2007-2008 Offseason Acquisition Guide

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Originally Posted by riverside sluggers

I just really use rotoworld

Yeah me too. But appearantly they've missed quite a few Minor signings. Other than that rotoworld is GREAT.

[riverside sluggers]

Chad Durbin has picked the Phillies over the Pirates, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Durbin gives the Phillies some Adam Eaton insurance, but it'd be nice if the team could still do a little better. Ideally, Durbin wouldn't be needed as more than a middle reliever.

Sources told FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal that Ron Mahay and the Royals have agreed to a two-year, $8 million contract.

Mahay was also pursued by the Yankees, Rays, Giants and Astros. He doesn't get the three-year deal it looked like he would a few weeks ago, but $4 million per season isn't bad at all.

[BoSox21]

is that the only time the Royals have ever beaten out the Yankees for a free agent?

[riverside sluggers]

The deals for Mahay and Durbin are now official. Jenkins playing in Philly will definitely up his offensive stats.

Phillies signed outfielder Geoff Jenkins, who had been with the Brewers, to a two-year, $13 million contract with a mutual vesting option for 2010.

We just have to face it that we live in an era in which even 33-year-old platoon corner outfielders coming off back-to-back mediocre seasons get multiyear deals. It only takes one out of 30 GMs to think a player is worth it. Jenkins isn't a terrible signing. He still covers a fair amount of ground in the outfield, and he complements Jayson Werth well in a platoon situation. Plus, with where the Phillies are, the extra win he might provide over Brad Wilkerson could make all of the difference int he NL East. He just would have been a much better gamble for one year. The Phillies figure to hit him sixth, putting him right behind three guys with the potential for .400 OBPs in Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Pat Burrell. Sure, two of them are extraordinarily slow, but that could still leave him with a mess of RBI opportunities and give him more fantasy value than he's had since 2005.

Phillies agreed to terms with RHP Chad Durbin, who had been with the Tigers, on a one-year contract.

Unless GM Pat Gillick can do better, Durbin will compete with Adam Eaton for a rotation spot in spring training. The 30-year-old right-hander is 25-37 with a 5.75 ERA in 75 starts and 39 relief appearances as a major leaguer. He's a better pitcher now than he was when he came up with the Royals, but he's hardly a strong option to fill a rotation spot.

Royals signed LHP Ron Mahay, who had been with the Braves, to a two-year, $8 million contract.

The 36-year-old Mahay will join Jimmy Gobble and perhaps John Bale as lefties in Kansas City's bullpen. Bale is expected to compete for a rotation spot, and this move would make it easier for the Royals to use him as a starter if he shows he deserves it.

The Padres have agreed to terms with outfielder Jeff DaVanon on a minor league contract, according to the San Diego Union Tribune.

With Jim Edmonds set to start in center field for the Padres, DaVanon figures to be at most a bench bat and could begin the season at Triple-A.

According to the San Diego Union Tribune, the Padres have agreed to terms with first baseman Robert Fick on a minor league contract.

The Nationals non-tendered Fick earlier this month after he hit .234/.309/.305 in 221 plate appearances. He'll get an invite to spring training and hope to win a spot on the Padres' bench.

[riverside sluggers]

Doube Post

The White Sox and Alexei Ramírez have agreed to a four-year contract, a source told ESPN Deportes.
The source said Ramirez had individual workouts with the White Sox, Red Sox, Indians, Reds, Cubs, Mets, Yankees, Twins and A's before making his choice. Ramirez has experience at second base, shortstop and in center field, giving the White Sox plenty of options in how to use him. He'd make the most sense for the team in center field right now, though it's possible he'll need some time in the minors before he gets his shot. The supposed 26-year-old played only briefly in the Dominican Republic this winter, going 1-for-14.

The Rangers and Reds have agreed to a Josh Hamilton trade, with Edinson Volquez and a minor league pitcher going to Cincinnati.
It's expected to be announced later today. Hamilton couldn't fetch a more established pitcher as hoped, so the Reds instead will gamble on an arm with big-time upside in Volquez. Hamilton becomes the Rangers' primary center fielder for now. A move to right might be necessary in a year or two, but the Rangers have little to lose by keeping him in the middle now. Marlon Byrd is the favorite to start in right over David Murphy, Nelson Cruz and Jason Botts. Ideally, one of the younger players will eventually overtake him. The Reds could pursue Mike Cameron as a replacement for Hamilton.

Daniel Herrera is the second pitcher going to Cincinnati along with Edinson Volquez for Josh Hamilton, according to the Dallas Morning News.
Herrera was a nice story in 2006 after being taken in the 45th round and getting off to an awesome start, but he's not more than a decent relief prospect for Cincinnati.

Rockies signed RHP Luis Vizcaino, who had been with the Yankees, to a two-year contract with a club option for 2010.
Vizcaino had an awful September for the Yankees, causing him to finish with an ERA over 4.00 for the first time since 2003, but for a three-month span begining in June, he was one of the AL's best relievers and it's likely fatigue -- he made 30 appearances between July and August -- had something to do with his collapse. At about $3.5 million per season, this looks like one of the better relief bargains of the winter, and it makes up for GM Dan O'Dowd's poor decision not to exercise his half of LaTroy Hawkins' option after the World Series.

The Rangers and free agent Eddie Guardado are reportedly close to a deal.
Guardado would have a better chance of extending his career in the NL, but it's hard to count him out completely, especially after he finished well for the Reds in September. The Rangers would still have at least two or three better candidates to close after signing him.

EDIT: I found this on mlb.com, wasnt reported on rotoworld

Notes: Bucs sign four to Minors deals
Velandia, Thompson among quartet invited to Spring Training
By Jenifer Langosch / MLB.com

PITTSBURGH -- In an effort to continue infusing depth into the organization, the Pirates have signed four players to Minor League contracts for 2008, all four with a guaranteed invite to Spring Training. Returning to the Pittsburgh organization is Jorge Velandia, a middle infielder who played for the Pirates' Triple-A Indianapolis affiliate back in 2005. After hitting .277 with 22 doubles and 39 RBIs in 105 games for the Indians, Velandia signed with the White Sox for the 2006 season and then with Tampa Bay in 2007.

The 32-year-old Velandia spent the majority of last season playing in Triple-A, where the infielder hit .249 with 33 extra-base hits, while committing just nine fielding errors in 120 games. Velandia also played in 14 games as a September callup for Tampa Bay and contributed with 16 hits and 11 RBIs in 50 at-bats. The 2008 season will mark the Venezuelan native's 17th season in professional ball, which includes seven different stops in the Majors. He is also currently playing winter ball in Venezuela, where he has posted a .269 average and 16 RBIs in 34 games so far.

Among the new additions include pitcher Mike Thompson, a right-handed starter who began last season with the Padres before spending the majority of the year playing for the team's Triple-A club. He appeared in seven big league games in 2007, going a combined 0-1 with a 6.89 ERA. A fifth-round Draft pick by San Diego back in 1999, the 27-year-old Thompson pitched in 23 games (22 starts) for the Padres' Triple-A club last year, going 4-11 with a 6.29 ERA. In 132 2/3 innings, the right-hander struck out 71 and walked 40. He first broke into the Majors a year earlier, when in 2006 he posted a 4-5 record and a 4.99 ERA in 19 appearances (16 starts).

After losing catchers Humberto Cota and Carlos Maldonado this offseason, the Pirates needed to bring some additional catchers into their Minor League system, and they did so by signing both Miguel Perez and Michel Hernandez. Adding Perez gives the Pirates a young backstop who combined to hit .322 with eight homers and 25 RBIs in 42 games last season split among three different Minor League levels. The 24-year-old Perez was originally signed by the Reds as a non-drafted free agent in 2000 and has appeared in just two big league games in his career.

For Hernandez, Pittsburgh will be the sixth organization for which he has played, with the 29-year-old native Cuban having spent the most recent season in Tampa Bay's farm system. In 51 games behind the plate at Triple-A Durham last year, Hernandez hit .276 with 19 RBIs. These four players are the first to have signed Minor League contracts with the Pirates so far this offseason. Pittsburgh has, however, agreed to terms with other Minor League free agents but is waiting to finalize contracts with those players before making additional announcements.

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Working on finding and adding ALL the minor league transactions I can find. Tires now, gonna go to sleep, look for the update within the next few days..

[stocker323]

A's trade Nick Swisher to White Sox for 3 minor leaguers. I would think that Swisher would play center field for them and they'd put Quentin in left but this eliminates the most likely of destinations for Coco (besides Minnesota). Though Oakland could get into the discussions as they seem to be high on Coco.

[a700hitter]

Matt Clement signs with the Cardinals.

http://www.boston.com/sports/basebal...s/extra_bases/

[Coco's Disciples]

Not acquisitions, but Carlos Pena re-signed with the Rays for 3/24, and Mark Teixiera signed a 1/12.5 extension with the Braves.

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/Hea...=MLB&hl=228179

MLBTR gives a link to a site reporting Octavio Dotel to the White Sox, but nobody else has confirmed it.

EDIT: And Willy Aybar to TB. http://blogs.tampabay.com/rays/2008/...trade-for.html

DOUBLE EDIT: No Dotel deal.

[26 to 6]

MAJOR UPDATE

...took MUCH longer than I expected, but I wanted to make sure I had EVERYTHING in there, including all of the minor league transactions this offseason. Couldn't be more complete than this. Enjoy.

Sorry for the delay..

[Coco's Disciples]

Thanks a lot. This is really helpful.

[26 to 6]

there ya go...sorry it took so long between updates, busy with a ton of shit lately.

Now it's February..the fun part starts as pitchers and catchers will begin to report to camps shortly and then we get to start seeing these guys in their new uniforms. As well as all of the movement that comes with Spring Training....

the most wonderful time of the year...

[riverside sluggers]

Not acquisition but here 's a list of players who are Still free agents...

Catcher
Damian Miller

1st Baseman
Tony Clark, Eric Hinske, Ryan Klesko, Doug Mientkiewicz, Greg Norton, Mark Sweeney

2nd Baseman
Tony Graffanino

Shortstop
Royce Clayton, Neifi Perez

3rd Baseman
Russell Branyan, Jeff Cirillo

Outfielders
Barry Bonds, Shawn Green, Jerry Hairston Jr, Bobby Kielty, Kenny Lofton, Trot Nixon, Orlando Palmeiro, Corey Patterson, Reggie Sanders, Shannon Stewart, Rondell White, Preston Wilson

Designated Hitters
Mike Piazza, Sammy Sosa, Mike Sweeney

Starting Pitchers
Tony Armas, Kris Benson, Bartolo Colon, Josh Fogg (Twins might sign him, those poor Twins fans), Freddy Garcia, Livan Hernandez, Byung-Hyun Kim, Kyle Lohse, Rodrigo Lopez, Eric Milton, Russ Ortiz, Odalis Perez, Aaron Sele, Steve Trachsel, John Thomson

Relief Pitchers
Antonio Alfonseca, Armando Benitez, Shawn Chacon, Ray King, Jose Mesa, Trever Miller, Ron Villone, Jay Witasick, Bob Wickman

[bosoxnation07]

They should just make a team of FA every yr and plug them into a division LOL Maybe change it every yr. Everyone gets 1 yr contracts. Make a 25 man roster out of the remaining FA and they can't be any worse then the Royals or Pirates LOL

For fun heres mine,

C Miller
1B Minky
2B Graffanino
SS Perez
3B Branyan
OF Wilson,Lofton,Stewart
SP Colon,Garcia,Fogg,Hernandez,Lohse
RP 6 out of the 9, no particular order
DH Bonds

Sanders,Patterson,Hinske, Cirillo, Clayton on bench.

They would atleast be entertaining to watch LOL.

[26 to 6]

What would we call them? lol