2011-12 Hot Stove Thread

Re: 2011 Hot Stove Thread

Dallas – The Brewers’ first “acquisition” of the offseason was a rather pricey setup man.

Free-agent reliever Francisco Rodriguez accepted the Brewers’ offer of salary arbitration Wednesday night, in essence becoming a signed player for 2012 with a salary to be determined. Because he had a $13.5 million salary in 2011, “K-Rod” could be the most-expensive player on the roster next season.


http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/brewers.html

 

Re: 2011 Hot Stove Thread

K-Rod's revenge for not making him a closer.

Brewers might trade him and eat part of his salary, though if he's effective, they certainly need the set-up man, just not at $13.5 large.

 

Re: 2011 Hot Stove Thread


Of course, K-Rod gets closer money for set-up while Axford gets middle reliever money as closer.

 

Re: 2011 Hot Stove Thread

As I try to ignore the reality of my team's fire sale, here's a nice tribute to Buehrle by the Trib's Phil Rogers:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/whitesox/ct-spt-1208-rogers-winter-meetings-baseball--20111208,0,5043247.column

Rogers later points out that, in the past five years, the White Sox were 92-69 when Buehrle started and 315-335 without him.

 

Re: 2011 Hot Stove Thread

Baseball-reference has Wood with 164 wins, so three more.

 

Re: 2011 Hot Stove Thread

Arte Moreno Jr.'s never been bashful about spending money, but that even floors me. I wonder what's overcome Jeffrey Loria, though, unless he banking of a major new-yard bump in attendance.

 

Re: 2011 Hot Stove Thread

Yu Darvish is expected to be posted today or tomorrow.

Teams have four days to submit a blind bid for the posting fee. The top bidder will, assuming the Ham Fighters accept the bid, have 30 days to work out a contract. If they can't, they don't have to pay the posting fee.

I am very bullish on Darvish. His Japanese stats are significantly better than Matsuzaka's were, and Matsuzaka was a quality pitcher before he got hurt. Darvish's scouting report is glowing: He's big, strong, has easy velocity and fantastic stuff.

 

Re: 2011 Hot Stove Thread

What are Darvish's innings pitched over there? From the insane amount of work Matsuzaka turned in in his Japanese career, amateur and pro, it was as predictable as sunrise he was going to suffer injuries.

 

Re: 2011 Hot Stove Thread

The posting fee could be 60 million. Then his contract may be another 60 million over 6 years. Consider the cost of signing a Top draft pick (3-8 million bonus) in previous drafts. Then assume that Darvish ascended quickly to the majors, like he had done in Japan and acquired enough service time to be entering his final year of arbitration at 26.

Similarly aged pitchers such as Matt Cain (26 - 16.75 mill), Felix Hernandez (25 - 24 mill), Cole Hamels (27 - 21.4 mill) have made major league money over the past few seasons. So consider the Mariners investment in Hernandez to be approximately 25 million to get to the same age as what Darvish is. Now I'm not saying Darvish is necessarily ever going to be as good as Hernandez, but the consensus that he is extremely talented.

Numbers the year prior to coming to majors; Dice-K: 17-5 2.13 ERA 186 IP 200 SO Yu Darvish: 18-6 1.44 ERA 232 IP 276 SO 36 BB

 

Re: 2011 Hot Stove Thread

Matsuzaka had a 240 IP season at age 20, but after that they kept it mostly under control. Could have been too late and the damage done: Not a big fan of him piling on starter's innings at 18, either.

http://www.japaneseballplayers.com/en/player.php?id=matsuzaka

http://www.japaneseballplayers.com/en/player.php?id=ydarvish

Darvish's innings have been comparable, but he didn't start putting on starter's innings until he was 20, and didn't go much past 200 until this season.

 

Re: 2011 Hot Stove Thread

From teh Twitters:

TBrownYahoo Tim Brown
Source: Pujols will sign with Angels for 10 years for between $250 and $260 million. Full no-trade. Pujols decided Thursday morning.

 

Re: 2011 Hot Stove Thread

Good news for Vernon Wells, if true. Nobody'll blame him for anything anymore.