SSH2005

Sure, but he will have to become a better hitter instead of just swinging for the fences. Morneau's .741 OPS from last season wasn't too pretty. For comparison, Rowand had a .736 OPS last year. .251 career AVG .298 career OBP .458 career SLG His numbers in 2004 were even worse. He's also 32 years old now. I wouldn't bet a nickel that Batista will surprise. He will hit some homers but he will also put up a crappy AVG and OPS.

Justin Morneau hasn't shown too much yet. Last season, the Twins were batting him way down low in their order because he was struggling so bad. And Tony Batista stinks.

The shady rumor site has a rumor about the Sox and Tejada... http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2005/12/white_sox_make_.html

Tim Redding. :puke

Tim Redding!!!

We still have Felix Diaz, don't we? Oh wait...

Tejada signed with the Orioles because they offered him a HUGE contract, not because they were a competitive team. Just look at the Orioles' record in previous years before Tejada signed with them before the 2004 season... 2003: 71-91 (.438) 2002: 67-95 (.414) 2001: 63-98 (.391) 2000: 74-88 (.457) 1999: 78-84 (.481) 1998: 79-83 (.488) The Orioles were perennial losers before Tejada signed with them. He signed with them because he wanted a lot of money, not because he wanted to win. Since he already got his fat contract, he thinks he can just demand a trade because he wants to win now. That's being a cancer to me.

I have to agree with you on Brucie's Cubs love. He actually had the nerve to say, "And Jim Hendry is reminding everyone in Chicago that there's two good GM's in town as he locks up Jacque Jones to a three year, $15 million dollar deal." As if that was a good signing or something. :headshake I just had to laugh.

Good point. Isn't demanding a trade two years after agreeing to a long, multi-year contract sort of being a clubhouse cancer? He accepted a contract from the Orioles and is now demanding a trade because he doesn't want to play for them anymore. Keep in mind, Tejada really has no right to demand a trade. He wants a trade because he is disappointed with the Orioles' front office moves and he is sick of playing for a losing team. He is basically telling his teammates that he doesn't think they are good enough to win anything.

I never said that the Orioles weren't asking for McCarthy. I was just saying that KW should make his final offer of Contreras, Uribe, and prospects not named McCarthy. If they say no, move on.

Well, if budget is not an issue and we don't need to dump salary then KW should offer Contreras, Uribe, and prospects not named McCarthy for Tejada. Their salaries would be a wash for 2006.

If we added Tejada, the idea of moving Iguchi down lower in the lineup would be thrown out the window.

If we were to trade Contreras, Uribe, and prospects for Tejada we would actually lower the 2006 payroll a tiny bit. Contreras's 2006 salary: $8 million + $1 million signing bonus Uribe's 2006 salary: $3.15 million ------------------------------------------------------------------------ $9 million + $3.15 million = +$12.15 million Tejada's 2006 salary: $10 million + $2 million signing bonus $12.15 million - $12 million = -$150,000 But I guess we are already well overbudget and need to dump a bit of payroll, not keep it the same right?

It wouldn't be a big deal at all. You could keep Iguchi as your #2 hitter, use Tejada as your #3 hitter, and bump everyone else down a slot. Podsednik Iguchi Tejada Thome Konerko Dye Pierzynski Crede Anderson

Does anyone know what our payroll is at right now?

Last season, Dusty started Todd Hollandsworth in left field over younger players like Jason Dubois and Matt Murton even after the Cubs were pretty much out of the Wild Card. Hendry had to trade Hollandsworth away to get Dusty to finally start Murton full-time. I would not be surprised to see Dusty start Grissom over Murton in left field. Dusty's fetish for veteran players is one of the big reasons why the Cubs suck so bad. Yep, Murton better get off to a hot start for his own sake.

How pathetic is it that Hendry has to sign old geezers to satiate Dusty's manlove for veteran players? Watch Dusty start Marquis Grissom in left field over Matt Murton.

He is demanding a trade so I think he will be moved. And I would give up Contreras, Uribe, and Liotta for Tejada. Not sure the Orioles would accept that offer though.

I'd rather keep McCarthy and let the Orioles keep Bedard in that trade scenario but I don't see the Orioles giving up Tejada for Uribe and possibly only one season of Contreras.

Everytime I see Miguel Olivo join a new team I realize what a steal the Freddy Garcia trade truly was, even if Jeremy Reed pans out.

Supposedly, Contreras wants 3-years, $33-$36 million. http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sp...ack=1&cset=true

I love Contreras but if this is true I would pack Jose's bags and drive him to the airport. I would also live with Podsednik in center field with Anderson backing him up or a platoon of Pods/Anderson in CF.

not a good player either.

Right now, I'd have to agree with those who are ranking the Blue Jays above the Red Sox. They have really improved their team greatly. Roy Halladay A.J. Burnett Gustavo Chacin Josh Towers Ted Lilly That's a damn good rotation. Their bullpen is solid as well with Vinnie Chulk, Jason Frasor, Justin Speier, Pete Walker, and B.J. Ryan. Their offense is also much improved... Frank Catalanotto LF Russ Adams SS Vernon Wells CF Troy Glaus 3B Lyle Overbay 1B Shea Hillenbrand DH Alex Rios RF Gregg Zaun C Aaron Hill 2B The Blue Jays may have overpaid for most of their new acquisitions but they really had a great offseason. That's a better team than the Red Sox in my opinion.

Willie wants to play for the Rockies for a reason. Heh, I like Rotoworld's take: Maybe Willie wants to hit homeruns like Willie Mays Hayes in "Major League II"?