MLB Hot Stove Report: Hold on to Yoenis

by Lord Duggan on Dec 19, 2011 11:00 AM EST in Miscellaneous

Mood Music - Whiskey in the Jar by Metallica

Yoenis Cespedes has come out with another Youtube highlight reel, this time with more baseball and less pig roasting and Star Wars references. Some analysis:

[T]hose highlights include some mammoth shots, with one home run leaving the stadium at a Mercedes-estimated 500-plus feet. Some scouts have put a 70 grade on Cespedes' power, and it is easy to see why. There is also evidence of some of the length and lunging in his swing that some are concerned about. It's hard to find a scout who has thrown a plus grade on Cespedes' hit tool, but even at 50, it's his lowest score of the five.

I won't presume to know more than nothing about Cespedes, because I don't and neither do you. The Yankees and their scouting team might though, so we'll have to wait and see how aggressive they decide to be.

Boston Red Sox Reportedly Sought Joakim Soria
The price for the Royals closer was apparently to high to get the Red Sox to bite.

Are the Wilpons About to Lose the Mets?
Oy. That franchise is in a real mess financially, and there don't seem to be any attractive solutions.

Mike Axisa on the Mat Latos haul
It was a lot, and probably a fair indication of why the John Danks/Gio Gonzalez asking prices are so astronomical.

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Kubel is a Diamondback

MAN, the Twins are going to SUUUUCK

by jetanumba2 on Dec 19, 2011 11:21 AM EST reply actions

Yep

And who knows about Mauer and Morneau, with their injurious past.

Romine!

by david d on Dec 19, 2011 11:25 AM EST up reply actions

I don't get why the D-Backs need him

they already have a solid OF with Upton, Young and Parra

by Yankees10 on Dec 19, 2011 12:25 PM EST up reply actions

isn't it obvious?

they're gonna trade upton to us for swish

The artful muppet formerly known as KrmtDfrog.
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by Cory Braiterman on Dec 19, 2011 12:39 PM EST up reply actions

4th outfielder/first base help/DH with more interleague coming up

by jetanumba2 on Dec 19, 2011 12:44 PM EST up reply actions

Good point, never thought about that. NL teams might want to prep for that.

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by Brandon C. on Dec 19, 2011 5:04 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions

I bet they will be

I just thought of it now so i wish i kept better track of that in the NL. I wonder how big of a factor preparing for the DH will be

by jetanumba2 on Dec 19, 2011 5:19 PM EST up reply actions

If there really is year round interleague it should be a big factor. I expect the majority to wait until next offseason, rightfully so.

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by Brandon C. on Dec 19, 2011 5:45 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions

but hasn’t it been determined that there will be year round interleague?

by jetanumba2 on Dec 19, 2011 7:15 PM EST up reply actions

I think so. Still, teams have another year to prepare.

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"No matter what I talk about, I always get back to baseball."

"Every day is a great day for hockey."

by Brandon C. on Dec 19, 2011 10:59 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Poor Jason Kubel's Beard

I hope he takes this well.

"WHO WOULD LEAD?! THE CLOWN?!"

by I'mGivingYouARaise on Dec 19, 2011 12:52 PM EST up reply actions

He can be Joe Mauer's Knee

by jetanumba2 on Dec 19, 2011 12:56 PM EST up reply actions

Better yet, his sideburns

Romine!

by david d on Dec 19, 2011 3:20 PM EST up reply actions

This also means they are out on Kuroda

so it doesn’t seem like there is much competition for Kuroda now

by jetanumba2 on Dec 19, 2011 2:07 PM EST up reply actions

I disagree. I’d assume almost all teams would be interested in a successful starter that doesn’t want a long term deal.

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"No matter what I talk about, I always get back to baseball."

"Every day is a great day for hockey."

by Brandon C. on Dec 19, 2011 2:12 PM EST up reply actions

i meant teams that have been connected to him this offseason so far

of course anyone could sign him but he wouldn’t have a lot of leverage at the moment to get a higher salary. i’m surprised the Red Sox aren’t going after him

by jetanumba2 on Dec 19, 2011 2:30 PM EST up reply actions

I bet they are. Something I try to say as much as possible is that nowhere near everything gets reported. Evidence is the Mat Latos trade, which came out of nowhere.

Follow me on twitter @nyybrandonc

Co-Manager/Writer for Pinstripe Alley, Editor/Writer for Blueshirt Banter

"No matter what I talk about, I always get back to baseball."

"Every day is a great day for hockey."

by Brandon C. on Dec 19, 2011 2:33 PM EST up reply actions

good point

by jetanumba2 on Dec 19, 2011 2:50 PM EST up reply actions

Carrol, Doumit, and Willingham will help mkae up for the loss of Kubel and Cuddyer. I actually think they will be much imporved if they can stay healthy.

One more thing Boston is a racist town? YOU DONT SAY?!?!?!?!?
by SoxAcumen on Aug 27, 2011 11:56 AM PDT

by Briceratops on Dec 19, 2011 2:20 PM EST up reply actions

Every Hardy trade has perplexed me from the team that sent him away’s standpoint.

Follow me on twitter @nyybrandonc

Co-Manager/Writer for Pinstripe Alley, Editor/Writer for Blueshirt Banter

"No matter what I talk about, I always get back to baseball."

"Every day is a great day for hockey."

by Brandon C. on Dec 19, 2011 2:24 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah that didn't make sense

Neither did the Capps trade. But this offseason I think the Twins have made some nice moves.

One more thing Boston is a racist town? YOU DONT SAY?!?!?!?!?
by SoxAcumen on Aug 27, 2011 11:56 AM PDT

by Briceratops on Dec 19, 2011 2:26 PM EST up reply actions

Carroll seems like a bit of a risk for every day shortstop if they really plan on putting him there.

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"Every day is a great day for hockey."

by Brandon C. on Dec 19, 2011 2:28 PM EST up reply actions

isn't he a decent backup?

I forgot about Willingham but Carroll and Doumit are better reserve players who won’t be replacing Kubel/Cuddyer very well

by jetanumba2 on Dec 19, 2011 2:33 PM EST up reply actions

2011 wRC+

Ryan Doumit: 129
Jamey Carrol: 104
Willingham: 123

Michael Cuddyer: 124
Jason Kubel: 110

One more thing Boston is a racist town? YOU DONT SAY?!?!?!?!?
by SoxAcumen on Aug 27, 2011 11:56 AM PDT

by Briceratops on Dec 19, 2011 2:38 PM EST up reply actions

Well both Carrol and Doumit had career years

and their career years are equal to Kubel’s and Cuddyer’s ‘bad’ years.

by jetanumba2 on Dec 19, 2011 2:56 PM EST up reply actions

Backup yeah but I read he’s starting.

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Co-Manager/Writer for Pinstripe Alley, Editor/Writer for Blueshirt Banter

"No matter what I talk about, I always get back to baseball."

"Every day is a great day for hockey."

by Brandon C. on Dec 19, 2011 2:40 PM EST up reply actions

The Wilpons having to sell the team

is probably the best thing that could happen to the Mets, unless an even worse owner buys the team afterwards.

"WHO WOULD LEAD?! THE CLOWN?!"

by I'mGivingYouARaise on Dec 19, 2011 1:03 PM EST reply actions

Agreed. The Wilpons’ debt is gonna hold them back for years unless they sell.

"Don't you think it's strange that you'll make more money than President Hoover this year?"
"Why not? I had a better year than he did." - G.H. Ruth

Posting pictures

by Andrew GM on Dec 19, 2011 1:04 PM EST up reply actions

are there that many worse owners?

The Dolans, but that’s about it.

by long time listener on Dec 19, 2011 1:05 PM EST up reply actions

Well Dolan buying the Mets was a fear of a few Mets fans I know

"WHO WOULD LEAD?! THE CLOWN?!"

by I'mGivingYouARaise on Dec 19, 2011 1:09 PM EST up reply actions

a few fans I know, too

I wonder if a quick (relatvely quick; no sale of a baseball team can ever happen quickly) sale to the Dolan’s is preferable to a couple of years of the Wilpons trying to scrape by before being forced to sell. I would think not – maybe the Mets will be unable to compete for a few years, and a few years after the sale, but at least they wouldn’t be saddled with completely incompetent but stable ownership for an indeterminate amount of time. They’re probably better off taking the short- to medium-term hit and hoping they get a better owner after a few years of misery.

by long time listener on Dec 19, 2011 1:30 PM EST up reply actions

I only know how bad the Dolan's are through my Knicks fan friends

One told me if the Dolan’s wound up owning the Mets he would quite possibly give up on them, while another told me that the Dolan’s might actually make better baseball owners than basketball owners due to Baseball’s different spending rules.

"WHO WOULD LEAD?! THE CLOWN?!"

by I'mGivingYouARaise on Dec 19, 2011 2:03 PM EST up reply actions

Dolan is the most selfish, arrogant owner in sports. There are rumors that the NHL wants to make wider rinks to lessen the chances of concussions, but Dolan is against it due to monetary reasons.

I despise that man.

Follow me on twitter @nyybrandonc

Co-Manager/Writer for Pinstripe Alley, Editor/Writer for Blueshirt Banter

"No matter what I talk about, I always get back to baseball."

"Every day is a great day for hockey."

by Brandon C. on Dec 19, 2011 2:11 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah, I've heard he's awful

and can be hated not just as an owner, but as a human being!

"WHO WOULD LEAD?! THE CLOWN?!"

by I'mGivingYouARaise on Dec 19, 2011 2:43 PM EST up reply actions

why would wider rinks lessen the chances of concussions?

by long time listener on Dec 19, 2011 3:08 PM EST up reply actions

The speed of the game is at an all time highest and wider rinks would create more room for players or something. I’m fuzzy on the details, but it works in the olympics and international play.

Follow me on twitter @nyybrandonc

Co-Manager/Writer for Pinstripe Alley, Editor/Writer for Blueshirt Banter

"No matter what I talk about, I always get back to baseball."

"Every day is a great day for hockey."

by Brandon C. on Dec 19, 2011 3:15 PM EST up reply actions