The Ol' Ballfield

Winter BLUNDERLAND?!?!: A Free-for-All of MLB News and Notes

Just making sure everyone noticed the title of this post. Pretty good, huh?

Bet ya didn't see that one coming.

SO much is happening at the winter meetings. There are a couple good places to follow the action:

-ESPN.com's continually updating wire directly from the winter meetings.

-Prospectus has a similar thing going on.

-Charlie over at Bucs Dugout usually posts updates, even non-Pirates related, in a timely fashion and with excellent thoughts.

-And there's always the Baseball Primer newsblog.

I'll make some comments myself here, in chronological order. Starting with, oh, I don't know,

Red Sox ink Drew for 5 years, $70 million

Red Sox Fans everywhere are throwing up in their mouths. This is a great move for Drew, who gets to play on a primo-stage for $3 million more than he would have gotten in Los Angeles. Many people see Drew as a selfish prima donna who is always hurt and is getting on in years. This has some truth to it, although Drew has had three great seasons in a row, including the shortened-by-injury-which-was-obviously-Paul Depodesta's-fault 2005. Since he got to the league, Drew has, literally, alternated between healthy and hurt seasons, with 2007 looking grim if the pattern holds. But in those last three healthy years he's posted EqAs of .335, .334 and .300, and WARP3's of 8.6 and 9.2 in those last two. With the silly, silly market right now, I think this is a good move for the Sox, who need a good fielder in right field (which Drew is) and a five-hole hitter that can.... hit at all. Last year the Sox ranked 30th, and by no small margin, in five-hold OPS. Drew has a great swing for Fenway park, and this deal could be integral to the Sox's success next season. If he stays healthy, and doesn't let the Boston media get to him. Which he likely won't, and will, respectively. Sigh.

Maddux signs with Padres

Greg Maddux's last awesome season was in 2002, when he posted an ERA of 2.62, good for an ERA+ of 157. He's gone way downhill since then, although had a weirdly successful season in 2006 posting average numbers with Chicago and very good numbers with Los Angeles. Now the Padres have given him $7 million (up to $10 million if he achieves numerous innings incentives) to try and recreate that SoCal magic in 2007. It's a lot of money for a pitcher... not of Maddux's caliber, of course, but of Maddux's recent production. PETCO Park is every pitcher's dream, and so is the NL West (especially if Bonds departs San Francisco), so the odds seem to be in his favor to at least have a decent season in 2007 at age 41. But don't look for him to bring what a REAL $10 million pitcher would.

Red Sox sign Julio Lugo for 4 years, $36 million

Well, the Red Sox needed a shortstop, and that's exactly what they got. Not sure if he's worth the money... Lugo is serviceable in the field, and not wince-inducing with the bat. Most of his career highs came in 2005, and OPS+ of 105 and an OBP of .362; both of those totals have not come close to being equalled by any other seasons in his career. He also posted a FRAR of 45 that year, never scoring above 26 any other. As Charlie points out, the Sox probably thought Dustin Pedroia would be better at second, but a good second baseman can be had on this market for a much more reasonable price than this.

Mets deal Brian Bannister to the Royals for Ambiorix Burgos

Both teams get something they need here. The Mets trade away a serviceable starter for a decent relief arm, and the Royals get a starter that will help remove the word "abominable" from many descriptions of their rotation.

Burgos has always been touted as being better than he's pitched, but he will only be 23 next year. Surrounded by a shitload of good pitchers, as he will be in New York, is a good place for a young pitcher to learn the ropes (See: Rivera, Mariano, circa 1995).

Bannister pitched well in his rookie season, although he got some help from his defense. Kansas City might drown him as it did Zack Greinke, both because he is moving to the American League and because he is playing for an awful team.

Schmidt signs with Los Angeles for three years, $47 million

This is a huge relief for Dodger fans after the idiotic signings of Juan Pierre and Randy Wolf. Three of Schmidt's last four seasons have been great, and 2003 can only be described as fabuloso. After an injury-laced 2005 Schimdt came back to form last season, and three years is a very reasonable amount of time to lock him up for (ages 34, 35, and 36). The word is that the Dodgers will now trade a starter, possibly Brad Penny, for a bat.

Indians sign Joe Borowski to a one-year, $4.25 million deal

Borowski had a hell of a season in 2006, but didn't pass a physical in Philadelphia recently. This is a gamble for Cleveland, but if that shoulder is all right, they got themselves a good closer.

Dodgers sign Mike Lieberthal

One-year deal for a good backup. Good move.


Check the links above for rumors, updates, etc.

posted by Carnival @ 12/06/2006