The Major League Baseball Off-Season Post Vol. 24 days until Opening Day 2009

[wildkycat]

Let's see if y'all can make this thread more successful than the actual MLB season thread.

i understand big news will get it's own thread (like CC's new team) and that some teams have their own off-season threads, but share your team'stidbits in here as well. these threads make it much easier, imo, to keep up with what's going on around the league.

with that said....



2009 MLB Free Agents


Catchers
Brad Ausmus (40)
Paul Bako (37)
Rod Barajas (33) - $2.5MM club option for '09 with a $0.5MM buyout
Josh Bard (31)
Michael Barrett (32)
Henry Blanco (37) - $3MM mutual option for '09 with a $0.3MM buyout
Johnny Estrada (33)
Toby Hall (33) - $2.25MM club option for '09 with a $0.15MM buyout
Jason LaRue (35)
Paul Lo Duca (37)
Miguel Olivo (30) - $2.7MM mutual option for '09 with a $0.1MM buyout
Ivan Rodriguez (37)
David Ross (32)
Javier Valentin (33)
Jason Varitek (37)
Gregg Zaun (3

First basemen
Rich Aurilia (37)
Hank Blalock (2 - $6.2MM club option for '09 with a $0.25MM buyout
Sean Casey (34)
Tony Clark (37)
Carlos Delgado (37) - $12MM club option for '09 with a $4MM buyout
Nomar Garciaparra (35)
Jason Giambi (3 - $22MM club option for '09 with a $5MM buyout
Eric Hinske (31)
Doug Mientkiewicz (35)
Kevin Millar (37)
Richie Sexson (34)
Mark Teixeira (29)
Daryle Ward (34)

Second basemen
Willie Bloomquist (31)
Jamey Carroll (35) - $2.5MM club option for '09 with a $0.15MM buyout
Craig Counsell (3
Ray Durham (37)
Damion Easley (39)
David Eckstein (34)
Mark Ellis (32)
Mark Grudzielanek (39)
Jerry Hairston Jr. (33)
Orlando Hudson (31)
Tadahito Iguchi (34)
Jeff Kent (41)
Felipe Lopez (29)
Mark Loretta (37)
Nick Punto (31)

Shortstops
Willie Bloomquist (31)
Orlando Cabrera (34)
Alex Cintron (30)
Alex Cora (33)
Craig Counsell (3
David Eckstein (34)
Adam Everett (32)
Rafael Furcal (31)
Nomar Garciaparra (35)
Jerry Hairston Jr. (33)
Cesar Izturis (29)
Felipe Lopez (29)
Edgar Renteria (33)
Juan Uribe (30)
Ramon Vazquez (32)
Omar Vizquel (42) - $5.2MM club option for '09 with a $0.3MM buyout

Third basemen
Rich Aurilia (37)
Casey Blake (35)
Hank Blalock (2 - $6.2MM club option for '09 with a $0.25MM buyout
Willie Bloomquist (31)
Aaron Boone (36)
Russell Branyan (33)
Craig Counsell (3
Joe Crede (31)
Nomar Garciaparra (35)
Mark Loretta (37)
Fernando Tatis (34)
Ramon Vazquez (32)

Left fielders
Moises Alou (42)
Garret Anderson (37) - $14MM club option for '09 with a $3MM buyout
Milton Bradley (31)
Emil Brown (34)
Pat Burrell (32)
Carl Crawford (27) - $8.25MM club option for '09 with a $2.5MM buyout
Adam Dunn (29)
Cliff Floyd (36) - $2.75MM club option for '09 with a $0.25MM buyout
Luis Gonzalez (41)
Jerry Hairston Jr. (33)
Raul Ibanez (37)
Gabe Kapler (33)
Kevin Mench (31)
Jason Michaels (33) - $2.6MM club option for '09
Craig Monroe (32)
Greg Norton (36)
Jay Payton (36)
Wily Mo Pena (27) - $5MM club option or $2MM player option for '09
Manny Ramirez (37)
Juan Rivera (30)
Fernando Tatis (34)

Center fielders
Rocco Baldelli (27)
Willie Bloomquist (31)
Mike Cameron (36) - $10MM club option for '09 with a $750K buyout
Jim Edmonds (39)
Jerry Hairston Jr. (33)
Gabe Kapler (33)
Mark Kotsay (33)
Corey Patterson (29)
Scott Podsednik (33)

Right fielders
Bobby Abreu (35)
Casey Blake (35)
Cliff Floyd (36) - $2.75MM club option for '09 with a $0.25MM buyout
Brian Giles (3 - $9MM club option for '09 with a $3MM buyout
Ken Griffey Jr. (39) - $16.5MM club option for '09 with a $4MM buyout
Vladimir Guerrero (33) - $15MM club option for '09 with a $3MM buyout
Gabe Kapler (33)
Jason Michaels (33) - $2.6MM club option for '09
Fernando Tatis (34)
Brad Wilkerson (32)

DHs
Milton Bradley (31)
Pat Burrell (32)
Adam Dunn (29)
Cliff Floyd (36) - $2.75MM club option for '09 with a $0.25MM buyout
Jason Giambi (3 - $22MM club option for '09 with $5MM buyout
Vladimir Guerrero (33) - $15MM club option for '09 with a $3MM buyout
Raul Ibanez (37)
Manny Ramirez (37)
Juan Rivera (30)
Mike Sweeney (35)
Frank Thomas (41)
Jose Vidro (34)

Starting pitchers
Kris Benson (33)
A.J. Burnett (32) - can opt out after '08 season
Paul Byrd (3
Roger Clemens (46)
Matt Clement (33)
Bartolo Colon (36)
Ryan Dempster (32)
Shawn Estes (36)
Josh Fogg (32)
Freddy Garcia (33)
Jon Garland (29)
Tom Glavine (43)
Mike Hampton (36)
Mark Hendrickson (35)
Livan Hernandez (34)
Orlando Hernandez (43)
Jason Jennings (30)
Randy Johnson (45)
John Lackey (30) - $9MM club option for '09 with a $0.5MM buyout
Jon Lieber (39)
Braden Looper (34)
Rodrigo Lopez (33) - club option for '09
Derek Lowe (36)
Greg Maddux (43)
Pedro Martinez (37)
Sergio Mitre (2
Jamie Moyer (46)
Mark Mulder (31) - $11MM club option for '09 with a $1.5MM buyout
Mike Mussina (40)
Carl Pavano (33) - $13MM club option for '09 with a $1.95MM buyout
Brad Penny (31) - $8.75MM club option for '09 with a $2MM buyout
Odalis Perez (32)
Oliver Perez (27)
Andy Pettitte (37)
Sidney Ponson (32)
Mark Prior (27)
Kenny Rogers (44)
Glendon Rusch (34)
C.C. Sabathia (2
Curt Schilling (42)
Ben Sheets (30)
John Smoltz (42)
Tim Wakefield (42) - perpetual $4MM club option
Kip Wells (32)
Randy Wolf (32)

Closers
Brian Fuentes (33)
Eric Gagne (33)
Eddie Guardado (3
Trevor Hoffman (41)
Jason Isringhausen (36)
Brandon Lyon (29)
Francisco Rodriguez (27)
Salomon Torres (37) - $3.75MM club option for '09 with a $0.3MM buyout
Kerry Wood (32)

Middle relievers
Jeremy Affeldt (30)
Luis Ayala (31)
Joe Beimel (32)
Joe Borowski (3
Doug Brocail (42)
Shawn Chacon (31)
Juan Cruz (30)
Alan Embree (39) - $3MM club option for '09
Scott Eyre (37)
Kyle Farnsworth (33)
Casey Fossum (31)
Keith Foulke (35)
Tom Gordon (41) - $4.5MM club option for '09 with a $1MM buyout
LaTroy Hawkins (36)
Mark Hendrickson (35)
Matt Herges (39)
Bob Howry (35)
Jon Lieber (39)
Jason Johnson (35)
Damaso Marte (34) - $6MM club option for '09 with a $0.25MM buyout
Trever Miller (36) - $2MM club option for '09 with a $0.4MM buyout
Guillermo Mota (35)
Will Ohman (31)
Darren Oliver (3
Chan Ho Park (36)
Horacio Ramirez (29)
Al Reyes (3
Dennys Reyes (32)
Arthur Rhodes (39)
Juan Rincon (30)
Glendon Rusch (34)
Rudy Seanez (40)
Brian Shouse (40)
Russ Springer (40)
Mike Timlin (43)
Ron Villone (39)
David Weathers (39)
Kip Wells (32)
Matt Wise (33)
Jamey Wright (34)

[h4]Cubs GM Hendry exercises $7 million option, fine with 25 starts for Harden[/h4]
The Cubs made their first off-season move Wednesday, exercising the $7 million option for oft-injured right-hander Rich Harden. "Rich Hardens are hard to find," general manager Jim Hendry said. "If you told me today we were going to get 24 or 25 good starts out of Rich next year and we were going to have to push him back or miss a start or two here or there, I'd do that in a heartbeat." An MRI-arthrogram on Harden's right shoulder revealed no tears of the labrum or of the rotator cuff, Hendry said after team orthopedic surgeon Stephen Gryzlo and shoulder specialists examined Harden at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Hendry acknowledged Harden has "a long history" of shoulder problems dating to his days in Oakland but added: "It was clear the best avenue was not [having] any surgical procedures. Rich has had, at times, rotator tendinitis, and there has been a long-standing [problem] that every pitcher has in his shoulder. -- Chicago Tribune




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[h4]Dodgers Manny Ramirez wants $20 mil a year?[/h4]
Agent Scott Boras said a Denver newspaper was incorrect in reporting that he "has let it be known through his media outlets" that bidding for free-agent Manny Ramirez will start at five years and $85 million this winter. "We have never made any statements to anyone" about the contract Ramirez is expected to request, Boras said. Boras wouldn't say how much Ramirez would be seeking, but it's believed he's looking for a deal worth more than $20 million a year. -- LA Times

[h4]Twins dealing Delmon Young or Michael Cuddyer[/h4]
Most probable trade bait in a package for the Twins in their quest for a power-hitting third baseman this offseason: outfielders Delmon Young or Michael Cuddyer, plus one of five starting pitchers. Don't discount the possibility of Alexi Casilla moving from second base to shortstop next season if the Twins can't settle on an everyday shortstop. -- Pioneer Press

 

[Retroballer]

I cant wait already
Astros FTW!

 

[clutchshooter]

pssssssssst. .....................the season's not over yet.

 

[jpzx]

I'm torn on who I'd rather have in left field (Cuddyer or Delmon). Delmon has a lot of potential, but he didn't show me much this year. I thinkCuddyer hasn't put up his best season yet, but he will be 30 when the season starts..so who knows, maybe he has peaked

 

[frenchblue23]

Wait, last time I checked, there were 4 teams still fighting to get into the World Series.....

 

[outacontrol music]

Originally Posted by FrenchBlue23

Wait, last time I checked, there were 4 teams still fighting to get into the World Series.....

 

[kiddin like jason]

So don't worry about it, then; this is an off-season thread for the other 26 teams for now.
[h1][/h1]

[h1]Brantley completes deal for Tribe[/h1] [h2]Son of former Major Leaguer final piece of Sabathia trade[/h2]
By Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com

Michael Brantley, who hits for average with an "elite" grasp of the strike zone, is expected to start next season at Triple-A Columbus. (Tony Farlow/MiLB.com)
At last, he has a name.
Nearly three months after the Indians and Brewers consummated the CC Sabathia trade, the deal was completed Friday, with Minor League outfielder Michael Brantley joining the Tribe as the long-awaited "player to be named."

Double-A outfielder Matt LaPorta was the centerpiece of the Tribe's acquisitions, and Brantley, who will be in big league camp next spring and likely be at Triple-A Columbus next season, can now be considered the second-most prominent piece of the deal from the Indians' perspective.

The Tribe also received Class A right-hander Rob Bryson and Triple-A left-hander Zach Jackson, who went on to make nine starts for the Indians at the tail end of the season.

Brewers general manager Doug Melvin confirmed that the choice for the final player came down to Brantley and third baseman Taylor Green, who was at Class A Brevard County this season. The Indians got to make the choice because the Brewers made the postseason. Had the Brewers not advanced, they would have made the pick.

Melvin admitted such a contingency is rare.

"Cleveland liked both players, and so did we," Melvin said. "That's why we couldn't come to an agreement. The problem was both players got hurt. They hardly got to see any of them play."

Brantley, 21, was limited to just four games in July because of a right ankle injury, while Green was hit in the hand by a pitch on Aug. 12, ending his season.

Indians general manager Mark Shapiro was less forthcoming about the details surrounding Brantley's acquisition.

"There were stipulations, obviously, beyond the standard player to be named later," Shapiro said. "I'm not going to comment on those. Those are dependent on the relationship between the two clubs."

But Shapiro was more than happy to comment on Brantley -- a player he and the Indians' decision-makers believe is a good fit.

Brantley, the son of Mickey Brantley, who played for the Mariners from 1986-89 and was the Blue Jays' hitting coach from 2005-07, is certainly an intriguing addition. He brings some speed and athleticism to an organization that needs it.

The 21-year-old Brantley was a seventh-round Draft pick out of Ft. Pierce (Fla.) Central High School in 2005, and he's compiled a Minor League average of .311 and on-base percentage of .399 with 53 doubles, seven triples, six homers and 157 RBIs in 383 games over the last three years.

At Huntsville this season, Brantley batted primarily out of the leadoff spot and hit .319 with 17 doubles, two triples, four homers, 40 RBIs and 28 stolen bases in 36 attempts over 106 games. He started 62 games in center field and 21 each in left field and at first base. He had 50 walks against just 27 strikeouts, and Baseball America rated him as having the best strike zone judgment and the best baserunning skills in the Southern League.

"Obviously, he has an elite-level of plate discipline," Shapiro said. "He also steals bases and steals them efficiently. That ability to contribute to run production with speed and plate discipline complements our organization well."

Shapiro said Brantley still needs some development, particularly on the defensive end. The Indians will try to get Brantley into the Arizona Fall League, but they would have to create a roster spot to do so. That situation was still being addressed within the organization Friday. Brantley had been expected to play in the AFL for the Brewers.

"He's a guy that's at an advanced level for his age," Shapiro said. "We think that's a big positive for us. We would hope with the path that he's on that he does make the big leagues at a young age."

The Sabathia trade was the Indians' official waving of the white flag with regard to the American League Central race. In trading the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner, the Indians bid farewell to an impending free agent that they had groomed within their system.

Sabathia, of course, has made the biggest splash thus far. He went 11-2 with a 1.65 ERA in 17 starts down the stretch to guide the Brewers to their first postseason appearance in 26 years.

The Indians, meanwhile, were happy to have time to make this final selection.
"Normally when you do a trade [for a Minor Leaguer], you're lucky if you get a couple looks at the guy," Shapiro said. "In this trade, we got multiple looks over multiple days with multiple scouts."
Speed on the Cleveland Indians?

I long for the day that Grady is batting third in our order.

Vol. 178 days until Opening Day 2009
Take that down, man; it's depressing.

 

[wildkycat]

Originally Posted by Kiddin Like Jason

So don't worry about it, then; this is an off-season thread for the other 26 teams for now.

Vol. 178 days until Opening Day 2009

Take that down, man; it's depressing.

some people will get mad over anything...

depressing? really. i kinda thought it was uplifting...like..."wait til next year."

year = 365 days.

178 > 365

that help?

 

[johnnyredstorm]

That really is a crappy list of position players. I'm intrigued by the Twins though, Mets could use an outfielder and a pitcher, but Idk if we have thepower they are looking for.

 

[CP1708]

Yeah man, there ain't crap out there outside Teixeria, Sheets, CC, and K-Rod.

Rest of that list is eh.

Couple guys on the right team might be ok at best. I wouldn't mind Abreu in Wrigley, but not sure what he has left.

Good thread though, hopefully there'll be some trades and whatnot to spice things up.

 

[paul is on tilt]

Damn, Shawn Estes is 36?!? I did not know that

.

 

[allen3xis]

Speed on the Cleveland Indians?

I long for the day that Grady is batting third in our order.
Aint that the truth.

Grady - 2009 AL MVP

Excited about next season, IF we have a closer

 

[bigmike23]

i guess when your college teams in both bball and football AND THE NBA you will be looking foward to MLB offseason COUGH*KOOLAID AND WILDCAT*COUGH

 

[osh kosh bosh]

I pray to god we don't resign AJ.
I would much rather have Derek Lowe or even Ben Sheets if the dodgers don't want him.

Also Milton Bradley, Pat Burrel, or even Giambi if the yanks don't want him.

 

[wildkycat]

59-0....don't talk to me about football.

 

[thetrapezeswinger]

I'm just glad Bavasi isn't around to sign more albatrosses for the M's. Thank God that hack is gone. I wonder if we'll sign Kim Ng.

 

[throwbacksinsf]

They're saying Billy Beane will finally open up the wallet to get a bat or two. I'm expecting an exciting off season for the A's and forDucherererererererer, Huston Street and Bobby Crosby to get traded.

 

[johnnyredstorm]

I'll take Duch and Street for Heilman and a couple of minor leaguers.

 

[bkmac]

It's going to be an interesting off-season in Yankee land, that's for sure.

wildKYcat, any word on what Griffey plans on doing? What do you personally think?

 

[paul is on tilt]

Man, I hope the A's keep Duchsherer. I'm tired of the A's trading away their major league talent. I know it's what they have to do because oftheir payroll and that's how they rebuilt their farm system... I understand that. It's just frustrating because Rich Harden and Danny Haren were mydudes and they were both traded away.

 

[ooiron manoo]

I hate these type of threads, I usually don't follow them too closely since they get cluttered with a lot of junk.

I always follow the first couple of pages, then I just fall off,

.

Carry on.

 

[djaman]

Originally Posted by JPZx

I'm torn on who I'd rather have in left field (Cuddyer or Delmon). Delmon has a lot of potential, but he didn't show me much this year. I think Cuddyer hasn't put up his best season yet, but he will be 30 when the season starts..so who knows, maybe he has peaked

Come on now. Delmon is 23, and will continue to prosper. Cuddyer continually shows he's incapable of playing up to his ability save 2006. Young is our 7spot for years.

 

[worldbeefreeg]

Originally Posted by JohnnyRedStorm

I'll take Duch and Street for Heilman and a couple of minor leaguers.

!**$, Ill take a box of dutches for Heilaman.

 

[throwbacksinsf]

Originally Posted by bkmac

any word on what Griffey plans on doing?

Didn't he say he wanted to play next year and come back to Chicago? They have a club option on him right?

 

[osh kosh bosh]

Originally Posted by djaman

Originally Posted by JPZx

I'm torn on who I'd rather have in left field (Cuddyer or Delmon). Delmon has a lot of potential, but he didn't show me much this year. I think Cuddyer hasn't put up his best season yet, but he will be 30 when the season starts..so who knows, maybe he has peaked

Come on now. Delmon is 23, and will continue to prosper. Cuddyer continually shows he's incapable of playing up to his ability save 2006. Young is our 7 spot for years.

Delmon's lack of plate discipline is warning sign.