Clem Fandango

Fine, they can take Soriano

This is pretty hilarious http://www.jest.com/video/46873/too-much-moneyball

http://espn.go.com/boston/mlb/story/_/id/7052621/source-says-50-50-theo-epstein-leave-boston-red-sox

You're right, he is massively overpaid for what he provides, but if the Marlins are getting him at a premium where he's massively underpaid for what he provides with the Cubs on the hook for the rest then they deserve something better than a few fringe prospects for him. If they traded away two of their Top 10 prospects for a nuisance manager, then surely they'd be able to give up something of more value for a nuisance pitcher who, despite the drop in ability, can still prove to be useful and valuable if you're not paying a whole heck of a lot for him. If we traded Z and his $18 million contract to the Marlins I would maybe expect to get a bucket of sunflower seeds for him. If we're trading him and, for arguments sake, kicking in $16 million of the $18 million he's owed, the Cubs should be getting at least one player/prospect of significant value. Realistically Logan Morrison shouldn't be an option, but his clash with ownership might make him attainable in such a deal, and if the Marlins are dumb enough to do that then the Cubs should take advantage of it. If he's not available in this deal, then they should be able to net someone else of value in a more realistic scenario

If we're paying the vast majority of Z's contract, we damn well better be getting Logan Morrison in return at a minimum.

I'm fairly certain I've never been this excited for a baseball season to be over with ever.

I'm still baffled why he assumed Aramis' option didn't vest if he was traded and continually spewed out that false nonsense convincing people it was true. Since last season Marshall has turned into one of the premier setup/middle relief guys in the entire game. He's worth keeping around, and I'm glad he found his niche while still a member of this team.

The Red Sox probably coveted Carl Crawford before the FA period began. The reason they likely signed him for that much is because the [expletive] Nationals set the bar ridiculously high by signing Jayson Werth to that stupid [expletive] contract, thus making Crawford's asking price legitimate and justifiable.

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=espn:7034308 In this video Olney says...

He's been far greater than his numbers indicate. He's had some seriously bad luck (.331 BABIP, 2nd highest in the majors), but he's got a 3.53 FIP and 3.55 xFIP and a 3.4 WAR (according to FranGraphs) and if you care to put stock into their "Dollars" metric, he's been worth $15.5 million this year, but it sounds like the Marlins are souring on him because of his traditional numbers being so pedestrian. Seems like this has been his issue for the last 3 years: 2009: 5.06 ERA // .317 BABIP // 3.35 FIP // 3.23 xFIP // 4.3 WAR // $19.2m Dollars 2010: 4.51 ERA // .316 BABIP // 3.86 FIP // 3.37 xFIP // 2.5 WAR // $9.9m Dollars 2011: 4.67 ERA // .331 BABIP // 3.53 FIP // 3.55 xFIP // 3.4 WAR // $15.5m Dollars Sounds like he's the victim of some terrible defense, might be a good person to try and swindle if they're seriously tired of his performance. Maybe attempt some sort of package surrounding Zambrano? He's currently signed through 2013 and stands to make $9M next season and $11.5M in 2013 At what point do you look at the BABIP numbers and say and wonder if it's not really bad luck, but merely getting hit hard because his stuff is in decline? He's had injuries, and the strikout rate really plummeted this year. Touché, but the BABIP is more or less just a justifiable stat that compliments what his FIP, xFIP, and WAR says: That he's been far better than advertised. Isn't BABIP basically baked into those other stats so assuming a higher natural BABIP in them would crash his scores in them? If it is, I was unaware. I'm not the world's greatest sabermetrician 8-[

I think Peavy could have been predicted and I thought I remember people on our board not wanting him due to arm issues. Could be wrong though. Dunn's collapse seemed more stunning though. Well... the major injury Peavy sustained with the Sox was that his latissimus dorsi muscle completely detached itself from bone... which sounds like the most horrifyingly painful injury in sports history... and also completely unrelated to his elbow or shoulder. Not to mention the other injury he sustained this year was a groin injury, IIRC. In 2009 he had a heel injury. He hasn't had any sort of elbow or shoulder issues since 2008 when he was diagnosed with a sore elbow and hit the DL for that, but he still pitched extremely well before and after he came off the DL then. His arm is probably fine

To be fair, I don't think anyone saw the Dunn and Peavy moves turning out this catastrophic at the time they were made

http://espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/story/_/id/7028479/chicago-white-sox-gm-kenny-williams-says-was-willing-step-down Somewhat related...

Too many connections? Time to hike up advertising rates!

soriano hit reed johnson with a chair, but then he took off his mask and it was CARLOS ZAMBRANO ALL ALONG =D>

This. This guy thinks he can just come back after two months of no playing and just put up a decent enough game to keep them in contention? By all means, please do... but that's ridiculous

I've been getting these fairly consistently. Especially today. Reloading helps, but often times it'l come right back with the next click. I've seen it probably close to 20 times tonight

Sweet Lou for Randy Winn

As the only Ace-quality starter in this year's FA class (pending a C.C. opt out), Wilson has a truck load of leverage in his favor to bring in a big payday. I'm expecting at least $16M a year, 5 years tops, probably 4 more likely. Granted that's just my opinion

That's not a financial burden to this team, with or without a $30M Pujols.

Well put, sir.

And the previous two Randy Wells seasons where he put up roughly 6.5 WAR? now insignificant? The Cubs right now have 3 guys who profile as 3-4 types with Wells, Dempster, and Z. I don't see the point of picking up another one. While that rotation would be pretty damn good, it's not dominant. I say look to add Wilson and prep for the 2013 and 2014 pitching FAs. Randy Wells WAR the last 3 years: 6.6 Ricky Nolasco's WAR the last 3 years: 10.2 I'm not sure why you're so opposed to going after Nolasco. If he's fallen out of favor with the Marlins he's probably as good as any other pitcher on the trading block to acquire for a team that needs a jolt to its pitching staff

They're not gonna trade Hanley, that's just silly. The Marlins, while cost conscious, have been rumored to be going after a big name this offseason. Not to mention that Hanley is the face of that franchise and was signed to a long term deal not long ago. He's had a rough season, yeah, but he's not a lost cause they're willing to give up on. He's one of the most talented hitters in the majors. And to start, there's no way on Earth they trade Morrison and Nolasco for Colvin, Z, and cash. They may want to get rid of Morrison, but that is a swindling that even they should be able to recognize is a raw deal. Trying to include Morrison isn't a bad idea, but it will take more than that I'm sure. With Brett Jackson coming up, it might make sense to toss Byrd at them and see if they bite and then they can move Coghlan back to 2B where his natural position is with Infante's contract coming to a close, perhaps?

He's been far greater than his numbers indicate. He's had some seriously bad luck (.331 BABIP, 2nd highest in the majors), but he's got a 3.53 FIP and 3.55 xFIP and a 3.4 WAR (according to FranGraphs) and if you care to put stock into their "Dollars" metric, he's been worth $15.5 million this year, but it sounds like the Marlins are souring on him because of his traditional numbers being so pedestrian. Seems like this has been his issue for the last 3 years: 2009: 5.06 ERA // .317 BABIP // 3.35 FIP // 3.23 xFIP // 4.3 WAR // $19.2m Dollars 2010: 4.51 ERA // .316 BABIP // 3.86 FIP // 3.37 xFIP // 2.5 WAR // $9.9m Dollars 2011: 4.67 ERA // .331 BABIP // 3.53 FIP // 3.55 xFIP // 3.4 WAR // $15.5m Dollars Sounds like he's the victim of some terrible defense, might be a good person to try and swindle if they're seriously tired of his performance. Maybe attempt some sort of package surrounding Zambrano? He's currently signed through 2013 and stands to make $9M next season and $11.5M in 2013 At what point do you look at the BABIP numbers and say and wonder if it's not really bad luck, but merely getting hit hard because his stuff is in decline? He's had injuries, and the strikout rate really plummeted this year. Touché, but the BABIP is more or less just a justifiable stat that compliments what his FIP, xFIP, and WAR says: That he's been far better than advertised.