2010-2011 MLB Offseason Thread

[AdamRavs]

Brewers suddenly have a pretty good staff now.. Gallardo, Greinke, Marcum, Wolf and a 5th starter which will prolly be Manny Parra

[Swifty]

Heyman is tweeting that the Nats and Brewers had a deal in place but Greinke wouldn't waive his no-trade to go to Washington.
--------------------
Oh, and the deal gets worse: the Royals are sending Milwaukee $2 million.

That's just an amazingly bad trade for KC.

[Erick]

Greinke to Brewers supposedly with an offer we could definitely have beaten

Lorenzo Cain, Alcides Escobar, Jake Odorizzi and Jeremy Jeffress for Greinke and Yuniesky Beatncounrt

i.e. Logan Morrison (better), Ozzie Martinez (wash) Elih and Tom?

what the fuck

Odorizzi + Jeffress = James + Marinez

Not Koehler and Villanueva, at all.

Also, just because we could've matched with better prospects like Morrison and Dominguez, it doesn't really mean anything because those guys don't match the Royals team needs. Maybe Coghlan. They wanted quality players up the middle (2B/SS...CF).

[Namaste]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=5934289

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Twins gave Japanese infielder Tsuyoshi Nishioka a warm welcome, trying to make Target Field feel a little less foreign.


Nishioka
Nishioka was introduced at a news conference Saturday afternoon. He signed his $9.25 million, three-year contract, which includes a club option for the 2014 season, at a podium in a room packed with media, team employees and other supporters.

Twins president Dave St. Peter, manager Ron Gardenhire and general manager Bill Smith flanked Nishioka on one side with his translator, David Yamamoto, and his agent, Rick Thurman, on the other.

Smith repeatedly spoke of the family atmosphere in the organization and the clubhouse and how the Twins focused on making Nishioka and his wife feel comfortable on their visit.

Gardenhire even clutched a pocket-size blue book, "Survival Japanese," as he spoke of his daughters helping him learn a new language in order to better communicate with his new middle infielder.

"We have great chemistry on this club," Smith said. "In talking with Gardy and talking with a few of our players, we are very confident that our players are going to embrace Tsuyoshi as a new player but as a teammate and a partner on this team. We all have the same goals."

Nishioka asked to introduce himself in English, offering a halting but complete sentence before flashing a big smile: "I'm excited to be a part of the Twins family. Thank you."

The 26-year-old Nishioka led his Japanese league last season with a .346 batting average. He'll wear No. 1.

"I'm very honored that a lot of media is here today to cover me," he said through his translator. "I'm very grateful, but I do understand that if I don't perform a lot of media coverage will go away. So I hope I keep a lot of media here throughout the season."

Minnesota's first major acquisition from Japan, Nishioka had 32 doubles, eight triples, 11 home runs, 59 RBIs and 22 stolen bases in 596 at-bats and 144 games for the Chiba Lotte Marines of the Pacific League of Nippon Professional Baseball last season. He also scored a league-best 121 runs.

He said he realizes those numbers will be tough to duplicate in the majors, but he said he's focused on helping the Twins win, not on his statistics.

"I believe my job is to step on home plate as much as possible," Nishioka said through his translator. "To make that happen, whether it'd be walks, hit by pitch, getting knocks, I like to do my best to get on base to be able to do that. I feel I have the skills to help this team achieve that goal."

The Twins submitted the highest bid, $5,329,000, to Chiba Lotte for the negotiating rights to Nishioka, who will be paid $3 million for each of the next three seasons. The Twins can exercise a $4 million option for 2014 or pay him a $250,000 buyout.

Smith said scouts who follow Japanese baseball were aware a couple months ago that Nishioka might be posted for major league offers by the Marines, and the Twins targeted him as a way to meet their offseason goal of adding more speed to the lineup.

With shortstop J.J. Hardy traded to the Baltimore Orioles and second baseman Orlando Hudson signed with the San Diego Padres, the Twins think they'll be faster and more diverse offensively with Nishioka and Alexi Casilla manning the middle infield. Nishioka is penciled in as the No. 2 hitter in the lineup.

Gardenhire said he'll figure out who plays where during spring training and gauge Nishioka's arm strength and ability to make the double-play pivot.

"I think he can catch the ball. Now I just want to see what works," the manager said.

Nishioka said he has no preference about position.

"I'm still a rookie here. I don't think I have any say here or have a preference in playing second base or shortstop," he said through his translator. "I'm preparing for both. I'll do whatever the manager tells me. If the manager wants me to be a ballboy, I'll do that as well."


Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

[HUGG]

"I'm still a rookie here. I don't think I have any say here or have a preference in playing second base or shortstop," he said through his translator. "I'm preparing for both. I'll do whatever the manager tells me. If the manager wants me to be a ballboy, I'll do that as well."

This dude is awesome.

[Miamarlin21]

The Pittsburgh Pirates claimed former Marlins first rounder Aaron Thompson off waivers from Washington.

[Valid]

Matt Lindstrom to Colorado. That should be entertaining.

[Party]

He's got the straightball perfected.

[Ramp]

Rangers reach an agreement with Brandon Webb

[Swifty]

To get him on a one year deal is pretty amazing. Absolutely no lose for Texas.

Also, at this point, shouldn't the Marlins be looking at Vladdy or Manny?

[FishFanInPA]

Arent both extreme fielding liabilities? Don't need that with Cogz in CF.

[Swifty]

I don't think they're full season players at this point (at least not Manny, maybe Vlad if we had a DH). They give you LoMo/Stanton/Gaby insurance since one almost has to have a sophomore slump and a power bench bat good teams have.

For all the effort we have put into fleshing out the rotation and the bullpen, our bench is very poor, even by Marlins standards. If Baker is our lefty off the bench, and Helms is Helms, we need a power bat; either one gives us that, and we let them try to win a job in the spring. It's never a bad thing to have some competition.

[THE_REAL_MIBS]

Orioles reliever Alfredo Simon is the primary suspect in a fatal New Year's Eve shooting in the Dominican Republic, police told the Associated Press.

While attending a New Year's Eve celebration in the coastal town of Luperon, Simon allegedly shot and killed Michel Castillo Almonte, 25, in addition to wounding Almonte's 17-year-old brother, according to the police statement.

The Orioles have not officially commented on the allegations; however, one of the club's Dominican representatives, Felipe Alou Jr., told the AP he had spoken with Simon and the right-hander denied involvement.

Simon, who reportedly fled after the incident, could face a sentence of up to 30 years in prison if convicted of the crime.

For a significant portion of last season, the 29-year-old served as the Orioles' closer, compiling 17 saves before the club turned to Koji Uehara to fill the role. Simon went 4-2 with a 4.93 ERA last season.

O's reliever Simon suspect in fatal shooting

[Miamarlin21]

So it's Ugeth Urbina part II?

[emkayseven]

naw urbina didn't kill anyone, just tried to