Comments on: Hot Stove Update

By: Texas Gal

Texas Gal — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 10:02:19 +0000

And, yes- I thought it was fairly self-evident that when talking about the “prospects”, Papelbon was talking about the Lowrie/Masterson/Bowden part of the picture. Buchholz and Ellsbury are still considered “prospects” — but Lester is not a prospect any more, so when Papelbon (or anyone else) refers to a “prospect”, by definition he cannot be referring to Lester.

By: Texas Gal

Texas Gal — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 10:00:12 +0000

Lyndsay- Every piece of information that is leaked to the public is, 95% of the time, a controlled leak put out there by a front office or a player’s management team for a specific purpose. Like you said, if something is leaking out, there’s no way to tell if it’s straight truth, or “truth” colored by one side or the other to gain the upper hand in negotiations.

By: Margaret

Margaret — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 05:00:18 +0000

I can see how his comments could be construed as being mean to Lester (or even Coco, in a stretch), but…

I think Papelbon was talking more about the inclusion of prospects than about Lester in a deal for Santana–about why you’d trade several of one type of player for one of another. Was he articulate in what he said, choosing words carefully to avoid anyone taking offense? Absolutely not. But he’s Paps, and we all know that isn’t his strength.

I’m also giving him the benefit of the doubt here because it would be so totally out of character for him (or any of them) to throw Lester under the bus in that direct a manner.

As for Gagne, I’m really confused too, because I remember how hilarious that “not a good fit with the bullpen” quote was.

Great news about Timlin though.

I’m kinda ready for this Santana business to be done. I’ve heard every single analysis over and over at this point and I’m tired of waiting. What a pain.

(cranky up late on Sat night working…)

By: Lyndsay

Lyndsay — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 22:18:15 +0000

“Yes, you do have a lot of faith in these young kids, but whoever may be in the equation as a young kid, you don’t know what they’re gonna do at a big-league level”

it’s like Papelbon doesn’t even realize that he’s talking about HIMSELF. it’s not like he’s a vet yet. what a lack of self-awareness there. wasn’t Lester drafted before him??

By: Lyndsay

Lyndsay — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 22:15:46 +0000

I think any speculation on who Theo might or might not trade at this point is exactly that. it’s all poker face until the deal is done. why would he reveal his hand in the media for Steinbrenner to scopp right up?

By: Lyndsay

Lyndsay — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 22:13:07 +0000

“The Boston Herald reported that the Sox will “most likely” offer arbitration to TImlin and Gagne, and though no one seems to have an idea what Timlin’s planning to do, reportedly Eric Gagne would accept the offer if extended.”

are you f-ing kidding me? didn’t Theo sit down with Scott Boras a month ago to explain that he didn’t think Gagne was “a good fit” for the bullpen. it sounds like he’s being canned. unless Theo is keeping in order to “sell high” on future deals. right now no one wants Gagne b/c of what they’ve seen of him in the past few months, but perhaps Theo is thinking of keeping him to raise his stock a little. that’s the only reeason I can see for them keeping him at this point…

By: Texy

Texy — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 19:50:50 +0000

I suppose we shall have to agree to disagree on this one.

By: JoshRocks

JoshRocks — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 19:49:09 +0000

He sold out his teammate anyway you slice it. What happens now if the trade doesn’t happen?
Sorry but Papelbon should be ashamed of himself. He is a horrible teammate. How he could name names at all is pathetic.

By: starr4

starr4 — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 13:56:28 +0000

Recent Sox history patterns like” if they’re all talking about a trade, then it’s not the one that’s going to happen.”

By: Texy

Texy — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 09:14:50 +0000

I don’t consider it selling out anyone- Schilling never mentioned any one or any trade by name. Papelbon was asked if a specific trade made sense to him– he wasn’t asked who he would give up for Santana, and then volunteered the names himself. I think all of these guys are cognizant that (1) it’s just business, and (2) their roster of teammates can change at any moment.

By: JoshRocks

JoshRocks — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 05:19:32 +0000

Papelbon and Schilling should just shut up about trade rumors. What a way to sell out poor John Lester.
Sorry but saying something like “Having Santana would be great” is one thing. Mentioning players involved and selling out your teammate sucks

By: Twinkie

Twinkie — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 00:59:18 +0000

You don’t think the Twins would be interested in Gagne-Crisp-Lowrie-Masterson, do you? :P

I really wish we could keep everyone from this season. Except Gagne. It’d be great to get Santana, but I’m sad at the thought of losing Lester or Buchholz or Ellsbury.

By: Texy

Texy — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 22:42:37 +0000

Nope- “Type B” is an official, more or less, baseball term to distinguish amongst free agents who result in compensatory picks. Type A free agents signed by other clubs give their old clubs two draft picks; Type B free agents give their clubs one draft pick. Schilling and Lowell both would have been Type A, had they not be re-signed; Gagne and Timlin are both Type B.

All free agents fall into the group C that I talked about in the primer- if you’ll check, you’ll see I purposely never called the groups Type A, Type B and Type C- I called them “group A”, “group B” and “group C” — for just that reason, to avoid confusion with the free agent classifications.

When you see “Type A” or “Type B” capitalized like that, in connection with free agents, it is always referring to their classification in relation to compensatory draft picks.

Hope that helps!

By: Rachel C

Rachel C — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 22:34:44 +0000

huh? You said: “That means the Red Sox will have until midnight tomorrow to offer arbitration to free agents Eric Gagne and Mike Timlin (the Type B free agents)”

But in your Arbitration Primer you state that Type B are Super Two Players…and clearly neither of those fellas fall into that category.

I’m confused