Players mov'in the News

Matt Wieters-C-Orioles Dec. 9

Orioles manager Dave Trembley said he is "looking forward to seeing" Matt Wieters in the majors next season if the team completes a Ramon Hernandez trade.

"I think everybody is," Trembley added. If the backstop vacancy opens up with Hernandez moving elsewhere, Wieters is definitely going to be given a shot. The Orioles might, however, sign a capable veteran that could ease Matt's transition.
Source: Baltimore Sun



George Sherrill-R-Orioles Dec. 9

Orioles manager Dave Trembley suggested Monday that George Sherrill and Chris Ray could share closing duties next season.

"I don't think there will be competition,'' Trembley said. "I think I'm going to be afforded the luxury of having two guys that have done it... I don't think it's inconceivable that we could somehow share that role." It's way too early to buy much into that comment, but it does show that the Orioles have faith in Chris Ray being healthy to start the season. He is coming off Tommy John surgery. We'd still consider Sherrill the frontrunner to take the job full time.
Source: Baltimore Sun



Kris Benson-S-Phillies Dec. 9

Free agent Kris Benson said the Blue Jays, Indians and Dodgers have expressed interest in him.

Benson spent 2008 working his way back from rotator cuff surgery and went 1-4 with a 5.52 ERA in the Phillies' minor league system. He believes he's fully recovered now, so there's the chance he could turn into an adequate fifth starter.
Source: MASN Sports

Francisco Rodriguez-R-Angels Dec.

SI.com's Jon Heyman expects the Mets and Francisco Rodriguez to agree to a three-year deal worth about $37 million.

K-Rod certainly would have had more earnings potential if he had elected for a one-year deal with the chance to go back on the market next winter. However, the difference between $12 million per year and $15 million per year has a lot more to do with status than any real world consequences. At least this deal is still bigger than the three-year, $34 million contract he turned down from the Angels a year ago.
Source: SI.com


Alex Rios-OF-Blue Jays Dec. 9

When asked, Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi wouldn't rule out dealing Alex Rios.

There was considerable momentum behind a Rios-for-Tim Lincecum deal last winter, though the Giants did end up passing. Rios later signed a seven-year, $70 million deal with Toronto. "I think we'd be open to talk abut anybody, but if you trade a guy like Rios, how do you replace him, too?" Ricciardi said. "We're not actively shopping Rios. Last year it made sense because we knew [A.J.] Burnett may leave and Lincecum would have stepped right in. But I don't know if there's that type of deal out there that would make sense." Almost certainly not. Rios was a lot more attractive before landing the big contract and turning in a disappointing season.
Source: National Post


Mark Teixeira-1B-Angels Dec. 9

A front-office official for a team on the outside looking in at the Mark Teixeira chase said he expects the first baseman to sign with Boston.

"I think he’ll sign with the Red Sox," the official said. "They want him. They have a good relationship with (agent Scott) Boras, and in the end, they have the dollars to make it happen." While the Yankees, Orioles and Nationals all met with Teixeira in D.C. last week, his supposed strongest suitors -- the Red Sox and Angels -- have yet to sit down for a face-to-face. It's unclear whether any team has made an actual offer.
Source: Yahoo! Sports


Ramon Vazquez-3B-Rangers Dec. 9

Free agent Ramon Vazquez is telling people that the one-year offer he received from Arizona was way too low and that he already has a two-year offer from another team.

The Diamondbacks may be offering more playing time, but since Vazquez is 32 and hasn't made all that much money in his career -- his $810,000 salary in 2008 was his highest to date -- he may figure he's best off taking the high contact on the table. We could see the Yankees, White Sox or Phillies signing him for a utility role.
Source: Arizona Republic

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All-Star Rimirez Goes Hollywood

All-Star Rimirez Goes Hollywood, for real this time.
by Dennis Paige, Editor Tabloid Paige
8/1/2008,

Hollywood gets a Star performer with the trade of Manny Ramirez to the Dodgers. Ramirez who's performances in Boston included " I Can Get You Home if I Want to". "Money Matters, Why I can't Think Straight". And last of all His comical, "Catch It if You Can" And "Manny Being Manny". As Manny's saga continues in Hollywood more titles will be added to the Manny Ramirez portfolio. Ramirez should make his Hollywood premier debut Friday night against Arizona, with Randy Johnson pitching.
Now to the juice.

As the trading deadline neared its close (3:59pm to be exact), Manny got his wish and was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in a three team deal. Pittsburgh's Jason Bay will be sent to replace Ramirez and Boston gives up two minor leaguers and 7 million owed Ramirez for the rest of the season.
Ramirez has had an impressive carrier with RBIs (1,672), fifth in home runs (510), sixth in on-base percentage (.409) and seventh in batting average (.312).
Pittsburgh also picked future prospects, reliever Craig Hansen outfielder Brandon Moss from Boston, third baseman Andy LaRoche and pitcher Bryan Morris from the Dodgers. LaRoche, Moss and Hansen will join the Pirates. Bryan Morris will go to Class A Hickory.

Analise;
Manny being Manny, we will see more of the same from Ramirez his stats should remain the same. I don't think they will improve even though hes in an easier league. Worse case scenario is he gets caught up into the Hollywood seen.

Analysis:
Adam LaRoche, hit .203 with two home runs and six RBIs in 27 games for the Dodgers. A power-hitting prospect at 24, he spent most of this year at Triple-A Las Vegas.
No need to pick him up.

Analysis:
Hansen, was a first-round draft choice in 2005. His 5.58 ERA 1-3 and 2 saves in 32 games I would leave him alone.

Analysis:
Morris, a 21-year-old right-hander, was 2-4 with a 3.20 ERA for Class A Great Lakes.
He might get a call up later this season from class A. I don't see any help here this season.

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Fantasy Deadline Trade'in Think Twice

From AM New York
Last-minute fantasy baseball trade? Think twice first
By Kyle Stack Special to amNewYork
July 30, 2008
Fantasy Baseball
posted by: Tabloid Paige

Major League Baseball's non-waiver trade deadline looms Thursday, but that doesn't mean it should necessarily have an impact on fantasy leagues.

With fantasy trade deadlines typically set for the first couple weeks in August, many owners might feel the need to shift players based on real-life changes of address.

Here are four strategies for single-year and keeper league players to consider before signing off on a trade.
Nearly every season, effective closers on losing teams are traded to playoff-contending teams to replenish tired and slumping bullpens. Already this month, Washington's Jon Rauch (17-for-22 in save opportunities) and Pittsburgh's Damarso Marte (5-for-7) of the Pittsburgh Pirates were sent packing to serve as setup men; Rauch for the Diamondbacks and Marte for the Yankees.

While the moves strengthen the real-life recipient teams, they throw a wrench into the operation of fantasy pitching staffs. If you own a closer who is rumored to be on the trading block, protect yourself from losing saves by adding his potential successor.Keeper leaguers shouldn't hastily trade Holliday out of fear his production will decrease with a new address. Sometimes the best trades are the ones you never make, so try not to outthink yourself.

Starters are still tough to predict
Seattle Mariners lefty Erik Bedard was the toast of the fantasy world last summer after riding a nine-start streak in which he posted a 7-0 record, a 1.71 ERA and a 84/16 K/BB ratio in 63 1/3 innings. Once he was traded to the Seattle Mariners in February, it was assumed that Seattle's pitchers' palace of a ballpark – Safeco Field – would elevate Bedard to a staff ace. However, the 29-year-old has weathered multiple injuries, little run support from a pitiful offense to pitch a solid, yet disappointing, season.

For every CC Sabathia, who has thrived at his new address with the Milwaukee Brewers, there is a Bedard. When it comes to starters, it is truly buyer beware.

Dangle reliable veterans for promising prospects
Keeper leaguers who own struggling teams should follow the path blazed by real-life general managers of below-average teams: trade older, reliable players for young, promising "keepers." Just about every fantasy league has a team on the cusp of the playoffs, but in need of a veteran who can give the squad a shot in the arm. Identify any appealing veteran players on your squad and turn them into highly-touted youngsters who aren't yet producing at the rate they will in a couple years.

Target future stars such as outfielders Adam Jones of the Baltimore Orioles and the Arizona Diamondbacks' Justin Upton, as well as Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw.
Real-life trades affect relievers' fantasy values, but have less of an effect on position players
Well, at least elite position players. They're the ones who can typically make adjustments no matter their hitting environment. Take Colorado Rockies outfielder Matt Holliday, an elite fantasy player who has just a career .278 batting average and a .792 on-base plus slugging percentage away from Colorado's hitter-friendly Coors Field. MLB teams are balking at trading for Holliday, but that's due more to Colorado's high asking price than whether the three-time All-Star can maintain his high level of play with a new team.

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