The 2009 Winter Meetings Thread

[Clem Fandango]

Figured since there's going to be a bunch of small rumors going on this week that might be discussion worthy, they all probably don't need their own thread. Here's a few interesting rumors thus far...

 

According to Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Cardinals may inquire about the Nationals' Adam Dunn if they are unable to retain free agent outfielder Matt Holliday.

Interestingly, Strauss writes that several within the organization privately rooted for the team to land Dunn over Holliday last summer. Dunn is owed $12 million in the final year of a two-year deal. The Nationals haven't acknowledged that they are seeking offers for Dunn, but they would almost certainly require pitching in return for the 30-year-old slugger.

 

 

 

Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times has heard that free agent outfielder Jason Bay will "stand on his head" to play for the Mariners.

Bay is from British Columbia, the Canadian province just north of Seattle, and would like to get closer to home. The M's have already expressed interest despite his lacking defense, so talks have the potential to run smoothly. That said, the Red Sox still have interest in bringing him back and could probably outbid the Mariners if they truly want to retain the outfielder.

[Sammy Sofa]

Dunn as a Cardinal would make my soul cry.

[Cubswin11]

Dunn as a Cardinal would make my soul cry.

Likewise, what do the Cardinals have left in the minors after pulling off the Holliday trade that would interest the Nationals?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Dunn as a Cardinal would make my soul cry.

Likewise, what do the Cardinals have left in the minors after pulling off the Holliday trade that would interest the Nationals?

 

Not much, I think BA said recently they ranked the Cardinals system 29th. Even then, Dunn and his horrific defense in LF would be a decided downgrade from Holliday or even Bay.

[Guest]

If they had the money for Dunn, why not just bring back Holliday?

[SouthSideRyan]

If they had the money for Dunn, why not just bring back Holliday?

 

Because Dunn will be cheaper and only a 1 year commitment.

[jersey cubs fan]

If they had the money for Dunn, why not just bring back Holliday?

 

Because Dunn is only owed $12m this season, whereas bringing back Holliday would require more money per year and many more years.

[Cubswin11]

If they had the money for Dunn, why not just bring back Holliday?

 

Because Dunn will be cheaper and only a 1 year commitment.

Yeah only 1 year left on his deal, so there is no long term commitment plus they could net a draft pick next year if he leaves to go somewhere else through FA.

[illiniguy]

The Nats should be shopping Adam, but there isn't anything in the Cards system they should want. Since they can't trade Miller or Stock until June.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Cardinals Nearing Deal With Brad Penny?

By Tim Dierkes [December 7 at 1:05pm CST]

1:05pm: Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch tweets that buzz says the Cardinals are "in heavy" on Penny. Strauss adds that the Cardinals denied anything final with Penny, though Baggarly didn't suggest a deal was done.

 

12:48pm: The Cardinals are nearing a deal with Brad Penny, tweets Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News. He says the Giants "don't expect to compete." Penny, 31, made 30 starts between the Red Sox and Giants this year, posting a 4.88 ERA, 5.7 K/9, and 2.6 BB/9. He's the hardest-throwing free agent starter, and would be interesting in St. Louis on a one-year deal.

 

Come on, lets get all the pixie dust/25 game winner/Cy Young talk out of the way.

[A-Cal]

i think the cardinals will regress this coming up season guys

 

unless they pull off some miraculous moves...

 

Brad Penny doesn't scare me, and he shouldn't scare any of you either

[XZero771679666304]

i think the cardinals will regress this coming up season guys

 

unless they pull off some miraculous moves...

 

Brad Penny doesn't scare me, and he shouldn't scare any of you either

 

Yeah, for a power pitcher that k/9 is decidedly mediocre, and he walks a lot of batters. Of course Dave Duncan will help, but I'm hardly concerned.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Edwin Jackson Rumors: Monday

By Tim Dierkes [December 7 at 1:54pm CST]

1:54pm: Cryptic tweet from Ed Price of AOL FanHouse: "Rumor that Mets acquire Jackson."

[PrimeTime]

Lou Piniella addressed the Cubs' needs, and a certain disgruntled outfielder ... OK, sort of addressed Milton Bradley: "We need a bat that can drive in some runs and our bullpen is very young. We need some experience. I think that's what [GM] Jim [Hendry] will concentrate on."

 

 

More Piniella: On his future..."I'm going to sign a 15-year extension and take pitchers out with a golf cart."

[Derwood]

Edwin Jackson Rumors: Monday

By Tim Dierkes [December 7 at 1:54pm CST]

1:54pm: Cryptic tweet from Ed Price of AOL FanHouse: "Rumor that Mets acquire Jackson."

 

Edwin, I assume

[Schwarber Fan]

Edwin Jackson Rumors: Monday

By Tim Dierkes [December 7 at 1:54pm CST]

1:54pm: Cryptic tweet from Ed Price of AOL FanHouse: "Rumor that Mets acquire Jackson."

 

Edwin, I assume

 

;)

[haubrich91]

And now a Mets official denies it.

[erik316wttn]

MLB.com is reporting that Dan Uggla is being shopped by Florida. Any chance at all of us landing him?

[PrimeTime]

Dont know if anyone posted this yet...

 

Making a pitch

 

Cubs and Royals meet to discuss a Milton Bradley-for-Gil Meche trade

 

December 7, 2009, 11:44 AM

 

INDIANAPOLIS -- Chicago Cubs and Kansas City Royals personnel got together on Sunday night and had peripheral conversations about possible trade scenarios that could work for the two clubs.

 

Milton Bradley would be the type of run producer Kansas City would be interested in, while Royals pitcher Gil Meche is someone they would consider trading.

 

K.C. is looking for a run-producing outfielder and Bradley could fit nicely with the small-market Royals.

 

Cubs general manager Jim Hendry will meet Monday with several teams he's been talking to over the last few months about Bradley. On the list are: Tampa, Texas and the New York Mets.

 

Both Cubs manager Lou Piniella and White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen will have 15-minute media sessions Monday afternoon.

[PrimeTime]

jcrasnick:

Mike Fontenot can probably be scratched from the list of non-tender candidates. It looks as if the Cubs will be offering him a contract.

[Little Slide Rooter]

jcrasnick:

Mike Fontenot can probably be scratched from the list of non-tender candidates. It looks as if the Cubs will be offering him a contract.

 

If this is the case, I imagine that we can bury the Luis Castillo rumors, unless they plan on using Fontneot as trade bait. With Theriot, Baker, Font, and Blanco, I cant imagine adding another middle infielder.

[erik316wttn]

jcrasnick:

Mike Fontenot can probably be scratched from the list of non-tender candidates. It looks as if the Cubs will be offering him a contract.

 

Whew. I was worried about that. It's ok that you let Harden walk, but you gotta lock up Little Babe Ruth for as long as you can. That dude is the backbone of this team!

[Sever82]

jcrasnick:

Mike Fontenot can probably be scratched from the list of non-tender candidates. It looks as if the Cubs will be offering him a contract.

 

If this is the case, I imagine that we can bury the Luis Castillo rumors, unless they plan on using Fontneot as trade bait. With Theriot, Baker, Font, and Blanco, I cant imagine adding another middle infielder.

 

From what i've read they were going to offer Fontenot a contract regardless, so i would imagine he might stay or go if the right trade presents itself.

[cubsfan26]

MLB.com is reporting that Dan Uggla is being shopped by Florida. Any chance at all of us landing him?

 

From everything I heard the Cubs have no interest in him. They don't like his defense at 2b I guess.

 

From what i've read they were going to offer Fontenot a contract regardless, so i would imagine he might stay or go if the right trade presents itself.

 

Yeah I don't think the Cubs planned to ever nontender him. I think if they do get another 2b they will trade Fontenot. But if they don't we will see a Fontenot/Baker platoon next season at 2b. The Cubs don't really know what they can do yet until the Bradley trade is done. Then after that they will focus on CF, and adding the best player they can there. So unless they get a 2b in a deal for Bradley, they probably won't focus much on that postion. Unless later in the offseason there's some guys still on the market that they could get at a bargin price.

Edited December 7, 2009 by cubsfan26

[Sammy Sofa]

jcrasnick:

Mike Fontenot can probably be scratched from the list of non-tender candidates. It looks as if the Cubs will be offering him a contract.

 

Whew. I was worried about that. It's ok that you let Harden walk, but you gotta lock up Little Babe Ruth for as long as you can. That dude is the backbone of this team!

 

While letting Harden go was pretty dumb unless his arm was about to shatter, you can't really compare signing Fontenot to signing Harden. Even just with arbitration Harden would be making a lot more.