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Post by Son Goshin on Nov 20, 2004 22:20:02 GMT -5
now that free agents can finally sign with teams, basball is heating up again. troy percival already signed with the tigers, and i hear that the tigers are gonna be gettin a lot more stars this year, so where do you guys think all the big name stars are going? what trades do you think are gonna go on this offseason? if you ask me, i know for a fact sammy sosa's gonna get traded. he was asanine in leaving his team on the last game. now this gives me even more reason to hate him. i hope he goes to the mets so i don't have to see his face on TV everyday.
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Post by rjxsapri® on Nov 22, 2004 0:07:01 GMT -5
Well, I don't think any important team is gonna hire Sammy Sossa. Just as long as he doesn't go to the WhiteSox then I don't really care where he goes. Even though he might be wanting to play for a good team and try to get to a World Series.
Time ago I thought he deserved to at least get to the World Series, but after seeing his attitude, I began to dislike him too.
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Post by Son Goshin on Nov 22, 2004 10:23:16 GMT -5
yea, that was really dumb what he did. but i see either him or magglio ordonez going to the mets, they've been looking for anoutfielder for a while, and knows a good time to do it. it just sucjs that the white sox are cheap and won't get back magglio. oh yea, i heard yesterday that the mets resigned kris benson to a 3-year deal. i think they're gonna be makin a big playoff push for this upcoming season
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Post by rjxsapri® on Dec 23, 2004 17:37:34 GMT -5
MOISES ALOU TO THE GIANTS Moises Alou is being reunited with his father after reaching a preliminary agreement on a two-year contract with Felipe Alou's San Francisco Giants worth about $13.25 million, a person involved in the negotiations told the Associated Press on Wednesday.
"EL DUQUE" HERNANDEZ TO THE WHITE SOX Right-hander Orlando Hernandez agreed to an $8 million, two-year deal with the White Sox on Wednesday, bolstering what had already been one of the American League's stronger rotations
Update-Jan 3: Randy Johnson to the Yankees Randy Johnson is practically ready to be measured for one tall set of pinstripes.
Commissioner Bud Selig gave his blessing Monday to a trade that will send the Big Unit to the Yankees, making a contract extension the last major obstacle to be resolved in the drawn-out Arizona-New York swap.
The Yankees were given a 72-hour window to come to terms with the five-time Cy Young Award winner. Johnson's current deal pays him $16 million in 2005 and expires after this season.
``We're just looking forward to beginning the process,'' said Alan Nero, one of Johnson's agents.
The Diamondbacks would receive pitchers Javier Vazquez and Brad Halsey, young catcher Dioner Navarro and $9 million to be paid over three years.
Arizona also agreed Monday to a proposed trade that would send Navarro and other prospects to the Dodgers for Shawn Green and $8 million. The slugger was part of a three-team, 10-player swap involving Johnson and the Yankees that collapsed Dec. 21 when Los Angeles backed out.
Selig granted the Diamondbacks a window to work out an extension for Green, who will make $16 million this year, then can become a free agent. The windows for both negotiations will begin Tuesday and end at noon Friday EST, Diamondbacks managing partner Ken Kendrick said.
``There are obviously two separate transactions, and each has a variety of conditions that need to be met,'' Kendrick said. ``It starts a window of time wherein contractual matters need to be resolved, between the Yankees and Randy, and us and Randy, and us and Shawn Green.
``And then, finally, a whole array of physical exams need to take place, because of the number of players involved.''
Having talked about a trade since July, New York and Johnson should have a pretty good idea about the parameters on an extension. Asked if the sides could reach an agreement this week, Nero responded: ``I certainly would hope so.''
Johnson, 41, was 16-14 last season on a Diamondbacks team that went 51-111, tied for the 10th-most losses in major league history. The 6-foot-10 left-hander led the majors with 290 strikeouts, was second with a 2.60 ERA and pitched a perfect game against Atlanta, but the Diamondbacks scored two runs or fewer in 17 of his 35 starts.
Vazquez, a 28-year-old right-hander, was 14-10 with a 4.91 ERA for the Yankees. While he was picked for his first All-Star team, he won just once in his last nine regular-season starts and had a 9.53 ERA in three postseason games.
New York is giving Arizona $3 million in each of the next three seasons to cover part of Vazquez's salary. He gets $10.5 million in 2005, $11.5 million in 2006 and $12.5 million in 2007.
Navarro and pitching prospect William Juarez would go to the Dodgers as part of the Green trade, Kendrick confirmed. If the Johnson trade falls apart, Arizona would send Juarez and 23-year-old catcher Chris Snyder to Los Angeles.
While completing the trade for Johnson, a 10-time All-Star, New York also is turning its attention this week to Carlos Beltran. The free-agent center fielder is to meet Tuesday with Mets owner Fred Wilpon and general manager Omar Minaya, and faces a Saturday deadline to re-sign with the Houston Astros.
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Post by Son Goshin on Jan 4, 2005 11:23:30 GMT -5
oh, and who got el duque? the White Sox! ;D i think it's safe to say we got a kick-ass rotation for 2005. we'll have buherle 1, garcia 2, el duque 3, contreras 4, and probably garland 5. since we lost most of our hitting this offseason, we'll have to rely on our pitching this season. and i'm glad alou's out of the city. e can't have guy's peeing on their hands in chicago! by the way, congrats on your mod position rjxsapri
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Post by rjxsapri® on Jan 4, 2005 11:42:46 GMT -5
oh, and who got el duque? the White Sox! ;D i think it's safe to say we got a kick-ass rotation for 2005. we'll have buherle 1, garcia 2, el duque 3, contreras 4, and probably garland 5. since we lost most of our hitting this offseason, we'll have to rely on our pitching this season. and i'm glad alou's out of the city. e can't have guy's peeing on their hands in chicago! by the way, congrats on your mod position rjxsapri Now with Hernandez in your team, they'll have the strongest rotation in the American League. I just hope that Hernandez is in top condition after being out for a while.
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Post by Son Goshin on Jan 6, 2005 11:01:29 GMT -5
me too man! i'm actually getting excited about next season though! if konerko, everett, and thomas can lead the team in hitting, we'll have a real good chance of making it to october! ;D by the way, who are ou rootin for rjxsapri? don't you live in NC or somethin, cause i know there's no baseball team there
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Post by rjxsapri® on Jan 12, 2005 12:30:29 GMT -5
Me, yeah I live in NC. And we just don't have a baseball team, we have no football (soccer) team and in American Football we have the Panthers (worse than nothing).
But this year, I'm putting my hopes on the Mets. Why? I hate the Yankees and they now have Pedro Martinez. I don't think they would get as far as the World Series or anything, but I'm hoping they have a great season.
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Post by Son Goshin on Jan 13, 2005 11:03:21 GMT -5
o man, you know they will! they just got carlos beltran too, and i hear they're looking to sign magglio ordonez. i got a feeling the mets are gonna be stacked next year and it's possible we may see another subway series soon
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Post by Gohan on Jan 29, 2005 17:03:16 GMT -5
[glow=red,2,300]Sammy Sosa traded to the Orioles for Jerry Hairston and two minor leaguers.[/glow]
BALTIMORE -- The Orioles and Cubs have completed a deal that would send slugger Sammy Sosa to Baltimore for second baseman Jerry Hairston and two minor leaguers, according to a source close to the negotiations, pending physicals for Sosa and Hairston. The Orioles had no official comment on the deal, but they are apparently on the verge of bringing one of baseball's premier power hitters to Baltimore. Sosa, who is in the Dominican Republic, is expected to come to Baltimore early next week for his physical.
Cubs general manager Jim Hendry on Friday night stopped far short of verifying that a trade had been completed, saying, "there's no deal in place."
Sosa is scheduled to earn $17 million in 2005, most of which would be paid by the Cubs, and he has an $18 million option for 2006 with a $4.5 million buyout. However, a clause in that contract states that if Sosa is traded during the deal, that the option becomes guaranteed and there is a $19 million option for 2007 that would include a $4.5 million buyout.
Sosa's agent, Adam Katz, has said that Sosa would waive that clause if he is traded.
Sosa had a difficult relationship with Cubs manager Dusty Baker and his numbers were down from his previous sparkling years. He has been on the trading block for months and the Orioles have been rumored to be interested, but had been scared off by Sosa's salary.
Hairston, reached in his Arizona home, said he was unaware that the deal had been official.
"I just came back home and turned on ESPN and saw it on TV," he said. "Rumors are rumors man, I don't know. I have heard of this for the past month. I am thinking maybe (talks) heated up because we didn't get Delgado.
"If it does go down, I want to thank everybody in Baltimore, (owner) Mr. (Peter) Angelos and the organization. I loved being an Oriole. If this was my last year, I enjoyed it. I had great teammates. I don't know if it's done or not."
Hairston grew up in Chicago and his father, Jerry Sr., played 14 years with the Chicago White Sox.
"If it were to happen. I grew up there, man," Hairston Jr. said. "I'd be going back home. I know the passion that city has for all sports. I know they got great fans there. And obviously that would be exciting. I know Baltimore has great fans, too. I just hope that both teams win."
Hairston has played his entire career with the Orioles and was the team's 11th-round pick 1997 out of Southern Illinois. He played four-plus seasons with Baltimore, but never quite reached his potential because of injuries. He missed most of the past two seasons with a broken foot, fractured ankle and fractured finger and that caused him to lose his second-base job to Brian Roberts.
He hit .261 in 530 games with the Orioles with 26 homers and 160 RBIs. He will have to compete with veteran Todd Walker for the second base job in Chicago.
The Orioles have been searching for an impact player after losing out on Richie Sexson and most recently Carlos Delgado, who signed a four-year, $52 million deal with the Florida Marlins on Tuesday.
Sosa would join Rafael Palmeiro as the third teammate duo to have at least 500 home runs. Willie McCovey and Willie Mays were together with the Giants and Eddie Mathews and Hank Aaron with the Braves. Sosa has 574 career home runs.
He, along with Mark McGwire, were given credit for resurrecting fan interest in baseball with their amazing home run chase in 1998. Sosa, who hit 66 that season, was named the National League MVP. He hit 63 in 1999 and 64 in 2001, becoming the first player with multiple seasons of at least 60 home runs.
But the past two years has not been kind to Sosa, whose image has taken a big hit.
In 2003, he was suspended for using a corked bat and last season he was on the disabled list for a month with sprained back ligaments that occurred while sneezing. Finally, after the Cubs were eliminated from playoff contention, Sosa left Wrigley Field just 15 minutes after the first pitch of the season finale. He claimed he was in the clubhouse but a security videotape showed he left the park earlier.
Sosa is expected to play right field and Jay Gibbons would likely become the everyday first baseman.
Info from[glow=red,2,300]http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/index.js [/glow]
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Post by rjxsapri® on Jan 30, 2005 2:09:24 GMT -5
hehe, thank you for posting this update man...I would have done it if my computer hadn't been misbehaving the whole day...
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Post by Son Goshin on Jan 31, 2005 13:27:21 GMT -5
hell yea man, that's what i'm talkin about! ;D i'm so glad he's gone, but i only have one regret. i have to find somebody new on the cubs to make fun of. oh well though, at least the white sox got some dealingdone. they recently got japanese 2nd baseman tadihito iguchi. this guy is supposed to be really fast and can hit for power. it's also the second japaneseguy we got, so if he can have as a good a rookie season as shingo takatsu did last year, i think he'll bewarmly welcomed here. also, carlos delgado finally got signedby the marlins and roger clemens is coming back. 2005 is gomnna be a great year for baseball guys, just you watch
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Post by rjxsapri® on Jan 31, 2005 14:12:56 GMT -5
Yeah well, I knew that Sammy Sosa would leave the Cubs this year no matter what....
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Post by Son Goshin on Jan 31, 2005 21:31:09 GMT -5
of course! after how he walked out last season, i know i'd definitely get him the hell out of there!
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Post by Gohan on Feb 2, 2005 22:43:22 GMT -5
[glow=red,2,300]Cubs sign Jeremy Burnitz[/glow]
CHICAGO -- Tap your heart, then touch your lips and blow a kiss farewell to Sammy Sosa. It's official -- Sosa flew off to Baltimore on Wednesday, taking his home run hop, megawatt smile and 574 career homers. It's the end of an era in Chicago. The seven-time All-Star was dealt to the Orioles in exchange for Jerry Hairston Jr. and two minor leaguers, and the Cubs didn't waste time trying to fill his spot in the lineup. Chicago also signed free agent Jeromy Burnitz to a $4.5 million one-year contract, with an option year that could pay him $7 million in 2006. There is a $500,000 buyout.
Burnitz finds himself in the unenviable position of having to run out to right at Wrigley Field, which has been Sosa's home turf for the last 13 seasons.
"[Sosa] played right field for a long time and I'm going to right, so I guess I'm his replacement," Burnitz said Wednesday. "All that really matters is how the team goes. If we play well and everybody does good, we'll be fine."
Burnitz, 35, gives the Cubs a much-needed left-handed bat and some power. He hit .283 last year for Colorado with 37 homers and 110 RBIs. He also struck out 124 times. How will Burnitz win over the Cub fans?
"I don't know -- I'm going to go all out with the team attitude," Burnitz said. "I think it will all revolve around what we do as a team. Then, of course, the fans are going to love you -- they don't care if you strike out as long as the team's winning. That's the attitude I'm going to have, focus all on the team. If the team is doing well, the fans are going to love me and probably every other guy on the squad."
Burnitz enjoys Wrigley Field, and has played there as a member of the Milwaukee Brewers, New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers and Colorado Rockies.
"Is [Wrigley] inviting? It is to me because of the fan situation," Burnitz said. "There are only a couple cities like Chicago and St. Louis where I've felt the 'whole city love' for a team. I've never been in that atmosphere on a consistent basis, so I'm very excited about it."
So is Hairston, a Chicago-area native, who has been overwhelmed by phone calls from family and friends.
"I'm really excited, but I think they might be more excited than I am," Hairston said. "Any time you get a chance to go back to your hometown and play on a team that has had success, you get very excited."
Cubs manager Dusty Baker said he wasn't sure where Burnitz would bat, or exactly how he would use Hairston, who played more games in the outfield than at his natural position, second base, last season with Baltimore. That's what Spring Training is for.
"The trade is very deceiving," Hairston said. "When the trade went down, both teams were going in different directions. The Cubs were looking to add speed. They wanted flexibility to do other things. They were looking to have a balanced team. Hopefully, I can do my end.
"I understand a lot of people will say it's 'Sosa for Hairston and two prospects,' " Hairston said. "I know some things went down with Sammy and the team last year, but I hope people remember what Sammy did for that city prior to that because he was definitely an icon."
For trivia buffs, Sosa's final game with the Cubs was Oct. 2 against Atlanta, and his last at-bat was a groundout to third to lead off the eighth inning. He didn't dress for the season finale the next day, opting instead to leave 15 minutes after the first pitch. The Cubs fined him one day's pay, $87,400, for the digression.
"I just hope Sammy does well and I hope that he's happy, and I hope it helps us and helps everybody," Baker said.
How badly did Sosa want out of Chicago? He approved significant restructuring of his contract. Under terms of the addendum to Sosa's contract, the Cubs will pay $16.15 million of the $25 million Sosa was still owed under his $72 million, four-year contract, according to details obtained by the Associated Press.
Baltimore is responsible for $8.85 million of Sosa's $17 million salary this year, with the Cubs paying the rest. Because Sosa is paid on a 12-month basis and already had received $1,307,692 of his salary this year, that amount was credited to what the Cubs owe the Orioles, meaning Baltimore will receive $6,842,308 in cash from Chicago. "Obviously, it's a historic day. It's a day that we feel is in the best interest of all parties. It's a good situation for Sammy, a good situation for the Baltimore Orioles. Everybody feels like it was the right thing to do." -- Cubs general manager Jim Hendry
As part of the trade, the Cubs will pay Sosa $3.5 million in severance within 30 days. The $18 million 2006 option in his contract was eliminated, and the $4.5 million buyout was converted to a $4.5 million assignment bonus, which the Cubs must pay by March 15. He also agreed to eliminate the $19 million option for 2007 that his contract said would be added if he was traded.
Sosa joined the Cubs in March 1992 in a deal with the crosstown White Sox as part of a three-player deal. He was a skinny, free-swinging outfielder who had 29 big league home runs. Thirteen seasons later, he is the Cubs' all-time home run leader and ranks seventh on the Major League all-time home run list, just 26 shy of 600.
Sosa's divorce from the Cubs is a result of irreconcilable differences between the superstar and the team, differences that built up over the years.
"Obviously, it's a historic day," Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said. "It's a day that we feel is in the best interest of all parties. It's a good situation for Sammy, a good situation for the Baltimore Orioles. Everybody feels like it was the right thing to do."
Baker said he would call Sosa now that the deal was done. The Cubs manager said he always calls his players who are traded.
"I'd still kind of like to know what the problem was," said Baker, who was puzzled by Sosa's offseason outbursts. "I haven't changed my views or my bewilderment about things. I'd like to find out what's repairable first."
Hendry emphasized that Cub fans should remember the positives Sosa brought to the team.
"He did a lot for this game," Hendry said. "This was a tough thing to do because of the magnitude of Sammy and what he's meant to the franchise and to the city."
And now it's time for both sides to move on. Pitchers and catchers report to Mesa, Ariz., on Feb. 16. Hendry said he felt the Cubs were better now than at the end of 2004 and Baker agreed.
"I know one thing -- we're better already if we're healthy," Baker said. "A healthy [Mark] Prior and having LaTroy [Hawkins] in the league another year and a full year with Nomar [Garciaparra] and a full year with [Ryan] Dempster -- but it's going to be a tough year. Our division is tough. We have to get to Spring Training and work on some things and get ready to play.
"We've got a pretty good mix of right- and left-handed batters, we've got some speed and we've got some interchangable parts," Baker said.
And a new right fielder.
Info from [glow=red,2,300]http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/index.jsp[/glow]
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