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Wednesday, December 01, 2004 |
Pickoff Moves, Waitin' For The Microwave Edition
Yanks Come Up Unitless
The Yankees don't get everything they want, as witness their inability to acquire Randy Johnson.According to the [unnamed] official, the D-Backs were asking New York for a package which included Javier Vazquez, Tom Gordon, prospects Eric Duncan and Chien-Ming Wang, another prospect and cash considerations between $12-20 million. Arizona also wanted the Yankees to acquire another pitcher -- preferably one of Oakland's "Big Three" of Barry Zito, Tim Hudson and Mark Mulder -- to include in the deal.Oh, come on, Cashman, you can stop hiding now. But -- this is the first time I've ever heard that "it is believed that he would only approve a deal to the Bronx." ESPN is reporting much the same story, too. The theory, apparently, is that the Snakes will return to the table, tails between legs, and give Johnson up for some twigs once they've seen the error of their ways."If that's what their demands are," said the official, "[the Yankees are] probably out of it altogether."
Meantime, The Sox Make A Pass Of Their Own
... sez the Providence Journal, the principle bait for the Big Unit being "Bronson Arroyo, pitching prospect Jon Lester and at least one other top prospect." Considering all the baubles the Yankees dangled before the Snakes and still came up short, I'd say the Sox better resign Pedro.Nomar News
Speaking of Boston, or at least, ex-Sox, two items here: first, the Cubs have made a one-year offer to the former Beantown prodigy. The deal is heavily incentivized, and the Cubs apparently will not offer arbitration. Second: despite earlier reports, the Red Sox have voted Nomar a 3/4 share. It's still pretty generous, all things considered. Don't spend it all in one place.A Shoe-In At $800k
A complete 1914 set of baseball cards, including "Shoeless" Joe Jackson, just sold at auction for $800,000. Where do these guys get this kind of money?Glaus A Snake?
ESPN Insider claims the Arizona Republic will report the Diamondbacks have extended an offer to Troy Glaus. No word on years, dollars, or terms.M's Make Offer To Jaret Wright
The former Indian and now ex-Brave has a 3-year, $15M offer from Seattle, according to MSNBC. He should give some of it to Leo Mazzone if he makes the move.Barry Wesson To Houston
Ex-Angel outfielder Barry Wesson has accepted a minor-league contract from Houston. He will receive a non-roster invitation to appear in spring training to compete for a job. The move marks a return to the organization he started his career with, as the Angels claimed him off waivers from Houston in 2002.Morales: "I'd Like To Be A Catcher"
Maybe a little dated, but here's an interesting interview with Kendry Morales two years before he defected. "I'd like to be a catcher", he says, because his dad was one, but it seems pretty typical in that he can hit but still hasn't really settled on a position (supposedly he can play 1B, 3B, and OF, but none of them well). Interesting, then, that the Angels gave him a major-league contract (unless this is later revised) when Jayson Stark suggested he's "a project":Cuban defector Kendry Morales was a hot enough commodity, based on reputation alone, that more than a dozen teams showed up for a workout he held last week in the Dominican Republic. But while the 21-year-old switch hitter figures to be chased by the Yankees, Red Sox and Mets, among others, he could be more of a project that advertised.Hm, so is he going to block Kotchman, then? Interesting. Thanks to Stephen Smith for the links."This guy is not an immediate major-league player," said one scout who attended the workout. "He really hasn't played in a couple of years (after being suspended from the Cuban national team over fears he would defect). So it's going to take a lot of time, a lot of at-bats."
The scout's lukewarm review of Morales' skills: "Can't run at all. Pretty good stroke. Good kid. Good approach to hitting. Has to play first base. That's his only real position (even though he also played the outfield in Cuba)."
Update: More on this topic from Rich Lederer.
Update: From AP via ESPN, apparently Bane thinks Morales is fresh-from-the-head-of-Zeus ready for the majors, though the team will "assess that once we're able to see him."
Comments:
re Unit: The DBacks are just batshit crazy. I can't figure out if they are just vastly overestimating the value of Randy Johnson, or if they honestly feel they can be competitive next season. Either way, just hurting themselves.
re Morales: I see him as a DH (which the Angels do need), but what do I know? Just remember that Albert Pujols didn't "have a position" at one time.
Also, I think that Stark column was written after his first workout, which left several scouts with bad first impressions. Everything I've read claims he's been much more impressive since.
re Morales: I see him as a DH (which the Angels do need), but what do I know? Just remember that Albert Pujols didn't "have a position" at one time.
Also, I think that Stark column was written after his first workout, which left several scouts with bad first impressions. Everything I've read claims he's been much more impressive since.
Richard, I agree with you on both counts. The Dbacks have wanted the store, the kitchen sink *and* the whole shibang in exchange for Johnson. I hope he stays there next year and they have to pay him 16 million for 32 games.
And I'm cautiously optimistic about Morales. Batting cleanup at age 19 bodes very, very well.
Ugh, *god* I wish Albert Pujols _still_ didn't have a position. Ugh.
And I'm cautiously optimistic about Morales. Batting cleanup at age 19 bodes very, very well.
Ugh, *god* I wish Albert Pujols _still_ didn't have a position. Ugh.
That assumes, of course, that anything that is being reported re: Johnson (or anyone else) in the Hot Stove League has anything remotely resembling truth.
These are just rumors, a combination of truth, wishful thinking, and deliberate misinformation. You can decide for yourself the relative percentages of each component.
That [Cashman] quotation could very easily be true. It could also be an utter lie, designed to make the D-Backs management look irrational to the New York press.
And the Republic didn't report that Glaus was offered a contract.
These are just rumors, a combination of truth, wishful thinking, and deliberate misinformation. You can decide for yourself the relative percentages of each component.
That [Cashman] quotation could very easily be true. It could also be an utter lie, designed to make the D-Backs management look irrational to the New York press.
And the Republic didn't report that Glaus was offered a contract.
Yeah, Rob, without any attribution whatsoever. Admittedly, it's without the word "reportedly" in front of it, but who's to say that it's not an utter lie?
I mean, maybe I'm being too hard on the newspapers here, but is it so hard to say even something like "A D-Backs official reports" or "According to their agents..."? Otherwise, I take it at about the level of rumor.
I mean, maybe I'm being too hard on the newspapers here, but is it so hard to say even something like "A D-Backs official reports" or "According to their agents..."? Otherwise, I take it at about the level of rumor.
I should clarify, I shouldn't have made my original statement saying the Republic didn't report it. That was my bad.
My favorite part is this:
"Arizona also wanted the Yankees to acquire another pitcher -- preferably one of Oakland's "Big Three" of Barry Zito, Tim Hudson and Mark Mulder -- to include in the deal."
Who the heck does either New York or Arizona have that Oakland could possibly want that doesn't involve New York eating tens of millions in salary?
"Arizona also wanted the Yankees to acquire another pitcher -- preferably one of Oakland's "Big Three" of Barry Zito, Tim Hudson and Mark Mulder -- to include in the deal."
Who the heck does either New York or Arizona have that Oakland could possibly want that doesn't involve New York eating tens of millions in salary?
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: 12/03/2004 10:35:00 PM
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