Not true. If Jio Mier has a breakout season in 2011 the prospecting world will be all over him as the next star shortstop. Delino DeShields and Mike Foltynewicz are both highly regarded picks, and both could break out next year. Austin Wates was also a highly regarded "toolsy" talent and he has been very impressive in a limited sample size. There are some other breakout candidates too, like Jay Austin and Ben Heath.
The rivalry between the Yankees and Red Sox fizzled on the field this past season, with Boston suffering through an injury-filled campaign, but the bad blood is boiling this winter. The latest came at the Winter Meetings last week when the Red Sox offered Cliff Lee a seven-year contract for little money just to provide a negotiating edge for Lee with the Yankees. The Red Sox were never serious about signing Lee, targeting outfielder Carl Crawford instead. They just wanted to drive Lee’s price up. After initially offering six years, the Yankees gave Lee a seven-year offer for around $160 million early Thursday. They have spent the last few days anxiously awaiting an answer. The Rangers, not the Red Sox, are the Yankees’ competition for Lee’s services. The Yankees believe Texas’ offer is for less guaranteed money and one fewer year. Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/yankees/sox_made_pitch_for_cliff_jsCIeahBFFryI833KUAOcN#ixzz17tmmhM8z
not a 7 year deal...it's a 6 year deal with a CLUB option for a 7th year. one team is offering flat out 7 years...the other is saying, "eh...at year 6 we may decide we want to keep you another year...we'll let you know then." i haven't seen anything but speculation to this point...and i have no idea where the buzz on twitter yesterday came from. lee is still silent. it sounds to me like ranger fans believe that since he hasn't made his decision yet, it's about something more than money so he's gonna be a ranger still. not a whole lot substantive to that.
Quick fix not on Astros offseason to-do list(You can go read it ) Spoiler MONETARY VALUE The Astros saw their rank in player payroll rise through most of the decade with little influence on whether the team was at all successful. (Payroll numbers are estimated opening day figures, courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com): Year Payroll Rank Playoffs? 2000 $51,289,111 19th No 2000 $51,289,111 19th No 2001 $60,612,667 17th Yes (lost in division series) 2002 $63,448,417 15th No 2003 $71,040,000 14th No 2004 $75,397,000 12th Yes (lost in NLCS) 2005 $76,779,000 12th Yes (lost in World Series) 2006 $88,694,435 11th No 2007 $87,759,000 14th No 2008 $88,930,414 14th No 2009 $102,996,414 8th No 2010 $92,355,500 13th No
That's because McLane and Smith have no idea how to spend money wisely and I'm not sure whether Wade does either (so hard to tell given who his bosses are).
http://www.nesn.com/2010/12/report-...oose-yankees-make-push-for-adrian-beltre.html In the world of MLB's hot stove, he who can outspeculate the rest of the speculators is a most valuable commodity. And ESPN's Karl Ravech is speculating like no other. The Baseball Tonight host tweeted Monday morning that the Rangers "have made an aggressive play" for free-agent third baseman Adrian Beltre. This push, Ravech states, is a result of the Rangers thinking Cliff Lee is leaning toward the Yankees. While losing out on the Lee sweepstakes would be tough for the Rangers, Beltre isn't a bad consolation prize. As with anything this time of year, though, it remains nothing more than speculation.
I think you overestimate the draw of individual players in regards to attendance. I believe a lot more are "Astros fans" than those that go to games to see any particular player. I never went to a game thinking I was going to see "Player X". I didn't care if it was Chris Holt on the mound. I was there to see the Astros. I do agree, however, that attendance will be down again in 2011. Outside of the usual fans (ones that are interested in seeing the youth movement), interest is simply down.
I wonder if the Rangers move on Beltre and trade Young for prospects that they flip to KC along with one of their own to get Zack Greinke? I think they will get Lee or Greinke, reminds me of the type of move the Stros would have made in the mid 90s to early 2000s.
I wouldn't want to be the one that pays Beltre. The best 2 years of his career by far, have come in contract years.
Supposedly a 3rd mystery team out there for Cliff Lee. Jayson Stark guessing(not reporting) Phillies.
Exactly. Imagine that! I didnt believe there was even 3rd mystery team or that that team would be a factor in the race for Lee when I first saw reports yesterday or day before but now I'm not so sure?!
That could have been the case last year, though I doubt they would have pulled the triggers on Oswalt if they had kept Lee.
Perhaps. Though thought I read they were focused on offense. Not that you can take everything that is said true but.... SI_JonHeyman: #angels are "offensively focused" now, says someone familiar with their thinking. so don't appear to be #mysteryteam
Phillies the 3rd team bidding for Lee. Not the frontunners but 'not out of it'. Rosenthal says they would likely have to find a taker for Blanton and perhaps move someone else too.
