2009/2010 MLB Offseason Thread.

[.GR]

Bring Tejada back!

Miguel Tejada is willing to play any infield position, reports ESPN The Magazine's Jorge Arangure Jr., and that willingness to move off shortstop could open the market for the former all-star.

Tejada could fill openings at third base for Toronto, Oakland or St. Louis, and if clubs think he can play some second base, another handful of clubs could show interest.

Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune writes today that that the Cardinals would love to sign Tejada if his price drops.

Jon Heyman of MLB Network said Friday night that the A's are looking for an infielder and could try to bring Tejada back to Oakland and losing out on Marco Scutaro and Adrian Beltre.

Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle counters that there is only a "vague possibility" the A's would consider Tejada.

 

[Gtown81]

I'll take Tejada over Encarnacion anyday

 

[jarrod2323]

SFG sign Aubrey Huff.... TEX signs Vladimir Guerrero

The San Francisco Giants and first baseman Aubrey Huff agreed to a one-year contract pending a physical, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press on Sunday night.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team hasn't made a formal announcement, which might not come until later in the week once all the details are finalized. Huff and the Giants reached their preliminary agreement sometime during the weekend.

Acquiring a reliable left-handed bat with power was one of Giants general manager Brian Sabean's top priorities this offseason leading into the start of spring training next month in Scottsdale, Ariz. -- and one of the final things still on his winter to-do list.

While San Francisco's pitching has been stellar -- led by two-time reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum -- upgrading the offense was considered an key step for this club in order to get back to the playoffs after a six-year drought.

The 33-year-old Huff was traded from Baltimore to Detroit in August. He batted .241 with 15 homers and 85 RBIs in 150 games between the two teams.

San Francisco will be eager to have his offensive punch. The Giants ranked 29th out of the 30 major league teams for home runs in 2009 with 122, ahead only of the New York Mets (95). They also were 26th in runs with 657.

With the addition of Huff, manager Bruce Bochy will have options writing his lineup. While Huff is likely to play first and free-swinging slugger Pablo Sandoval probably will stay put at third, there's been talk of moving Sandoval to first -- doable considering Huff also can play third. San Francisco last week re-signed utility infielder Juan Uribe to a $3.25 million, one-year contract, and Sabean said he is expected to play more regularly than his 122 games last season.

Late last month, Mark DeRosa signed a $12 million, two-year contract to join the Giants. He is expected to play left field considering the depth in the infield, but also can play first or third.

Sandoval has been penciled in as the cleanup hitter, so DeRosa and Huff should fit in nicely around him. Huff is a career .282 hitter with 203 homers and 752 RBIs and a .340 on-base percentage in 10 seasons with Tampa Bay, Houston, Baltimore and Detroit.

San Francisco was in the NL wild-card chase well into September but hasn't been to the postseason since 2003. At 88-74, the Giants won 16 more games than in 2008.

While Sabean said last week he wasn't sure what to expect from the market the rest of the way, he acknowledged were going to "be strategic, we're going to be opportunistic."

The Texas Rangers have signed free-agent slugger Vladimir Guerrero to a one-year deal with a mutual option for 2011.

Sources said Saturday that the deal is around $5.5 million and includes performance bonuses. Guerrero, who passed his physical on Monday in Arlington, gets $1 million if the club elects not to exercise the option. He can walk away from the contract without penalty after 2010 if he chooses.

"We're excited to welcome Vlad to the Rangers family," general manager Jon Daniels said in a statement. "This is a guy we've both admired and feared for years from across the field. He's been one of the most dangerous hitters in the game for over a decade. He'll bring a presence to the middle of the order, and a winning pedigree to the club."


More on the Rangers

Richard Durrett and the rest of the ESPNDallas.com team have the inside scoop on the Rangers, the American League and Major League Baseball. Blog.

Guerrero, who turns 35 in February, will fill a void for a right-handed bat in the middle of the lineup after the team lost Marlon Byrd to free agency. Guerrero likely will be the club's designated hitter.

"I feel good that I've had a lot of success hitting here," Guerrero said through an interpretor. "I'm hoping to help the team win and stay healthy."

Guerrero has a .321 career batting average, fifth among active players. He has played the last six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels, and he hit .295 with 15 homers and 50 RBIs in 100 games last season. He had two stints on the disabled list, including one nearly month-long stretch with a strained left knee.

The Rangers are very familiar with Guerrero's prowess at the plate, as the 2004 AL MVP dominated them while with the Angels. He has the highest career batting average (.394) and slugging percentage (.705) of any player with at least 50 games played at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. He has 14 homers, 18 doubles, 38 runs scored and 33 RBIs in 50 games at his new home.

"He makes everyone better," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "It's just having his presence. The pedigree that he brings, what he's done throughout his career. We have a core here that's pretty good.

"I told him, 'We will have people all over the bag.' What we want is for him to do what he does best. It makes me as a manager look better, the Texas Rangers look better. He made every player that goes in lineup with him better. I'm excited."

Guerrero also has postseason experience, something the Rangers are lacking. He has participated in the playoffs five of the last six seasons. In his last two, Guerrero has hit .404 (21-for-52) with a home run, four doubles and seven RBIs in 13 games.

The Rangers are Guerrero's third team. The eight-time All-Star Game selection spent his first eight seasons with the Montreal Expos (1996-2003).

 

[playmaker7]

Aubrey Huff is a solid player so I'm happy about that. Giants lineup is solidifying

 

[cruzg24]

According Tim Kurkjian of ESPN, a source says if negotiations continue to progress with the Mets and free-agent C Bengie Molina, the Mets can sign him in the next 48 to 72 hours.

 

[Mexi]

Mets and Dodgers in on Pineiro

um, Go Mets!
lol

 

[cruzg24]

Mets and Dodgers in on Pineiro

um, Go Mets!
lol

No Go Dodgers!!! You guys would fit well, lol.

 

[Mexi]

dodgers cant outbid anyone though

lol dodgers have done a lot this offseason

Angel Berroa
Jamey Carroll
Doug Mientkewicz
Nick Green
Russ Ortiz

im leaving some out too.

 

[cruzg24]

dodgers cant outbid anyone though

lol dodgers have done a lot this offseason

Angel Berroa
Jamey Carroll
Doug Mientkewicz
Nick Green
Russ Ortiz

im leaving some out too.

As a Dodgers fan, marriage is a <Censored>, lmao.

 

[Mexi]

dont tease me :/

check this out

Dave Stewart, agent for Matt Kemp says he is close to a 2-year deal with the Dodgers, not a longer term deal because of the ownership situat

SMFH

 

[jarrod2323]

PIT signs Ryan Church pending physical

HOU signs Brett Myers (official)

ATL signs Eric Hinkse (official)

 

[snipezo]

AOL Fanhouse's Ed Price tweets, the Mets have seen Carlos Delgado in Puerto Rico twice, and plan to see him once more. Price adds that Delgado "is not moving well". Price adds that the Blue Jays, Delgado's first team, might be a "more likely landing spot."

One would figure Price mentions this because Toronto plays in the American League, giving Delgado a chance to DH, but it isn't so clear where Delgado fits in there. Adam Lind is Toronto's best hitter, and fields like a DH. Lyle Overbay is left-handed, just as Delgado is. Just how much of a role Toronto can offer Delgado is not at all clear.

Where Delgado fits with the Mets is much more obvious- he stands as far likelier to excel as a hitter while playing first base than Daniel Murphy in 2010. If he can't move well enough to play the position, of course, he becomes a glorified pinch hitter for New York.

For his part, Delgado has been hitting in his time with Carolina, putting a .353 average up in 19 plate appearances, including a home run. He only began playing the field on Sunday night, however.

 

[snipezo]

Contrary to reports earlier in the week, it looks like Carlos Delgado won't be heading back the to the Toronto Blue Jays after all.

According to a report on MLB.com, a source stated that "Delgado doesn't fit into the Blue Jays' plans."

As per his policy of not addressing rumours, Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos refused to comment.

 

[Gtown81]

the way the Jays have been this off-season I can't really see Delgado fitting in, however I wish they would bring him back

 

[snipezo]

Ya it would be cool to have him back but Overbay is kinda hard to trade at this point, Adam Lind is our everyday DH and could move to 1B soon and we also have Wallace who's almost ready for big league action.

 

[jarrod2323]

Kouzmanoff, who hit 18 homers and drove in 88 runs for San Diego in 2009, goes to Oakland with a minor leaguer in exchange for outfielders Scott Hairston and Aaron Cunningham, the source said.

 

[elcheato]

Still remember that Josh Barfield for Kevin Kouzmanoff trade, that didn't work out for either team lol

 

[A.E]

Kouzmanoff, who hit 18 homers and drove in 88 runs for San Diego in 2009, goes to Oakland with a minor leaguer in exchange for outfielders Scott Hairston and Aaron Cunningham, the source said.

This deal was a pretty big for the A's to make. Chavez is coming off a back injury that could very well signal the end of his future in baseball. Eric will be back on the field here and there but the A's were looking to sign Beltre in lieu of Chavez. Kouzmanoff's numbers at the plate were pretty mediocre in 2009 but the guy did put up 18 homers and 88 RBI's, pretty impressive for a Petco Park. This is a good deal for the A's, contingent on that yet-to-be named minor leaguer included. Thus far, all the A's gave up is an almost 30, journeyman bench-player and an outfielder that needs more time in the minors.

 

[.GR]

This deal was a pretty big for the A's to make. Chavez is coming off a back injury that could very well signal the end of his future in baseball. Eric will be back on the field here and there but the A's were looking to sign Beltre in lieu of Chavez. Kouzmanoff's numbers at the plate were pretty mediocre in 2009 but the guy did put up 18 homers and 88 RBI's, pretty impressive for a Petco Park. This is a good deal for the A's, contingent on that yet-to-be named minor leaguer included. Thus far, all the A's gave up is an almost 30, journeyman bench-player and an outfielder that needs more time in the minors.

Yeah, I love this. I was hoping we'd get Beltre cuz we have a HUGE hole at 3rd but this is just as good IMO. I think he'll really good in the AL. Plus, this allows us to "uncrowd" our outfield, plus I wasn't a fan of Hairston anyways.

 

[.GR]

BTW, we traded for Hairston last season with BTW, we traded for Hairston last season with San Diego. LOL