Hot Stove

Hot Stove, 2008. The Major League Baseball hot stove season has officially begun – easy to spot because it is roughly the same time ESPN “reporters” start following around Yankees and Red Sox execs like they are fucking Paris Hilton. This year should be full of surprises, simply because of a fertile free agent market with names like CC Sabathia and Manny Ramirez, not to mention Matt Holliday and Jake Peavy on the trading block. How pissed is Holliday – and Scott Boras – for getting traded from the best hitters ballpark in baseball, to arguably the worst for his walk year? ProjectFantasy.com has compiled an aggregate ranking score, taking in the myriad of statistical analyses and rankings out there and averaging them into one list. Colorado comes in first, by a long shot over Wrigley. Oakland? 25th. Check out the rankings here. It really wouldn’t be a huge deal for most players, but Holliday’s splits are not encouraging. In 2008, he hit .357/.423/.645 at home (BA/OBP/SLUG), on the road .280/.348/.455. Should be interesting to see how he adjusts to the cavernous confines at the Oakland Coliseum.

Yesterday the Yankees extended an offer to CC Sabathia in the Johan Santana range, just eclipsing Santana’s 6 year, 137.5 million dollar deal. I guess the Yankees figure to squelch negotiations by overpaying, because Sabathia is not as good as Santana. Of course, his performance with the Brewers was certainly overpowering, and timely. But Sabathia’s career numbers? 117-73, with a 3.66 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP. Santana’s at 109-51, 3.11, 1.10. With the premium you have to give Sabathia, I just don’t see how you can justify signing him over Derek Lowe, AJ Burnett or even Ryan Dempster. Especially considering Mike Mussina won 20 games last year, Joba looked great in a starting role, Wang will be back to reclaim his ace mantle, and Phil Hughes is 22 years old! 22! Don’t sell him down the river yet! But hey, the Yankees have a new stadium and money to burn. They declined the 22 million dollar option on Jason Giambi, and most likely will be showing Bobby Abreu the door as well – they are stacked with corner outfielders. Nick Swisher’s acquisition sheds doubts on any offer being made to Mark Teixera, so look for Sabathia in pinstripes. I don’t think they are done, though. Hank Steinbrenner can’t be happy with choosing between Melky Cabrera and Brett Gardner in centerfield, but that market looks pretty thin this year. Can Brian Giles play centerfield? His plate approach certainly fits in with the Yankee philosophy, and the Padres will be jettisoning him as soon as Peavy is out the door . . .

How bout the Red Sox? They are in much better shape going into the offseason. They still have a few questions to be answered, however. Assuming Josh Beckett is healthy, they have to decide what to do with Justin Masterson. Is he a starter? If he is, then suddenly you have some huge bargaining chips, first and foremost Clay Bucholz. What about Jason Varitek? I am sure Red Sox Nation wants to keep him, but according to Baseball Reference Varitek was the worst offensive catcher in baseball. By a long shot. That is saying something. The Indians will be dangling either Kelly Shoppach or Victor Martinez, and when you have trade bait like Bucholz, you have to seriously consider showing Tek the door. And what about Jacoby Ellsbury? Was I the only one who was taken aback by Coco Crisp starting the last 5 games of the LCS? Crisp performed admirably all year when given the opportunity, and I don’t think either player will be content to share time again next year . . . so once again the Red Sox have another attractive piece to deal. The fucking rich get richer . . .

I was shocked to see the Chicago Cubs gave Kerry Wood the door yesterday. I think about the Cubs, and Kerry Wood comes to mind. I still remember being in high school and watching Wood skewer the Astros live on WGN to the tune of 20 Ks. Wood wants 4 years, and the acquisition of Kevin Gregg from Florida, coupled with the presence of Carlos Marmol, makes him too pricey. But what a shame. I would love to see Wood in Dodger Blue. The biggest priority for the Cubs has to be Ryan Dempster. He was arguably their best pitcher this year – certainly in the friendly confines – and it would be a huge blow to see him leave. They also have decisions to make in their outfield. Fukodome was a disappointment in the second half, but simply because of his contract he is going to get a shot. Reed Johnson is still hanging around, and don’t forget about Felix Pie. He was the golden child at one point, and I don’t see Jim Hendry and co. giving up on him. Evidently, Micah Hoffpaiur is in Venezuela learning to play outfield, so there is that. Still, I am sure Raul Ibanez is on their radar, as well as the glut of other free agent outfielders available this offseason. Think they want Juan Pierre back? Depending on whether they re-sign Dempster, Rich Hill and Jason Marquis could serve as trade bait. All this is moot if they make a move for Peavy, who lists the Cubs as one of his preferred destinations. But I think that move is contingent on Dempster, so we will see . . .

What about my Dodgers? Yeah, I was gonna talk about 4 teams today, and you knew the Dodgers would be in the mix. Obviously, one question hangs over everything Ned Colletti and Joe Torre want to do: Manny. There is no need to re-hash his impact here. They need to sign him, bottom line, or risk a mutiny among not only their fickle fan base but their young core of players, who took to Manny like a fish to water. Unfortunately, the Dodgers have a few albatrosses hanging around their neck. Juan Pierre and Andruw Jones are slated to make 30 million dollars next year, and will probably be bench players at best! They are both demanding trades, but . . . go Ned Colletti, great contracts there . . . untradeable! Assuming they sign Manny, and I just can’t imagine they wouldn’t, what they need to get is a starting pitcher. Derek Lowe has made it known he doesn’t like the laid back attitude towards baseball Southern Californians have, and wants to go back east. I hope Carolyn Hughes likes Manhattan. They let Brad Penny go, thankfully, so that leaves them with some holes in the rotation. Billingsley may be an ace, but I see him as a number two. Bolstering him is Hiroki Kuroda, a serviceable number 3, and a bunch of really promising youngsters – Clayton Kershaw, James McDonald, and Scott Elbert. They may all be legitimate big leaguers – McDonald looked unhittable at the end of the season – but they need a bona fide front of the rotation guy. So look for them to make a run at AJ Burnett, and probably Ryan Dempster as well. And maybe Ben Sheets? He would certainly fit the mold of fragile Dodger free agent signings. All would settle in nicely as “co-aces” with Billingsley. I have my fingers crossed. Four more teams in a few days.