Five trades that should happen
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Ken Rosenthal / FOXSports.com
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if(fanid.length > 0 && typeof(nflDefaultLeague)!= "undefined") { leagueId = nflDefaultLeague; //find teamId of default league (if exists) for(var i=0; i < teamsInfo.length; i++){ if(teamsInfo[4] == leagueId){ defaultTeamId = teamsInfo[0]; } } var fantasyLeaguePlayerJsPath = 'http://msnfantasy.foxsports.com' + '/nugget/200002_' + leagueId + '|||' + fanid; document.write(''); } The baseball free-agent market is weaker than it has been in years, but the financial position of most teams is stronger.
One player agent, after a full day of discussions with clubs, told two reporters, "You guys are going to have fun at the winter meetings. There are going to be a ton of trades."
Predicting trades is difficult, if not impossible, but it's part of what makes a baseball off-season fun. Warning: None of the possibilities listed below has advanced beyond the point of preliminary discussions, if that far. But as teams try to piece their rosters together, these are the kinds of ideas that might be in play.
Manny Ramirez to the Mets
The Red Sox seem almost certain to trade Ramirez. The only question is to which team.
Ramirez's agent, Greg Genske, has said that the outfielder's first choice is the Angels. Ramirez, armed with full no-trade protection, can effectively choose his next club. His comfort level in Boston is an issue, and a return to his native New York would raise other privacy concerns. Then again, the Mets might prove to be his only realistic option.
The Mets would be more willing than the Angels to absorb the remaining $57 million on the final three years of Ramirez's contract, more tolerant of his annual "Manny being Manny" meltdowns and more open to giving the Red Sox the talent they need to justify the trade. Of course, if the Angels fail to sign free-agent first baseman Paul Konerko, their appetite for Ramirez could increase.
Mets GM Omar Minaya should tell the Red Sox, "If I'm taking on all of Manny's money, you're not getting outfielder Lastings Milledge, not getting pitcher Yusmeiro Petit and not getting any of my top prospects." In the end, Minaya could part with one elite young player along with outfielder Mike Cameron, starting pitcher Steve Trachsel or Kris Benson and other parts he picks up elsewhere — for instance, first baseman Aubrey Huff and reliever Danys Baez from the Devil Rays.
Bobby Abreu to the Red Sox
Abreu's teammate, Phillies left fielder Pat Burrell, would make more sense as a right-handed hitting replacement for Ramirez, but Abreu is a superior offensive player. The Sox could acquire right-handed hitters like Cameron and Huff for Ramirez and also pursue other options. No one player could replace Ramirez, barring the addition of Konerko.
Abreu, 31, boasts a .411 career on-base percentage — .372 against left-handed pitching. His statistics would appeal to the Bill James element in the Red Sox's front office, though his remaining salary — $28 million combined in 2006 and '07, plus a $2 million buyout or $16 million option for '08 — might not. Abreu also has a complete no-trade clause and might require an extension to waive it.
New Phillies GM Pat Gillick then could re-invest his savings in other players, the way White Sox GM Ken Williams did last off-season after trading outfielder Carlos Lee.
Why would the Phillies want to trade Abreu? Not to move first baseman Ryan Howard to the outfield, a ridiculous idea. But financial relief would be one motivator, and fair or not, some in the industry question whether Abreu is a winning player. Gillick, a strong believer in chemistry, maintained powerful clubs with the Mariners — even after losing Ken Griffey Jr. and Alex Rodriguez. He would not be afraid to trade Abreu — though, of course, any concerns about Abreu's makeup might also deter the Red Sox.
The Phillies surely would want one of the Red Sox's young pitchers in a package for Abreu. Red Sox right fielder Trot Nixon would figure to be part of such a deal, as might right-hander Matt Clement.
Alfonso Soriano to the Cardinals
The Rangers seem intent on trading Soriano, whose salary could rise to $10 million next season, his final year of arbitration before becoming a free agent. Soriano's reluctance to move from second base to the outfield, however, is discouraging to the Cubs and other potential suitors.
The Dodgers could acquire Soriano and switch Jeff Kent to first, but their defense would be severely compromised. The Cardinals, one of the few teams with an actual need at second, aren't an obvious fit for Soriano, given his defensive shortcomings. But Cardinals GM Walt Jocketty needs to find power, and Soriano might become a more diligent fielder in the Cardinals' ultra-professional environment.
Think about it: The Cardinals' biggest position need is a corner outfielder, but the most attractive free agent, Brian Giles, turns 35 on Jan. 21. Rather than give Giles a deal for say, three years and $30 million, the Cardinals could sign a cheaper alternative like Jacque Jones, take on Soriano for one year and devote a greater percentage of their resources to pitching.
The Rangers, who have Ian Kinsler ready to replace Soriano at second, would want pitching back in any deal. The Cardinals could offer right-handed starter Jason Marquis, left-handed reliever Ray King and a prospect. Marquis and King will earn more than $7 million combined next season; exchanging them for Soriano would result in only a modest increase to the Cardinals' payroll.
Troy Glaus to the Dodgers
Trading Glaus would accomplish two goals for the Diamondbacks, reducing not only their financial commitments, but also their glut of corner infielders.
Glaus, 29, is owed $32.75 million over the next three seasons, and his contract enables him to block trades to certain teams. He's too expensive for the Twins and Pirates, two teams with needs at third base. He might appeal to the Tigers, who could trade "Pudge" Rodriguez and move third baseman Brandon Inge back to catcher. He also would make sense for the Red Sox if they traded Ramirez.
The Dodgers, though, appear to be the best fit; Glaus, a native southern California who attended UCLA, is a West-Coast guy. Trading within the division is always a concern, but the Dodgers and Diamondbacks completed the Shawn Green deal last off-season, albeit under different general managers.
The Diamondbacks couldn't expect much back for Glaus if the Dodgers granted them financial relief; to receive a legitimate prospect, the D-Backs would at least need to take on Dodgers' left-hander Odalis Perez, who is owed $15 million, plus a $1.5 million buyout, over the final two years of his contract.
The deal, however, would provide other benefits, enabling the Diamondbacks to move right fielder Chad Tracy back to third and center fielder Shawn Green back to right. Tony Clark and Conor Jackson could alternate at first, and top prospect Carlos Quentin could take over in center.
Carlos Delgado to the Orioles
Delgado is upset that the Marlins might trade him after he had the best season of any 2004-05 free agent in the first year of a four-year, $52 million contract. But if Delgado wanted to ensure that he would remain in Florida, he should have insisted upon a no-trade protection. The only provision in his contract that might inhibit the Marlins' ability to trade him is a tax equalization clause.
Owner Jeffrey Loria has proven that he wants to win, but the Marlins' quest for a new ballpark could turn Delgado into a political pawn; trading him would demonstrate to government officials that ,without a new park, the team would no have choice but to relocate. Trading third baseman Mike Lowell and center fielder Juan Pierre would send a similar message, but less dramatically. Delgado, 33, would be a perfect fit in Baltimore, providing left-handed protection for Miguel Tejada and giving the team a high-character spokesman who would help erase the negative stigma created last season by Rafael Palmeiro, Sammy Sosa and Sidney Ponson. The Marlins and Orioles spoke extensively last season about right-hander A.J. Burnett, so the Marlins know the Orioles' system. They like right-hander Hayden Penn and several of the Orioles' other young players, though their return for Delgado might be reduced if the Orioles assumed the entire $48 million remaining on his back-loaded contract.
I hope that doesnt happen
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Ken Rosenthal / FOXSports.com
Posted: 5 hours ago // front-end hack to remove postedTime from Rumors page until a better way can be determined if (document.URL.indexOf("/name/FS/rumors") != -1) document.getElementById("postedTime").style.display = 'none';
if(fanid.length > 0 && typeof(nflDefaultLeague)!= "undefined") { leagueId = nflDefaultLeague; //find teamId of default league (if exists) for(var i=0; i < teamsInfo.length; i++){ if(teamsInfo[4] == leagueId){ defaultTeamId = teamsInfo[0]; } } var fantasyLeaguePlayerJsPath = 'http://msnfantasy.foxsports.com' + '/nugget/200002_' + leagueId + '|||' + fanid; document.write(''); } The baseball free-agent market is weaker than it has been in years, but the financial position of most teams is stronger.
One player agent, after a full day of discussions with clubs, told two reporters, "You guys are going to have fun at the winter meetings. There are going to be a ton of trades."
Predicting trades is difficult, if not impossible, but it's part of what makes a baseball off-season fun. Warning: None of the possibilities listed below has advanced beyond the point of preliminary discussions, if that far. But as teams try to piece their rosters together, these are the kinds of ideas that might be in play.
Manny Ramirez to the Mets
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Manny Ramirez is almost certain to leave Boston. Will he head to the Big Apple and the Mets? (Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images)The Red Sox seem almost certain to trade Ramirez. The only question is to which team.
Ramirez's agent, Greg Genske, has said that the outfielder's first choice is the Angels. Ramirez, armed with full no-trade protection, can effectively choose his next club. His comfort level in Boston is an issue, and a return to his native New York would raise other privacy concerns. Then again, the Mets might prove to be his only realistic option.
The Mets would be more willing than the Angels to absorb the remaining $57 million on the final three years of Ramirez's contract, more tolerant of his annual "Manny being Manny" meltdowns and more open to giving the Red Sox the talent they need to justify the trade. Of course, if the Angels fail to sign free-agent first baseman Paul Konerko, their appetite for Ramirez could increase.
Mets GM Omar Minaya should tell the Red Sox, "If I'm taking on all of Manny's money, you're not getting outfielder Lastings Milledge, not getting pitcher Yusmeiro Petit and not getting any of my top prospects." In the end, Minaya could part with one elite young player along with outfielder Mike Cameron, starting pitcher Steve Trachsel or Kris Benson and other parts he picks up elsewhere — for instance, first baseman Aubrey Huff and reliever Danys Baez from the Devil Rays.
Bobby Abreu to the Red Sox
Abreu's teammate, Phillies left fielder Pat Burrell, would make more sense as a right-handed hitting replacement for Ramirez, but Abreu is a superior offensive player. The Sox could acquire right-handed hitters like Cameron and Huff for Ramirez and also pursue other options. No one player could replace Ramirez, barring the addition of Konerko.
Abreu, 31, boasts a .411 career on-base percentage — .372 against left-handed pitching. His statistics would appeal to the Bill James element in the Red Sox's front office, though his remaining salary — $28 million combined in 2006 and '07, plus a $2 million buyout or $16 million option for '08 — might not. Abreu also has a complete no-trade clause and might require an extension to waive it.
New Phillies GM Pat Gillick then could re-invest his savings in other players, the way White Sox GM Ken Williams did last off-season after trading outfielder Carlos Lee.
Why would the Phillies want to trade Abreu? Not to move first baseman Ryan Howard to the outfield, a ridiculous idea. But financial relief would be one motivator, and fair or not, some in the industry question whether Abreu is a winning player. Gillick, a strong believer in chemistry, maintained powerful clubs with the Mariners — even after losing Ken Griffey Jr. and Alex Rodriguez. He would not be afraid to trade Abreu — though, of course, any concerns about Abreu's makeup might also deter the Red Sox.
The Phillies surely would want one of the Red Sox's young pitchers in a package for Abreu. Red Sox right fielder Trot Nixon would figure to be part of such a deal, as might right-hander Matt Clement.
Alfonso Soriano to the Cardinals
The Rangers seem intent on trading Soriano, whose salary could rise to $10 million next season, his final year of arbitration before becoming a free agent. Soriano's reluctance to move from second base to the outfield, however, is discouraging to the Cubs and other potential suitors.
The Dodgers could acquire Soriano and switch Jeff Kent to first, but their defense would be severely compromised. The Cardinals, one of the few teams with an actual need at second, aren't an obvious fit for Soriano, given his defensive shortcomings. But Cardinals GM Walt Jocketty needs to find power, and Soriano might become a more diligent fielder in the Cardinals' ultra-professional environment.
Think about it: The Cardinals' biggest position need is a corner outfielder, but the most attractive free agent, Brian Giles, turns 35 on Jan. 21. Rather than give Giles a deal for say, three years and $30 million, the Cardinals could sign a cheaper alternative like Jacque Jones, take on Soriano for one year and devote a greater percentage of their resources to pitching.
The Rangers, who have Ian Kinsler ready to replace Soriano at second, would want pitching back in any deal. The Cardinals could offer right-handed starter Jason Marquis, left-handed reliever Ray King and a prospect. Marquis and King will earn more than $7 million combined next season; exchanging them for Soriano would result in only a modest increase to the Cardinals' payroll.
Troy Glaus to the Dodgers
Trading Glaus would accomplish two goals for the Diamondbacks, reducing not only their financial commitments, but also their glut of corner infielders.
Glaus, 29, is owed $32.75 million over the next three seasons, and his contract enables him to block trades to certain teams. He's too expensive for the Twins and Pirates, two teams with needs at third base. He might appeal to the Tigers, who could trade "Pudge" Rodriguez and move third baseman Brandon Inge back to catcher. He also would make sense for the Red Sox if they traded Ramirez.
The Dodgers, though, appear to be the best fit; Glaus, a native southern California who attended UCLA, is a West-Coast guy. Trading within the division is always a concern, but the Dodgers and Diamondbacks completed the Shawn Green deal last off-season, albeit under different general managers.
The Diamondbacks couldn't expect much back for Glaus if the Dodgers granted them financial relief; to receive a legitimate prospect, the D-Backs would at least need to take on Dodgers' left-hander Odalis Perez, who is owed $15 million, plus a $1.5 million buyout, over the final two years of his contract.
The deal, however, would provide other benefits, enabling the Diamondbacks to move right fielder Chad Tracy back to third and center fielder Shawn Green back to right. Tony Clark and Conor Jackson could alternate at first, and top prospect Carlos Quentin could take over in center.
Carlos Delgado to the Orioles
Delgado is upset that the Marlins might trade him after he had the best season of any 2004-05 free agent in the first year of a four-year, $52 million contract. But if Delgado wanted to ensure that he would remain in Florida, he should have insisted upon a no-trade protection. The only provision in his contract that might inhibit the Marlins' ability to trade him is a tax equalization clause.
Owner Jeffrey Loria has proven that he wants to win, but the Marlins' quest for a new ballpark could turn Delgado into a political pawn; trading him would demonstrate to government officials that ,without a new park, the team would no have choice but to relocate. Trading third baseman Mike Lowell and center fielder Juan Pierre would send a similar message, but less dramatically. Delgado, 33, would be a perfect fit in Baltimore, providing left-handed protection for Miguel Tejada and giving the team a high-character spokesman who would help erase the negative stigma created last season by Rafael Palmeiro, Sammy Sosa and Sidney Ponson. The Marlins and Orioles spoke extensively last season about right-hander A.J. Burnett, so the Marlins know the Orioles' system. They like right-hander Hayden Penn and several of the Orioles' other young players, though their return for Delgado might be reduced if the Orioles assumed the entire $48 million remaining on his back-loaded contract.
I hope that doesnt happen
