# MLB offseason thread **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** baseball-mlb\ **Created:** [January 3, 2009, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-offseason-thread/479733 "2009-01-03T20:16:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-offseason-thread/479733/101 "2009-01-27T16:24:57Z")
> [@Hawkeyeop](#): > > Maybe Seattle who are in a division where 85 could take it, but they seem disinclined to play for the near future. The Mariners are not planning to contend in 2009. _Maaaaay_be 2010, more like 2011. We’ve been suffering the “just one more piece, just one more short-term move, and we’re in the playoffs, baby” syndrome for five or six years now, and the team has fallen apart. We don’t have a solid starting rotation; we don’t have a closer; we don’t have power in the outfield; we have head cases in the middle of the infield; we have a logjam of mediocrity behind the plate; we have unproven rookies for both manager and GM. It’s gonna take a lot of work to make a functioning team out of this mess. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-offseason-thread/479733/102 "2009-01-27T18:15:40Z")
Anyone here enjoying the MLB Network? I have recently started tuning in to see some of the shows and how they add up together, and I have to say I am enjoying it pretty well. Overall I am not a HUGE baseball fan…I am casual at best and follow my Brewers, but no one else really, but I gotta say I am quite interested in a lot of the MLB network shows. Thoughts from fellow doper sports fans? ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-offseason-thread/479733/103 "2009-01-27T18:39:20Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > Anyone here enjoying the MLB Network? I wouldn’t know; I’m a DISH Network subscriber. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-offseason-thread/479733/104 "2009-01-28T00:59:49Z")
Could the Texas Rangers sneak in out of nowhere in the Manny fiasco? The AL West could be wide open and adding Manny to the Rangers could put them right in that race against the improved A’s and the favorite Angles. Texas isn’t hurt economically as bad as most other states. George W. Bush has no officially connection with the Rangers now, but he is a neighbor of Tom Hicks. The Ballpark in Arlington is a good fit for Manny as well. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-offseason-thread/479733/105 "2009-01-28T13:37:32Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > I don’t think the Tigers or Jays have any money currently to spend on Manny. The Rangers are possible. I don’t know about Colorado either. The Tigers and Blue Jays have already maxed out their payrolls in their efforts to win in 2008; Detroit’s as high as they can go (maybe higher, actually) and Toronto close to it, as the Burnett departure does not leave enough money in the budget. Colorado would have spent more money on Holliday if they had it. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Manny end up back in LA. He’ll play somewhere; sooner or later his asking price will come down. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-offseason-thread/479733/106 "2009-01-28T14:41:51Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > The Tigers and Blue Jays have already maxed out their payrolls in their efforts to win in 2008; Detroit’s as high as they can go (maybe higher, actually) and Toronto close to it, as the Burnett departure does not leave enough money in the budget. Colorado would have spent more money on Holliday if they had it. > > I wouldn’t be surprised to see Manny end up back in LA. He’ll play somewhere; sooner or later his asking price will come down. Correct. The Tigers are pretty much done with adding payroll, and position players, especially (although I’d like a Ty Wiggington). ---
**Author:** ![ProfessorX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@ProfessorX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ProfessorX)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-offseason-thread/479733/107 "2009-01-29T17:58:22Z")
What’s handicapping from Manny going to the Mets? They don’t care much about their payroll and the coach wanted him on the team batting in the middle of his order. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-offseason-thread/479733/108 "2009-01-29T18:23:16Z")
> [@ProfessorX](#): > > What’s handicapping from Manny going to the Mets? They don’t care much about their payroll and the coach wanted him on the team batting in the middle of his order. The Mets want to spend money on one more Starting Pitcher and they don’t have a lot of money to spend this year. The last part is probably one part economy and one part being burnt in the Bernard Madoff’s $50 billion Ponzi scheme. Only the Yankees appear willing to ignore the luxury cap completely and even they are cutting payroll compared to last year. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2009, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-offseason-thread/479733/109 "2009-01-30T23:38:00Z")
[The Red Sox and catcher Jason Varitek reached a preliminary agreement Friday on a $5 million, one-year contract,](http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/story/11319796) ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-offseason-thread/479733/110 "2009-01-31T02:18:33Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > [The Red Sox and catcher Jason Varitek reached a preliminary agreement Friday on a $5 million, one-year contract,](http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/story/11319796) I think that’s about three million too much. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-offseason-thread/479733/111 "2009-01-31T06:16:45Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > I think that’s about three million too much. Could be, but it was a lot less than what he wanted and he is/was the Captain. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-offseason-thread/479733/112 "2009-01-31T16:12:48Z")
What on earth are the Diamondbacks going to do with Tom Gordon? [I guess Phoenix is a retirement destiantion!](http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090130&content_id=3787454&vkey=news_ari&fext=.jsp&c_id=ari) ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-offseason-thread/479733/113 "2009-01-31T19:04:08Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > I think that’s about three million too much. Think he’ll hit over .150? ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-offseason-thread/479733/114 "2009-01-31T19:47:55Z")
> [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](#): > > Think he’ll hit over .150? I’ll be close. I think he’ll be lucky to have an OPS+ over 65. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-offseason-thread/479733/115 "2009-02-03T16:37:38Z")
Well, Manny just [rejected](http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090202&content_id=3793086&vkey=news_la&fext=.jsp&c_id=la) the Dodgers last offer. Wonder where he’ll end up? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-offseason-thread/479733/116 "2009-02-03T17:09:53Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Well, Manny just [rejected](http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090202&content_id=3793086&vkey=news_la&fext=.jsp&c_id=la) the Dodgers last offer. Wonder where he’ll end up? At this rate he’ll be taking a long vacation. Soon there will be no teams left that could offer him anything close to the Dodger money. I hear Abreu down to single year offers under $10m. Maybe the Dodgers will look there. Also Dunn is still out there with his 40HR power. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2009, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-offseason-thread/479733/117 "2009-02-03T17:23:32Z")
I’m beginning to wonder if Manny will end up taking a lesser offer from the Giants just so Boras won’t be seen as crawling back to the Dodgers. The Dodgers can survive without Manny if they have to, but Manny can’t really survive if he doesn’t play _somewhere_ this year. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2009, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-offseason-thread/479733/118 "2009-02-04T00:45:55Z")
Manny has baggage. Many believe he plays when he feels like it. He collects a check those times too. He wants a long term contract, but it seems no one wants to give him one. It will be interesting to see if the Yankees or Mets break the deadlock. It is a lot of money in a bad economic time. It attendance falls ,he will hurt the bottom line. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2009, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-offseason-thread/479733/119 "2009-02-04T00:57:49Z")
Looks like Manny isn’t going to be on an Opening Day roster. At 37, with his minimal defensive skills, and above all his well-earned rep, he looks likely to be a Rent-A-Bat, on a series of one-year deals with a different team every year. This generation’s Bobby Bonds, IOW. Nobody will go multi for him anymore, not with the high risk of him lying down again. I do believe Boston would have won the Series last year if he’d acted like a pro. Maybe other years, including this one, too. ---
**Author:** ![storyteller0910](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@storyteller0910](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/storyteller0910)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2009, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-offseason-thread/479733/120 "2009-02-04T04:13:02Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Looks like Manny isn’t going to be on an Opening Day roster. At 37, with his minimal defensive skills, and above all his well-earned rep, he looks likely to be a Rent-A-Bat, on a series of one-year deals with a different team every year. This generation’s Bobby Bonds, IOW. Nobody will go multi for him anymore, not with the high risk of him lying down again. > > I do believe Boston would have won the Series last year if he’d acted like a pro. Maybe other years, including this one, too. Dear Manny - In Queens we are not nearly so picky as in Boston. We will definitely take two World Series titles in four years and not complain. Our left fielder this year on opening day is probably going to be Fernando Tatis. You’d have to take a pay cut, but if you give us an OPS+ of 136 (which was his OPS+ while “lying down” in Boston last year), we will cheer for you 'till forever. And blue and orange is a pretty cool color scheme, right? Come to Queens, Manny! Yours, Storyteller (by the way, from whence comes this weird idea that Manny will play poorly with a big contract? Isn’t that premise contradicted by, you know, _every year during which Manny has ever had a big contract?_) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-offseason-thread/479733.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-offseason-thread/479733.md?page=7)