upnorthsox

The Anaheim Angels agreed to a $5 million, one-year contract with right-hander Paul Byrd on Tuesday, and traded pitcher Ramon Ortiz to the Cincinnati Reds for a minor league pitcher. Byrd, 34, was a 8-7 with a 3.94 ERA in 19 starts for the Atlanta Braves last season. He began the season on the 60-day disabled list recovering from reconstructive elbow surgery and was activated June 19. Byrd has a 60-53 big league record with a 4.33 ERA in 215 games, including 127 starts. He has also pitched for the New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies and Kansas City Royals. He gets $500,000 signing bonus and a $4.5 million salary, Ortiz, a 31-year-old right-hander, figures to be a member of the Reds' starting rotation. He was 5-7 with a 4.43 ERA in 34 games -- 14 of them starts -- for the Angels last season.

Because there's no starters out there as FA's that aren't big ??? for this team. What makes anyone think that Perez will win more than his 7 last yr or Clement will win more than 9(and finish the yr in the rotation) with the Sox? Because of our monster offense? Bonk! Sorry that's gone now and we'll be lucky to keep up with last yrs Cub and Dodger O's.

I see he didn't mention that his best yr with those guys in KC('00) he had 0 steals or that he has only 23 in a 10 yr career.

Cotts is our lefty specialist, the only way he doesn't make the team is if another lefty(Munoz?) beats him out. Adkins will most likely start the season in AAA but I like the kid and none of the vets better come to camp thinking they've already made the team.

Fine, if you just want to save money then trade Konerko or even better...Contreras.

You're not going to find any quality starters among the non-tenders, maybe a platoon MIFer or a certain catcher from the Giants but that's about it.

No way he gets non-tendered but he's definitely available. We'd most likely have to move someone to afford him though.

See ya in bankruptcy court D-Backs!!! Time to get serious on the Hudson trail.

I do too.

He's worth 7yrs $90 mil? I guess we'll agree to disagree on that.

The A's owners are cheap though, cheap cheap cheap. Come to think of it, this may not even be Beane's call.

That's stupid imo, they'd be much better off with Koskie than throwing all that $$$$ at Beltre. Sounds like the type of move the old GM would make.

I'm not so sure about that, teams don't want to overpay for a one yr rental either(that's why we got Colon for so cheap). Remember, everybody knows that Hudson is available and nothing is stopping them(except themselves) from offering more, this may just be the best package offered for him. It's also obvious that Beane doesn't want salary back which would rule out the Sox offering Lee or Konerko but it might explain why we're hearing about talks with the BJays and DRays.

Come to think of it, I recall Beane really covets Huff. I could see where Huff could be the key to a Hudson deal.

The Blue Jays have no interest in signing Japanese reliever Denny Tomori after working him out yesterday. Said GM J.P. Ricciardi, "Any time you have 87-year-old Bobby Mattick asking for a bat, that's a good time to pass." Dec. 12 - 3:10 pm et Source: Toronto Sun LOL!!

Honestly I just don't see a trade, I mean I can see us getting Huff as a replacement for CLee or even as part of a three-way with Huff going to the D-Backs, but what do the D-Rays get out of it? Konerko? There'd have to be more involved.

The Rangers are willing to give up Juan Dominguez in return for Shawn Chacon. Colorado is still hoping for Ian Kinsler, but that's unlikely to happen. Dominguez would be a candidate to act as Colorado's fifth starter if dealt. Dec. 12 - 2:39 pm et Source: Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Royce Clayton's one-year deal with the Diamondbacks is expected to be worth $1.35 million. An option for 2006 may be included. The deal will become official after the shortstop takes a physical. Dec. 12 - 1:49 pm et Source: East Valley Tribune

The Giants are going after Mike Matheny because A.J. Pierzynski is asking for too much in a multiyear deal. GM Brian Sabean has no interest in going to arbitration with Pierzynski. A modest two- or three-year deal is more to the Giants' liking. If Pierzynski continues to ask for too much, he'll be traded or non-tendered. Dec. 12 - 2:25 pm et Source: San Francisco Chronicle

I don't know, I could see the Yanks keeping Burnett and being damm happy about it.

As I recall, Seaver was the best pitcher on the Sox while we had him. It wasn't his fault the rest of the guys went into the toilet.

Dodgers GM Paul DePodesta said he has spoken with representatives for free agent Mike Matheny. The Dodgers aren't going to enter next season with Dave Ross as a starter. DePodesta said he's not pursuing Jason Varitek, but he has engaged in trade discussions involving other catchers. Mike Lieberthal could be one possibility. Dec. 11 - 1:42 pm et Source: Los Angeles Daily News I would be interested in Matheny, great D catcher.

Hinske is an absolute butcher at 3rd while Crede still has the potential to be a GGer. If their O stats are close to the same then there's no comparison.

The same things were said about Ortiz 2 yrs ago when we were looking to trade for him and all he's done is win 38 games in the 2 yrs since. I'm just a little surprised that many Sox fans don't seem to like him when he's pretty much a RH'ed Buehrle. Didn't Garcia play on some pretty damm good teams too? Give me a starter who knows how to "just win" anytime over your speedgun demons(read Kerry Wood).

Randy Johnson has little interest in staying in Arizona despite the team's recent moves. "Randy has a very positive outlook about the Diamondbacks," agent Alan Nero said. "It's just that he's determined that he needs to be elsewhere." That somewhere else is probably New York, but the Angels intend to let Steve Finley attempt to recruit Johnson to Anaheim. Dec. 11 - 1:35 pm et Source: Tucson Citizen