Where Did All The Sanity Go?
December 7th, 2007 by Lucas DwyerOne of the best and worst avenues that covered the baseball winter meetings was espn.com’s live blog from Nashville. With its entire staff of baseball writers at the Opryland Hotel to cover the proceedings, the lay people who were unable (or not invited) to attend could live vicariously through Peter Gammons, Buster Olney, Jayson Stark, etc. with their hourly updates.
The updates were phenomenal entertainment, especially if your team was involved in any of the rumors. However, they also gave us some of the most absurd trade possibilities and potential free agent signings that had a shocking lack of logic to them. Obviously the Santana trade talks were the focus of most of the posts and we’ve covered that ad nauseum. We’ll cover the rest.
In no particular order:
A zany three-team trade with the Mets and Twins that would have featured Haren, Santana and Jose Reyes changing teams. Thoughts on this trade are aptly summed up by Billy Beane: “There’s a better chance of me breeding unicorns than there is of that deal happening.”
Billy Beane’s sarcasm did little to diffuse the notion that he despises baseball’s winter meetings.
Scott Rolen to the Brewers for Chris Capuano and a top prospect. This trade is absurd because the Brewers turned the Cardinals down. I’m sure you’re thinking they didn’t want to trade their top prospect. Nope. They wouldn’t part with Capuano. You know, the same guy who lost 21 straight appearances for the Brewers this year.
Miguel Tejada to Houston for Adam Everett, Chris Burke, and a prospect. Another deal that’s crazy because the Orioles turned the Astros down. The craziest part of the O’s declining the deal? The Astros were going to pick up all of Tejada’s $26 million remaining for the next two years. The Orioles really think they’re gonna get a better deal than this? What’s the point in hanging on to Tejada?
Jose Guillen signs a three year, 36 million dollar deal with the Royals. Where do you even start with this? Ok, the Royals got roasted last year for the Gil Meche signing and he finished the year on someone’s roster in almost every fantasy league and that deal seemed even more absurd (5 years, $55 million). But,do teams really not get it? Free agency is not how to rebuild a team. Just take that 36 million, give five of it to someone to fill Guillen’s role and take the remaining 30+ million and pump it into scouting and the draft.
Eric Bedard to Los Angeles for Matt Kemp and Jonathan Broxton. The Orioles basically had a fashion show, dangling Tejada, Bedard, and Brian Roberts in front of anyone who would listen. I guess I see the rationale with moving these guys - they’re not getting any younger (Bedard is older than Santana), the Orioles are going no where and have little minor league talent. But, Kemp and Broxton is the best you can do for one of the top five pitchers in the American League? I also keep hearing that the Red Sox and Blue Jays have the best available prospects for the Orioles, but the birds won’t trade within their division. Why? What do they care? If Bedard is really worth getting rid of because he’s only got a few years left, the Orioles won’t during the time Bedard is pitching in the AL East.
The aforementioned Erik Bedard for AJ Burnett. I know we just said that the Blue Jays have the chips to get Bedard, but I was talking about Dustin McGowan, etc. - Burnett can’t be one of them. This crazy deal was just a rumor, but why even report it? Burnett can opt out of his deal after next year and the Orioles would be increasing salary while reducing talent. Makes sense.
Erik Bedard for AJ Burnett? Who’s making this deal, Billy King?
The A’s shopping Haren, Blanton, and Huston Street. What is going on here? Beane certainly has a history of moving players at the right time and for the right price, but what’s the point of trading young, cheap, and long-termed signed quality pitchers? Isn’t that what the Orioles are trying to do? Acquire the guys the A’s are trading? But, they’re both rebuilding? My head hurts…
Torii Hunter signs with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim of Orange County in the State of California part of the United State of America Located on the Continent of North America and Part of the Western Hemisphere of the Earth for $90 million for five years. Ok, so this didn’t actually happen at the winter meetings, but it’s worth discussing. Without even discussing the absurd value of this contract for a guy on the wrong side of his prime, the Angels have now dished out a five year, $50 million dollar deal to Gary Matthews Jr. to play centerfield in 2006 and $90 million more in 2007. That’s $140 million over six years to two guys to play the same position. That’s more than halfway to signing A-Rod to a $280 million dollar deal over 10 years. Doesn’t that seem like a much better idea?
Andruw Jones signs with the Los Angeles Dodgers for $36 million over two years. Despite Hunter’s eye-popping contract, the Dodgers and Andruw Jones take the cake with this deal. 13 million a year? For a .222 hitter? If signing a guy to a big deal after a career year is a bad idea, signing a player to a big deal after a career worst year is an even larger mistake. His splits were 222/311/413 for a whopping OPS of…drum roll please…724! JD Drew, who had a terrible year, had an OPS of 796 with a higher OBP and SLG. However, if it means more embarrassment for Scott Boras, we should probably live with it. Boras told the Braves he was going to get Jones eight years and $160 million. He was only off by six years and $123.8 million.
