My understanding of our direction...

[tywright]

We agree that DT won't take Sherrill out of that role unless Sherrill's play dictates the need to "demote him".

I agree though DT won't have the luxury of many options

[allstar1579]

The thing with signing Tex is that he is looking to sign a long term contract. He is not looking for a 1 year deal to play for the WS and call it a day, so wherever he signs will have to be able to compete more than not. We may not be penciled in to win it all next year with him, but say he signs 6 years and we could compete for 5 of them, opposed to the Yankees who are an old team, and may have to "blow it up" to get young real quick and not compete for 4 of those 6. He is the best 1B to be on the market before 2010 (Fielder, Howard), and the best bat to be on the market in likely the same period.

The way teams are shifting to locking up young talent, and trading for guys for a pre-emptive strike at signing them, you have to take a stab at Tex, there will be less and less guys like this on the market. Pitching is a riskier sign, with the difference in leagues there is a genuine difference on how guys will adjust from one to the next, and someone who may be a stud in the NL, might get rocked with a large contract in the AL (Sheets comes to mind).

We have an enticing nucleus with Roberts, Weiters, Markakis, Scott, Jones and then Tex would give us 6 out of 9 positions above average. With more potential because of turnover at SS, 3B and DH we could upgrade there too.
The pitching will come, Guthrie is a good 2-3. Cabrera is a good 4. Matusz, Jake A., Bergesen, and Hernandez give us a good shot at a #1, 3 and 5.

So with all of this considered, are we really that far away from contention?

Not saying that if we are bowled over by an offer for Sherrill (who is replaceable), Huff (would need replaced so it'd have to be good)we shouldn't deal them because we should. The rest all have negative value and at this point we are just riding them out until 2009.

[TGO]

Oh boy...here we go again. So, we are now the front runners for BOTH Tex and Burnett because they both have connections here?

Difference being I think most people are indifferent to Burnett this time around. A few years ago he still had some claim to ace potential. Now basically he is what he is.

Tex on the other hand is the OH's golden god.

[tywright]

If we ever become a serious contender (Tony' lineup, eh?) then Ray-JJ-Sherril in the 7-8-9 innings looks pretty damn solid!

Reminds me of the Lidge, Dotel, Wagner setup that the Astros had a few years back.

[Sports Guy]

I'd consider (but probably ultimately wouldn't go for it) trading for Burnett now with a window to extend him. Maybe give him a 3/$39M deal (tear up his current contract).

So essentially he'd have the option of choosing where he's gonna play (in a place where reportedly he had a lot of interest before) and the security of a 3/$39M deal in case people don't think he's worth the money.

If he takes more money than that, or wants 2-3 years on top of his current two years left, or if he won't sign an extension, no way do I trade for him. And if it takes a ton of talent to get him, I don't either. I make the Blue Jays trade him with the value of a rental, and then hope to get an extension done with him.

Its a very long shot all those scenarios work out, but thats pretty much the only way I'd be interested in Burnett.

Personally, i think that is an awful contract for AJ.

The only way I would sign Burnett is giving him a 2 year incentive laden(IP) contract with a vesting 3rd year option that kicks in with at least 350 IP for the 2 years we would have him signed.

[davearm]

If Burnett opts for free agency, the team that signs him will not lose picks. You can't offer arbitration to a guy who opts out, so Toronto cannot get picks for him.

So whether you trade for him or sign him, no picks lost.

The problem is if you trade for him and he doesn't opt out, you're stuck with his contract. I think that's likely because I think he would like to be in Baltimore. His wife gave him a shot to make the Toronto thing work and it doesn't seem to be.

I'd be interested to know where you got that info. I have the opposite understanding.

[allstar1579]

We agree that DT won't take Sherrill out of that role unless Sherrill's play dictates the need to "demote him".

That is the problems with closers, if you demote them for a better option, they want to be traded and lose effectiveness. If you let them keep it until they become ineffective, they lose trade value. Hence the merit of trading him now while his value is highest providing he is replaceable.

JJ deserves a shot, Ray deserves a chance to get his role back Liz should be turned into a late inning guy eventually when he gets passed by the stud prospects coming up. Not to mention Loewen may be looking at that course by the time he gets back from this elbow injury.

[allstar1579]

Oh boy...here we go again. So, we are now the front runners for BOTH Tex and Burnett because they both have connections here?

Nah, we will be in the running for both because we have desperate need for them and money to spend.

[TyCobb]

I think AM should make a direction and go at it 100%.

Don't just sign Tex. Sign Tex, Dunn, AND Sheets.

I would perfer we go really young. Trading Roberts, Cabrera, Sherrill, Bradford, Walker, Ramon, Huff, and Millar.

[TGO]

I'd be interested to know where you got that info. I have the opposite understanding.

I was going off of what I recalled from the J.D. Drew situation. The Dodgers got no picks for Drew. I can find no news stories about the Dodgers declining arbitration, and they would not logically have done so. That would have been incredibly stupid and I think I would have remembered such a bout of idiocy.

But I also looked into the ARod situation and apparently the Yankees did have the opportunity to offer arbitration. So I don't really know what to make of this.

EDIT: This apparently is controlled by the terms of the contract itself. Drew's contract apparently stated that arbitration could not be offered if he opted out. ARod's said that it could be offered.

[Dipper9]

I think AM should make a direction and go at it 100%.

Don't just sign Tex. Sign Tex, Dunn, AND Sheets.

I would perfer we go really young. Trading Roberts, Cabrera, Sherrill, Bradford, Walker, Ramon, Huff, and Millar.

Why stop there?

I say in addition to Tex, Dunn, and Sheets, what about Sabathia, Furcal, Burnett, and Manny?

2b: Roberts
RF: Kakes
1B: Tex
LF: Manny
DH: Dunn
3B: Huff
C: Wieters
CF: Jones
SS: Furcal

Bench: Scott, Mora, Millar, backup c

Rotation:

Sheets
Sabathia
Burnett
Guthrie
Cabrera

[TyCobb]

Why stop there?

I say in addition to Tex, Dunn, and Sheets, what about Sabathia, Furcal, Burnett, and Manny?

2b: Roberts
RF: Kakes
1B: Tex
LF: Manny
DH: Dunn
3B: Huff
C: Wieters
CF: Jones
SS: Furcal

Bench: Scott, Mora, Millar, backup c

Rotation:

Sheets
Sabathia
Burnett
Guthrie
Cabrera

I think realistically we could sign Dunn, Tex, and Sheets. But Furcal is good. I think we should sign him too.

[Fan4Life]

I think realistically we could sign Dunn, Tex, and Sheets. But Furcal is good. I think we should sign him too.

How much do you think we could stomach salary wise as a team? $120m?

[allstar1579]

Or instead of blowing all of our money on the best of what is out there this year...we could wait and sign Halladay after the next season, or Berkman, or a host of other guys that are free agents...including DCab.

[TyCobb]

How much do you think we could stomach salary wise as a team? $120m?

I think money has never been an issue. I could see 140.