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?...s_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/2011/1...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/2011/1...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/s...85112550322176

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/2011/1...ins-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.