Off-season free agency/trades/winter meetings thread

[Igoe4Mariners]

Going to go ahead and start this thread for other teams since the off-season starts after tonight's game ends!

[Mariners51]

Pujols is meeting with the Marlins

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20111110&content_id=25953596&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb

[Nateyb24]

The Phillies have agreed to sign Jonathan Papelbon, according to Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com (on Twitter). The deal is pending a physical. The Phillies appeared to have a deal with Ryan Madson earlier this week, but talks fell through and the sides didn't complete the rumored four-year, $44MM deal.

Papelbon, 30, posted a 2.94 ERA with 12.2 K/9 and 1.4 BB/9 in 64 1/3 innings for the Red Sox in 2011, saving 31 games. He's a Type A free agent who will cost the Phillies their first round pick in 2012. If the Phillies lose Madson to another team after offering him arbitration, they'll lose one pick and gain two.


1:42pm: The sides have agreed to a four-year deal that approaches $50MM in value, according to Salisbury (on Twitter).

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2011/11/phillies-to-sign-jonathan-papelbon-.html

[JosephC]

Wow, that's a pretty large contract for a closer. I'm guessing that's second highest to mariano river's contract in the majors for a closer.

[Igoe4Mariners]

Papelbon = overrated

[Nateyb24]

Yea, I think he was over payed.

[Nateyb24]

Dodgers fans are looking forward to new ownership next season, and now they have certainty about their cornerstone center fielder. The Dodgers and Matt Kemp agreed to an eight-year, $160MM extension today, which ties for the seventh-richest contract in MLB history. It sounds like the deal includes a full no-trade clause, tweets SI's Jon Heyman.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2011/11/kemp-dodgers-agree-to-eight-year-extension.html


#mariners are hoping to be in on prince (but not pujols). Unsure if there's room in budget tho. But will give it a run.

http://twitter.com/#!/SI_JonHeyman/statuses/136185112550322176

Would be nice to land a legitimate bat like Prince who is still very young guys like that just don't hit the FA market and we wouldn't have to give up our 1st round pick if we did land him since we have a protected pick.

[Nateyb24]

The Chone Figgins' signing has been nothing short of a disaster for the Mariners, which is why the team is willing to include cash in any trade involving the infielder according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. There isn't much interest right now, but Morosi says the Mariners view the Reds, Giants, and Tigers as possible trade fits.

Figgins, 33 in January, has hit just .236/.309/.285 with 53 steals in 74 chances during his two years in Seattle. He can play second and third bases, and has also filled in at left field in recent years. There are still two years and $17MM left on his contract, and a $9MM option for 2014 will vest with 600 plate appearances in 2013. It's not unreasonable to think the Mariners will have to eat upwards of $15MM to move Figgins.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2011/11/mariners-willing-to-including-cash-in-figgins-trade.html

[megamariner]

For some reason I'm not in the Figgins must be gone next year boat. If we are going to be paying most of his salary, I'd rather have his speed and "ability" to play multiple positions available to us. I know I'm one of the few, but that's my take.

I wouldn't rather have Carlos Zambrano, as someone tweeted today. Zito, meh, rather see what we have in a young pitcher. Otherwise, throw in most his salary, get marginal talent elsewhere.

[Nateyb24]

For some reason I'm not in the Figgins must be gone next year boat. If we are going to be paying most of his salary, I'd rather have his speed and "ability" to play multiple positions available to us. I know I'm one of the few, but that's my take.

I wouldn't rather have Carlos Zambrano, as someone tweeted today. Zito, meh, rather see what we have in a young pitcher. Otherwise, throw in most his salary, get marginal talent elsewhere.

If there willing to eat most of the contract to get a player back for Figgins i bet there on the verge of just cutting him.

[MontanaMariner]

Trade Figgins for a pack of nabs, please.

[Mariners51]

So they got Kemp totally locked up. Dang I was looking at making a run at the CF next offseason.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20111118&content_id=26002524&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb

[megamariner]

Next years FA crop is not looking so hot...

[Mariners51]

Rangers sign Joe Nathan and plan to move Feliz to the rotation. Interesting

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20111121&content_id=26022352&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb

[megamariner]

If Nathan pans out the deal will have some value. But I don't know if I see that. Seems he'll turn into an expansive older later inning relief pitcher to me. We'll see. Either way, its 7 million or so the Rangers don't have to spend anymore.

Feliz to the rotation is interesting. More so to me right now from a fantasy baseball aspect, but I am sure as the season draws closer, it will hit in a real baseball way also. ha

[Igoe4Mariners]

If Nathan pans out the deal will have some value. But I don't know if I see that. Seems he'll turn into an expansive older later inning relief pitcher to me. We'll see. Either way, its 7 million or so the Rangers don't have to spend anymore.

Feliz to the rotation is interesting. More so to me right now from a fantasy baseball aspect, but I am sure as the season draws closer, it will hit in a real baseball way also. ha

Yeah, that is risky. Nathan did not look so great last year.

[JosephC]

He's one cool dude though, definitely a plus as far as clubhouse chemistry is concerned.

[Igoe4Mariners]

Another possibility off the table.


On Wednesday, the Indians announced that they re-signed Sizemore to a one-year contract, giving the oft-injured center fielder another chance to be the stellar talent Cleveland has seen in the past. If there is any chance of him being that player again, the Tribe wanted to be the team reaping the rewards.

Link (http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20111123&content_id=26032234&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb)

[Nateyb24]

Yea its starting to get slim thought we might have a chance to get Sizemore Willingham is still out there though.

[Igoe4Mariners]

Reyes signed by Marlins (http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20111204&content_id=26090230&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb)

[MarinersAreTheBest]

Reyes signed by Marlins (http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20111204&content_id=26090230&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb)

First Bell, then Reyes. Now they are going after Pujols hard!

[MontanaMariner]

Pujols offered a 10 year deal!

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20111205&content_id=26096172&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb

[Mariners51]

The Marlins have now signed Buerhle and are still going after CJ Wilson.

Since when did they turn into the New York Yankees?

[Felix = Cy Young]

With the Marlins out of the running after signing Buerhle, one has to think Pujols WILL return to STL. I've heard the Angels are in on the mix, but I just don't see them ponying up such a contract. I'm just ready for the Pujols deal to be done so the Prince Fielder market can really start to get going and the M's can find out if they sincerely are legit contenders for the big man or not.

[Felix = Cy Young]

Cahill traded to the DBacks. Thank God we don't have to face that guy anymore!

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20111209&content_id=26140316&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb