2009 Winter Meetings thread

[blumj]

Originally Posted by dougdirt

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

Granderson's salary doesn't really fit that description, though, it's reasonable and he's more than worth it. The D-Backs just don't make sense to me here.

[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.

[Chip R]

At least Granderson isn't going to the Cubs.

[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.

[westofyou]

Originally Posted by blumj

Who kidnapped Josh Byrnes?

Arnold Johnson?

[blumj]

Originally Posted by westofyou

Arnold Johnson?

I'm sure that would be really funny if I got it. Who's Arnold Johnson?

[OnBaseMachine]

Originally Posted by Chip R

At least Granderson isn't going to the Cubs.

Yep. I'd hate to see Granderson in a Cubs uniform.

[chicoruiz]

Arnold Johnson was the Kansas City A's owner pre-Charlie Finley. Johnson and the Yankee owners were drinking buddies, and the general perception was that Kansas City was being run as a Yankee farm team- that whenever an A's player started looking too good, he was destined for the Yankees in a lopsided trade.

[blumj]

Originally Posted by chicoruiz

Arnold Johnson was the Kansas City A's owner pre-Charlie Finley. Johnson and the Yankee owners were drinking buddies, and the general perception was that Kansas City was being run as a Yankee farm team- that whenever an A's player started looking too good, he was destined for the Yankees in a lopsided trade.

Thank you.

[westofyou]

Originally Posted by chicoruiz

Arnold Johnson was the Kansas City A's owner pre-Charlie Finley. Johnson and the Yankee owners were drinking buddies, and the general perception was that Kansas City was being run as a Yankee farm team- that whenever an A's player started looking too good, he was destined for the Yankees in a lopsided trade.

exactly, it runs pretty deep

Worse, Johnson's former business ties to the Yankees resulted in a series of trades with the Bronx Bombers that helped keep the New York dynasty afloat. Invariably, any good young player was traded to the Yankees for aging veterans and cash. Over the years, Johnson would trade such key players as Roger Maris, Bobby Shantz, Hector Lopez, Clete Boyer, Art Ditmar and Ralph Terry to the Yankees. In return, he did receive some talented younger players such as Norm Siebern and Jerry Lumpe, and the cash helped the team pay the bills. However, with virtually no exceptions, the trades were heavily weighted in favor of the Yankees. This made any fans, reporters and even other teams think that Johnson ran the A's as a Yankee farm team at the major league level. Ironically, Kansas City had been home to the Yankees' top farm team before the A's came to town.

According to The Baseball Hall of Shame by Nash and Zullo, "Johnson had been wheeling and dealing with Yankee owners Del Webb and Dan Topping even before he bought the A's. Webb and Topping held a second mortgage of Johnson's totaling $2.9 million. ...and it was Webb's construction company that remodeled Kansas City's stadium to meet major league specifications." The authors commented, 'No wonder Johnson was a Yankee puppet.'

[KronoRed]

"Special Relationship" I believe it was called.

I'd love to see Bud veto this in the best interests of the game

[Mario-Rijo]

Geez the Yankees strike again. Now they move Melky to LF and just need to pick up Rich Harden (who they seem to want to get their hands on) and a DH to hit behind A-Rod (probably Matsui). Plus they still have that Nationals pick in the rule 5 which I can see them snagging a good BP arm to replace Coke and they are pretty much set. However unless they plan to go against their own plan of trimming some salary and since they no longer have Austin Jackson they probably aren't gonna be blocking Halladay to Boston like it seems they'd like to have done. That's assuming Boston is serious about acquiring him and I kind of doubt it. I think Doc stays put unless the NYM's sign Lackey, and again I think it could happen but probably won't.

Trying to connect the dots to see how this deal could possibly effect the Reds. Harang is a good fit for the Mets short of Lackey going there and they don't deal for Meche. If Lackey does go there perhaps the Angels would have some interest in a Harang for Rivera and Izturis swap (I am assuming they want to deal Rivera because they seem to want to get Bay).

[dougdirt]

Originally Posted by blumj

Granderson's salary doesn't really fit that description, though, it's reasonable and he's more than worth it. The D-Backs just don't make sense to me here.

It does for Detroit who lost a ton of money the last two seasons and has to cut some payroll.

[Falls City Beer]

Count me underwhelmed with what Detroit got as well. In fact, I'd say the Yankees are the only ones coming out smelling like a rose in this deal. But I always prefer quality over quantity.

[dougdirt]

Originally Posted by Falls City Beer

Count me underwhelmed with what Detroit got as well. In fact, I'd say the Yankees are the only ones coming out smelling like a rose in this deal. But I always prefer quality over quantity.

Not a Scherzer fan?