Winter Meetings thread

[bravosfan]

Thought we could use a thread to discuss everything that'll be coming out of Orlando this week...

Here's some stuff:

• The Red Sox and Dodgers were scheduled to meet at midnight Eastern on Sunday to talk about Red Sox outfielder Manny Ramirez, according to a major league source.

• The Dodgers, Cardinals and Orioles are pursuing Luis Gonzalez.

• The Cubs could end up trading Jacque Jones, especially if they sign Julio Lugo to play center field.

• The Padres are one of the teams interested in Barry Bonds, but ultimately they could sign a lesser free agent or make a trade for someone like the Brewers' Geoff Jenkins.

• The Yankees retain interest in Ted Lilly even though they won the negotiating rights to Japanese left-hander Kei Igawa, who ultimately could end up in the bullpen.

• The Cubs and Blue Jays also are vying for Lilly, and the Giants, Mariners and Rangers have expressed interest.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/6235962

[TheMatrix31]

Re: Winter Meetings thread

I don't even want to do anything productive overall in my life. I just want to be on the inside of these Winter Meetings. That's my life goal.

That said, I'm very anxious to see what (if anything) the Braves do during the meetings. Trade Giles? Trade Hudson? Glavine's out of the picture, so we dont have to "clear salary" for him, but we need pitching. I'm not sold in Hampton coming back and helping us all that much, plus our middle relief still NEEDS relief. We need some help to bridge from starter to fatboy down there.

Manny Ramirez gone? I, for one, HOPE he gets traded for the simple fact that I'm just sick and f'n tired of hearing this guy's name every offseason as if he's actually being moved. Either do it or don't.

Should be an interesting week, for sure.

[cjonesfan921]

Re: Winter Meetings thread

My cousin in Florida, works by the hotel they are at and spoke with a couple guys. Namely, Omar Minaya.

Don't know if he was play, but my cousin asked if he is still going after Manny, Minaya said that they are "working" on it. Probably means nothing.

Also, he spoke to some Seattle Mariners reps and they want Schmidt, badly.

[GBrushTWood]

Re: Winter Meetings thread

Just because a Seattle Mariners representative mumbles Jason Schmidt's name while sprawled out at the bar doesn't necessarily mean the Mariners want him..

I agree with the above poster, it would be way rad to just hang out at the bar for one of these meetings. You could invite some employees of MLB teams to play beer pong in your hotel room and coax info from them while hammered. Then log onto OS and post in this thread "Heyyy guyyysss, Bowden wants to trade for Jermaine Dye!111! He told me !!"

[cjonesfan921]

Re: Winter Meetings thread

Just because a Seattle Mariners representative mumbles Jason Schmidt's name while sprawled out at the bar doesn't necessarily mean the Mariners want him..

I agree with the above poster, it would be way rad to just hang out at the bar for one of these meetings. You could invite some employees of MLB teams to play beer pong in your hotel room and coax info from them while hammered. Then log onto OS and post in this thread "Heyyy guyyysss, Bowden wants to trade for Jermaine Dye!111! He told me !!"

Obviously all of it, is just BS. They say it to get him away from them. Still, the though of talking with Omar Minaya, is pretty sweet.

[Sedihawk2K5]

Re: Winter Meetings thread

[quote=GBrushTWood;2799964]Just because a Seattle Mariners representative mumbles Jason Schmidt's name while sprawled out at the bar doesn't necessarily mean the Mariners want him..
/quote]

The Mariners desperately want Schmidt. It's the worst-kept secret in baseball. Check it out:

http://www.ussmariner.com/

These guys write for baseball america, they have sources all over baseball and particularly in the Mariners organization. If they say the M's want Schmidt, well, they do.

[WazzuRC]

Re: Winter Meetings thread

Also, he spoke to some Seattle Mariners reps and they want Schmidt, badly.

I wouldn't be surprised at all. Schmidt is from the area and the M's pushed hard for him a few years ago before he resigned with the Giants. Really, I wouldn't care if we signed him to a decent 3-4 year deal as I think Gil Meche is incredibly overrated, IMO, and I think if we are going to spend money on pitching I'd rather it be Schmidt than Meche.

[mjb2124]

Re: Winter Meetings thread

Schmidt has also stated that he wants to stay on the West Coast.

If Seattle is interested (and by all accounts, they are), I think it's only a matter of time before a deal is struck.

[Picci]

Re: Winter Meetings thread

News from Disney

Octavio Dotel's possible destinations. The Red Sox, Devil Rays, Indians and Royals.

The Mets have signed former Mariners pitcher Clint Nageotte to a minor-league contract, with an invitation to spring training; the Phillies signed former Mets, Indians and Brewers reliever Kane Davis to a minor-league deal; and the Royals signed former Devil Rays No. 1 pick Dewon Brazelton to a minor-league contract.

[SPTO]

Re: Winter Meetings thread

If you think the Winter Meetings are neat these days imagine what it was like 25 or so years ago. I've heard stories where GMs would be drunk off their arses and making deals at the bar.

Still....i'd love to be a fly on the wall to one of these things.

I wonder if JP has any surprises up his sleeves this year?

[Sandman42]

Re: Winter Meetings thread

Some notes on the meetings from ESPN.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2685697

Latest news so far is the Indians are interested in Borowski to be their closer, and he will be taking a physical tomorrow for the Indians.

[P2K]

Re: Winter Meetings thread

If you think the Winter Meetings are neat these days imagine what it was like 25 or so years ago. I've heard stories where GMs would be drunk off their arses and making deals at the bar.

Someone needs to get Pat Gillick drunk so he could actually do something this offseason!!!

[GBrushTWood]

Re: Winter Meetings thread

If you think the Winter Meetings are neat these days imagine what it was like 25 or so years ago. I've heard stories where GMs would be drunk off their arses and making deals at the bar.

Along the same lines, I'd love to see somebody sprint into the bar at 2 AM shouting "Manny just got traded to the Dodgers!!", then run up to Brian Sabean and go "what are you gonna do now, gay biker?"

The possibilities are nearly limitless here. I remember hanging out with some random dude last year who actually flew down to the Winter GM meetings (with the purpose of trying to land some ******* intern job). He had some interesting stories to tell about Ellis Burks specifically, and all the groupies he had. Wish I could remember some of the other stories he was telling me. I think he said Cashman was a cool dude.

[SPTO]

Re: Winter Meetings thread

Someone needs to get Pat Gillick drunk so he could actually do something this offseason!!!

IIRC Gillick's most famous trade was at a Winter Meetings so miracles can happen.

[jt45]

Re: Winter Meetings thread

IIRC Gillick's most famous trade was at a Winter Meetings so miracles can happen.

which trade would that be?