OFF SEASON WEEK 7
Winter meetings are 4 days off. I didn't present this massive rebuild plan because it's too soon. To do this right I need a truck load of younger more talented players and I don't have the pieces to trade for them, for the most part, so I will slowly do this thing. What I need to do this year is 'stabilize'. My goal will be a team close to .500, very small payroll, start putting a butt load of cash into player development, the draft and scouting. So I'll look for the “Tim Blackburns” of the world, solid defenders who won't embarrass themselves at the plate, and look for San Antonio's version of “Luis Chavez”.
Now having said that, I will float many, MANY names at the winter meetings. If someone knocks me over, well, I'm not averse to the blockbuster as long as it gets me younger, and more talented, and that's not an either/or equation.
WINTER MEETINGS DAY 1
The Gonzalez deal is for 2 years with a 40 GF vesting option for the 3rd. Each at 6.3.
I floated 1B's Bryant Mathews and Diego Reyes with not a lot on the table, surprisingly Althusser didn't draw a ton of interest, some, but not enough.
WINTER MEETINGS DAY 2
The Blizzard take the premier Catcher on the market, off the market for 64 million bucks.
Boston snags a bit time prospect in Marquez and Fresno adds some depth to their IBL rotation. 23 year old Luis Garcia will likely get a shot at the rotation spot when camp opens for the Bombers.
WINTER MEETINGS DAY 3
Interesting that LA would 'give up' on an MLB prospect at 20. Though it seems many GM's have done that, and learned the hard way (see RJ, Cano, Webb)
WINTER MEETINGS DAY 4
WINTER MEETINGS DAY 5
I've made what I think is a 'low ball' offer to 31 year old CF/LF Stan Park. A career .321/.398/.435 hitter in 880 games (almost all except 116 last year, with El Paso). He's a 2 time gold glove winner in CF, a former all star (2027) and a former batting champ (.360 in the CL in 2027). It's a three year deal. I am on empty in CF, even looking into the system I have literally no depth. This is a potentially valuable move for a valuable player who may be extremely valuable come the deadline, if he can stay healthy. (Not a small if)
WINTER MEETINGS FINAL DAY
And the meetings close with a flurry. New Hampshire stunning everyone (but not us since we'd seen his name in some offers for our top prospects) as they deal 2030 FL Rookie of the year, Catcher Derek Timney, to Corpus Christi and get a huge arm in the pen in Baboor, as well as a top of the rotation SP prospect in Ayala. The Mountaineers will give their catching job back to 28 year old Juan Carranza who will move into the cleanup spot behind Miguel Cabrera, and 26 year old defensive backup Dustin Peters will take Timney's roster spot. A great haul, but at what price?
I floated offers every day, but nothing felt right. A lot of 27 and 28 year old bullpen arms being offered, and what I consider marginal 27-28 year old bats. With the exception of Stan Park possibly accepting our offer, was by far my quietest winter meetings.