JDsDirtySox

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2251887

QUOTE(Milkman delivers @ Dec 7, 2005 -> 09:37 PM) Damn, I was really hoping that some darkhorse team would get him somehow and leave the Indians desperately searching for a closer. Oh well... As odd as this sounds... it had been rumored that Wickman was either going to pitch for the Tribe or retire.

QUOTE(maggsmaggs @ Dec 7, 2005 -> 06:15 PM) The Tigers are overpaying yet again. Magglio, Higginson, Percival now Jones. They do it all the time because they need to in order to get players. If you are going to overpay, do it for someone young, not an oldie like Jones. Agreed. The Tigers are also the team rumored to have an offer to Johnny Damon at 5 years 70 million.

Just remember last year they had Percival, Urbina, and Farnsworth. Last Year's Tigers Pen > This Year's Tigers Pen

Todd Jones has signed a 2 year deal with the Detroit Tigers. Wonder what this means for Troy Percival.

per rotoworld.com: Carl Everett is likely to sign with the Mariners, according to USA Today's Bob Nightengale. It figures. Everett has finished with OPSs of 721 and 746 the last two years. Imagine what he could do at Safeco.

QUOTE(JDsDirtySox @ Dec 6, 2005 -> 12:11 AM) Howry is 6 years younger... could have been had for half the price... and was absolutely lights out last year. I am not saying Trevor Hoffman is garbage, but as an Indians Fan I would rather have Bob Howry and a new 1b/dh rather than Trevor Hoffman. 2005 Howry WHIP 0.89 BAA.191 ERA2.47 Hoffman WHIP 1.11 BAA .235 ERA 2.97 Then factor in Hoffman is 38 with a bad shoulder. He may be effective this year... but they are supposedly giving him a three year deal? This is just my opinion. Let me also add... if Howry's arm problems are gone for good... he is the best bullpen arm on the Cubs period.

QUOTE(qwerty @ Dec 5, 2005 -> 11:50 PM) I see no reason to believe howry is more effective than hoffman. Would you care to explain why you think so? Howry is 6 years younger... could have been had for half the price... and was absolutely lights out last year. I am not saying Trevor Hoffman is garbage, but as an Indians Fan I would rather have Bob Howry and a new 1b/dh rather than Trevor Hoffman. 2005 Howry WHIP 0.89 BAA.191 ERA2.47 Hoffman WHIP 1.11 BAA .235 ERA 2.97 Then factor in Hoffman is 38 with a bad shoulder. He may be effective this year... but they are supposedly giving him a three year deal? This is just my opinion.

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Dec 5, 2005 -> 11:26 PM) Well...that's definitely a lot of money but I think Cleveland thinks they're ready to compete for a championship this year(though I don't) and having a rookie closer step in at the beginning of the year isn't exactly the best way to go about things if you want to win this year. The Bobby situation last year was a bit different cause he came onto the roster as the last man and earned the closer spot or atleast proved he was capable. Very much agreed though that it was a bad move to let Howry go. I understand what you are saying... but Cabrera pitched for the Tribe's bullpen throughout the second half of last year. I think he is damn good.

Couple new things from Rotoworld.com: Free agent Bill Mueller has narrowed his choices to the Dodgers and Pirates, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. If the money is at all similar, there's not much reason for Mueller to choose Pittsburgh over Los Angeles. Dec. 6 - 12:20 am et Source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review The Tacoma News Tribune is also reporting that the Mariners have offered Kevin Millwood $44 million over four years and says the two sides could be close to a deal. The deal may include an option for a fifth year and added incentives. Just one year ago, Millwood signed a deal that guaranteed him $3 million. If the Mariners thought he was such a good bet to stay healthy, where were they then? Dec. 6 - 12:10 am et WOW. 4 years 44 million for Millwood> YIKES. No wonder Garland rejected our first offer. The money for pitchers is going through the roof.

QUOTE(CWSGuy406 @ Dec 5, 2005 -> 11:20 PM) Rosenthal has an article up that pretty much says Hoffman will be taking a physical on Tuesday/Wednesday. Three years, $21-24 -- does that sound right, JD? That must be it. Maybe I am biased, but I think this is a DUMB Move by the Tribe. Why give more money to Hoffman than a younger more effective Bob Howry? Why not let the Cabrera kid (your closer of the future) try to close games... and use 8 million a year on a decent 1b/dh.

I have been told that its a done deal. I have also been told that the Hoffman and Tribe deal is pretty much done too. The AJ Burnett sweepstakes will go for awhile.

1. Hoffman close to signing a 3 year deal with the Tribe. Some are saying a physical could be taken as soon as tomorrow. 2. Talks are that Milton Bradley has been traded to the A's for Kirk Saarloos and Minor Leaguer Mario Ramos. 3. The Padres are the only teaming currently interested in Nomar as an infielder. My guess is thats where he will end up. 4. The Washington Nationals are now getting in on the AJ Burnett bidding. These are some of the important notes I noticed tonight... what caught your eye.

Does anyone know if tonight is the night AJ will be on TNA Wrestling?

Looks like we will see a lot more of the Byrd Man. 2 years 14.25 million to the Tribe. Rosenthal also says the Tribe is the front runner for Trevor Hoffman.

Found this on an Indians board: The Cleveland Plain Dealer believed the Indians will have to offer Trevor Hoffman a two-year deal worth close to $8 million a year with a vesting option for a third year in order to lure him away from the West Coast. Indians GM Mark Shapiro will meet with Hoffman at his home in California this week. The Braves and Tigers appear to be the other top contenders for Hoffman, but the Phillies could get involved if Tom Gordon picks the Yankees or Red Sox. If Brian Giles exceeds their price range, the Indians may target Nomar Garciaparra to aid there offense. The Indians could use Garciaparra at first base or in right field, whereever he'd feel most comfortable. The Orioles and Dodgers are also looking at Garciaparra, and teams like the A's, Twins, Diamondbacks and Braves can't be completely ruled out. The Indians remain in contact with free agent Scott Elarton, who has received interest from 10 teams but has yet to be offered a contract. Elarton is hoping for a two-year deal. The Indians would rather sign him for one year. He'll probably wait until some of the top pitchers sign and see if that helps his market value.

www.670thescore.com

Konerko is scheduled to join B and B on the Score any minute now. Just wanted to let everyone know.

For as much as I cursed at Damaso Marte this year... I will stand up and say I would still rather keep him over Mike Myers.

Here is some new info from whitesox.com As for Williams' comments Friday about possible closure coming during the Winter Meetings in terms of talks with Konerko, Hahn clarified Monday that there is no set date for negotiations to come to a close. But the White Sox need a decision sooner than later in order to make the corresponding moves, if necessary. "I think what Kenny said is that ideally we would like to have closure by the end of the Winter Meetings, but there is no firm deadline," Hahn said. "There is no magical bewitching hour in which we break off conversations. "The desire was expressed to have some closure so that both parties know where Paul is next year. We can continue pursuit of a replacement in Dallas or is he part of the mix." Looks like all the talk of a December 8th deadline is out the window.

QUOTE(chisox2334 @ Nov 28, 2005 -> 10:30 PM) White Sox free-agent slugger Paul Konerko has spoken a couple of times by phone to his high school coach, Jerry Dawson, since the World Series ended. "I know that he loves Chicago and he loves the people," Dawson said Monday from Scottsdale, Ariz. "All things being equal, or close to equal, I know that he would prefer to stay in Chicago." Dawson said he has not specifically brought up the topic of Konerko's free-agent options—"I would never do that." But he knows "Paul will make a smart decision. He is not your normal athlete." Konerko's former high school hitting coach, Mark Miller, and Dawson sat in the left-field bleachers at U.S. Cellular Field when Konerko blasted a grand slam against Houston in Game 2 of the World Series. "We were about 30 feet away from where the ball landed. It was an awesome experience," Dawson said. "I got goose bumps when I heard the fans chanting Paul's name." I keep hearing the Angels and a 5 year/ 65 million deal being mentioned together.

Since you are out in Cali... just wondering what you have heard about Konerko? I would believe that if Anaheim was serious about Paulie, that they would be trying to get him to come visit this week. I think the next two days will tell us where Paul Konerko will be playing the rest of his career.

Its now out that the Indians were also trying hard for Thome. The Phillies turned down a dealing centering around Coco Crisp and David Riske. Glad he is here and not with the Tribe.

This was very cool of Comcast to buy the rights to show this video. Hats off to Comcast, and hats off to MLB for a job well done.

For those of you worried about the clubhouse chemistry... we didn't just trade for Barry Bonds (or even Frank Thomas for that matter). We traded for Jim Thome... a player considered one of the best clubhouse people ever. Trust In KW. We are World Champs because of his offseason moves last year.