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2012-2013 MLB off season tracker thread


southsider2k5

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These numbers make the Jake Peavy deal look better and better by the day.

 

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Nov 9, 2012 -> 09:32 AM)
Jon Morosi ‏@jonmorosi

 

Anibal Sanchez is asking for around $90 million, sources say.

 

Jon Heyman ‏@JonHeymanCBS

 

anibal sanchez's price going up? he asked 1 team for $90M, 6 yrs, and another about $100M, 7 yrs.

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http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-leag...04482--mlb.html

 

The hot stove season is upon us and the three teams that have lately been linked to the market's top free agent are the Seattle Mariners, Baltimore Orioles and Milwaukee Brewers.

 

Meanwhile, that free agent's most recent team and its fan base doesn't seem all that concerned about whether they retain his services. One teammate even said it might not be in the franchise's best interests to re-sign the AL MVP from 2010.

 

If this was any other year or any other player, we'd be moved to wonder when we started living in a bizarro world or if the Mayans are on track to nail doomsday like Nate Silver just nailed election day.

 

But this is 2012 and the player we're talking about is Josh Hamilton. Rising revenues mixed with Hamilton's enigmatic status mixed with the Texas Rangers' proclivity to avoid risk-laden contracts have made this an offseason unlike any other. Franchises that usually struggle to obtain mid-tier free-agent talent now find themselves at the front of the pack for the top available position player while Hamilton's representation might not ever see New York or Boston's area codes show up on its caller ID.

 

There are undoubtedly plenty of other weird chapters to be added in this saga and Hamilton could still haul down the seven-year, $175 million contract he reportedly desires. But since we're in this strange time and place at the beginning of the story, let's look at the three unlikely suitors.

 

Milwaukee Brewers: The team's interest in Hamilton was initially reported during the World Series and reinforced with a Jon Heyman report on Wednesday. GM Doug Melvin, however, is also reportedly interested in gauging Zack Greinke's interest in returning to Miller Park and starting pitching remains Milwaukee's biggest need. (The Brewers still topped the National League in runs and home runs in 2012 despite Prince Fielder leaving for Detroit last winter.)

 

Speaking of Fielder, I remain confused why the Brewers were unwilling to even think about delivering a Brinks truck to a homegrown player but could be interested in taking a risk on a free agent with baggage he carries in his head instead of around his midsection. Hamilton is four years older than Fielder and achieved his career-high in games played when he appeared in 156 contests for the 2008 Rangers. Fielder had six seasons of more than 157 games played when the Brewers let him walk.

 

Baltimore Orioles: Several free agents in years past have been rumored to be headed toward Camden Yards, but the O's were still more of a flower girl than a bridesmaid in recent derbies. The bizarro Hamilton market combined with a desire to capitalize on 2012's wild-card bid might actually get Baltimore owner Peter Angelos to play a big role in the offseason for the first time in almost 15 years. Hamilton would fit in Baltimore's outfield perfectly for the near-term, but Dan Connolly of the Sun Papers thinks the O's would be ill-advised to make Hamilton the biggest catch of their offseason when you consider his age and the money he'll likely command. Still, the O's desire to remain relevant in the AL East could cause Angelos to blow the dust off his checkbook.

 

Seattle Mariners: I think Dave Cameron of USS Mariner nails it when it comes to labeling the Mariners' reported interest in Hamilton's services. Seattle hasn't been linked to the star via a contract offer or even a front office leak, but rather a Bob Nightengale report that opposing GMs think the Orioles and Mariners will end up as the final two competitors. Maybe we get something a little more concrete from Seattle, but all the speculation right now is based on a logical guess. The Mariners' moved-in fences at Safeco, available payroll and punchless offense should make them a player for Hamilton. Throw in their struggle to attract top free agents because of the travel demands of playing for Seattle and it makes downright good sense that they capitalize on a market that isn't populated by the usual players.

 

Then again, it's still only Nov. 8 and there will be more teams inquiring on Hamilton than just these three (and ostensibly the Rangers). It's fun to put together lists of unconventional teams this early, but remember that no one thought the Angels and Tigers would be landing places for Albert Pujols and Fielder at this time a year ago.

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QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Nov 13, 2012 -> 10:50 AM)
Bob Nightengale ‏@BNightengale

 

Teams interested in Jeremy Affeldt were told at GM meetings that he was off board and #SFGiants were signing him to 3-year,$18 million deal

 

Jon Heyman ‏@JonHeymanCBS

 

#cubs sign scott baker, team announces. 1 year deal

 

 

Baker is that type of buy low move that the Cubs will be making. They will load up on these types of signings and hope for success. Another busy trade deadline for Theo-Jed.

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QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Nov 13, 2012 -> 10:50 AM)
Bob Nightengale ‏@BNightengale

 

Teams interested in Jeremy Affeldt were told at GM meetings that he was off board and #SFGiants were signing him to 3-year,$18 million deal

 

Jon Heyman ‏@JonHeymanCBS

 

#cubs sign scott baker, team announces. 1 year deal

 

That's a lot of paper for Jeremy Affeldt.

 

I realize that Theo has a "plan", but it's weird to only see the Cubs make insignificant transactions.

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http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/four-fr...i-hidaka-111412

 

Pitcher Kyuji Fujikawa of the Hanshin Tigers was one of four professional baseball players in Japan who became unrestricted free agents Wednesday in hopes of moving to Major League Baseball.

 

The other players were Seibu Lions shortstop Hiroyuki Nakajima, Nippon Ham Fighters infielder Kensuke Tanaka and Orix Buffaloes catcher Takeshi Hidaka.

 

These guys are the top free agents on the market.

 

Fujikawa, a 32-year-old right-handed closer, has 220 saves over 12 seasons with the Tigers. He played for two-time champion Japan at the 2006 and 2009 World Baseball Classic and the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

 

The New York Yankees won the negotiating rights for Nakajima under the posting system after the 2011 season, but failed to reach an agreement and he returned to Seibu for the 2012 season.

 

Nakajima, a seven-time Pacific League All-Star, has a .302 batting average with 149 home runs, 664 RBIs and 134 stolen bases over 11 seasons with Seibu.

 

Tanaka has a.286 average over 13 seasons with the Fighters, while Hidaka hit.236 in 15 seasons with Orix.

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