# The Official MLB Offseason Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [October 29, 2011, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185 "2011-10-29T14:39:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**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:** [October 30, 2011, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/21 "2011-10-30T19:36:28Z")
I think the Yanks are more likely to try to get Oswalt or Buerhle than CJ Wilson. I suspect someone will overpay CJ and he will get a 5x$15m or better contract. That team will probably be making a mistake. Oswalt or Buerhle might go for a a 2 year contract. Yanks won’t be players for any positional free-agents of note. Just shuffling around the veterans for the bench. They already took the options on Swisher & Cano. Soriano did not opt out sadly and Cashman’s new deal is ready to be announced. The biggest thing for the Yanks will be CC Sabathia’s opt out of course. CC is going to get some extra money and probably and extra year. Currently he is due $23m/ through 2015. CBS has a fair Free Agent Tracker up: [http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/transactions/free-agents](http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/transactions/free-agents) ---
**Author:** ![RetroVertigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@RetroVertigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RetroVertigo)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2011, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/22 "2011-10-30T20:35:42Z")
I think the Rangers will be the most interesting team to watch this off-season. With their new huge TV deal they will have the money to start going after some big free agents. ---
**Author:** ![Tanbarkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a698b9/32.png) [@Tanbarkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tanbarkie)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2011, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/23 "2011-10-30T20:51:01Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > I think the Yanks are more likely to try to get Oswalt or Buerhle than CJ Wilson. I suspect someone will overpay CJ and he will get a 5x$15m or better contract. That team will probably be making a mistake. Oswalt or Buerhle might go for a a 2 year contract. Heh. I was just about to say _exactly_ the same thing, but for the Red Sox. Should be an interesting offseason. We’ve got two superstar first basemen on the free agent market, and the two biggest spending teams will be in a battle royale for… short-contract veteran starters. Agreed that Wilson will get overpaid, although it might be less than one might have anticipated prior to the playoffs. Oswalt and Buerhle are likely to provide far more value for the money. Personally, I think the most interesting name to follow will be Yu Darvish, who is due to be posted this year. With so many teams seeking good starting pitching, he’s probably going to make quite a lot of money. I’m with **RetroVertigo** in expecting Texas to be an interesting team to watch, as well. They’ll be flush with cash soon enough, and will be looking to make up for two lost World Series in a row. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2011, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/24 "2011-10-30T21:17:22Z")
> [@RetroVertigo](#): > > I think the Rangers will be the most interesting team to watch this off-season. With their new huge TV deal they will have the money to start going after some big free agents. What do they need? Perhaps the Yankees need more money , then they can win the World Series. ---
**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:** [October 30, 2011, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/25 "2011-10-30T21:23:33Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > By the way, **silenus** , you are a bitter, bitter man. Yes, yes I am. Something I have loved my entire life has been raped, pillaged and dragged through the mud by a sub-human pig-fucker whom I wouldn’t cross the street to piss on if he was on fire. (Please oh please oh please!) ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2011, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/26 "2011-10-30T23:04:17Z")
WRT to teams switching leagues: 1.Milwaukee had a LONG history as an NL city (the Braves) 2.Switch Colorado or Arizona to the AL. If you want two TX teams in the AL, why not move the Yankees or ChiSox to the NL, because then you’d have two NYC or Chicago teams in a league. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![RetroVertigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@RetroVertigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RetroVertigo)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2011, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/27 "2011-10-30T23:33:47Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > What do they need? > Perhaps the Yankees need more money , then they can win the World Series. Starting Pitching. Middle Relief. 1st Basemen. Extending Hamilton. Left Fielder. And there is a difference on spending a shit ton of cash, and spending it wisely. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2011, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/28 "2011-10-31T00:37:45Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > WRT to teams switching leagues: > > 1.Milwaukee had a LONG history as an NL city (the Braves) No to be a jerk or anything, but the Braves were in Milwaukee for just 13 seasons. The Brewers were in the AL more than twice that long. ---
**Author:** ![Cell\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@Cell\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cell_Guy)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2011, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/29 "2011-10-31T14:25:13Z")
This morning the Cardinals announced Tony La Russa’s retirement. [http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20111031&content\_id=25849368&vkey=news\_stl&c\_id=stl](http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20111031&content_id=25849368&vkey=news_stl&c_id=stl) I recall a few years ago La Russa said he would keep coming back as long as Pujols was a Cardinal (sorry, no cite). I hope this doesn’t mean that Albert plans on bolting someplace else. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2011, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/30 "2011-10-31T14:29:49Z")
> [@Cell\_Guy](#): > > This morning the Cardinals announced Tony La Russa’s retirement. This doesn’t surprise me. He’s been thinking about it for a couple of years, and now he can go out on a winning note. He’s over 65; I can’t imagine he’d stick around for the ten years of a new Pujols contract. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2011, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/31 "2011-10-31T14:43:54Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Soriano did not opt out sadly Of course not. What a stupid contract. > [@](#): > > The biggest thing for the Yanks will be CC Sabathia’s opt out of course. CC is going to get some extra money and probably and extra year. Currently he is due $23m/ through 2015. Since he’s by far their most reliable pitcher, I imagine they’ll be willing to give him a few extra million a year and a few extra years. I don’t see a better option out there. > [@etv78](#): > > 2.Switch Colorado or Arizona to the AL. If you want two TX teams in the AL, why not move the Yankees or ChiSox to the NL, because then you’d have two NYC or Chicago teams in a league. :rolleyes: The feeling is that the Rangers don’t have a strong rivalry and if one developed with the Astros it might benefit both teams. It would also solve the problem of the NL Central being the only six-team division in baseball and the AL West being the only four-team division. A lot of people feel that that’s unfair. > [@Cell\_Guy](#): > > I recall a few years ago La Russa said he would keep coming back as long as Pujols was a Cardinal (sorry, no cite). I hope this doesn’t mean that Albert plans on bolting someplace else. Pujols doesn’t hit the open market for a few more days. This is just La Russa going out on a high note. It’s crazy that they won the Series this year and the last couple of seasons there’s been talk about him maybe retiring, so this would be the time. I still think Pujols stays in St. Louis. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2011, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/32 "2011-10-31T18:19:02Z")
It’s a good note for La Russa to go out on. If he wants to come back, in 15-20 years he’ll be old enough to manage the Marlins. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2011, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/33 "2011-10-31T18:41:01Z")
> [@RetroVertigo](#): > > Starting Pitching. > Middle Relief. > 1st Basemen. > Extending Hamilton. > Left Fielder. > > And there is a difference on spending a shit ton of cash, and spending it wisely. That was the point. Texas is getting a pile of money, but you still have to put a team together. The Yankees spend without much thought to team chemistry. They pay for old reputations too. They also give players contracts that last long beyond their productive days. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2011, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/34 "2011-10-31T18:49:58Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > That was the point. Texas is getting a pile of money, but you still have to put a team together. Texas has put together good teams the last couple of seasons. He was saying they now have more money to put together a better team. Do you disagree with that? > [@](#): > > The Yankees spend without much thought to team chemistry. They had the best record in the AL this year. They actually do have some guys who are supposed to be good for chemistry (Swisher foremost among them), but if chemistry matters at all, it matters less than having the best players. Texas didn’t lose because they didn’t have chemistry, and neither did the Yankees or Detroit. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2011, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/35 "2011-10-31T20:05:08Z")
> [@Cell\_Guy](#): > > This morning the Cardinals announced Tony La Russa’s retirement. > > [Official St. Louis Cardinals Website | MLB.com](http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20111031&content_id=25849368&vkey=news_stl&c_id=stl) Well, damn. After all the euphoria of winning the World Series, that’s sad, in an end-of-an-era kind of way. I liked Tony and will miss him. I haven’t heard anything about it, but I wonder if Dave Duncan (La Russa’s pitching coach and longtime righthand man) was planning to retire at the end of this season due to his wife’s illness, and if that’s playing into La Russa’s decision to retire. Of course, if I were Pujols, I’d want to know who I’d be playing for next year before making my decision about re-signing with the Cardinals. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2011, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/36 "2011-10-31T20:19:06Z")
Grady Sizemore is a free agent. I will be sad to see him in someone else’s uniform but we lost him as a player a little more than a year ago. He hasn’t been healthy in forever. The Indians picked up Derek Lowe from the Braves for one of our minor leaguers. The Braves paid us to take him - they’re taking care of $10mm of his $15mm contract. I am not convinced our starting rotation is going in the right direction but hey! At least our bullpen rocks! ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2011, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/37 "2011-10-31T20:34:52Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Well, damn. After all the euphoria of winning the World Series, that’s sad, in an end-of-an-era kind of way. I liked Tony and will miss him. > > I haven’t heard anything about it, but I wonder if Dave Duncan (La Russa’s pitching coach and longtime righthand man) was planning to retire at the end of this season due to his wife’s illness, and if that’s playing into La Russa’s decision to retire. > > Of course, if I were Pujols, I’d want to know who I’d be playing for next year before making my decision about re-signing with the Cardinals. When Duncan came back to the team after his leave of absence, Duncan announced he’d coach next year. Now, LaRussa said he made up his mind in August, during Duncan’s absence, so he may just have decided there would be more things like that (both things like Duncan’s wife, and La Russa’s own illness) and maybe it was just time. He also insisted that the team’s uninspired play in August didn’t trigger his decision, nor did the September comeback do anything to change his mind. As for Pujols, the 5-day window the Cardinals have for first rights negotiation expires on Wednesday, and there’s been no news on that front. The last rumor around Pujols was that he wanted 9 years at roughly $25 million per year. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2011, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/38 "2011-10-31T20:48:11Z")
The Red Sox have already improved their rotation for next year by removing John Lackey from it. He’s having Tommy John surgery, as someone mentioned above. It would be nice if they could pick up a legit starter, but I don’t think it’s realistic. CJ Wilson will cost a boatload. Mark Buehrle might come at a reasonable price. ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2011, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/39 "2011-11-01T00:08:28Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > That was the point. Texas is getting a pile of money, but you still have to put a team together. The Yankees spend without much thought to team chemistry. They pay for old reputations too. They also give players contracts that last long beyond their productive days. They often over-spend. That’s true. They can afford it. They also have 28 championships. In more (over?)spending news, Sabathia will be returning. They got the extension done. 5 years / 122 mil. ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2011, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/40 "2011-11-01T00:13:05Z")
I am very happy that the Giants re-signed Lopez and picked up Affeldt’s option. Joe [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185.md?page=3)