Officially, the meetings kick off today. Here's a photo I took of the resort from the plane yesterday. Okay, okay, I just found it on Google Images. But don't tell anyone...
Not too many reporters who are here expect to see the outside of the hotel much this week. Almost all of our time will be spent in the lobby awaiting news. However, I'll make sure to make it back to my room every so often to update the blog.
UPDATE: Haven't been able to confirm this, but word in the lobby this morning is Pluto failed his steroids test. A huge blow as that would automatically suspend him for the rest of the meetings. Attempts to reach Walt Disney have been unsuccessful.
Comments (31)
Are you all sitting around and waiting for official word or are you actively using sources to try and get "scoops"?
The beat writers like each other or is it a cut throat competition?
Wow...so that's the resort. And I'm stuck in New Jersey. Where it's 30 degrees and windy. Studying for Law School exams. I hate my life.
yo what are the yankees doing this offseason? They obviously need pitching. Yes, signing Kei Igawa was a good move, but i would love to see pettite back in pinstripes. We need some g**damn hardcore yankees pride and bring back a championship: agreed?
atticas - would you recommend law school part time at nite for someone who works full time? is it torture?
Jim--suspend him from the rest of the meets? Why don't we just demote him from the status of "character" altogether, a la his more celestial counterpart?
Here's My Plan next year after 2007 season.
Vernon Wells will be a free agent after 2007 season. I would move Damon to left and play him in center. I always admired Vernon Wells. He had always had a great arm and glove in the outfield.
Rj who will be a free agent after next year. Rj's Salary who's $17 million will coming off the books. Yankees could signed wells to that salary.
Another option will be Signing Mark Texiera next year. He's also will be free agent after 2007 . He could replaced Giambi's and played him at first/Dh.
I'm Sorry for thinking ahead next year.
Mlbtraderumors also mentioned Vernon Wells could be The Next $20 million man next year.
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com
Vernon Wells: The Next $20 Million Man?
Already, speculation is starting that Blue Jays' center fielder Vernon Wells could be the next player to command $20MM annually. Wells turns 28 later this month and will be a free agent after the 2007 season.
Wells's offensive production this year ranked third in baseball for his position, behind only Grady Sizemore and Carlos Beltran. Bill James's panel of fielding experts ranked his glovework 8th among CFs. J.P. Ricciardi seems willing to let Wells play out the string in his walk year rather than try to cash in. The bidding war a year from now could involve the Rangers, Red Sox, White Sox, Phillies, Astros, and Cubs.
Damon's has no arm in outfield. Opposing Teams will try to run on him. For Example Yankees was playing whitesox, Damon has the weakest arms in baseball I've seen, He missed the plate by alot. Wells can covers all the whole field and has strongest throwing arm in the league by far.
Would rather have Damon's or Wells playing in Centerfield?
Move Damon's to right field if they sign Wells? Abreu's who will be free agent after next year.
To Jim B: I would find interesting the support group that BC has brought with him. Is Gene Michael or Joe Torre with him? I have heard that Gene is one smart baseball man. Hopefully, you'll have time to answer this question after your meetings with Mickey and Minnie.
FreeArod -- if you want, e-mail me, and i'll be happy to chat about it a bit (atticas1@aol.com). I'll give you my personal AIM screen name and stuff.
Lilly to the Cubs? Certainly not the Yankees
Larry O'Brien, the agent for Ted Lilly, has tried for weeks to tie his client with the Yankees. But once the team made its bid for Kei Igawa, the Yankees lost all interest in Lilly. Now rumor has it that he is close to signing with the Cubs.
That would indicate the Cubs realize they can't get Jason Schmidt.
Saw Brian Cashman having lunch with his assistants - Jean Afterman, Damon Oppenheimer and Billy Eppler. There is very little buzz about the Yankees so far here.
Yes, thank god. I certainly doesnt want Lily's back anyway .
http://www.lohud.com/blogs/lohudyankees.html
ESPN is also giving up to date reports and rumors at:
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2685697
Lily to the Cubs is one. Wow those Cubbies sure are spending!
• Free agent-reliever David Weathers is closing in on a two-year deal with the Reds, two baseball sources at the winter meetings told ESPN.com. The agreement is believed to be worth about $5 million.
an alarming report on fox, whispers about a-rod for crede + one of the sox's old pitchers and no prospects. that would be a travesty, if a-rod is traded it has to be for young power pitchers, not another boat load of has-beens. if freddy garcia is suddenly so tasty looking, i'm sure the yanks can get him for much less.
hopefully there's a 3-team trade brewing, that's the only way i see a-rod traded.
Andy doesn't look like a steroid user. Thats hard to believe. Clemens is big and it is more believable. Secondly, I wonder if Cashman could unload Pavano or if we are stuck with him going forward.
Gil- I posted something similar on this blog. I agree, I just don't think Crede (with a bad back) and Garcia are enough for A-Rod, no matter if the Yanks want him gone or not, he should still be worth more that that. Garcia doesn't thrill me in the least. I'd have a hard time taking Crede, Garcia AND Buerhle for A-Rod. I understand the Yanks may not want A-Rod, but I wouldn't just dump him.
Gil and Jim A
I would rather trade A-Rod to the Angels for Ervin Santana, Figgins, and I hear they have a top prospect 3B at AAA. I'd pursue something like that over the ChiSox offer. We need SP like Willis or Santana, not some more OLD guys.
Jimbo
For 2008, there are other top line FA that will be available too. Ichiro Suzuki and Tori Hunter come to mind. I love Wells too, but there will be other alternatives. It's fun to speculate, but we really need to focus on 2007.
rick & jim - i definitely hope that if there's any merit to the a-rod rumors it's only as motivation for the angels to get cracking and step up to the plate. the chi sox don't really have a great package for us. with the angels you can pick and choose. signing gary matthews is hardly a signature move for them. a-rod, at 15 mil a year, is a bargain in today's market. go angels, make it happen!...
We shouldn't loose ARod for a middle of the rotation kind of guy and an infielder with back problems. I hope that we keep ARod but if Cash is set on trading him we should get more than that. A lot of baseball people think ARod has gotten a bad rep in NY and would be awesome somewhere else if NY gives up on him.
I hope we keep him, then that RH 1B becomes even more important.
OYF
I too feel that A-Rod would be awesome somewhere else, I just don't see him doing it in NY. He just doesn't have "IT" when it comes to leading when the pressure's on. I think it would be best for all involved for him to get a fresh start somewhere else. However, you don't just give him away. He should bring us a package of very needed pieces, including good, young SP.
I hate Damn Redsox. Red means Evilsort of way They are stealing spotlight away from the Yankees. Redsox Also Copy Yankees does and success.
For Example, Jeter's was named The Captain. Look, They copy The Yankees, Redsox named Varitek as their captain as well. Varitek's who spent fours years in minors of seattle mariners until He was traded to Redsox along with Derek Lowe. Why Does Varitek deserved to be captain of Redsox, He's not considred a true homegrown like Jeter. Trot Nixon's as true redsox, and should be the captain not Varitek.
Second Wang's had great numbers this year, He's yankees homegrown who spent fours years in yankees minor league. I think Redsox was enamored and jealous of Wang's success this year. They to entered Asian market like the yankees and Win The Bid for Matsuzaka's rights.
This "AL" guy copies and pastes these dumb posts in just about every Yankee blog out there.
I just wish she would take the time to read thru the stupidity before she did it.
This my opinion Rufus. I just copy my own opinion and post here it? Do you have problem?
Can't we all just get along?
whoever suggested trading for Figgins & Santana should pause for a moment when dreaming up this stuff! Where would Figgins play? His OBP last yr was around .330 which is terrible and is an equally terrible fielding 3rd baseman w/no power,E.Santana is an O.K. pitcher ,he's not done anything to distinguish himself as a front line pitcher ,maybe outside of beating the Yanks a couple of times.The Yankees have pretty much a set lineup,the only chatter should be around signing a free agent pitcher if Cashman deems it necessary,You don't trade good prospects for a starting pitcher when they're several decent free agents who could be had w/ a few bucks,many who are better or equal to Garcia or E.Santana.If in fact Crede has a bad back ,no way Cashman makes that rumoured deal.Yanks need to find a good lefty reliever,backup catcher,and maybe a 1st baseman.I doubt Cashman is plotting to trade A-Rod without A-Rods consent.Get over the fantasy of other teams backing the truck up with their best pitchers,prospects& talent to please Yankee fans.It doesn't work that way.Jim A. I've found it works better if you side step som
What are you talking about? I didn't suggest they trade A-Rod at all and I'm not the one who suggested the Angels deal, Figgins doesn't do a thing for me. I've been saying on this blog for a month they should keep A-Rod, that I don't think there is any pitcher out there who is woth giving him up for.
Jim A. It's better if you step over the stuff you're not interested in or it will make you a little nutty.
uh..okay.
Jim A. I totally agree with you,I did't imply that you said those things.My message got cut off,if you look above you'll see part 2
Gotcha Ruse.
By the way, Steve Phillips is on ESPN (he's been missing for a while). I urge everyone to take anything he says and believe the opposite. He is hardly ever right about anything. He is saying Manny Ramirez will not be traded so I guess Manny is a goner!