Monday, December 14, 2009

Monday afternoon quick-hitter

From this morning's ESPN chat with Texas GM Jon Daniels:

Q: How does the catching situation look with an injured Salty? Will he be ready for the season? Is there money to sign a veteran catcher like John Buck?

A: We made Buck an offer but Toronto offered him more, and they were able to guarantee him the starting job. We're still looking at other options for catching depth.

More cold water on the Angels trade scenario (at least, involving Napoli/Mathis - in which case....is there really a deal to be made?), or simply a matter of a GM saying what he needs to in order to acquire a player's services?

I'm thinking the latter, but still....

20 comments:

Navin Vaswani (@eyebleaf) said...

Sounds about right. Buck's OPS last season, albeit in limited action, was .782. Barajas came in with a .661, which is fucking sad.

I'm on board with Buck.

Ty said...

I doubt they actually "guaranteed" Buck the starting job, and if they did, they were probably lying. We still have 4 months of offseason left to go... it's be ridiculous to guarantee almost anybody a starting job at this point, on any team, let alone this one. I think I remember Johnny Mac being guaranteed the starting job when he signed his two-year deal before the '08 season, before it was handed to Eckstein.

The Ack said...

I'm obviously just trying to convince myself an Angels deal isn't in the offing. Obviously.

Like I said, I know it's just bullshit management talk to get the guy to sign the contract, but kind of a curious way for AA to start the "we want to make this an organization where people want to play" era, no?

"Hey Buck, you're our guy. Guaranteed."

(2 months later)

"Yo Buck, you'll see some AB against LHP when the Napster needs a rest, deal?"

....actually, since The Manager is returning.....all bets are off regardless of who might be acquired before now & April.

Peter DeMarco said...

If the Jays were seriously considering the Angels offer, why would they have just signed 2 catchers and 2 shortstops? Add to the fact that the Angels don't have any high ceiling players involved in any of the reported offers, I find it unlikely that southern California the destination for Halladay.

But that could be just my wishfull thinking.

Navin Vaswani (@eyebleaf) said...

If John Lackey has indeed signed with the Red Sox, then shit will get more interesting.

Angels have also come to terms with Matsui apparently. One year, $6.5 million.

Peter DeMarco said...

HUGE NEWS!!!

The Phillies are apparently talking contract extension with Roy Halladay's agent!!!

Peter DeMarco said...

The story gets even stranger, apparently the Phillies may trade Cliff Lee to get the prospects the Jays want?

Lee to the Yankees for Montero?

http://www.csnphilly.com/pages/landing_09?Fever-Pitch-Trade-Talks-for-Halladay-Hea=1&blockID=103216&feedID=704

The Ack said...

Worth noting is that Handsome Tony V hasn't been around; presumably because he's hard at the negotiation.

That, or he's simply a Tao-only fan. Either way, understandable.

Tony Viner said...

Look, I`m really busy at the moment. Trust me.

HTV

Navin Vaswani (@eyebleaf) said...

I'M READY, MAN. I'M READY. LET'S GET THIS SHIT DONE WITH. GOODBYE DOC!!!!!1

Peter DeMarco said...

Assuming the Cliff Lee rumours are also true, which I doubt, here's my dream scenario:

To Toronto - Carlos Truinfel SS, Domonic Brown, and Kyle Drabek

To Philly - Roy Halladay and Brandon Morrow

To Seattle - Cliff Lee

Navin Vaswani (@eyebleaf) said...

It's done. End of an era, boys.

The Ack said...

I'm going into radio silence until tonight.

More later (unless the Tao checks back in.....)

Navin Vaswani (@eyebleaf) said...

I think we're all going into our respective bunkers tonight. I'm headed straight to the LCBO after work.

Ian Hunter said...

Jim Beam ... here I come!

plain_g said...

so much for drabek, brown and truinfel. mlbtr says aumont, d'arnaud and taylor.

plain_g said...

the internet tells me aumont has top of the rotation potential, let the prospect pornographying begin!

Anonymous said...

anybody remember aumount's clutch performance in the WBC?
that kid is Canadian AND he's got some serious talent

its a win in my books

Navin Vaswani (@eyebleaf) said...

@ Anonymous 6:46: You're Richard Griffin, aren't you?

Anonymous said...

Ack, GM AA said that he wanted the best front office guys to say that Toronto was the best place to work- not the players.