Hot Stove Transactions

MakMan44

stole corsi's dream
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Aug 22, 2009
19,363
I think I read the Balfour wanted 3 years from the A's and Beane wasn't willing to add the 3rd year. 
 
Yeah, Balfour wanted 3 years but it wasn't A's specific, I guess Beane just didn't want to wait and jumped early. 
 

JohntheBaptist

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Jul 13, 2005
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Rough Carrigan said:
There's always the possibility that Beane and the A's know things about Balfour that don't show up in his stats.  Maybe he's got a slightly dodgy shoulder or elbow etc etc.
He's also kind of known for being a bit of a... hothead?  Right?  Maybe he's just a total chore to be around and they were only going to sign him on their terms?
 
But yeah absent that stuff it seems like a weird series of moves.
 

Minneapolis Millers

Wants you to please think of the Twins fans!
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Jul 15, 2005
4,753
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Yes, we never know all the stuff that might be going on behind the scenes, but shelling out big money for Johnson, even for just one year, was an anti-Beane move.  I'd have expected him to grab Mujica, or Axford, or make the deal for H.Bell, etc.  Trading for Johnson and passing on Balfour who ended up costing much less per year suggests that Beane thought the extra money teams have was going to get poured at least in part into closers. 
 
And that would have been a reasonable expectation, given what many of the set up guys (like Boone freaking Logan) are getting.  It's been an odd off-season, spending-wise.
 

nattysez

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Sep 30, 2010
8,436

soxhop411

news aggravator
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Dec 4, 2009
46,278
Chris Cotillo ‏@ChrisCotillo 6m
According to sources, the #Rays are acquiring Logan Forsythe from the #Padres in a 4-player trade: http://sbn.to/1ap6mBH 
 
The Tampa Bay Rays have acquired Logan Forsythe from the San Diego Padres in a four-player trade, according to a league source. Alex Torres is likely headed to San Diego in the deal, and each team seems set to receive an additional prospect.
 
The trade is likely to be announced on Friday, according to league sources with knowledge of the situation.
 
As we reported yesterday, the Padres had received calls from "a number of teams" who were interested in acquiring the versatile Forsythe. Jon Morosi of FOXSports.com noted that the Yankees were a realistic destination for him before the Rays became aggressive in recent days.
 
In 75 games in 2013, Forsythe hit .214 with 6 HR and 19 RBI in his third major league season. . The 27-year old appeared at five positions—third base, shortstop, second base, left field, and right field—for the Padres last year and will likely serve as a super-utility player for Tampa next year. He is a lifetime .241 hitter with 12 HR and 57 RBI in 228 career games.
 
Torres, seems likely to be headed to the Padres, who have been pursuing left-handed relief help in recent weeks. The 26-year old was 4-2 with a 1.71 ERA in 58 innings with the Rays last season, and will join a Padres bullpen that already added Joaquin Benoit earlier in the offseason.
 

Lose Remerswaal

Experiencing Furry Panic
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Unless the prospect the Rays are getting is much better than the one they are giving up, I just don't understand this.  Torres scared me coming out of the pen, Forsythe strikes me as being a very poor man's Ben Zobrist
 

Hendu for Kutch

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Apr 7, 2006
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Forsythe might make some sense as a platoon player in LF with the ability to back up all around the infield as a bonus.  With DeJesus and Joyce the current LF/DH options, they're very exposed by lefties, and Forsythe has a career .290/.363/.430 (124 wRC+) line against LHP.
 
And we all know Joe Maddon loves him some infielders who can play outfield.
 

soxhop411

news aggravator
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Dec 4, 2009
46,278
“@TBTimes_Rays: #Rays will make "a significant baseball-related announcement" today. Sternberg, Silverman, Maddon will be there. Don't know any more yet.”


Price extension? New stadium?
https://twitter.com/TBTimes_Rays/status/426395290283679744
 

soxhop411

news aggravator
SoSH Member
Dec 4, 2009
46,278
“@ChrisCotillo: #Rays say they will make a "significant baseball-related announcement" today. One lg source believes it is likely transaction news.”

https://twitter.com/ChrisCotillo/status/426403541532426240
 

VORP Speed

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Apr 23, 2010
6,633
Ground Zero
Does Balfour count as a significant baseball announcement? I mean, that's a nice deal and good to have him back but that would be underwhelming as surprise press conference material.
 

Rough Carrigan

reasons within Reason
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rundugrun said:
At Balfour's press conference, he winced as he tried to put on the Rays jersey. It sure seemed like there is some pain in that right arm or shoulder
I don't want Balfour to be terrific for the Rays but I would certainly like for him to make asbestos Pete Angelos look like a stupid asshole. 
 

Rasputin

Will outlive SeanBerry
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Rough Carrigan said:
I don't want Balfour to be terrific for the Rays but I would certainly like for him to make asbestos Pete Angelos look like a stupid asshole. 
 
Doesn't Angelos generally do a pretty good job of that himself?
 

mabrowndog

Ask me about total zone...or paint
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After a decade in the Brewers system, injury-riddled RHSP Mark Rogers, pride of Mount Ararat HS and the only high school player from Maine ever drafted in the first round (#5 overall in 2004), signs a minor league deal with the Mariners.
 
He pitched in Venezuela this winter, but it didn't go too well. He debuted Nov 24 with a 4-BB, 3-ER inning, and followed it up on Dec 1 with 3 ER on 2 H, 2 BB & 3 K over 2.2 IP. Those were his only two outings. Not sure what Seattle's seeing here.
 

dynomite

Member
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LogansDad said:
I have to say I'm a bit surprised that he's officially retiring.

He's only 37, and last year played in 147 games, putting up a 102 OPS+ and a .335 OBP (his 2nd best since 2009).

Obviously there are many, many factors that determine a decision to retire, but it seemed like he was still a viable hitter who could have found a role, perhaps as a part-time DH and infield sub on an AL team.
 

mabrowndog

Ask me about total zone...or paint
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The Royals have DFA'd Emilio Bonifacio.
 
IMO he'd be an ideal utility man for the Sox, especially if Jonathan Herrera's legal troubles become an issue. Switch hitter, good eye at the plate, tremendous speed, plays 2B, 3B, SS, and all three OF spots. The only drawback is a $3.5M salary in his final arb year.
 
You've got more trade chips than anyone in the majors, Ben. Claim him, work out a deal, and cut Brock Holt loose.
 

JimBoSox9

will you be my friend?
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Nov 1, 2005
16,667
Mid-surburbia
dynomite said:
I have to say I'm a bit surprised that he's officially retiring.

He's only 37, and last year played in 147 games, putting up a 102 OPS+ and a .335 OBP (his 2nd best since 2009).

Obviously there are many, many factors that determine a decision to retire, but it seemed like he was still a viable hitter who could have found a role, perhaps as a part-time DH and infield sub on an AL team.
 
Check out his retirement PC, pretty emphatically talks about his kids being the motivating factor.
 

glennhoffmania

meat puppet
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Jul 25, 2005
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I agree. He'd be a great fit. Covers almost every position, ideal pinch runner, and can hit a little bit. I think he's a plus defender as well.

Responding to Dog.
 

Wingack

Yankee Mod
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Jul 14, 2005
34,372
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mabrowndog said:
The Royals have DFA'd Emilio Bonifacio.
 
IMO he'd be an ideal utility man for the Sox, especially if Jonathan Herrera's legal troubles become an issue. Switch hitter, good eye at the plate, tremendous speed, plays 2B, 3B, SS, and all three OF spots. The only drawback is a $3.5M salary in his final arb year.
 
You've got more trade chips than anyone in the majors, Ben. Claim him, work out a deal, and cut Brock Holt loose.
Could be a nice option at second base for the Yankees.
 

mabrowndog

Ask me about total zone...or paint
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Wingack said:
Could be a nice option at second base for the Yankees.
 
He'd be a nice starting option for a lot of teams. And therein lies the rub for the Sox. I's not really a matter of whether they can give KC the best return. It's how much are they willing to give up for a projected part-timer making $3.5M and entering his walk year with no draft pick compensation forthcoming next winter? Other teams will likely place a higher value on him.
 
Yet with Boston's potential fragility at multiple positions, he could easily get 300 PA with the Sox, and I believe his production and flexibility would be worth the expenditure.
 

E5 Yaz

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KC's 40-man construction has to be either dreadful or brimming with talent to make him the sacrificial lamb for Bruce Chen
 

mabrowndog

Ask me about total zone...or paint
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E5 Yaz said:
KC's 40-man construction has to be either dreadful or brimming with talent to make him the sacrificial lamb for Bruce Chen
 
I think this tweet nails it, both in the diagnosis and his opinion:
 

Rany Jazayerli ‏@jazayerli 1h
By DFA'ing Emilio Bonifacio, the Royals are sending a giant signal that their payroll is tapped out. At $89 million. Which is unacceptable.
 
 

How else can one justify a move that renders Pedro Ciriaco their de facto utility infielder?
 

Mighty Joe Young

The North remembers
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Sep 14, 2002
8,402
Halifax, Nova Scotia , Canada
mabrowndog said:
He'd be a nice starting option for a lot of teams. And therein lies the rub for the Sox. I's not really a matter of whether they can give KC the best return. It's how much are they willing to give up for a projected part-timer making $3.5M and entering his walk year with no draft pick compensation forthcoming next winter? Other teams will likely place a higher value on him.
 
Yet with Boston's potential fragility at multiple positions, he could easily get 300 PA with the Sox, and I believe his production and flexibility would be worth the expenditure.
Having watched him play quite a bit for the Blue Jays last year I couldn't disagree more. The only position he can play adequately is outfield. He was a terrible at 2B and there were never any suggestions he could play 3rd or SS. This despite Toronto having a real need with Lawrie and Reyes out for extended periods. He's one of those guys that look good from a distance (in some other city) but closer examination reveals him to be a pretty poor baseball player. If he was a FA I wouldn't have any interest - let alone giving up talent to acquire him.