GIBSON6594

You're not getting Milledge dammit!!!

Yumcha

Um, I'm not so sure about that. Thome's a great team guy and someone who is respected in the dugout. The Sox needed a left-handed batter with power and this was one way to get it. As well, the team made it no secret that Brian Anderson would be playing next season...so, Rowand had to go.

Signing Thome although not the greatest choice is also not the lousiest move either. If Konerko decides to bolt, at least the ChiSox have a firstbaseman now and still have enough $$$ to get Thomas and have him play DH...It's just protecting themselves if anything. Not a bad move by Williams IMO...

Ol Blue Eyes

PR wise, this is a terrible move and shows no loyalty to frank. they are stuck with thome now, and puts frank on a short limb(if one at all) if konerko gets a new contract


they could have had thomas for half the price of thome

Yumcha

Sure. From a loyalty to the Big Hurt, I suppose this may be an issue. But, from what I've read, it is not an indication that Frank is not going to be signed either...

As well, as I've said, the Sox needed a left-handed batter with power and Thome can provide it.

Ol Blue Eyes

i guess we will wait and see


i hope frank is back next year, its nice to see players stick around with one team throughout their career

GreenMonster

Do you think that these exact type of conversations happen between teams ?? I do...

Look, If you'll include Milledge, we'll pay a portion of Manny's salary We really need help in the outfield and the manny trade isn't going to work for us unless we get an outfielder in return. Now that Cameron is gone (our first choice), we're looking at other options... Maybe we should just start talking with the padres...

We said that noone was going to get Hanley Ramirez, but look what happened there

gocubsgo55

happy thanksgiving, Cubs fans

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/NASApp/m...=.jsp&c_id=chc

gocubsgo55

and even happier; many sources are saying the Cubs have given up 2 (maybe 3) prospects for Mr. Juan Pierre. Nothing will be finalized until after the holiday. The Marlins' GM has a list of 4 and Pinto would be a sure-fire selection. This isn't finalized, but neither was the Howry stuff and that came true.

Yumcha

Now, that would be VERY good. The Cubs finally have a leadoff hitter!

gocubsgo55

im knocking on wood; keep in mind its the CUBS, its bound for a sudden pitfall if we jinx it or something dealing with the "curse". is all im doing today.

Hendry was quoted saying that all the big stuff would be done by Christmas. IF this deal is done by the weekend, I see Furcal signing with either of his suitors by next weekend. It'l be the Cubs or Braves, but he said he wants a change of scenery. Hendry will be meeting with him to make the face-to-face offer after the holiday. He already set a ballpark figure before, but this should make it official.

GIBSON6594

Of course anything can happen, but I really think that Minaya doesn't want to be known for giving away a guy that might be an all star.

Besides, they are keeping Milledge for next year when Floyd's contract runs out. Can't say I'm happy about that thought cause unless they sign someone, thier outfield will be Milledge/Beltran/Nady...i'd rather have Manny/Beltran/Nady. But who knows, maybe Milledge will really be what they say he can be

Doom878

Guillermo Mota is going to Boston in the Beckett trade also. He was going to be our closer but Todd Jones took that away whe he got hurt. Mota was setting up for Eric Gagne prior to him coming here. He had a crappy year last year.

Always Dirty

"Mota" sounds chant-able.

Doom878

Careful. He got shelled a lot. You might be chanting "Mo-ta FUCKER"

Always Dirty

Our chants up here are about 50/50 (good/bad) already anyway... we're ready.

GreenMonster

Yeah, but there is speculation that Mota was included 'cause there might be problems with beckett's shoulder... Wouldn't be the first time the sox aquire a pitcher with a "sore arm"... I guess Mota is insurance in case Foulke doesn't work out next year...

GIBSON6594

The Red Sox are also in the Wagner hunt

GreenMonster

http://www.boston.com/sports/basebal...xtras/thebuzz/

He's met with the Met's and Philly is another possiblity, but he'd look good in a sox uniform With Mota now with the Sox, Wagner might end up a Met.

With adding Beckett to the staff, we've got an extra starting pitcher, so Bronson Arroyo could be working out of the pen next year (or pitching for another team). That's if Beckett, Schilling, Clemente, Wakefield and Paplebon stay healthy and Wells goes to the Padres (or retires).

GIBSON6594

Thats what I am thinking too. Along with the efforts the Mets are putting into signing him, Wagner will most likely be a Met next year.

Then they get Molina and hello World Series

Doom878

Yeah that's what I read too. If he's back to his Dodgers days then the trade is a steal unless Hanley is ARod.

gocubsgo55

the Yankees did nothing to improve their club, which despite all the talent, is only getting older, and obviously lacks team chemistry. I can really see the Red Sox winning the AL East, hell even the AL itself next year! Goes to show what a liquidation sale can do for your team. Hey, since the Cubs cant do it, we're pretty much all with you guys. Go get 'em next year!

gocubsgo55

oh, and Mota > Wagner, IMO

Yumcha

Blue Jays sign Ryan to a deal more than Rivera's...wow.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2236893

Yumcha

The amazing thing is, the Yanks have not yet thrown a bazillion dollars at someone yet...

Very peculiar.

GreenMonster

Not really... They only have to get a center fielder... They signed Matsui for left, and the only thing that really needs some tweeking is the pitching staff. Gordon hasn't been signed, so they probably need some middle relief. With Brown gone (and his 15M pay) they'll be looking for another starting pitcher to agument the younger guys they "discovered" last year...

With Johnson, Mussina, Pavano, Wright, Wang and Chacon, plus Small they don't look like they have that bad of a starting rotation (if they can stay healthy).

MattT516

A career setup man whose ERA last year was somewhere near 5 is better than one of the better closers of the past ten years? Sure, Mota was pretty good in the setup role for Eric Gagne with the Dodgers a few years back, but Billy Wagner has been considered by some people to be the second-best closer in baseball behind Mariano Rivera. I'd probably end up putting him in my top five, even now - when his fastball is working, he's a maniac. His career ERA is like 2.40, and he has almost 300 career saves. Guillermo Mota can't even shine his shoes.

And it's pretty safe to say that the Yankees will make a move when everyone least expects it. Then again, they did get one of the best players of our generation two years ago right before Spring Training was getting set to open. To be honest, I could see Johnny Damon in center field for them next year, and that would be a great pickup for them. They'd finally have a leadoff hitter that would allow Jeter to go back to the #2 hole. If Brian Cashman actually remembers how to run a ballclub, he'd realize that Damon is a good fit for them. He's a hell of a lot better than Brian Giles, considering what they need. I wouldn't count them out just yet, considering how obnoxious they've been in the past.

GreenMonster

^^ Johnny is great in the leadoff spot, but throws like a girl

GIBSON6594

There is still so much offseason to go

MattT516

He does throw like my 14-year-old cousin, but considering that they want to put the geriatric Bernie Williams or maybe even Brian Giles out there, who is a corner outfielder at best, Damon would still be regarded as a solid pickup for them. I did hear Johnny wants something in the vicinity of a 7-year deal, which is certainly outrageous.

Yumcha

Wagner's a Met...

============

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/5117698

Yumcha

Loaiza likely headed to the A's...

============

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/5117882

CL Platano

I don't want Damon for 7 yrs in NY ..hell no..The purpose of getting rid of Bernie is he can't throw out anyone with his shoulder. I think Damon would be great with that short porch in right field at Yankee Stadium but for 3 yrs tops..

CL Platano

The A's have to be one seriously dumb organization first letting Hudson go to the Braves and signing this fool..Nobody wants him and they sign him for 3 yrs..

Lister00169

In Beane we trust.

Letting Hudson go was a good decision since he was in line for a huge pay rise and his age was getting up there. The A's are a young club that is built on their farm system and scouting.

I am very suspicious about getting Loaiza since he had an off year, but if they do sign him (for less money I hope) and keep Zito, then the A's will have the best starting rotation in the majors

Zito, Harden, Haren, Blanton and Loaiza

GreenMonster

The yankees agree with you:

http://www.boston.com/sports/basebal...xtras/thebuzz/

"According to Newsday, the Yankees were discouraged by Damon's potential asking price of seven years, $84 million (Newsday did not cite any source for those numbers), but would be interested if the price tag comes into the range of four years, $44 million. "

The Sox offer:

"A well-placed industry source told the Boston Globe that the Red Sox made an initial offer to Johnny Damon on Wednesday. The numbers? It was in the neighborhood of $27 million to $30 million over three seasons, though it could include a fourth-year option or vesting option"

I can't see Damon getting more then 40M/4Y... like Varitek and Renteria

More on Johnny here:

http://www.boston.com/sports/basebal...th_10m_a_year/

If Bora (Damon's agent who also represents Varitek) draggs this out too long, the Sox might explore other options... Like Torii Hunter for pitcher Bronson Arroyo and/or Kevin Youkilis, in whom the Twins had some interest last season....

It's gonna get interesting, especially since the Mets/Manny rumors are still flying...

Always Dirty

I love heavy trading offseasons.

Lister00169

but it always worries me since Beane always entertains offers for current players (Zito)

GreenMonster

Manny might not be going anywhere, but you can buy his place at the Ritz Calton for $6.9M...

http://www.ritzcarltonpenthouse.com/

http://www.bradvisors.com/salesListi...ListingID=2321

CL Platano

The Yankees don't lack team chemistry what was missing last season was consistent pitching. It's also hard to keep real tight knit when your boss is George Steinbrenner but that's the price of wearing Yankee Pinstripes. The Yankees didn't do anything to worsen themselves so how they are not the front runners for the East that they have won since I think 98 I don't know. The Red Sox made moves to improve their staff but like most writers and Yankee fans know Beckett will only pitch a third of the season and Lowell needs atleast till the all star break to adjust to American League pitching.

GIBSON6594

Lowell is gonna need a lot more than time to put up his old numbers again

cough..steriods...cough