MLB Hot Stove Season Begins

Ahh yes boys and girls... tis the season where all the failures of the previous year are forgotten. All the pain seems to vanish when the new star, the "savior" is introduced to their new team. O, how I love the MLB off-season.

Where do we start. Last week we talked about the monstrosity that was Scott Boras and Alex Rodriguez. He's still not signed by anyone and I reall don't have anything else left to say as far as A-Rod is concerned. I expect to see him playing for some west coast team next season. Anything else would be unexpected. So what is Mr. Rodriguez' team going to do about the significant hole left by his departure from the Bronx? Lets take a look and see who's available...not much. When the talent pool consists of the likes of Russell Branyan and Chris Woodward, there are some pretty slim pickin's for the pinstripes to choose from. The only notable name is Mike Lowell. Yes, that's World Series MVP, Mike Lowell, Mr-I-had-a-career -rebirth-playing-in-Boston, Mike Lowell. Smart money says he's not going anywhere.

But the Yankees did do something right. Jorge Posada was just resigned by the boys in the Bronx. Now they just have to re-sign Mariano Rivera and Yankee nation will not be crying foul.
As a whole, the free agent pool this year is one of the slim-est in a long time. Pitching is sparse, outfield position players are suspect. This means that trades are always a possibility.

The biggest names on the trade front are third baseman Miguel Cabrera and pitching god Johan Santana. Both of these deals would require multiple farm hands being exchanged along with cash and other considerations. Everyone would like both of these studs, its just a matter of where they end up at the end of the winter, if they even move at all.

This is just barely scratching the surface. Deadline deals are abound and ridiculous trade scenarios are almost inevitably going to be discussed. Anything can happen from now until the end of December, that's what really makes this "The most wonderful time of the year."

Matt Armstrong

Matt Armstrong On Alex

Hmmm. So the Yankees were not in the World Series. All is lost. A crushing blow has been dealt to the Yankee faithful, there will be no celebrating in the streets of Manhattan for 7th straight year. Gloom and doom, lets move on.

But somehow, boys in pinstripes still remained the top story..."whats going on with Joe?", " will Alex opt out", " what happened to the squirrel that climbed the right field foul pole during the month of August"? Attention seemed to shift from the games being played and the fascinating stories that go along with them to the sun once again circling around the Bronx.

Leave it to power agent Scott Boras to steal the thunder of the Boston Red Sox winning another world championship. Alex wants more money! Pay him what he deserves. Now please, I'm not doubting the numbers that A-Rod puts up, he's a freak, but 350 million dollars just to be considered? There are eleven (that's right, one less than 12 and one more than 10) franchises that aren't even valued at 350 million. The Marlins, D-Rays, Brewers, and Twins are just a few of the names on the Forbes list that don't even break the 300 million plateau. Lets not forget, those Colorado Rockies, (who by the way made it further into the playoffs than Alex's Yanks) their entire net worth is valued at only 317 million.

What does this mean? There are in reality only a few teams that can afford to sign A-Rod. However the interesting question is what will that mean for the team for the rest of the off season. Will signing Alex be the only post season move that one organization makes? That might just be the case considering all available cash will be thrown in his direction. If your team can afford it, I say sure sign Alex. But be for warned, adding this large contract could end up crippling you financially and the results may not be what you had hoped for.

He claims he wants to play for the team that has the greatest chances of winning a world championship. That seemingly was the case when he went to New York. He lived the high life, went from batting 8th in the post season to thriving in the core of the order, seemingly skyrocketing his player value. Meanwhile he's cutting commercials and posing for pictures while trying to escape Toronto paparazzi. He's a celeb alright, and hes got the cash to back it up. But if you pass Alex in the street someday, ask him how his rings are doing. Isn't that what he was looking for to begin with? How's that working for you buddy...

http://www.forbes.com/lists/2007/33/07mlb_The-Business-Of-Baseball_Rank.html

That link will show you how much your squad is worth...and yes that is 1 billion next to the Yankees.

Matt Armstrong

Publicity 101

During his Alex Rodriguez rant to The Times this week, Hank Steinbrenner asked, "does he (Rodriguez) want to go into the Hall of Fame as a Yankee, or a Toledo Mud Hen?"

Well, the Mud Hens would like an answer. As first reported by The Detroit Free Press, Toledo has sent Rodriguez's agent Scott Boras a letter containing an offer. The proposed deal would give an incentive for hitting 75 home runs a season. There would also be a bonus for leading the team to ten consecutive Governor's Cups. The team's graphics designer even concocted a Hall of Fame plaque of Rodrigez in a Mud Hens cap. However, the note makes it clear that A-Rod's spot in the Mud Hen lineup is not guaranteed. The team says that reigning IL MVP Mike Hessman guards their hot corner. “We think that it would be a healthy competition at spring training between the two of them,” reads the letter. “Would your client be willing to play a different position?”

Toledo didn't need the two-time MVP's help winning the International League title in 2005 or 2006. However, the Mud Hens were swept from the first round of the 2007 IL playoffs by the Durham Bulls.

A-Rod Opts Out

Alex Rodriguez has opted out of his contract with the New York Yankees. The announcement came from super agent Scott Boras last night and was confirmed by Hank Steinbrenner.

"It's clear he didn't want to be a Yankee," Steinbrenner told the New York Daily News. "He doesn't understand the privilege of being a Yankee on a team where the owners are willing to pay $200 million to put a winning product on the field.

"I don't want anybody on my team that doesn't want to be a Yankee. It's goodbye."

MLB Dlog: Boras vs. Angelos on the Horizon

How many other drafts will you see where a player's status is lowered because of who his agent is? The Baltimore Orioles selected Matt Wieters, catcher out of Georgia Tech, with the fifth pick. He was projected as the second pick, but teams don't like dealing with Scott Boras. Seems as though his clients lack "signability", a word ESPN made up for today's coverage. Corner infielder Mike Moustakas went second overall to the Royals, Cubs took 3B Josh Vitters with the third pick and Pittsburgh took Dan Moskus with the fourth selection. Moustakas is straight out of high school where he hit 52 career home runs, 24 this season. Both are California state records. Bud Selig greeted him with a Kansas City cap and a urine cup.