# 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:** 21
**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 14, 2012, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/401 "2012-01-14T21:23:27Z")
> [@NAF1138](#): > > …They way overpaid, since they could have gotten him for Cliff Lee, but whatever. They are still a better team now because they can hit a little tiny bit at least. Well, this way they got Smoak and Montero and so have a good young nucleus of hitters under 25 along with a few others like Ackley at second. Their future is looking good if the can hold it together. They were fortunate enough to have the pitching to spare. ---
**Author:** ![Hawkeyeop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/958977/32.png) [@Hawkeyeop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hawkeyeop)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2012, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/402 "2012-01-14T22:26:01Z")
> [@Jas09](#): > > A one-year deal for a quality pitcher? Great move at just about any price. > > I really like the trade too - above average cost-controlled SP is worth its weight in gold. Did they give up more or less in you guys’s opinion than the Reds did to get Mat Latos? > > I think the NYY are much better after these moves than before. The package for Latos was clearly better, though I think Latos is a better pitcher so I don’t think that is unreasonable. Montero is a better prospect than anyone SD got, but Sd got several prospects while Montero was pretty much all the mariners got (the other prospects are kind of a wash) ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/403 "2012-01-19T05:33:41Z")
I don’t think this surprised anyone, but the Rangers came to terms with Yu Darvish. Darvish got a contract for $60 million over six years, and his Japanese team gets $51.7 million. With that out of the way, things may get settled with Prince Fielder soon. It seems like it’ll be either Texas or Washington. ---
**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 19, 2012, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/404 "2012-01-19T14:03:09Z")
Jamie Moyer has signed a minor league deal with Colorado. He’ll be 49 years old. Fun Jamie Moyer facts: His MLB debut was a win against HOFer Steve Carlton. He struck out HOFer Mike Schmidt during that game. Also on the Cubs roster that year were HOFer Ryne Sandberg, HOFer Dennis Eckersley, Greg Maddux, Raphael Palmeiro, Lee Smith and a 27 year old Terry Francona. Jamie Moyer was born during the Kennedy administration. ---
**Author:** ![Ichbin\_Dubist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/51bf81/32.png) [@Ichbin\_Dubist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ichbin_Dubist)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/405 "2012-01-19T15:26:50Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Fun Jamie Moyer facts: His draft class (1984) includes Mark McGuire, Jay Bell, Terry Mulholland, Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, Al Leiter, and Ken Caminiti. I always liked Moyer, and I root for him to get back to the bigs, mainly so there’s at least one major leaguer older than I am. ---
**Author:** ![Ichbin\_Dubist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/51bf81/32.png) [@Ichbin\_Dubist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ichbin_Dubist)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/406 "2012-01-19T15:38:38Z")
As near as I can figure, Moyer’s competition for the best MLB season ever by a 49-year old would be: Arlie Latham, 1909, 2 ABs in 4 games Hughie Jennings, 1909, no plate appearances, 1 game Jack Quinn, pitched 15 innings in 1933, ERA 4.02 Hoyt Wilhelm, 25 innings in 1972, ERA 4.62 Maybe I missed somebody. A few players had these kinds of novelty appearances (cups of Sanka?) later than age 49 but didn’t play at 49. ---
**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 19, 2012, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/407 "2012-01-19T15:54:32Z")
> [@Ichbin\_Dubist](#): > > cups of Sanka? Hand of canasta? Round of bridge? Glass of metamucil? ---
**Author:** ![Ichbin\_Dubist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/51bf81/32.png) [@Ichbin\_Dubist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ichbin_Dubist)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/408 "2012-01-19T18:44:06Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Hand of canasta? > Round of bridge? > Glass of metamucil? I’m having trouble imagining Satchel Paige and Minnie Minoso playing bridge. A whiff of Ben-Gay? ---
**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 19, 2012, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/409 "2012-01-19T20:16:07Z")
> [@Ichbin\_Dubist](#): > > His draft class (1984) includes Mark McGuire, Jay Bell, Terry Mulholland, Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, Al Leiter, and Ken Caminiti. > > I always liked Moyer, and I root for him to get back to the bigs, mainly so there’s at least one major leaguer older than I am. I am rooting for him to make it for the same reason. Go Moyer! ---
**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:** [January 19, 2012, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/410 "2012-01-19T21:08:57Z")
I am interrupting this thread to announce that Fausto Carmona is[…awesome](http://cleveland.sbnation.com/cleveland-indians/2012/1/19/2719236/fausto-carmona-arrested-Roberto-Hernandez-Heredia)? ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/411 "2012-01-19T21:36:25Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > I am interrupting this thread to announce that Fausto Carmona is[…awesome](http://cleveland.sbnation.com/cleveland-indians/2012/1/19/2719236/fausto-carmona-arrested-Roberto-Hernandez-Heredia)? Roberto Hernandez Heredia? Was he hanging out with Armin Tamzarian when they arrested him? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/412 "2012-01-19T21:38:16Z")
I thought Fausto Carmona was one of the more interesting names in the majors. So much for that. ---
**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 19, 2012, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/413 "2012-01-19T21:44:53Z")
Ron Mexico is unavailable to comment at this time. ---
**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 20, 2012, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/414 "2012-01-20T11:50:45Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > I am interrupting this thread to announce that Fausto Carmona is[…awesome](http://cleveland.sbnation.com/cleveland-indians/2012/1/19/2719236/fausto-carmona-arrested-Roberto-Hernandez-Heredia)? As much as this story depressed me, I’m very much looking forward to Hammy’s commentary on this during the season. And I suspect he’ll be commenting on it ALL season. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2012, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/415 "2012-01-20T17:54:12Z")
> [@Ichbin\_Dubist](#): > > As near as I can figure, Moyer’s competition for the best MLB season ever by a 49-year old would be: > > Arlie Latham, 1909, 2 ABs in 4 games > > Hughie Jennings, 1909, no plate appearances, 1 game > > Jack Quinn, pitched 15 innings in 1933, ERA 4.02 > > Hoyt Wilhelm, 25 innings in 1972, ERA 4.62 > > Maybe I missed somebody. A few players had these kinds of novelty appearances (cups of Sanka?) later than age 49 but didn’t play at 49. Was Satchel Paige still pitching when he was 49 or had he (mostly) retired by then? ---
**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 20, 2012, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/416 "2012-01-20T18:35:05Z")
> [@NDP](#): > > Was Satchel Paige still pitching when he was 49 or had he (mostly) retired by then? [Satchel Paige](http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/paigesa01.shtml) pitched in the majors at ages 41, 42, 44, 45, 46 and 58. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2012, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/417 "2012-01-22T17:11:03Z")
I think Ryan Braun is gearing up to admit, at least through accepting the suspension, that he’s a roidster. His comments when accepting his MVP Award: [QUOTE=ESPN] You know, sometimes in life, we all deal with challenges we never expected to endure," Braun said, while accepting his award at the annual dinner of the New York chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America. “We have an opportunity to look at those challenges and view them either as obstacles or as opportunities, and I’ve chosen to view every challenge I’ve ever faced as an opportunity and this will be no different. I have always believed that a person’s character is revealed through the way they deal with those moments of adversity.” [/QUOTE] So it’s not “I am innocent.” It’s “this is a moment of adversity.” ---
**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 22, 2012, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/418 "2012-01-22T18:49:55Z")
I hope you’re right, I would rather these players fess-up and move on then try to bull through it. I’m not a fan of A-Rod but at least when exposed he came clean. Same with Pettitte. Clemens on the other hand continued to prove what an ass he was. ---
**Author:** ![Hawkeyeop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/958977/32.png) [@Hawkeyeop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hawkeyeop)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2012, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/419 "2012-01-23T04:44:20Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > I hope you’re right, I would rather these players fess-up and move on then try to bull through it. I’m not a fan of A-Rod but at least when exposed he came clean. Same with Pettitte. Clemens on the other hand continued to prove what an ass he was. Well I didn’t really think Arod or Pettitte offered up the whole truth either, just I don’t really hold it against them. The problem is their is no incentive to ever admit to doing steroids. Just look at Mcgwire’s vote totals once he came clean. Why would any big time player want to go through that. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2012, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185/420 "2012-01-24T20:10:55Z")
[Prince Fielder will sign a nine-year, $214 million deal with the Tigers.](http://tracking.si.com/2012/01/24/report-prince-fielder-nearing-nine-year-deal-with-detroit-tigers/?sct=hp_t2_a3&eref=sihp) Did _anybody_ see this coming? Victor Martinez is out for the year, but the Tigers have him for another two seasons after that. I don’t know if that means Martinez will be catching more games or what. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185.md?page=20) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-official-mlb-offseason-thread/601185.md?page=22)