The Offseason Baseball Thread

[Imran Siddiqui]

It seems the Tim Hudson may be getting dealt to the Dodgers for Edwin Jackson and Antonio Perez, both prize young prospects for the Dodgers (especially Jackson, who looks like he'll be a stud).

The Dodgers look DANGEROUS for next year.

[Imran Siddiqui]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1946536

WASHINGTON -- Baseball's plan to move the Expos to Washington might come apart after the District of Columbia Council voted Tuesday night to require private financing for at least half the cost of a new ballpark.

After an 11½-hour session filled with contentious debate, the council voted 7-6 to approve legislation to finance construction of a ballpark. But the bill contained an amendment on private financing, a provision not contained in the September agreement between the Expos and Washington Mayor Anthony A. Williams.

"We will review the amendments and the legislation as passed and have a response tomorrow," said Bob DuPuy, baseball's chief operating officer.

If the law stands, baseball's likely response is to have the team play the 2005 season at Washington's RFK Stadium, where it would be known as the Nationals, while the commissioner's office reopens the search for a permanent home for the franchise.

The Expos were bought by the other 29 teams before the 2002 season.

Council Chair Linda Cropp offered the private financing provision, saying it would be crucial for her support. She was considered the swing vote on the 13-member council.

Cropp said she was not satisfied with concessions offered by baseball that would have made the deal more financially palatable for the city.

"I have not seen the movement from Major League Baseball that I would have liked in the past two weeks," Cropp said. "My dream of dreams is that we will get enough private financing that the costs of building the stadium will be eliminated."

Yikes! Could Washington blow it?

[Imran Siddiqui]

Oh, in transactional news... Pedro signs with the Mets. Sexson is close to the M's. And I've heard reports that Koskie will sign with the Jays.

The Angels have pulled out of the Clement stakes as well, for what I've heard.

[Lawrence of Arabia]

NOOOO PEDRO SIGNS WITH METS. what a greedy jerk. now he'll lose all his games. i bet ortiz is feeling real good right now.

and no renteria isnt better than cabrera, cabrera is the best SS in the AL at this point, and is also better than renteria.

[Imran Siddiqui]

NOOOO PEDRO SIGNS WITH METS. what a greedy jerk. now he'll lose all his games.

I love how LoA is such a homer. He'll be undefeated with is teams and he'll lose all his games with others .

and no renteria isnt better than cabrera, cabrera is the best SS in the AL at this point, and is also better than renteria.

And it gets even better!

If the Sox get Renteria, I expect the exact opposite statement.

[DanS]

Cropp blew it. The deal is dead.

[monkspider]

So are the Expos really not going to Washington? This would be quite a twist.

Brewers get Carlos Lee from the ChiSox, W00TAGE!

[Lawrence of Arabia]

And it gets even better!

If the Sox get Renteria, I expect the exact opposite statement.

that wont happen. I think this year will be a rebuilding year of sorts for the sox. they wont blow it all trying to get the world series this year. heres how they should be positioned for next year

2006 Red Sox

Starters:
1. Santana
2. Schilling
3. Clement
4. Arroyo
5. Papelbon*? Lester*? Wells?

Lineup:
1. Johnny Damon (CF)
2. Orlando Cabrera (SS)
3. David Ortiz (DH)
4. Manny Ramirez (LF)
5. Trot Nixon (RF)
6. Doug Mintkieviecz (1B)
7. Kevin Youkilis (3B)
8. Hanley Ramirez (2B)*
9. Kelly Shoppach (C)*

*= currently in the minors

[Imran Siddiqui]

So are the Expos really not going to Washington? This would be quite a twist.

They'll have them for a year in RFK probably.

heres how they should be positioned for next year

Santana

And they gotta resign Cabrera first... probably have an equal chance at Renteria. And Hell, they almost dealt Manny to the Mets a week back.. they'll probably deal him before 2006.

[Arrian]

You gotta love LoA. At least he's consistently wacko.

Kindla like Steinbrenner, actually

...

WTF is up with the Expos situation? This is ridiculous.

-Arrian

[Ming]

I would love to see the Expos move to Las Vegas after being stuck a year in RFK. Vegas deserves a real sports team, and they would have to show more support than Washington has for past teams

[Brundlefly]

Angels sign P Paul Byrd to 1-year $5 million contract.

The Phils rescued this guy from the scrap heap several years back and got lucky when this guy had the best year of his career for them, winning 15 or 16. He has never approached that since. Phils cut him loose the following year after he became afraid to throw inside to anyone after unintentionally beaning Javi Lopez in a game and incurring Javi's wrath. Byrd has a 60-53 big league record with a 4.33 ERA in 215 games. And that is worth $5 mil? Incredible.

[Arrian]

It looks like the Angels' new owner is kind of a mini-Steinbrenner. He thinks throwing money at free agents will get him over the top. Vlad wasn't a bad idea, but Paul Byrd...

Jaret Wright... Paul Byrd...

Talk about overpaying for crap pitchers. And then there's the contract Pedro got from the Mets... Pedro's certainly not crap, but neither is elite anymore. He can still be brilliant (if given extra rest), of course, but you don't pay what they paid for that.

-Arrian

[Ming]

Yeah... brilliant move signing Pedro to a 4 year contract... I hope they get their monies worth in year 4, because they will be paying him even if he can't raise his arm anymore

[Brundlefly]

Theres a rumor that Phils are trying to get Kent Mercker from Cubs