Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Nov 15, 2010 
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One question I heard time and time again during my week back home: So what do you cover now that the Yankees season is over?
My answer: The Yankees.
After an incredible week and an absolutely perfect wedding, I’m spending the day driving up to St. Louis and flying down to Orlando for the general managers’ meetings.
Predictably, the past few weeks have been slow, but the GM meetings serve as a kind of unofficial beginning to baseball’s offseason. I wouldn’t get too excited for huge news — save that sort of buzz for next month’s winter meetings — but there will be a lot of decision makers in the same building, so there is certainly the potential for signings and trades. And changes to baseball’s offseason schedule have opened the door for more activity than in past years.
Last night, Sam gave a good explanation of the GM meetings. Our friend Ken Davidoff did the same over at Newsday. There will be a lot of official talk about rules and the collective-bargaining agreement, and there will be unofficial whispers about free agents and trade targets.
Chad-
It’s Rumors-R-Us. Have a safe trip.
Congrats on your Sister’s wedding.
You’re our “Fly on the wall”. Thanks.
Chad -
Welcome back.
Chad-glad the wedding went well.
Have a good trip.
Welcome back Chad!
Welcome back Chad !!
Chad, Thanks for being.
Chad
all of the above
Chad –
What they said.
On a totally unrelated note, I saw a great Bob Dylan concert last night. Bob is usually hit or miss but he was really in the groove last night.
Welcome back, Chad.
JM-
Love me some Dylan. I think I mentioned on here that I saw him in the “Village” when he was just an up and coming young pup.
Glad you had a good time.
Emerson, Lake and Palmer reference?
I know it fits here but that doesn’t make it any less painful.
Welcome back Chad and props to Sam for doing some great coverage during your absence of family activity and obligations.
Perhaps you’ll be able to see things in Orlando that will set the stage for things to come in December that will be beneficial to the Yankees.
Brian Cashman being as stealth as he is will not tip his hand toward what moves are forthcoming but sometimes you can get a read by seeing who he is talking with in the lobby or dining areas.
Great ELP reference Chad. Welcome back!!!
108-
I’m for chipping in for a complete range of the latest hi-tech spy gear
for Chad.
Pin-hole cameras. Hidden microphones. Disguises. The works.
No halfway measures for me. Let’s make sure he gets the scoop.
After a long weekend in Vermont – I too am back.
Saw some interesting things:
1. Love the Andrew Miller pickup for Boston.
2. Good low risk pick up for San Diego in getting the other part of the Miguel Cabrera deal – Cameron Maybin.
3. Saw where as of right now Andy’s leaning towards staying home and the Yankees are considering adding both Lee and de la Rosa – I’ve said for a week now that de la Rosa in my opinion will either be a tremendous signing or the worst bust of the free agent class. But if Andy retires then I could see the logic in bringing him on board.
4. Jon Heyman has the Yankees not only adding those two pitchers, but also Joakin Benoit – I would just stay the heck away from Benoit. It seems like the classic case of the Yankees once again overpaying for a marginal RH set-up guy – like they did with Farnsworth and Karsay. I would rather see them take a risk in the market by bringing in a guy who could potentially be the next Beniot than bringing in the actual Benoit – a guy like Rich Harden or even Ben Sheets – a solid starter who had been derailed by injuries and needs to move to the pen.
5. There have been a few different outlets that are speculating that the Yankees are “keeping tabs” on Crawford much the same way they did with Tex and if Crawford doesn’t sign quickly the Yankees could jump in at the end like they did with Tex. That even though he’s a player they don’t have an obvious need for they have coveted for a long time and if things break right they’ll move on him. As for the idea that the Yankees already have a LF in Gardner – the answer that you keep hearing is “when they picked up Tex they had Nady in RF and Swisher at 1b and Matsui at DH…if the Yankees want a player they’ll find a way to make the roster work.”
I suppose that the Yankees could pick up Lee, JDLR, Benoit and Crawford and then spin off Joba and Gardner for minor leaguers to replace the 3 draft picks they would be sacrificing.
I don’t believe Greinke is going to be traded this winter – I think that Dayton Moore’s asking price is way too high for any team to match right now. But I do think that Adrian Gonzalez will be traded – I think he’ll be in Boston by the start of Spring Training.
There are reports out of San Diego that Jed Hoyer has already conceded that the team can’t keep him and Chase Headley’s Super 2 status is causing them all sorts of financial problems (I would be happy to ease the burden for them by taking Headley and Kyle Blanks). I think we’ll see A-Gone to Boston for a package headlined by Clay Bucholtz and Jacoby Elsbury.
Emerson, Lake and Palmer reference?
********************************************
I was thinking the same thing
Chip
you really think Boston would trade Bucky? He has turned into such a good pitcher for them. Elsbury wouldn’t surprise me, they were trash talking him all year after his rib injuries.
Chip-
Welcome back.
and Chip, more importantly…did you make your signature mac and cheese?
Chip-
I hope the only “Vermont Maids” you played around with were you’re wife and the maple syrup on your pancakes.
Chad,
Welcome back. Glad you had a good week. We are all hoping for some juicy morsels from you from Orlando or elsewhere.
Please tell Sam thanks. He kept us going in your absence.
Safe flight.
SJ must have signed up for the Mars trip.
Haven’t seen him around in what seems like weeks.
MTU –
Of course – I am nothing if not a gentleman
Kate –
I did not make mac n’ cheese – we were only there one night for my mother-in-law’s bday and we took her out to dinner…so I was spared this time
Absolutely I think they would deal Bucholtz in that package (it would take more than just Bucholtz and Elsbury to get it done by the way)
Boston will still have a top four of Lester, Beckett, Lackey and Dice with Wakefield, Andrew Miller and Michael Bowden to compete for the fifth spot.
“Absolutely I think they would deal Bucholtz in that package (it would take more than just Bucholtz and Elsbury to get it done by the way)”
0% chance they’d trade Buchholtz, IMO. Wouldn’t be worth it.
Chip,
I think it would take.a package like that to get Gonzalez….the question is that if they do that deal are they a better team? Certainly they are getting a great player in AGon but they are also losing their 2nd best pitcher and lead off hitter.
Chip-
I don’t think laptop is goin’ anywhere.
But that’s JMO.
I dont think the Sox would trade Buchholtz either and I don’t think they have the bullets to make the deal without him….I could be wrong on that but I just don’t see an Ellsbury+ prospects deal being enough.
You don’t think Adrian Gonzalez’ shoulder injury will impede a deal?
MTU -
To be a fly on the wall, so to speak, stop in at the local spy shop and buy one of those super listening things. Then you can sit outside the meeting room and hear like you’re inside. I think they work, they do on TV, lol.
MP-
Actually I think just the opposite. It lowers his value slightly naking it easier to trade for him.
He should be ready for ST or very close. At least that’s the projection.
He’s plenty good enough for some team to take that chance on.
Al-
Yes. I think we should all chip in and get that sort of stuff for Chad.
MTU -
The Sux would love to habe A-Gon. They have been wanting him, like we desire Lee. He may cost more than they’re willing to part with. I think they move Cave Man to 3B, resign V-Mart for 1B/BU catcher, and go after John Buck for C.
Disclaimer: If none of the above happens, I didn’t post this.
Al-
That sounds pretty reasonable. I think their OF has issues too.
How do you see that shaping up ?
Werth ? Crawford ? Someone else ?
MTU -
I think the Sux sign Werth, he’s their type of player, I don’t see Crawford as a fit there.
“I could be wrong on that but I just don’t see an Ellsbury+ prospects deal being enough”
Not sure they’d have much interest in Ellsbury either way as he’ll be an arbitration guy. Don’t think Boston would have any trouble with the idea of trading him though. Probably nobody in the GM community more familiar with Boston’s system than Hoyer. Don’t know if there is enough there to make something happen, but he’ll know. Think Baltimore could be a factor in Gonzalez, if they are willing to part with some young pitching. Don’t see the package being as being as great as some others do. Basically you’re trading for 1 year or less of Gonzalez plus 1st dibs at offering him a Teixeira-like contract. The lessons of Teixeira to the Braves are lost on nobody.
Al-
So I guess you don’t see the Suxers as totally Werth-less then ?
MTU -
That makes sense.
The lack of developing quality position players has hamstrung the Sox in recent years. The past 2 offseasons have seen them making lateral moves where they have been replacing talent as opposed to adding to it.
Emerson, Lake and Palmer ?
Let’s hope Cashman leaves Orlando from the winter meetings in December as a “Lucky Man”.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=129uSUEN-8w
MP-
Nothing I say ever makes sense. You ought to know that.
Mell,
I don’t know either….Ellsbury is just one of the names you keep hearing thrown around. As a Braves fan that Teixera deal still makes me cringe….just horrible.
Blake-
The Marlins traded away Cabrera + for young guys who they both just traded for cans of sardines.
That’s pretty bad dealin’ too. No ?
MTU -
Again! OK, I’ll let it slide.
The Sux stated they want to resign both Beltre and V-Mart, but given their other needs, I don’t see them all in on Beltre. They want to part ways with Ellsbury, he’s done in Boston. They will replace him with a rookie, then bring in Werth for a power bat, and then pray Big Papi don’t go south, and not make a U-Turn like last year. Picking up his option could be very costly, or very big, time will tell.
To get A-Gon, I believe they give up Ellsbury, Buckholtz + 2 prospects.
Blake:
I see the Teixeira to Atlanta deal as the baseline for what will not happen when the Pads look to move Gonzalez. They simply won’t get that much. Probably not even close to that much. They can get some guys for sure, but the notion that it’d Buchholtz, Ellsbury and others or similar packages from the O’s (you think for a second the O’s would trade Matusz in such a deal?) or other teams is probably misguided.
MTU,
Yuck as well….however I would still classify the Tex deal as worse because they traded two really good prospects to rent Mark Teixera in a season where they weren’t good enough to win anyway…then traded Tex for essentially nothing. At least the players the Marlins aquired were young and talented…it just didn’t work out.
Back later ……
Mell,
The only way it could be different is if they can deal him to a team that can extend him (like Boston)…a team like that may be willing to gamble more if they are confident they can sign him. The problem with the from the Padres side is that there aren’t many teams like that out there and the Yankees wont be involved. From a PR standpoint it wouldn’t be good for them to trade him in an inimpressive package….not when they are competitive in their division.
Al-
Time to take the the Mops out to create some “pupdemonium”.
Back in a while.
MTU -
Off to do some household duties. Catch ya later.
does anyone know when Rookie of the Year awards are announced?
TY:
2 PM
Glad you had a good wedding Chad welcome back!
Orlando has the awesome Church Street Station. it’s a great night scene.
If Boston were to deal for A-Gonzalez they’d have to get a window to sign him for 2012 and beyond or he becomes a rental for 2011. Many feel that he’s a west coast guy so Boston would need to put on their best convincing shoes.
Nothing is cut and dried for what they need to do over the winter. Papelbon is their only real trading chip or they open up another hole to fill. Their farm system is thin with major league ready prospects and former Boston assistant GM Jed Hoyer of San Diego is well aware of it.
As long as we get Lee.! thats all that matters
The reason I think the Sox can and would include Bucholtz is because they would be dealing from a position of strength.
They’ve got a very deep rotation and they do have prospect pitchers who could pick up the slack in the back-end. Also it isn’t impossible to consider that they would deal Bucholtz and then get into the bidding next year for Yu Darvish. A top three of Lester, Beckett and Lackey should be enough rotation certainty for them to take at least the Wild Card given the hits that Tampa is going to take this winter.
As for Crawford – he’s absolutely a fit. I’m starting to fall into the category of people who think he’s a better investment than Werth. Jayson is what he is, but Crawford seems to be developing new parts to his game, namely a little more pop to go with his speed – it could be that he’s turning into a better version of Johnny Damon.
“Many feel that he’s a west coast guy so Boston would need to put on their best convincing shoes”
Many felt the same about Sabathia. That stuff is all hogwash. It’ll be about the money and there’s little evidence any west coast team will have it, especially if the Angels go the route many expect them to this winter. That said, I don’t see a trade between SD and Bos involving Gonzalez. Only way I see him in Boston is thru free agency this time next year.
Chip-
“They’ve got a very deep rotation and they do have prospect pitchers who could pick up the slack in the back-end.”
Just for fun. Like who ?
What credible #5 guy do they have available ?
If the Padres aren’t blown away by an offer for Gonzalez they could always just keep him and try again to win the west….that’s what their fans will want unless a deal comes along that really makes them better for the future.
Boston’s rotation isn’t an area of strength unless Beckett and Lackey rebound….dealing laptop takes it from.potential strength to potential question.mark.
“The reason I think the Sox can and would include Bucholtz is because they would be dealing from a position of strength”
Couldn’t disagree more. 1st of all, I don’t necessarily buy into the notion that starting pitching is a position of strength for the Red Sox. Lot of questions there. Secondly, nobody’s trading a cost controlled pitcher with a #2 starter ceiling for a year or less of a 1B. Makes no sense. Too easy to get a guy on the cheap who can play the position for a year and give you 85-90 RBI and then pursue Gonzalez via free agency.
Not sure I’m buying the “Red Sox have a very deep rotation” argument.
Beckett stunk last season. He was horrific – and hurt. Lackey stunk as well, but not as badly as Beckett.
Matsuzaka is as unreliable as it gets and his health is always a big concern.
Buchholz has to do it for more than one season to be considered a stalwart in that rotation.
GF-
Well at least they have Lester.
I think Beckett could rebound but im just not sure Lackey is all that good anymore.
Since we’re talking Pitching.
Are Shields and/or Garza likely to be traded anytime soon ?
who’s going to trade for Dan Uggla?
he should not be play second base, but the guy can hit — his power #s are some of the most consistent in the game.
away from that joke of a stadium, his #s will only improve.
Olney thinks the Jays are the most logical choice. Anthopoulos wants HR bats in his lineup.
an AL team does make the most sense. hide the glove and just tell him to hit.
Blake-
So you’re saying that you think Lackey might be lack-ing.
“Are Shields and/or Garza likely to be traded anytime soon ?”
Shields was so bad last season, trading him would probably not yield enough to make it worth doing. I think they could get themselves a nice little score from moving Garza though.
The Mets should be in on Garza . With Santana hurting , Garza would be a decent 1A or #2 for the Mets
Boston’s rotation depth is questionable. Should any of Beckett, Lester, Lackey, Matsuzaka, or Buchholz go down with injury it’s Wakefield in the rotation as has been seen over the last 2-3 seasons. Their catching leaves a lot for wonderment even if they manage to sign Victor Martinez.
MTU,
I think he’s a 4 being paid like a 1….he may be better next year because I don’t think.he will walk as many as he did in 2010 but he also gave up a ton of hits and I don’t see that going away.
If we get Lee and AP hangs ‘em up we’d need a middle to backend type starter.
Would the White Sox be willing to part with Gavin Floyd and Jenks in exchange for filling some of their other needs ?
How about Joba, Romine, and Miranda for those 2.
If we need to add a bit more. Throw in Adams or Nova.
MTU-
Thats alot to give up… . .Gavin Floyd is ok . .But Jenks is terrible !
Mike-
Is he that much more terrible than Joba ?
Floyd would look good in PS. I prefer him to a guy like Billingsley who has never pitched in the AL.
And IMO Floyd is way better than OK.
It’s basically a Romine for floyd type trade.
The sox need a Catcher.
I think the Red Sux will sign Buck and Werth and obtain Martinez (maybe during the season).
I think the Angels will sign Crawford, Beltre and Soriano.
Mike Ri November 15th, 2010 at 11:49 am
The Mets should be in on Garza . With Santana hurting , Garza would be a decent 1A or #2 for the Mets
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
With the emergence of Jeremy Hellickson and Jake McGee, the Rays could afford to part with Garza who will score well in arbitration in December.
Also, the Rays could deal SS Jason Bartlett and have a replacement with Reid Brignac.
Toronto has the makings of a strong rotation too :
Romero, Cecil, McGowan, Morrow.
Man. I just hate the AL East. It’s brutal.
MTU -
I don’t know.. .i’m not sure i’d pull the trade
Wecome back Chad, and I’m glad you enjoyed your sister’s wedding. I know how stressful planning one can be, so I hope she got to enjoy it as well.
Chip, welcome back also. I could see the De La Rosa signing as a preemptive move also, and mentioned that a couple days ago. Could act as insurance for Pettitte and/or Lee, just like Swisher was before Tex.
Don’t think Benoit is the answer, but would move on signing Putz or trading for Ardsma to shore up the pen, and would consider trading Joba depending on the return.
AS you know, I’m a big fan of Crawford, but don’t see it happening anymore. Gardner has proved that he has affordable upside to negate the difference a Crawford signing would bring, and I don’t really see Werth as an upgrade to Swisher. Both did poorly come playoff time, so I’d rather stick with the devil I know, particularly a likeable one.