Joined: 11 Aug 2006
Posts: 491
Location: Louisiana
Posted: Fri Oct 27, 2006 10:10 pm Post subject: The OFFICIAL Unofficial D-Backs Offseason FA/Trade Thread
Yes, I'm very assertive in making this THE thread to see what the team is going to do...and we start off with some ideas.
First, the issue of Johnny Estrada. He's made it known he dislikes the valley, and Philly seems to be the front runner on the "teams that needs a catcher" list. But what would it take to get the rookie southpaw Cole Hamels? What about a combo of Estrada and Tracy? Philly is on the hunt for someone in the hot corner, and the addition of one of the teams many prospects could make this deal possible. Just trying to create some conversation to start off the official start of the offseason tonight.
With the new collective bargaining agreement, with teams able to spend progressively more money before hitting the luxury tax, I wonder if the Diamondbacks front office will readjust their payroll guidelines for 2007 upward a bit. I read where the Brewers want to spend $60,000 that year for salary ( a big increase). If the Diamondbacks could find another $10,000,000 to spend they'd have a much better chance of beefing up their pitching staff. They would still be spending a lot less than a number of teams. Of course, the deferred payments they are apparently saddled with for the next three years at reportedly about $30,000,000 a year could be a problem with increasing their payroll. With a little payroll increase and very careful strategy, perhaps they could even get into the bidding for one expensive free agent like Jason Schmidt. He would be a major catch for the team, and he has said publicly he wouldn't mind playing with the Diamondbacks. I would love to see the Diamondbacks pick up Jason Schmidt this offseason.
Joined: 10 Aug 2006
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Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2006 11:34 am Post subject:
TDF actually brings up a very very good point.
Because of Payroll and Salary inflation, even if the D backs maintain their current payroll limit of approximately 60 million, they are going to drop down at least several slots in the payroll rankings, and be even more outgunned by teams spending more money.
But financially, there just is not much they can do. They are still working off the Jerry Colangelo debt, and have a long way to go with that. Maybe they will loosen up a little bit....but I doubt it. And if they do, it won't be by 10 million.
Remember, season ticket sales are going to drop again for sure...so they are going to start off the season in an even bigger hole attendance and revenue wise, and that will only improve by the end of the season if they are making a playoff run.
Joined: 10 Aug 2006
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Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2006 11:38 am Post subject:
shoewizard wrote:
Because of Payroll and Salary inflation, even if the D backs maintain their current payroll limit of approximately 60 million, they are going to drop down at least several slots in the payroll rankings, and be even more outgunned by teams spending more money.
But financially, there just is not much they can do. They are still working off the Jerry Colangelo debt, and have a long way to go with that.
So, short-term that portion of the new CBA hurts Arizona's competitive ability.
Miguel Batista-S- Diamondbacks Oct. 30 - 9:56 am et
According to the Philadelphia Daily News, the Phils are interested in Miguel Batista.
The team might offer him an incentive-laden deal depending on whether he's a starter or reliever, the News suggests. The Phils need to upgrade their bullpen in the offseason, and Batista is one of many names they'll look at.
Joined: 10 Aug 2006
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Location: Tucson, AZ until 3/6... then back to San Francisco
Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2006 11:34 am Post subject:
Looks good to me. Miggy signs with them perhaps increases the likelihood the Phillies part with other pitching when Josh sends them Johnny "Waaaah" Estrada?
Hamels, Floyd, Meyers would all be tasty pick-ups. I'm hoping Meyers has left a bad impression on them, especially.
_________________ Oops in the 2 hole!
Looks good to me. Miggy signs with them perhaps increases the likelihood the Phillies part with other pitching when Josh sends them Johnny "Waaaah" Estrada?
Hamels, Floyd, Meyers would all be tasty pick-ups. I'm hoping Meyers has left a bad impression on them, especially.
hamels............
would they dare?
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Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2006 5:51 pm Post subject:
okay, since this is the official thread, i thought i should post an interesting idea from the mlb board today.
brad ausmus sucks. estrada can hit. the astros need more offense, especially from C. and they have a ton of upper level pitching prospects, as shoewiz noted once before.
so, what about hirsh? or buchholz? i doubt we could demand both, but might be worth a shot. some stats:
hirsh sounds like a really interesting pitcher -- tremendous talent, but a serious control issue -- 4 wild pitches at the majors, 15 in the minors. a project, but a high upside one.
also, both pitchers project as a front of the rotation starter (#2 or 3, maybe?)
i found this on BA's website about buchholz:
Quote:
Taylor Buchholz, RHP
Age: 22 Ht.: 6-4 Wt.: 220 Bats: R Throws: R
Drafted: HS—Springfield, Pa., 2000 (6th round)
Signed by: Ken Hultzapple (Phillies)
Background: The Phillies first approached the Astros about a trade in September, searching for a reasonably priced alternative to David Bell and inquiring about Geoff Blum. After Philadelphia held its offseason organizational meetings, it shifted its top priority to closer and came looking for Billy Wagner, Houston’s career leader in saves. The Astros were rebuffed when they asked to build a trade around one of two pitching prospects, Cole Hamels and Gavin Floyd. The Phillies initially turned them down on Buchholz as well but relented when they realized it would be a deal-breaker. His commitment to North Carolina caused him to slide in the 2000 draft. His hometown Phillies may have been the only team that could have signed him, and they gave him fourth-round money ($365,000) as a sixth-round pick. Buchholz went 3-13 in his first calendar year after signing before everything started to click. He was the FSL pitcher of the year in 2002 and the youngest player selected for the Double-A Eastern League all-star game in 2003.
Strengths: Buchholz’ signature pitch is a hard curveball he picked up in low Class A in 2001. One scout compared its quality and his feel for it to Josh Beckett’s and Kerry Wood’s, while Phillies assistant general manager Mike Arbuckle said Buchholz’ curve could be one of the five best in the National League within a few years. He throws the bender at 76-79 mph, and can change speeds off it to further befuddle hitters. Buchholz also has a quality fastball that sits in the low 90s, touches 95 mph and has heavy life. He’ll flash an average changeup at times. He has a strong, durable frame that has held up well through 78 starts over the last three seasons. He shows good poise on the mound and never let a lack of run support fluster him at Double-A Reading.
Weaknesses: Buchholz succeeds so easily with his fastball and curve that he hasn’t thrown his changeup much. He needs to use it more often to improve its quality and command. He pitched with bone chips in his elbow in 2003, but the problem resolved itself without surgery. Buchholz doesn’t always trust his natural stuff and will try to overthrow. Then his front shoulder flies open in his delivery and he leaves pitches up in the strike zone. He needs to do a better job of holding baserunners.
The Future: The Wagner trade made sense on several levels for Houston. He was unhappy with the direction of the club, he made more money than the Astros wanted to pay when they had a lower-cost alternative in Octavio Dotel, and they got three potential starting pitchers. Buchholz will open 2004 in Triple-A New Orleans. Given how Houston went through 12 starters in 2003, he could get promoted quickly. Buchholz projects as a No. 2 or 3 starter.
so, what about these guys for estrada? do they need an outfielder? could we get both guys for estrada + byrnes? probably not, but i can dream.
_________________
Hank, you're dead to me.
brad ausmus is a proven veteran who epitomizes suckitude... but he isn't going anywhere. there's no match with the astros.
plus, they have a decent backup in quintero
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Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2006 6:35 pm Post subject:
Let me be the first and only one to start the chant, I have a feeling. Not to sound like a bunch of oversexed 80 year olds, at the viagra convention but....We want Wood. WE want Wood. I'd say I want it, but it doesn't sound right.
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Joined: 10 Aug 2006
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Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2006 8:40 pm Post subject:
Dangerfield wrote:
Let me be the first and only one to start the chant, I have a feeling. Not to sound like a bunch of oversexed 80 year olds, at the viagra convention but....We want Wood. WE want Wood. I'd say I want it, but it doesn't sound right.
But do you want damaged ligaments in your wood? That wood hasn't been able to kerry a consistently hard performance since early 2004.
Joined: 11 Aug 2006
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Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2006 10:43 pm Post subject:
I suggested Kerry Wood and Mark Mulder about two months ago on incentive-laden deals, and was laughed at. Yes I realize their proneness to injury, but Baseball is an unpredictable sport. Estrada was seemingly given his last rites in Atlanta, and traded for next to nothing, and he had a great year, and his trade value his higher than it ever should be. If they aren't any good, then DFA them and get them off the team, the incentive-laden contracts won't have to be paid out.
I suggested Kerry Wood and Mark Mulder about two months ago on incentive-laden deals, and was laughed at. Yes I realize their proneness to injury, but Baseball is an unpredictable sport. Estrada was seemingly given his last rites in Atlanta, and traded for next to nothing, and he had a great year, and his trade value his higher than it ever should be. If they aren't any good, then DFA them and get them off the team, the incentive-laden contracts won't have to be paid out.
My guess is 29 other teams are thinking exactly this, and my guess is many of those teams will appear more palatable to Wood or Mulder than AZ. Oh, and no one laughed at you, they laughed with you...
My gut tells me Mulder returns to STL on the Matt Morris special program...
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Old school Hollywood baseball,
Joe Girardi is ten feet tall,
Old school Hollywood baseball,
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Joined: 10 Aug 2006
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Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 11:10 am Post subject:
.77 gb/fb for wood -- i really really don't think he's going to want to play 81 games in a park like ours.
mulder would probably do well here, but he's going to want to stay with duncan. he's having his mechanics totally retooled, isn't he? he ain't going to switch doctors halfway through the operation.
_________________
Hank, you're dead to me.
I wouldn't waste the dime on any phone calls to GM's looking to lure a 5+year pitcher here. That's not the fix to the problem. I'd spend the next 18 months, yes, I said 18 months, beating the bushes for an MLB ready AAA pitcher who's shown improvement at every level, who's parent club may be shopping for the services of one of our position players who fit the same criteria.
As Mcray said, this HOU rumour is intriguing. HOU will need a major, and I mean MAJOR overhaul at most positions. Biggio is older than dirt, Berkman is in decline, the list goes on and on.
I'd be willing to bet we could land one of their top end pitching prospects for a minimum of one of ours. It would probably cost Estrada and either Quentin or Jackson.
Any thoughts to the contrary?
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What about Keith Foulke? The Red Sox did not pick up his option and he has a few days to decide whether he's going to exercise his option to remain.
"Keith hasn’t made a decision," agent Dan Horwits said. "It’s a long thought process that involves staying there, (or) moving on back closer to his home (in Arizona), staying close to his family (or) staying with people on the team he knows from the last few years."
I know he hasn't exactly been that good the last two years but neither has the rest of our bullpen. Most of the staff is young so some veteran leadership would be nice. I'd be willing to the roll the dice if the price is right.
My gut tells me Mulder returns to STL on the Matt Morris special program...
He might.... It could be the older PV version of the Chris Carpenter program, where the Cards don't really expect him back in 2007 and hope for a decent return in 2008. Mulder's injury situation won't fetch much on the FA market anyway.
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Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 2:40 pm Post subject:
what about milwaukee? i think i read somewhere that hendrickson is out of options, and he's lit up the minor leagues but has had meltdowns in the majors and at the minor league asg -- maybe milwaukee could be convinced he needs a change of scenary?
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