2009 Winter Meetings thread

[OnBaseMachine]

Three-way blockbuster getting close
D-backs would get Jackson; Granderson would go to Yanks
By Steve Gilbert / MLB.com

12/08/09 1:16 PM EST

INDIANAPOLIS -- The D-backs were closing in on a blockbuster three-way trade with the Tigers and Yankees on Tuesday that would bring pitchers Edwin Jackson and Ian Kennedy to Arizona and send away pitchers Max Scherzer and Daniel Schlereth, according to sources.

It was not clear which other players would be involved. FoxSports.com, which originally reported that Tigers outfielder Curtis Granderson, Yankees outfielder Austin Jackson and lefties Phil Coke and Michael Dunn were also involved in the deal, said on Tuesday that the Yankees would be dealing two players instead of three.

A source said that the Yankees were piqued by the idea of installing the left-handed-hitting Granderson into center field at Yankee Stadium, where his power bat could play nicely with the short porch and help reconstruct their lineup for a defense of their World Series title.

The D-backs entered the Winter Meetings searching for a starter to slot behind Brandon Webb, Dan Haren and Scherzer in the rotation and about $10 million to spend. Their plan seemed to call for them to spend the bulk of that money either on a free-agent pitcher or taking part of a large pitcher's contract off another team's hands via trade.

If the deal is indeed structured as believed, it would allow the D-backs to spend their remaining dollars on shoring up the bullpen and bolstering their offense, which has underperformed the past few seasons.

Kennedy missed much of last season after having surgery to repair an aneurysm under his right armpit on May 12. He pitched in four Minor League games for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre last year and tossed a scoreless inning in his one appearance for the Yankees.

The right-hander pitched well in the Arizona Fall League and the D-backs appear to have favorable reports on him.

Jackson, 26, made $2.2 million last year and will be eligible for salary arbitration this winter for the second time, which could push his salary into the $5 million range. Jackson cannot be eligible for free agency until after the 2011 season.

Jackson was 13-9 with a 3.62 ERA in 33 starts last season for the Tigers. A former GM described Jackson's makeup as "off the charts."

http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/news/...=.jsp&c_id=mlb

[OnBaseMachine]

12:48pm: Heyman tweets that an agreement has been reached, with only medicals pending.

12:35pm: Olney now says this deal is close. Sherman says medical records are being exchanged on Granderson. In another tweet Sherman says there's no deadline on the deal, but one source says it's "on the goal line." He adds that removing Dunn from the deal was key for the Yanks.

Tyler Kepner of the New York Times says the deal is "very close," and would be Austin Jackson, Coke, Scherzer, and Schlereth to the Tigers, Edwin Jackson and Kennedy to the D'Backs, and Granderson to the Yankees.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/

Good deal for the Yankees, IMO. Curtis Granderson is a stud, and he'll only get better with the short porch in RF at Yankee Stadium.

[OnBaseMachine]

Braves Designate Ryan Church For Assignment
By Tim Dierkes [December 8 at 12:39pm CST]

The Braves designated outfielder Ryan Church for assignment, tweets Bill Shanks. The move was done to make room for Rafael Soriano, who accepted arbitration last night. Church had been considered a non-tender candidate anyway after hitting .273/.338/.384 in 399 plate appearances for the Braves and Mets in 2009. He earned $2.8MM in '09 and would've been due a raise through arbitration.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/

Church wouldn't be a bad pickup.

[NJReds]

Originally Posted by OnBaseMachine

Church wouldn't be a bad pickup.

The key would be the physical, as he hasn't been in great shape since a very severe concussion that he suffered while with the Mets.

I think GABP would be a good place for Church to put up some decent numbers.

[NJReds]

Originally Posted by OnBaseMachine

12:48pm: Heyman tweets that an agreement has been reached, with only medicals pending.

12:35pm: Olney now says this deal is close. Sherman says medical records are being exchanged on Granderson. In another tweet Sherman says there's no deadline on the deal, but one source says it's "on the goal line." He adds that removing Dunn from the deal was key for the Yanks.

Tyler Kepner of the New York Times says the deal is "very close," and would be Austin Jackson, Coke, Scherzer, and Schlereth to the Tigers, Edwin Jackson and Kennedy to the D'Backs, and Granderson to the Yankees.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/

Good deal for the Yankees, IMO. Curtis Granderson is a stud, and he'll only get better with the short porch in RF at Yankee Stadium.

That's some good talent going to Detroit. Why would AZ give up Scherzer and Schlereth for Jackson?

[Will M]

Church (like Nix) would be a guy to sign to a minor league deal hoping he could be a decent 5th outfielder/pinch hitter. Minimal monetary investment & easy to jettsion if/when Francisco is ready.

[Tom Servo]

Originally Posted by Will M

Church (like Nix) would be a guy to sign to a minor league deal hoping he could be a decent 5th outfielder/pinch hitter. Minimal monetary investment & easy to jettsion if/when Francisco is ready.

I don't know that Church would come as cheap as Nix did.

I've always liked Church and want him on the Reds, but I don't see it happening.

[dougdirt]

Originally Posted by NJReds

That's some good talent going to Detroit. Why would AZ give up Scherzer and Schlereth for Jackson?

And Ian Kennedy!

Detroit and New York both win in this deal. Arizona..... wow.

[OnBaseMachine]

The Big Trade
by Dave Cameron - 12/8/2009 - Comments (11) - Share this Article

It wouldn't be the winter meetings without a big three way trade. This one is pretty substantial.

As the reports stand, here's who is trading places.

To New York Yankees: Curtis Granderson
To Detroit Tigers: Austin Jackson, Max Scherzer, Daniel Schlereth, Phil Coke
To Arizona Diamondbacks: Edwin Jackson, Ian Kennedy

From the Yankees perspective, this deal is almost too good to be true. Heading into his age 29 season, Granderson is a legitimate +4 win center fielder signed to a bargain contract for the next four years. I ranked him as the 22nd most valuable asset in terms of trade value in baseball over the summer, and the Yankees are getting him for a variety pack of role players. He instantly makes their team better, giving them a legitimate all-star center fielder who should thrive in Yankee Stadium. For as much as the Yankees have a payroll advantage, they continue to win because Brian Cashman targets the right players. Granderson is a fantastic acquisition for them.

From the Tigers perspective, this deal makes some sense, even though they're giving up the premier player in the trade. Scherzer is a terrific arm, ranking 44th on my trade value series. He's a quality pitcher who has five years left of team control, giving the Tigers a frontline starter on the cheap who will be in Detroit for the foreseeable future. Jackson should be a decent player, though not a star, and could hold down center field for the league minimum. Schlereth and Coke strengthen the bullpen.

The Tigers aren't as good today as they were yesterday, but they did manage to shed some payroll and still have a premium young player under team control for significant years. I'd rather have Granderson than Scherzer, but considering the cost differences, this deal makes some sense for Detroit.

Arizona, though... what a mess. Jackson and Kennedy will shore up their rotation, but they aren't worth a kid as good as Max Scherzer. Jackson's a mid-rotation starter whose salaries are escalating in arbitration, while Kennedy is a back-end starter who missed most of 2009. They didn't get better, they didn't save money, and they didn't get younger. This move is just not a good one for the D'Backs, unless there's another impressive piece going to Arizona that hasn't been reported.

A+ for the Yankees, who continue to show that they know what they're doing. Not a bad deal for Detroit, who needed to save some cash. But man, I'm sorry for D'Backs fans, who just saw their team screw up.

http://www.fangraphs.com/

[blumj]

Originally Posted by dougdirt

And Ian Kennedy!

Detroit and New York both win in this deal. Arizona..... wow.

Who kidnapped Josh Byrnes? And why do the Yankees always get good players for nothing much?

[dougdirt]

Originally Posted by blumj

Who kidnapped Josh Byrnes? And why do the Yankees always get good players for nothing much?

Because they can pay guys a salary that others can't.

[westofyou]

Originally Posted by blumj

Who kidnapped Josh Byrnes?

Arnold Johnson?

[RANDY IN INDY]

I usually get excited about the winter meetings, but with the Reds stance this season, I can't get too excited.

[BRM]

Originally Posted by RANDY IN CHAR NC

I usually get excited about the winter meetings, but with the Reds stance this season, I can't get too excited.

Same here. Status quo doesn't exactly bring the excitement.

[nate]

The trade went down, whoa.