Off Season Low Down - Mlb

[ocho cinco]

Peavy lands NL CY Young

Jake Peavy was the unanimous selection as the NL Cy Young Award winner on Thursday, netting all 32 first-place votes.

Brandon Webb was listed second on every ballot except for one. Someone picked Aaron Harang over him even though Webb had the better ERA by a large margin (3.01 to 3.73) and threw a few more innings. Brad Penny received 14 third-place votes to finish third ahead of Harang (10 points), Carlos Zambrano (3), John Smoltz (2), Cole Hamels (2), Jose Valverde (2) and Jeff Francis (1). Nov. 15 - 2:01 pm et

Even with the A-Rod News... Did the Yanks really offer this up to Lowell? Can he play 1st?

CBS4 Boston's Dan Roche is reporting that the Yankees have offered Mike Lowell a four-year deal worth $56 million-$60 million.

Roche has supposedly confirmed this. It was a different Boston station that last night reported the Braves, Cards, Angels and Yankees had all offered deal worth $55 million-$60 million. That news seemed bogus at the time and still appears this way. However, it is possible that the Yankees are in that territory. If they're going to go that far to land Lowell, Mariano Rivera has a better case for receiving a four-year deal. The Red Sox are still offering Lowell three years. The Phillies continue to deny reports that they're going to be involved, so this may prove to be a two-team race.

A good post season gets you some cash....

Yorvit Torrealba's agent told ESPN Radio that the catcher will sign a three-year contract with the Mets.

With Ramon Castro also set to choose the Mets, the Marlins and Rockies appear set to pick from Paul Lo Duca, Michael Barrett, Jason Kendall and Rod Barajas as they seek their next catcher. Torrealba's deal is likely worth $5 million per year or slightly less. He doesn't require draft-pick compensation from the Mets, though the Rockies will get a supplemental first-rounder for losing him. Nov. 15 - 2:06 pm et

[parrotheadduff]

Reportedly Lowell has said he doesn't want to play 1B.

[SiteWolf]

Odd rumor possibly......but I ALSO heard that Lowell might be asked to move to 2nd............based on Cano POSSIBLY being dealt to the Twins as part of a deal for Santana.................I'd really hate to see that one become true tho I'm at the point now with Johan that I don't hold out a lot of hope he remains in MN.

[ocho cinco]

Originally Posted by parrotheadduff

Reportedly Lowell has said he doesn't want to play 1B.

IMO - I think Lowell should stay in Boston... He had one his best years ever with Manny and Big Papi in the lineup along with the others... He seemed like a good fit up that way...

If Lowell goes elsewhere, what does Boston have in their system as in 3rd basemen? Or would Youk move over to 3rd and someone fill in at 1st?

[ocho cinco]

Both New York teams keep team players....

FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal confirms that the Mets and Luis Castillo are close to a four-year, $25 million contract.

Rosenthal sites major league sources. Castillo's return takes the Mets out of the hunt for David Eckstein. He'll look for another sucker... er, team willing to hand out Julio Lugo-type money

Mariano Rivera has agreed to accept the Yankees' three-year, $45 million offer, a friend who spoke with Rivera today told the Bergen Record.

If you're willing to trust third-hand info, the deal is as good as done. The friend added that Rivera didn't really want the fourth year from the Yankees and might have settled for two years and an option.

[parrotheadduff]

Red Sox have agreed to a 3 year deal with Mike Lowell at between 12 and 15 million per season.

[ocho cinco]

According to Tracy Ringolsby of the Rocky Mountain News, the Astros and Kaz Matsui are close to a deal.

It's been a bad month for Lance Berkman owners. The Astros are going to have Michael Bourn leading off and Matsui likely batting second most of the time. Matsui's career OBP away from Coors Field is .308. Chris Burke is easily the better bet offensively, though Matsui is clearly superior defensively. A platoon, with Matsui sitting against lefties, could be rather productive. Still, the Astros again will disappoint when it comes to getting guys on base for Berkman.

Hunter finds his team???

Sources both in the White Sox organization and Torii Hunter's camp have told the Chicago Sun-Times that the two sides could agree to a contract within the week.

It's the type of addition that would put the White Sox back into the mix in the AL Central next year, but it'd also be a long-term deal for a player about to turn 33. Orlando Cabrera is 33, Jermaine Dye turns 34 in January, Paul Konerko turns 32 in March and Jim Thome is 37, giving the White Sox an old offensive nucleus.

[rich76]

AL MVP - AROD - (interestingly it was NOT unanimous)

NL MVP - J. Rollins - mistake....wrong guy won. IMO Wright from the Mets was the guy

No problem with either Cy Young winner...Peavy/Sabathia

[SiteWolf]

I was a little surprised ARod wasn't unanimous as well......the argument I read saying some felt that while his stats were huge, they didn't result in more wins for the team than other candidates (didn't say I agreed there, just what I read.....matters little, he won)

Rollins...I agree...wrong guy. But MY guy woulda been Holliday, not Wright. One thing I read, however, that I could see in naming Rollins is the number of injuries around him that put a heavier burden on him to keep the team winning. Holliday didn't have that...Wright had a bit more. Regardless, I don't blatantly disagree with Rollins as a choice...he just wouldn't have been mine.

Peavy, no doubt...too many stats in his favor

Sabathia...again, he wouldn't have been my choice but I don't specifically disagree......I just think Beckett was more deserving. Voting was done prior, but the proof was in the playoffs...Beckett shined, CC not so much

[parrotheadduff]

Originally Posted by rich76

NL MVP - J. Rollins - mistake....wrong guy won. IMO Wright from the Mets was the guy

Holiday was more deserving than either Rollins or Wright.

[rich76]

Originally Posted by parrotheadduff

Holiday was more deserving than either Rollins or Wright.

His numbers would not have been reached had he been playing in another home stadium and his defense wasn't even close to Wright's. Wright was also MEASUREABLY better in clutch situations.

[Bill Shaw]

Originally Posted by rich76

Wright was also MEASUREABLY better in clutch situations.

Being on the team that choked a larger lead than any club in MLB history?!?!

[parrotheadduff]

Originally Posted by rich76

His numbers would not have been reached had he been playing in another home stadium and his defense wasn't even close to Wright's. Wright was also MEASUREABLY better in clutch situations.

Holidays numbers are better in all categories except SB.
Who's team made the playoffs?

[rich76]

John...weak arguement..you know as well as anyone that the playoffs should have nothing to do with MVP. Do you really believe that it should?

[rich76]

Originally Posted by Bill Shaw

Being on the team that choked a larger lead than any club in MLB history?!?!

Bill....larger than the Cubs had over the Mets back in the late 60's?