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[Sanjuro]

Yankees and Hideki Okajima agree to a minor league deal with an invite to spring training.

...but will he have his theme song?


A-Rod is trying to get the Kobe Bryant cyborg knee treatment. Rival or not, I want to see him productive.

 

[Doytch]

...but will he have his theme song?


A-Rod is trying to get the Kobe Bryant cyborg knee treatment. Rival or not, I want to see him productive.

Bubububu...STEROIDS!

 

[Joe Shlabotnik]

As a Mets fan I'm torn. On one hand maybe our #1 starter may find, in a moment of Zen, a way to get past the 5th inning, but on the other I what am i going to do with the indian bridesmaids in my basement what to do.

Kilimanjaro rarely resulting in deaths is irrelevant, anyway. Does anyone think Mets history can actually avoid the footnote "once lost a pitcher who died climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro"?

 

[verbum]

Interesting article on a potential middle relief guy for the Braves. Not much money spent and a chance to get a nice return on the investment.

During the next several weeks we'll be presenting reviews of the lesser known players who will be in Atlanta Braves spring training camp in 2012: the non-roster invitees, or NRIs. We'll look at their career path to this point, and see what kind of chance they have of making the Braves opening day roster.

First up is one of the more intriguing bullpen options for the Braves, reliever Jason Rice. Selected by the White Sox in the eleventh round of the 2005 draft out of a California community college where he was primarily a catcher, Chicago converted him to a pitcher, but he went largely unnoticed for much of his early minor league career. He was drafted in the minor league phase of Rule 5 draft by the Red Sox in 2008. Boston moved him to a full-time relief role, and let him close games quite a bit between double-A and triple-A in 2010 and 2011.

At the end of last season it got a little weird for Rice, as he went through four organizations in the span of several months. The Red Sox swapped him in an August 31st waiver trade with the A's for corner utility guy Conor Jackson. Rice was called up to the Majors with the A's the very next day, but didn't appear in a game before Oakland tried to sneak him through waivers, only to lose him to the Indians five days later. Of course, either team could have claimed Rice when the Red Sox put him on waivers in September. The Indians didn't keep Rice in the Majors, optioning him to triple-A, then designating him for assignment after the season. He opted to become a free agent. That's when the Braves signed him in mid-November....

In addition to a solid mid-90s four-seam fastball, Rice mixes in a good two-seam fastball and cutter and a low-70s curve ball for show. He works mainly off his fastball, and brings an aggressive approach on the mound -- he wants the ball when the game is on the line.

A player to keep track of and see if he can pan out in MLB.
http://www.talkingchop.com/2011/12/26/2661677/braves-nri-in-depth-jason-rice#comments

 

[vas_a_morir]

It sounds like the Brewers aren't terribly serious about signing the Japanese outfielder whose name currently escapes me.

Aoki is probably going to start declining more in the coming years, as is no spring chicken, anyway.

What is the news on Braun? I haven't heard anything since the rabblerabble of the first few days.

 

[The Frankman]

I see trollisay is still tempting the Mother of all kHarma hits for his Yankees.

 

[Mr. Enigma]

Some reports saying the Giants offered Tim Lincecum a 5-year, $100 million extension and were declined.

 

[darkside31337]

Some reports saying the Giants offered Tim Lincecum a 5-year, $100 million extension and were declined.

Wouldn't blame him at all. Look at their last two offseasons. Why would anybody want to commit to 5 more years of that? Just utterly pathetic.

 

[ToxicAdam]

Kind of cheap on SF's part not to offer a 6th or 7th year.

 

[Dmncnby2k9]

Beltran called the Yanks allowing them to match the Cards offer so he can join them. They said no thank you. Second time Beltran has done this. Before signing with the Mets, he told Yanks he would sign for less money to play with them. 0-2!

 

[darkside31337]

Beltran called the Yanks allowing them to match the Cards offer so he can join them. They said no thank you. Second time Beltran has done this. Before signing with the Mets, he told Yanks he would sign for less money to play with them. 0-2!

Are the Yankees seriously that broke? Why would they say no? Personally I think Beltran signed the most team friendly deal any FA signed this offseason.

 

[darkside31337]

Andrew Bailey to the Red Sox. Reddick involved going the other way among others.

 

[mYm|17|]

shiiiet f'n Bailey

So is Bard going to be a starter now?

 

[Sanjuro]

Reddiculous. We get Bailey and Ryan Sweeney.

 

[darkside31337]

Oakland also gets Miles Head, 20-year-old 3B, and Raul Alcantera, 19-year-old pitcher. (via Buster)


Bailey + Sweeney for Reddick + Head + Alcantera

 

[h3ro]

Experimental procedure? In Germany?

Yes please.

 

[Mr. Enigma]

RED SOX GET:
-- P Andrew Bailey
-- OF Ryan Sweeney

ATHLETICS GET:
-- P Raul Alcantera
-- 3B Miles Head
-- OF Drew Reddick

 

[JABEE]

What options does Madson have left?

 

[Rafa=FedKilla]

Hope these guys are good by the time the stadium opens in San Jose or the move to Montreal.

 

[The Frankman]

That's a pretty good deal for both sides.

EDIT: AHAHAHAHHHAHAHA Scott Boras called Peter Gammons "delusional".

 

[Malo]

Are the Yankees seriously that broke? Why would they say no? Personally I think Beltran signed the most team friendly deal any FA signed this offseason.

There is no position for him on the team unless they trade Swisher.

I like the Bailey trade for both teams.

 

[Drek]

RED SOX GET:
-- P Andrew Bailey
-- OF Ryan Sweeney

ATHLETICS GET:
-- P Raul Alcantera
-- 3B Miles Head
-- OF Drew Reddick

Miles Head will never play 3B at even a high minors level. 1B/DH type all the way.

 

[ToxicAdam]

ProductiveOuts: Shout out to Brad Pitt for keeping the hot stove hot! And for writing that book that Joe Morgan hates.

heh

 

[The Frankman]

There is no position for him on the team unless they trade Swisher.

And?

No really, AND?

 

[h3ro]

And?

No really, AND?

They didn't like that thing that's growing in front of his ear.

 

[The Frankman]

I would've thought they'd like it more than regular Swisher douche face:

 

[Doytch]

Joe Sheehan mentioned something interesting on the fan 590 yesterday: three years for fielder would be retarded, but why not take a one year deal? Take $28-30 for one year, and go back to FA in his prime, with more teams looking for a 1b.

Honestly though, never underestimate Boras. I saw an article today calling Madson a FA loser and how one team will get a bargain with him....uhhh, no, not seeing it.

 

[BFIB]

I could see Fielder taking a one year deal.

Apparently, he had Matt Holliday ready to take the same type of deal, a one year deal, that got him back on the market. Eventually, he decided against it (I'm sure his wife had a say), and they quickly worked out a deal with St. Louis.

 

[Windu]

i would think it would have to be something like 1y 30+ with a ntc, It would definitely have to break the record for a yearly salary to provide that ego boost etc.. Arod was paid 33 mil in 2010.

 

[h3ro]

I would've thought they'd like it more than regular Swisher douche face:

Na. Douche face tracks really well with our Right field fan demographic.

 

[Mr. Enigma]

Type A & B Free Agents still available:

Type A
-- P Francisco Cordero
-- 1B Prince Fielder
-- P Ryan Madson
-- P Darren Oliver
-- P Roy Oswalt

Type B
-- 3B Wilson Betemit
-- OF Pat Burrell
-- P Shawn Camp
-- DH Vladimir Guerrero
-- OF Raul Ibanez
-- P Edwin Jackson
-- P Hiroki Kuroda
-- 1B Derrek Lee
-- P Brad Lidge
-- OF Ryan Ludwick
-- OF Magglio Ordonez
-- 1B Carlos Pena
-- OF Juan Pierre
-- P Arthur Rhodes
-- OF Cody Ross
-- C Chris Snyder
-- C Jason Varitek
-- P Dan Wheeler
-- P Kerry Wood

 

[Mr. Enigma]

As we still wait for a historic contract to be finalized, one thing is for certain: Albert Pujols will be back on the Cardinals payroll in 2020.

And he'll still be on the Cardinals payroll on his 49th birthday.

In the 2020 season, Pujols will be 40 years old and in the 9th year of his 10-year, $254 million deal with the Angels.

Pujols' previous 8-year, $116 million deal with the Cardinals called for $3 million of his yearly salary from 2007-2011 to be deferred without interest.

Pujols will be paid $1.2 million a year by the Cardinals from 2020 through 2029.

.

 

[yankeeforever2]

.

Deferred money without interest in no big deal, if they did it right they should make plenty of money off that interest by the time that is due.

Unless they invested with Madoff.

 

[Carlbeego]

Pujols turns 49 next year.

 

[sf2fanatic]

Type A & B Free Agents still available:

Type A
-- P Francisco Cordero
-- 1B Prince Fielder
-- P Ryan Madson
-- P Darren Oliver
-- P Roy Oswalt

Type B
-- 3B Wilson Betemit
-- OF Pat Burrell
-- P Shawn Camp
-- DH Vladimir Guerrero
-- OF Raul Ibanez
-- P Edwin Jackson
-- P Hiroki Kuroda
-- 1B Derrek Lee
-- P Brad Lidge
-- OF Ryan Ludwick
-- OF Magglio Ordonez
-- 1B Carlos Pena
-- OF Juan Pierre
-- P Arthur Rhodes
-- OF Cody Ross
-- C Chris Snyder
-- C Jason Varitek
-- P Dan Wheeler
-- P Kerry Wood

I'll take D Lee for a discount. Better power than Loney...

 

[The Frankman]

Type A & B Free Agents still available:

Type B
-- P Edwin Jackson
-- P Dan Wheeler

Seriously think about Wheeler. Jackson, eh. Wheeler is still a groundball machine out of the pen and a workhorse.

 

[Windu]

yeah i bet wheeler could be had for a little cheaper because of the ERA he posted with the Red Sox. His SEIRA was a full run lower than his ERA last season, in line with his seasons with the Rays, good reliever. The Mets would have to give up a pick though, not sure how Sandy would feel about that. And its not like the Mets are going to compete so they would trade him at the deadline. So you need to get at least the value of a draft pick back for him for the deal to make sense.

I'll take D Lee for a discount. Better power than Loney...

similar players and lee probably can't play for a full season. Plus you have to give up a pick for him. Sounds like a move the dodgers would make.

 

[Fenix]

Uh, don't you only give up picks for the remaining Type A's?

 

[Windu]

Uh, don't you only give up picks for the remaining Type A's?

i was under the impression that had not started yet.

 

[Dmncnby2k9]

I feel like Carlos Pena makes a lot of sense for Brewers. Power guy who can paick it at first. Replace some of the HRs lost by Prince leaving. They should talk to the Natinals for Todd Coffey to replace the weight.

 

[Fenix]

i was under the impression that had not started yet.

I think it has, there was discussion that Kelly Johnson was less likely to accept arbitration after the new CBA since the signing team would not have to give up a pick, but then he accepted anyways.

 

[Windu]

b. Draft Pick Compensation

1. Starting in 2012, “Type A” and “Type B” free agents and the use of the Elias ranking
system will be eliminated.

http://bizofbaseball.com/index.php?...r-labor-agreement&catid=30:mlb-news&Itemid=42

that is what the cba apparently said, not sure if that means at the start of the year though. But there was that thing with everyone laughing at the phillies for signing papelbon early though, so maybe it has started.

 

[Corran Horn]

I'll take D Lee for a discount. Better power than Loney...

Quick. Someone pickup the machine!

 

[The Frankman]

that is what the cba apparently said, not sure if that means at the start of the year though. But there was that thing with everyone laughing at the phillies for signing papelbon early though, so maybe it has started.

Some people had been pushed into the new CBA, some haven't. I didn't think Wheeler had been.

 

[RBH]

It has not taken baseball star Alex Rodriguez long to get over his split from movie star Cameron Diaz.

The 36-year-old slugger is now believed to be getting to grips with former WWE star Torrie Wilson.

A woman who appeared to be the blonde grappler was spotted holidaying with Rodriguez as he spent time with his friend George Clooney in Cabo San Lucas in Mexico.

George's girlfriend Stacy Keibler and Torrie, 36 are best friends, so it makes sense the foursome would hook-up for some Christmas holidays fun.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbi...WWE-star-Torrie-Wilson.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

 

[Fenix]

:jnc

 

[Rafa=FedKilla]

A-Rod and Torrie??? That'z crazy brahs.

 

[Malo]

A-Rod sure has a thing for washed up blonde female celebrities.

 

[Mr. Enigma]

Yeah, that picture clearly shows it's Torrie Wilson. Pony tails are so recognizable.

 

[Dmncnby2k9]

Yeah, that picture clearly shows it's Torrie Wilson. Pony tails are so recognizable.

It's Torrie Wilson specific.