Winter Meetings: Monday Thread

[Seth Stohs]

There are going to be a ton of rumors all week at the winter meetings. Use this thread to discuss what you're hearing via twitter, etc. You can discuss rumors, or deals from around baseball that are made official. I'll start.

 

(Note - we can include Twins rumors in here as well, but those might be best served in their own threads. Those threads should be started with "Rumor: Twins Talking With..." or something like that.)

 

 

Last night, it came out that the Tigers and free agent reliever Mark Lowe were nearing an agreement on a two-year contract.

 

I woke up this morning to read that the Royals and Joakim Soria have agreed to a 3 year, $25 million deal.

 

There are some rumors of a Javier Baez to the Rays type of deal being discussed.

 

What else are we hearing?

[sane09]

I have listed all the Twins rumors and transactions below.  Wait for it.....................

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

Japanese pitcher Kenta Maeda got a new agent and will be posted by his Nippon League team in a week or so... Competition for his services might get a little heated with Grienke, Iwakuma, and Samardzjia already off the table...

[Seth Stohs]

Chris Young has agreed to a two-year deal to stay with the Royals... The Starting Pitcher Chris Young.

 

[nater79a]

Dodgers and Marlins talking Jose Fernandez. Asking price by Marlins? Only Urias and Seager. Geeez, why don't they just ask for Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale too while they're at it.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Dodgers and Marlins talking Jose Fernandez. Asking price by Marlins? Only Urias and Seager. Geeez, why don't they just ask for Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale too while they're at it.

 

Yeah, that's like them asking the Twins for Buxton and Berrios... 

[Mike Sixel]

I think you can ask for 1 of those guys, and a few other minor leaguers, and get a yes. I don't think you will get a yes for two of them.

[DaveW]

 

I think you can ask for 1 of those guys, and a few other minor leaguers, and get a yes. I don't think you will get a yes for two of them.

Yeah, but then again if any team would say yes to giving up both it would be the Dodgers. I would gladly give up Berrios+Kepler+Stewart+ anyone else not named Buxton or Sano for Fernandez, sadly that wouldn't come close to what they needed.

 

[Mike Sixel]

If I was Miami, I would do that deal. Berrios could be a two....Kepler could be a very good starting CF, and Stewart is a 20 year old that has only pitched full time for 2 years or so. Fernandez is awesome, but he's only 1 guy. I understand prospects are risky, but I do like both those players.

 

I'd also consider doing that deal if I'm MN. 

[DaveW]

Dodgers just got Chapman.

Good for them.

 

Wish the Twins would have made a run at him.

[Mike Sixel]

 

Dodgers just got Chapman.

Good for them.

 

Wish the Twins would have made a run at him.

 

Play to win, baby, play to win.

[Vanimal46]

That's a scary back end of the bullpen for the Dodgers with Jansen and Chapman... Still doesn't make up for the loss of Grienke yet.

[Seth Stohs]

Hisashi Iwakuma going to the Dodgers for 3 years, $45 million.

[Vanimal46]

Welp, nevermind. That signing certainly helps the Dodgers forget about Grienke. 

[DaveW]

 

Hisashi Iwakuma going to the Dodgers for 3 years, $45 million.

That's a big blow for the Mariners, but yet another shrewd move by the Dodgers, should be a very good #3 in the NL.

[DaveW]

 

 

Welp, nevermind. That signing certainly helps the Dodgers forget about Grienke. 

Meh, I mean you can't really replace Grienke as he is a top 5 pitcher in all of baseball currently.

[Mike Sixel]

Ya, but they went out and signed a legit #3, when he's healthy. Oh, and they now have a great back end of the bullpen. And they still have 2 of the top 10 prospects in all of baseball. And, the best pitcher in all of the world. 

[James]

 

Meh, I mean you can't really replace Grienke as he is a top 5 pitcher in all of baseball currently.

Very true.  Iwakuma isn't exactly a slouch though.  Technically a downgrade for them, but not that much of a downgrade in my opinion. 

[gopherman23]

Dodgers just got Chapman.

Good for them.

 

Wish the Twins would have made a run at him.

He would have cost too much in terms of prospects and he is a FA at the end of the year.

[DaveW]

 

He would have cost too much in terms of prospects

You sure about that?

[RaymondLuxuryYacht]

Dodgers are winning the off-season.  And we all know that the team that wins the off-season always win World Series

[Mike Sixel]

 

Dodgers are winning the off-season.  And we all know that the team that wins the off-season always win World Series

 

who said they did? No one, not one person.

 

They are a very good team. They have a great farm system. They are trying to improve their team. Isn't that what a baseball fan should want, a team with a farm system and money?

[DaveW]

 

Very true.  Iwakuma isn't exactly a slouch though.  Technically a downgrade for them, but not that much of a downgrade in my opinion. 

I agree 100%, Iwakuma is a steal for them and I would have loved to see the Twins take a run at him if he was truly on the "open" market. He instantly would have become the Twins best pitcher.

 

However, as it does "replace" Greinke in the rotation, I think the downgrade is pretty significant, Grienke was the definition of elite last year.

[DaveW]

 

Dodgers are winning the off-season.  And we all know that the team that wins the off-season always win World Series

No, but they often at the very least make the post-season.

[gopherman23]

You sure about that?

I'm guessing two non-elite top 100 prospects, so the equivalent of Gordon and Jay.

[Seth Stohs]

There are rumors that Brett Lawrie is drawing interest from three AL Central teams (Cleveland, Chicago and Detroit, I believe). 

[jlanky]

Soria to the Royals?

Lowe and K-Rod to the Tigers?

 

Twins are falling behind on the bullpen chase in the central.  

[Rosterman]

It's nice to see some teams being proactive in improving their rosters and/or upgrading from players that might be considered also rans. The off season doesn't necessarily win divisions, but it creates excitement for selling tickets, keeping your team in the public eye, and giving one hope. You can always hope to improve by spending money or trading for select pieces. It's sitting with failed pieces and doing too much rummage sale buys that discourages this fan the most.

 

[gopherman23]

Soria to the Royals?

Lowe and K-Rod to the Tigers?

 

Twins are falling behind on the bullpen chase in the central.

We need to get in on the Sipp, Bastardo, and Clippard sweepstakes immediately, and please god not Fernando Rodney.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Dodgers just got Chapman.

Also signals the Reds are definitely in sell mode, so Todd Frazier will probably dampen any Plouffe market.