
And Hoffman didn't go to the Indians, as thought yesterday. He's staying with the Padres.
Among others.
8 - david r. mark
Rumor is a three-way deal among the Sox, O's and Mets, which would send Ramirez and Julio to the Mets, Tejada to the Red Sox, and something like Benson, Milledge and Heilman to the O's.
As a Sox fan, I like it.
But the better proposal was the one with the Sox, Phils and Dodgers, which would have sent
Ramirez to the Dodgers, Bobby Abreu and J.D. Drew to Boston and Derek Lowe and Trot Nixon to Philadelphia.
Unfortunately, that one appears dead.
9 - Matthew T. Sussman
Doesn't look probable, now that Tejada is saying he doesn't want to be traded:
At least that's how he "spins" it. :-)10 - david r. mark
We'll see. There are conflicting signals as to what Tejada wants, and whether the O's care.
11 - Michael J. West
If things keep going the way they are in D.C., the Nationals' big trades may not be worth much...
12 - Matthew T. Sussman
Considering the Nats now have to great second baseman, and Soriano doesn't seem to happy about playing outfield.
13 - ClubhouseCancer
As a Phils fan, I only hope that Abreu will bring a much, much better pitcher than Derek Lowe. If not, you've gotta keep him, even considering last year's second half was his worst half-season since he came into the league.
That Gold Glove was puzzling, no? They usually give those to players who try a lot harder in the ol' field.
BTW, I kid cuz I love. Abreu's actually my favorite player, despite the flaws.
14 - Matthew T. Sussman
I haven't heard much about Abreu on the trading block. What are they saying in Philtown?
15 - The Theory
He's tradable, assuming the Phils get a very good deal in return. Right now the major thing is starting pitching.
I have conflicted feelings on Abreu. On the one hand when he's on he is a lightning bolt that no one can touch. But after his performance in the home run derby the rest of his season he did practically nothing at the plate, both in home runs and batting average (which wasn't horrible for a normal player, but definitly sub-normal Abreu levels).