Light the Hot Stove fires

Didn't Ramirez have a possible option or something, or he could file?

Anyway, to go along with spirited's "why wouldn't he" question ... just why wouldn't a player (who is eligible) file for free agency? That's why I hate all these stories. Who cares when they file; they are all going to file.

 

I love reading all this stuff about the Phillies' big plans. That weird, shadowy, cheap ownership will never pony up the dough for Soriano. Maybe they can get Sheffield for the guys the Yanks sent to Philly for Abreu.

Gary Matthews Jr did have a monster, monster season this year. I'd be surprised if he was a one-year wonder, but he probably had the best year of his life this year. Good timing, huh?

 

Why? Pohlad's a multi-billionaire. Should he stick ALL the money in his pocket??

 

He apparently thinks so, yes.

Radke's salary should come off the books, giving them some money to play with, but which free agent pitchers could they get?

Zito?

 

Right! The Twins are gonna shell out $65-70 mill over 5 years for Zito.
Dream on.

 

It's the offseason, fucko.

I get to live in fantasyland.

Twins rotation as of today: Santana, Bonser, Baker, Silva?

Erp.

 

Hey Oz, that's what the Dodgers have done. Since winning the 1988 World Series, they have won only one playoff game.

 

Garza?

 

One time I went to a place that made bricks.

The stove in that place was hotter than the depths of Hell itself.

 

Yikes. I never would have guessed that. Kind of shocking, actually.

 

The Pirates have won more since then ...

 

Ramirez's situation was a little different. He had two years left on his contract, but as part of the deal he was able to void the final two years and declare for free agency now. So it is a legitimate story that he has filed.

No way he was going to "settle" for the insane amount of money left on his deal when he could get even more insane amounts of money as a free agent.

The mystery is why the Cubs didn't deal him in July. They were out of the race and he was going to declare free agency. Then again, they are the Cubs.

The market for Ramirez could be interesting. He gets off to terrible starts and he's had problems staying healthy most seasons, but he averaged 31 homers and 100 RBI the last three seasons, including 38 and 119 in 2006. He's easily the best third baseman available and you can make an argument that he's the best hitter other than Soriano on this year's free agent market.