2007-2008 Offseason Acquisition Guide

[riverside sluggers]

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?...tnered=rss_mlb

Milton Bradley signs a 1 year/$5 million deal (plus incentives) with the Texas Rangers. This will be his 6th team in parts of 9 major league seasons. The site also states that the Rangers lost out on Latroy Hawkins, as it appears he is headed for the New York Yankees.

[jacksonianmarch]

Signing Hawkins and losing Vizcaino is essentially a lateral move for us, but it does net us a draft pick in the supplemental round, so it is a net gain.

[riverside sluggers]

roto

The Yankees are close to signing LaTroy Hawkins to a one-year contract believed to be worth approximately $3.75 million, sources told FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal.

Hawkins made a lot more sense for an NL team. He was just in the AL East in 2006 and finished with a 4.48 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 60 1/3 innings for Baltimore. Last season, he fanned 29 in 55 1/3 innings for the Rockies. In his career, he has ERAs of 6.45 versus Baltimore, 5.79 versus Boston, 4.53 versus Toronto and 4.43 versus Tampa Bay. His best WHIP against any of the four teams is a 1.47 mark.

Career ERAs at AL East Parks
Yankee Stadium (14 games)- 9.64
Fenway Park (11 games)- 7.00
Tropicana Field (11 games)- 5.52
Camden Yards (41 games)- 4.28
Rogers Centre (14 games)- 2.53

[26 to 6]

I've always liked Hawkins, but I remember a few years back his name being whispered regarding steroids/perfomance enhancers. I can't get too down if he does indeed sign, but I think I would still rather have Viz.

Not today because of a lot of school work I have to catch up on, but sometime tomorrow or Tuesday at the LATEST i'll have made all of the updates, including all phases of the Rule 5. Appreciate everyone's patience.

[26 to 6]

It just dawned on m, but could he be one of the 11 "free agents" who are supposed to be named in the Mitchell report? I think the Yankees should wait a week or 2 before finalizing this one.

[riverside sluggers]

Im also expecting Milton Bradley and Trot Nixon to be named

[26 to 6]

With classes canceled today I took this morning to update the list. 5T and 5D stand for the Triple A and Double A phases of the Rule 5, respectively. Rather than put 5AAA or 5AA, which look funny and take p a chunk of the line I just decided to go with T & D. Also, just to make note, Colby Lewis has been released by the Royals (Signed 11/2) and Termell Sledge has been sold to the Nippon Ham Fighters. When I get a more complete list of players going abroad, particularily to NPB, I will find a way to incorporate them into the guide. For now, enjoy the fruits of a long, frustrating 45 minutes. I'm gonna go back to sleep now.....

[riverside sluggers]

Hiroki Kuroda reportedly informed the Hiroshima Carp on Tuesday night that he planned to sign with the Dodgers.

He's expected to leave for the U.S. as soon as Wednesday to take his physical and sign the contract, which is probably worth about $30 million for three years. At that price, he's no worse of a gamble than Carlos Silva or Kyle Lohse. Still, he's not a great bet to be more than a fourth starter and he could always turn out to be a Kaz Ishii or maybe even a Kei Igawa.

The San Diego Union-Tribune reports that the Padres and Tadahito Iguchi have come to terms on a one-year contract

A pretty odd choice for Iguchi. The second baseman wanted a three-year deal and was offered two years by at least one team, the Rockies. However, he's opted to take a one-year deal to play in the game's toughest ballpark for hitters, something that doesn't figure to help his value next winter. He'll be the stopgap second baseman while Matt Antonelli continues to develop.

[riverside sluggers]

The Rays and Cliff Floyd are close to an agreement on a one-year contract.

It's surprising the Rays didn't want someone a little more trustworthy with players like Geoff Jenkins and Brad Wilkerson still out there. Floyd will be pretty good when healthy, but he's a poor bet to make it through 400 at-bats, even if he's used as a DH a portion of the time. If Rocco Baldelli is healthy, the Rays will probably use Floyd against righties and Jonny Gomes against lefties. However, Gomes still could end up with more at-bats than Baldelli or Floyd anyway.

The Rockies and Kip Wells have agreed to terms on a one-year deal worth about $3 million, according to the Denver Post.

The plan is for Wells to compete for a rotation spot, but it'd be better for everyone if he ended up in the pen, where he could be a decent replacement for LaTroy Hawkins. Of course, the team could have just used this money to retain Hawkins, but that would have been just too darn easy.

[26 to 6]

Updated.

Edgardo Alfonzo, after spending last year with the Long Island Ducks has signed with the Rangers. Interestingly, Joe Torre is reunited with not only Scott Proctor, but now also Tanyon Sturtze. My prediction is that even if Tanyon doesnt record ONE out all spring, he makes the team just so Joe isn't limited to Proctor on those lonely LA nights. Prediction; both of their arms literally FALL OFF by the All-Star break.

Also, not listed in the guide, but noteworthy is that Chris Gibson, son of Cardinal HOFer Bob Gibson has just had his Frontier League contract purchased by the Cardinals. He isn't listed because he's never played any affiliated ball. Probably more of a gesture of good will to Bob, than a representation of their impressions of Chris. Like when the Yanks drafted both Andre Randolph and Taylor Mattingly back in 2005(?).

[26 to 6]

NOW it's updated, with the trade tha just went down between KC and the D-Backs, as well as Luis Vizcaino signing on for 2 years with the Rox.

[riverside sluggers]

The Star Tribune reports that the Twins and Mike Lamb have come to terms on a two-year deal with a club option for 2010.

One day after landing the game's best defensive shortstop, they pair him with one of the weakest defensive options to form up the left side of their infield. Lamb will provide them with above average offense from third base, but signing a 32-year-old defensive liability to a mulityear deal isn't going to further their rebuilding effort.

Glendon Rusch and the Padres have reportedly agreed to terms on a minor league deal.

They've been close since the winter meetings. Odds are that the Padres will land another starter later this winter, but if they don't, Rusch could compete for a spot in the rotation. He'd make more sense as a swingman initially.

[riverside sluggers]

The Padres have acquired Jim Edmonds from the Cardinals for David Freese, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Edmonds made it clear earlier this offseason that San Diego was a preferred destination for him if he was going to waive his no-trade clause. It's a very good gamble for the Padres, especially since the Cardinals are going to be kicking in at least $1 million to help cover his $8 million salary. They should still have the funds to sign Geoff Jenkins if he decides he wants to play in San Diego. In Freese, the Cardinals get a pretty good third base prospect, though he won't be ready to step in next year if Scott Rolen is dealt. He was expendable because the Padres had both Kevin Kouzmanoff and Chase Headley ahead of him.

Good move for the Padres getting a sound defender in center, though some of his offense will be hurt by playing 81 of his games in PETCO

[26 to 6]

Good shit Towers

[TheKilo]

Jim Edmonds sucks.