Winter Meetings

The winter meetings are rapping up and I’m not totally sure what to make of them yet, but a few observations of what went down.

Why the Blue Jays gave AJ Burnett five years and fifty-five million dollars is beyond me. It’s almost as if JP Ricciardi was replaced by (insert random NBA GM) over the past few weeks. Look, Burnett could put it all together and become something, but that’s a big if. Word on the street is that Burnett doesn’t listen to his coaches, which is why despite all his talent he can’t win more than 12 games. In three years the Jays are going to be regretting this trade. I just hope for their sake they aren’t regretting it next year. I do like the Ryan and Overbay additions which are two guys who seem to be able to bring more to the table than you would figure. And the Jays aren't done yet. They won 80 games last year and right now they look like an 85 win team. It looks like they’ll add another bat and should have a healthy Roy Holladay next year so if they can figure out a way to get to 90 wins…

Then maybe, just maybe, they can catch the Red Sox. Who knows what the Hell is going on in Boston right now. Talk about a team with no direction… they trade their highly touted prospect at short for Beckett. Okay fine. And then turn around and trade their only short stop for a prospect at third base? Huh? So now this team has an old pitching staff along with Clement and always a little banged up Beckett. Manny wants to leave. Damon isn’t signed and wants a deal that will pay him for SEVEN YEARS (which in itself is insane). They don’t have a shortstop. David Wells wants to leave but if they get more than a 4th outfielder for him I’d be shocked. (BTW, why doesn’t Wells get crucified by the media? Has there been a bigger jerk or jagoff to play in the majors in the last few years? The guy is just a fat jagbag who’s never happy and is always pissing people off… but he threw a prefect game and won a World Series in New York and he gets a pass? Please).

Anyway, the Red Sox are a total mess right now. They remind me of the Eagles a few months ago and I can’t see this ending well unless they dump Manny, over pay for a shortstop, and figure out who’s going to fill in for those 50 starts that seem to be missing in their rotation (figure Schilling and Beckett miss ten starts each and then David Wells).

The Mets… doesn’t this happen ever off-season? Mets spend a ton of money on a ton of guys and they finish in third place? Is there any reason why Paul Lo Duca, Julio Franco, Jose Valentin, Carlos Delgado and Billy Wagner should make a difference this time? Franco is older than most people on Earth. Valentin doesn’t have a ton left. Wagner seems to be a fragile player. I like Lo Duca and Delgado but… I don’t see this team being that much better. Their pitcher staff is still old and if Pedro gets hurt their done. This is a better team if everyone stays healthy.

My Chicago White Sox had, in my eyes, a fantastic off season. They’re already the ‘best team in the majors’ and they’ve only gotten better. They traded Rowand for Jim Thome who gives them a solid DH and a back up at first since they resigned Paul Konerko. Kenny Williams realized that he needed to strengthen the bench so he trade Damaso Marte for Rob Mackowiak. Mackowiak will give the Sox options at third and in the corner outfield positions to go along with his left handed bat. And the best part of the off-season is that Williams didn’t get greedy or tinker too much with the team. All six starting pitchers will be back, the key guys in the bullpen are going to be back, and the DH position and the bench is greatly improved. They have to not only be the favorites for the AL Central, but you’re going to hear a lot of talk about them being the favorites in the American League.

The rest of the AL Central has done pretty well for themselves too. The Indians haven’t done anything stupid (like signing Millwood to a four year deal or trade away any of their solid players). The Twins seems to be improving themselves slowly but surely. Even the Royals are looking to do something to make themselves better. Sure the sooner someone explains to the Tigers how to build a baseball team the better (two years and 16 million for Kenny Rogers?!?! Look Rogers is a good pitcher but that’s a lot of money for a 41 year old pitcher; and then two years and 11 million for Todd Jones?!?! Wasn't Todd Jones old when he was last with the Tigers? Is there anyway this ends well for the Tigers?) the sooner they’ll be competing year in and year out.

Other random thoughts… The Cardinals window is closeing quickly unless they make another move. They’re still probably the best team in the NL Central but…
What are the Rangers doing? What does this team ever do? Is there a more unusual team in the majors than the Rangers? Seriously, it’s like they’ve had the same team for the last 20 years; a team that hits the ball hard, far, and can’t pitch. Only the names have changed over the years. Just a totally bizarre team and organization…
I like Alfonso Soriano, but this move makes zero sense for the Nats if he doesn’t play left field. Zero. Bowden might be one of the worst GMs in baseball (Christian Guzman speaks for itself) and the fact that he might be hired by the Red Sox is highest of high comedy. It’s sort of like Dusty Baker ending up with the Cubs and then watching Dusty use his young pitchers for 140 pitches per start…
Speaking of the Cubs this team is in trouble. I can understand holding on to Prior, but please trade Kerry Wood. The guy is never going to get it done in Chicago. It’s over. Trade him for something and odds are it will probably be more than he’s worth. Move on and try to win a World Series…
Las Vegas Marlins yummmmm…
I really hope for selfish reasons that Miguel Tejada isn’t traded, unless of course it’s to the White Sox…
Is there anyway that Edgar Renteria doesn’t hit .310 with 25 home runs and 90 RBIs for the Braves this year? If Kerry Wood joined the Braves would he instantly become a 20 game winner and stay healthy for a full season then sign with the Yankees or Red Sox for four years and 48 million and then only pitch 57 more games in his career?...
This has to be the highlight of the Royals off-season: Acquired infielder Esteban German from the Texas Rangers for pitcher Fabio Castro, who was selected in the Rule V draft; signed pitcher Elmer Dessens, who had been with the Los Angeles Dodgers, to a two-year contract; re-signed infielder Joe McEwing to a minor league contract. Ouch…
Is that the Pittsburgh Pirates finishing in second place?

Okay that’s a lot of baseball, I’m out.