Jim VassalloPlenty Going On
November 12th 2008 22:59
Even though the off-season is in full swing there is still plenty going on in the world of baseball. Two major trades occurred this week, with one of them being finalized on Wednesday, and plenty of rumors whirling around the free agent water cooler and the trade winds continue to swirl around the Rockies.
The Manager of the Year Awards were announced on Wednesday and their were no surprises. Joe Maddon was given the American League Award while Lou Piniella was given the National League Award.
Maddon led the Rays to their first ever playoff berth, won the American League pennant and fell in the World Series, four games to one to the Phillies. The team finished with 97 wins, the AL East title and a ton of respect from the entire league.
The Cubs, under Piniella's leadership, won 97 games for the best record in the National League. They took home the NL Central title but were swept in the first round of the playoffs by the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 97 wins was the most by the Cubs since they won 98 in 1945, the last time they played in a World Series.
Aside from the Manager of the Year Awards, the trade between the Rockies and A's was finalized on Wednesday. The deal was pending physicals, which were completed Wednesday. The A's will receive the 2007 runner up in the MVP Award race Matt Holliday from the Rockies in exchange for outfielder Carlos Gonzalez and pitchers Greg Smith and Huston Street.
Gonzalez was originally acquired by the A's in the Dan Haren trade with the Diamondbacks prior to the 2008 season. Street will more than likely take over as closer of the Rockies since Brian Fuentes will more than likely hit the market on Friday and not resign with the team.
There have been other trade rumors coming out of Colorado that Garrett Atkins might be the next member of the Rockies to be traded out of town. He has been involved in trade rumors since prior to the 2007 season and was rumored to be on the move at the July 31st trading deadline along with Holliday but neither of them were moved. Atkins might be on the move before Spring Training.
As the day moved, on the free agent pool of pitchers dwindled by one. Left handed reliever Damaso Marte resigned with the Yankees for three years worth $12 million and a club option for 2012. Marte's club option for 2009 was bought out for $250,000 last week by the Yankees, who made it known that they wanted to sign Marte to a longer contract.
Marte was originally acquired by the Yankees on July 26th with outfielder Xavier Nady for Jeff Karstens and three other players from the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Thursday marks the final day of the free agent filing period and Friday marks the free agent signing period where players can sign with teams other than their current ones. The Hot Stove has begun to heat up and will get even hotter once midnight Thursday rolls around and Friday arrives. Teams will be knocking down the doors of C.C. Sabathia, Mark Teixeira, Manny Ramirez and other high profile free agents including Pat Burrell and Bobby Abreu and closer Francisco Rodriguez.
One of the trades on the block right now that has not been completed but will be soon is the deal for Jake Peavy of the San Diego Padres. GM Kevin Towers is looking to move Peavy, as well as shortstop Khalil Greene, before Spring Training. The Padres lost 99 games in 2008 and are in the midst of a rebuilding phase. Peavy has been rumored in quite a few possible deals involving the Cubss and most notably the Braves.
Braves' GM Frank Wren has put an offer on the table for the Padres to review and it includes shortstop Yunel Escobar, either Gorkys Hernandez or Jordan Schafer and a Major League tested pitcher. Both Hernandez and Schafer are center fielders. The pitcher could be Jo Jo Reyes or highly touted prospect Charlie Morton.
Many sources around Major League Baseball feel that this deal on the table from the Braves is better than the deal the Cubs will be able to put together. One problem standing in the way of trading Peavy to the Braves is his full no-trade clause. Peavy wants to make sure that the Braves have a shot at winning the NL East in 2009 and he doesn't feel that that is a possibility.
The Manager of the Year Awards were announced on Wednesday and their were no surprises. Joe Maddon was given the American League Award while Lou Piniella was given the National League Award.
Maddon led the Rays to their first ever playoff berth, won the American League pennant and fell in the World Series, four games to one to the Phillies. The team finished with 97 wins, the AL East title and a ton of respect from the entire league.
The Cubs, under Piniella's leadership, won 97 games for the best record in the National League. They took home the NL Central title but were swept in the first round of the playoffs by the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 97 wins was the most by the Cubs since they won 98 in 1945, the last time they played in a World Series.
Aside from the Manager of the Year Awards, the trade between the Rockies and A's was finalized on Wednesday. The deal was pending physicals, which were completed Wednesday. The A's will receive the 2007 runner up in the MVP Award race Matt Holliday from the Rockies in exchange for outfielder Carlos Gonzalez and pitchers Greg Smith and Huston Street.
Gonzalez was originally acquired by the A's in the Dan Haren trade with the Diamondbacks prior to the 2008 season. Street will more than likely take over as closer of the Rockies since Brian Fuentes will more than likely hit the market on Friday and not resign with the team.
There have been other trade rumors coming out of Colorado that Garrett Atkins might be the next member of the Rockies to be traded out of town. He has been involved in trade rumors since prior to the 2007 season and was rumored to be on the move at the July 31st trading deadline along with Holliday but neither of them were moved. Atkins might be on the move before Spring Training.
As the day moved, on the free agent pool of pitchers dwindled by one. Left handed reliever Damaso Marte resigned with the Yankees for three years worth $12 million and a club option for 2012. Marte's club option for 2009 was bought out for $250,000 last week by the Yankees, who made it known that they wanted to sign Marte to a longer contract.
Marte was originally acquired by the Yankees on July 26th with outfielder Xavier Nady for Jeff Karstens and three other players from the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Thursday marks the final day of the free agent filing period and Friday marks the free agent signing period where players can sign with teams other than their current ones. The Hot Stove has begun to heat up and will get even hotter once midnight Thursday rolls around and Friday arrives. Teams will be knocking down the doors of C.C. Sabathia, Mark Teixeira, Manny Ramirez and other high profile free agents including Pat Burrell and Bobby Abreu and closer Francisco Rodriguez.
One of the trades on the block right now that has not been completed but will be soon is the deal for Jake Peavy of the San Diego Padres. GM Kevin Towers is looking to move Peavy, as well as shortstop Khalil Greene, before Spring Training. The Padres lost 99 games in 2008 and are in the midst of a rebuilding phase. Peavy has been rumored in quite a few possible deals involving the Cubss and most notably the Braves.
Braves' GM Frank Wren has put an offer on the table for the Padres to review and it includes shortstop Yunel Escobar, either Gorkys Hernandez or Jordan Schafer and a Major League tested pitcher. Both Hernandez and Schafer are center fielders. The pitcher could be Jo Jo Reyes or highly touted prospect Charlie Morton.
Many sources around Major League Baseball feel that this deal on the table from the Braves is better than the deal the Cubs will be able to put together. One problem standing in the way of trading Peavy to the Braves is his full no-trade clause. Peavy wants to make sure that the Braves have a shot at winning the NL East in 2009 and he doesn't feel that that is a possibility.
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