The Hot Stove League

Anybody care to guess where the Expos might wind up if they don't manage to get to D.C.?

Stalemate drags on

i think its safe to say its a 3-way...

Red Sox reach agreement with Clement
The Boston Red Sox apparently have moved quickly to address the loss of ace Pedro Martinez.

According to multiple reports Friday, the Red Sox and veteran right-hander Matt Clement have come to terms on a three-year deal worth $25.5 million.

On the same day the team signed All-Star shortstop Edgar Renteria, the club attempted to fill the void created by the departure of Martinez, who signed with the New York Mets on Wednesday.
(rest of the article)


(they wanted to get Clemens... couldn't... so they settled for the next name on the list...)

Diddie, i'm sure they'll cut a backdoor deal in order to make DC work...

I like the Clement deal. I don't care about the new middle reliever...they gotta find someone GOOD in that role. And Wells? Not an exciting pickup.

Still can't believe Pedro is running his mouth like he is. Love the guy, but c'mon.

by flapping his gums, petey's making it easier for RSN to let him go...
i sure hope they are some sawx-mets game on the interleague card!

Agreed re Pedro's badmouthing the Red Sox. It's unnecessary--he got what he wanted, so shut up and prove you're worth it on the field.

It'll be interesting to see if the Washington Nationals ever play a game there. The deal the mayor worked out with MLB was awfully sweet to the owners: the city pays for the stadium, and the owners collect a windfull from the new owner, who can afford it because he gets a free ballpark. Screw the city...

Don't forget Pete Angelos is tearing his hair out to make the Nationals disappear from Balto-Wash.

Good point, panzade. It's still not clear the me that Angelos got what he wanted to quit yelping about locating a team in D.C.

Sox re-sign Varitek, name him Captain
Four years, $40m for prized catcher
By Gordon Edes, Globe Staff | December 24, 2004

Catcher Jason Varitek, considered by many the free agent the world champion Red Sox could least afford to lose, signed a four-year deal with the team that will pay him $40 million through the 2008 season.

The Red Sox named Varitek their third captain since 1923 today after giving their longtime catcher a four-year deal. Varitek didn't know of the honor until he was presented with home and road jerseys bearing a red "C" on Friday to formalize the leadership role he has grown into since joining the team in 1997.
(rest of article)

happy xmas RSN...

Yay!

Very fitting..I predict Varitek will make a great coach some day

We got a light dusting of snow here in Houston on Christmas Eve; first white Christmas ever in my 46 years.

We all desire another Christmas miracle (even if it comes a week or two late):

it would be awesome to see a player, who just had a break-out year, re-up with the same team... (all bets are off if boras is his agent!)

Especially if it means he doesn't sign with NYY. But I suspect Steinbrenner won't let any team outbid him, as usual...

Chasing Carlos
Beltran impressed by Steinbrenner; Mets, Tigers, Cubs join sweepstakes

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) -- Carlos Beltran was impressed by George Steinbrenner after meeting with the Yankees owner earlier in the week, and told a newspaper in Puerto Rico that he would not be intimidated by playing in New York.

The free-agent All-Star center fielder who led the Houston Astros within one win of their first World Series, talked with Steinbrenner in Tampa, Fla., on Tuesday.

"The meeting with Steinbrenner was very good," Beltran said in a story published in Friday's edition of Primera Hora newspaper. "He is a professional person, super-educated. I've let them know my interest, and they have interest, too, about me joining their team."

(article)

I can mention what impressed him most about Steinbrenner...

i wasn't expecting THIS!!
Source: Beltran, Mets structuring seven-year, $119 million contract

NEW YORK (AP) -- Carlos Beltran is on the verge of following Pedro Martinez to the New York Mets.

A day after the All-Star outfielder let the deadline to re-sign with Houston pass, the Mets worked Sunday to structure a seven-year, $119 million contract that will include an $11 million signing bonus, a lawyer involved in the talks said on condition of anonymity.
(the article)

sorry, pdiddie...

Yeah, I already blogged about this.

I'll just cut and paste what I wrote there here:

==============

Astros season already swirling the drain?

Well, we lost him.

Dammit.

After calculating the effect of New York's state income tax (and the corresponding increase in federal income tax) I figured that either Empire State team would have to pay an extra $15 million over the 'Stros' offer just for Carlos to break even. This, I speculated, kept us strongly in the running for the services of the talented Mr. Beltran.

Maybe Scott Boras had his bluff called (and his client will wind up with less net jack from the Mets with the hometowners folding and the Yankees already overspent), maybe Tim Purpura messed up (when he blurted that the Astros had made their final offer a couple of days ago), maybe Uncle Drayton blinked at the price tag (though you'd never suspect based on the spin coming from the Chronic today).

Maybe it really was a fumble:



Who's it sound like he's blaming? Maybe it was a no-trade clause. Whatever, if it was just a few million dollars, we could all be really, really upset.

It's too late for the Astros to make smart upgrades with Beltran's former money, as most of the desirable free agents on the market have committed. They don't have lots of good prospects to trade, and the only free agent that should interest them is Magglio Ordonez, who's just beginning to work out after offseason surgery.

Five-to-one Clemens decides he's done now.

The good news is Chris Burke and Jason Lane get onstage. The bad news is Berkman will be a month late (as he rehabs his busted knee until May), Biggio may be reduced to the role of supersub, Bagwell still can't throw the ball from first to home on the fly, the rotation has to replace Wade Miller and the bullpen has to replace, well, everyone except Lidge.

Despite my rather negative header, let's reserve judgment a bit longer and see if they have a free-agent trick or two up their sleeve.

I'll have the rest of the winter, spring, summer, and fall to blast them otherwise.

i think clemens'll pitch, the attraction being a healthy(?) pettitte...

Andy Pettitte's a good-looking fellow but I just don't think Rog is all that attracted to him.

Here's what he said last month:



He's also maintained that his goal wasn't to speak to two empty chairs at his HOF induction. (His mother has emphysema.)

Here's some more inside skinny on Beltran:



Uncle Drayton screwed the pooch. I knew it.