The Hot Stove League Thread

[Mo]

The Hot Stove League Thread

Sounds like CJ Wilson to the Angels is done as well

5 years, 75M

[Travis40]

Re: The Hot Stove League Thread

LAA is in win now mode. They're really going to regret the CJ and Pujols deals in a few years.

[Azamien]

Re: The Hot Stove League Thread

I thought I would probably end up swearing off baseball, at least for a season or two, if Albert left the Cardinals. But I'm pretty at peace with it. I hope I'm wrong, because I don't wish ill on him, but I have a feeling that Cardinals fans will look back on this day a few years from now and say, "Thank goodness we didn't sign him to that contract."

[SPTO]

Re: The Hot Stove League Thread

CJ Wilson will do pretty well for the Angels as long as they don't expect him to be their ace. We've seen that he just can't get it done when all the chips are on the line in the postseason but if he's surrounded with better starters and is able to be a 3rd starter it should work out mostly.

As for Pujols you just knew he was angling on getting a 10 year massive money contract. The last 4 years of that deal is going to be an albatross around their neck but it's the price of doing business when you're in a "win now" mentality.

[IlliniM1ke]

Re: The Hot Stove League Thread

Serious question: Did the Cards deal include a full no-trade clause?

I hear that was the biggest thing Pujols wanted from any deal. Everyone was offering comparable money. The Marlins definitely didn't offer a full no-trade and Pujols immediately turned down their offer.

I'm sure they did (but like someone else mentioned he had 10/5 rights so wouldn't really be a problem) but the Cardinals have no problem issuing full NTC's, Holliday has one, they gave Kyle Lohse and Jake Westbrook both full NTC's as well when they signed them.

This is a bitter pill to swallow as a Cardinals fan, I wanted nothing more than to see Albert finish his career in a Cardinals uniform. That said I'm glad it was Anaheim for a few reasons, 1) he's out of the NL at least, 2) they made an offer that was substantially better than what the Cards were rumored to be offering which makes it easier to accept than say had he gone to Florida for essentially the same money (although no state income tax did make that offer better to).

Looks like Berkman will be holding down 1B this year, but with Allen Craig out 4-5 months (had knee surgery around Thanksgiving so should be ready at or a little after opening day, no later than May worst case scenario) we need to pick someone up who is capable of filling in.

For our sake hopefully Matt Adams proves to be the real deal, after a big year in the minors last year he looks like he could be big league ready by the 2013 season and if so that would be huge as he looks like he could be pretty good hitter for us in the future.

[slickdtc]

Re: The Hot Stove League Thread

Ew, 10 years for a 30+ year old. Pujols may break the mold because he's broken everything else, but it just does not seem wise.

Though the early returns could be enough. The Angels have to win in the next few years or they're screwed. Well, they're going to be screwed in the later years anyway (more likely than not), but at least a World Series or two will ease that pain.

I don't know why he wouldn't want to stay in St. Louis for comparable money. You've won 2 World Series there, it's not like he's escaping to a place for a better chance of winning it (well, probably better chance but not astronomically better like going from the Royals to the Yankees).

Wonder where Fielder will end up!

This is good news for my Reds, though.

[IlliniM1ke]

Re: The Hot Stove League Thread

Also this will be a huge draft coming up for the Cardinals, 5 picks combined with the first round and supplemental first now.

Angels 1st round pick - 19th overall selection
Cardinals 1st round pick - 23rd overall selection
Supplemental 1st round pick for Pujols
Supplemental 1st round pick for Jackson (once he signs elsewhere)
Supplemental 1st round pick for Dotel

We have done a great job through the draft recently, however with the Astros just hiring Jeff Luhnow to be their GM (when he was the one in charge of our draft) I have some concerns about this, hopefully we hire a good replacement.

[ScoobySnax]

Re: The Hot Stove League Thread

Sounds like CJ Wilson to the Angels is done as well

5 years, 75M

**** you, CJ. You couldn't get it done when we needed you in the WS anyway. /bitterness

[lilbiggio]

Re: The Hot Stove League Thread

CJ wilson probably was like the rest of us,

"Yall got Pujols?" When the hell did that happen..????


Where do I sign?


Man Texas is in a world of trouble now.... LA just got substantially better in just 20 minutes.

[CMH]

Re: The Hot Stove League Thread

Looks like the Angels just stole Miami's thunder.

[lilbiggio]

Re: The Hot Stove League Thread

Looks like the Angels just stole Miami's thunder.

Miami just went from looking like the smart guys in this, maybe even being at a point where you'd feel sorry that Pujols used them as leverage to just not being relevant enough to even be in the conversation in the first place.


Pujols clearly just wants to play against the Astros...

[av7]

Re: The Hot Stove League Thread

Looks like the Angels just stole Miami's thunder.

I think players woke up and realized what they were doing

[TerryP]

Re: The Hot Stove League Thread

Looks like the Angels are pushing for that $200 mil. mark. Wells and Pujols combined annual will probably exceed the division rival A's entire '12 payroll.

[Chrisksaint]

Re: The Hot Stove League Thread

Marlins got Reyes and Buerhle I'm fine with that. were not the ones screwed financially

Fielder would be nice, but doesn't seem they are interested

[SPTO]

Re: The Hot Stove League Thread

The Marlins are being more prudent eventually Pujols will break down so Marlins fans (well the ONE Marlins fan we have here) won't have to worry about the team being screwed both financially and on the field.

I think the Buehrle signing was pretty smart. I think he'll put up very similar SABR type numbers in the NL as Halladay has done over there.