MLB Off-Season Thread

[Bingebag]

Javier was cockslapping the NL East last year. Huge move for the Yanks.

[THE_REAL_MIBS]

The New York Yankees have acquired right-hander Javier Vazquez from the Atlanta Braves for outfielder Melky Cabrera and left-hander Mike Dunn.

The move pushes the Yankees' payroll for next season to more than $200 million.

The Braves also are sending right-hander Boone Logan to the Yankees, and the Yankees are sending the Braves right-hander Arodys Vizcaino and $500,000 in the transaction.

per ESPN

[Bobbob1313]

This is a strange world we live in these days.

This offseason has seen the Red Sox give a 31 year old starting pitching who hasn't pitched 200 innings since 2007 and has a career 3.81 ERA a 5 year 82.5 million dollar deal that will pay him 21.5 million next season including his 3 million dollar signing bonus. They also gave a 37 year old center fielder a 2 year 15 million dollar deal even though they already have a CFer and his bat doesn't really play as well in the corner. They also had a player fail to notify them of an injury that nixed a pretty important trade for them.

In the other corner, the Yankees gave up practically nothing of value for the rights to have Curtis Granderson's peak years for 4 year at 39 million, pretty much a steal. They also signed Nick Johnson for 5.5 million for one year, another steal. They then trade a whole bunch of not much for a pretty good starter in Javier Vazquez (though I have my doubts about his abilities to be succesful there given his flyball rates).

Did Theo Epstein and Brian Cashman trade places? Why the hell are the Red Sox overpaying for starting pitching and veterans they don't really need while the Yankees are making smart buy low deals and trading excess stuff for an in his prime borderline star?

The Yankees look pretty unstoppable right now. It's kind of scary now that they are spending their money wisely (they are over 200 million for 2009's payroll, but they don't really have anyone that is useless like in year's past.)

[m26555]

The Braves signed Troy Glaus.

[Longview]

He is expected to play first. If he can stay healthy, thats a nice signing for them.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4767894

[THE_REAL_MIBS]

Blue Jays third baseman Edwin Encarnacion was discharged from a Miami hospital Saturday after suffering first- and second-degree burns to his face when he was hit by fireworks during a New Year's celebration in his native Dominican Republic, according to a report by ESPNdeportes.com.
Encarnacion was treated for minor facial injuries to the front and right side of his face after he was struck by a firecracker rocket near his jaw and it exploded.
"Thank God all is well with my face. I have no fractures or serious damage and will not need any surgery," Encarnacion told ESPNdeportes.com on the phone as he left Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami. "The doctors say I'll have to go a week without sun, but I can train without problems in two weeks."
Encarnacion told the Web site the incident occurred during a family New Year's celebration at his home in La Romana, which is in the eastern part of the Dominican Republic.
Encarnacion said one of his brothers lit a firecracker that was supposed to go up but instead it went sideways and struck Encarnacion in the face. He went to a local clinic in the Dominican Republic on Friday but he was later transported to Miami, where he saw a face specialist for his injuries.
"I was treated very well in the Dominican but when doctors started talking about operations in the face, I contacted my agent, Paul Kinzer, to look for a private flight and take me to a hospital specializing in burns," Encarnacion said.
Encarnacion traveled with his fiancée, Jennifer Pena, the eldest daughter of Yankees' bench coach Tony Pena, to Miami to get treated for his injuries.
"The kid is well. He was taken to the United States for precaution," Pena told ESPNdeportes.com from Santo Domingo.
Encarnacion, who will turn 27 next week, hit .225 with 13 HRs and 39 RBIs in 85 games with Cincinnati and Toronto in 2009.

Source=MLB.com

[Todd]

That could of ended badly, glad hes ok.

[Fish and Chips]

Beltre signed with the red sox
1yr/9mil with a 2nd yr option for 5mil
http://www.boston.com/sports/basebal...x_agree_t.html

[Metes]

Get Mikey Lol

[THE_REAL_MIBS]

Holliday re-signed with the Cards: 7 years, around $120

[AdamRavs]

Big Unit retiring

[Party]

Holliday re-signed with the Cards: 7 years, around $120

See ya later Albert Pujols?

[MiamiHomer]

See ya later Albert Pujols?

Surely they took into account the effect the contract would have in them resigning Big Albert.

[Party]

If they do, Albert is going to get ~$25M a year. I don't see how a market like St. Louis can commit $42M to two players and afford the rest of the team. The margin for error on committing payroll is greatly reduced for a market that can probably at best go into the $105M area.

[Fish and Chips]

/waits for the first pujols-to-boston rumors