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2007-2008 MLB Hot Stove

#1
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10/20/07 at 10:11am
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Even before the World Series, Hot Stove is cooking like mad.

A few to cover:

* Boras says that they want around $30M a year for A-Rod, he wants short, and now, Anaheim is at the very top of the perspective buyers.

* Joe Torre is out at NYY. Now, word is that they are doing interviews.. humorously Jose Pena is amongst the interviewees. if that happens, I will laugh my a*(& off.

* Kansas City picks up Trey Hillman, formerly of the NYY minor leagues, and who had been a filter for the MLB on Japanese prospects, his Nippon Ham Fighters are in the Japanese World Series second year in a row.. now the trick will be if KC is at all serious about trying to get into the foreign players market.

* Dusty Baker takes over in Cincy

* Corey Koskie is now a free agent, after Milwaukee declines offer, likely ending his career. Koskie sat out the season with a concussion, but collected a year pay on hold (6.5M) so was a nice send off from his team in a way.
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#2
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10/20/07 at 4:17pm
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Re: 2007-2008 MLB Hot Stove

Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris
* Joe Torre is out at NYY. Now, word is that they are doing interviews.. humorously Jose Pena is amongst the interviewees. if that happens, I will laugh my a*(& off.

Reports I've seen include Yankee first base coach Tony Pena--who has been a huge help coaching Posada the past couple of years--as among those being interviewed (including Mattingly & Girardi)...not Jose Pena.

=============================

A Red Sox priority this off-season should be to re-sign Mike Lowell at third base.

There's Jessie the yodeling cowgirl. Bullseye, he's Woody's horse. Pete the old prospector. And, Woody, the man himself. Of course, it's time for Woody's RoundUp. He's the very best! He's the rootinest, tootinest cowboy in the wild, wild west!

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#3
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10/20/07 at 8:28pm
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Re: 2007-2008 MLB Hot Stove

Thanks, I was listening to ESPN most of the day and twice they made the mistake. I about coughed my stomach up. But by late afternoon they had it right
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#4
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10/28/07 at 8:13pm
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Re: 2007-2008 MLB Hot Stove

A Rod is now a free agent
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3084583
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#5
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10/28/07 at 8:49pm
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Re: 2007-2008 MLB Hot Stove

I don't think A-Rod can officially opt out until after the World Series is over, but things just got very interesting. There are going to be a lot of teams that are all over this.

If I were the Toronto Blue Jays, I'd be on the phone with Scott Boras approximately twelve seconds after Papelbon nails the game down. Strong Canadian dollar, they spent much of the season allowing anyone in the stands who asked to play shortstop, and this could easily allow them to benefit from one of their divisional rivals getting weaker (or two, if it leads to New York signing Mike Lowell).
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#6
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10/28/07 at 9:34pm
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Re: 2007-2008 MLB Hot Stove

In the postgame interviews tonight (after winning the WS MVP--which probably drives his price up even more) Mike Lowell said lots of nice things about playing in Boston!

I hope (upon hope) they can re-sign him.

There's Jessie the yodeling cowgirl. Bullseye, he's Woody's horse. Pete the old prospector. And, Woody, the man himself. Of course, it's time for Woody's RoundUp. He's the very best! He's the rootinest, tootinest cowboy in the wild, wild west!

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#7
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10/29/07 at 12:51am
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Re: 2007-2008 MLB Hot Stove

there's no way in hell the Jays would sign ARod and i'm pretty sure ARod wouldn't want to play here.

anyways this could all be just a negotiating tactic. i mean, with Texas' $30 (?) million extra subsidy, there's no reason why the Yankees couldn't give $30 mill more than the next competitor right now

from SI.com:
Rodriguez technically had until 10 days after the World Series ended to exercise his opt-out rights, which were provided in his $252 million Texas deal. However, Boras said in an interview with SI.com Sunday that Rodriguez couldn't even consider any pre-opt-out deadline offers from the Yankees until they settled several situations, specifically mentioning the impending free agency of Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada and uncertainty surrounding Andy Pettitte. Boras specifically mentioned Yankees partner Hank Steinbrenner's comment the Yankees are in a "transitional'' phase as a concern.

... i don't know much about inner baseball but that sounds like crap. the Yankees, more than any other team, can correct any mistakes they make with $$$. they could have one bad year and open their purse strings and get the best free agent for any position needed. the Yankees, more than any other team, could also surround him with high price free agents. if he goes to other teams, those teams would suffer payroll-wise (like Texas and their lack of pitching when he was there).


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#8
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10/29/07 at 7:03am
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Re: 2007-2008 MLB Hot Stove

Not this year, though - the only really attractive free agents this year are center fielders, and the Yankees already have one or two of those.

To a certain extent, I don't know why A-Rod opts out now unless he just really wants out of New York. Which, as a Red Sox fan, I am totally okay with. I'dbe even more okay with it if he winds up landing with a National League team (Cubs, Giants, and Dodgers all look like pretty good fits).
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#9
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10/29/07 at 7:36am
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Re: 2007-2008 MLB Hot Stove

An opening day dream for the Cubs in 2008 (the centennial celebration of their last title):

Lineup
Felix Pie (CF)
Derrek Lee (1B)
Alex Rodriguez (SS)
Aramis Ramirez (3B)
Alfonso Soriano (LF)
Mark DeRosa (RF)
Geovany Soto (C)
Ryan Theriot (2B)

Starting Rotation
Carlos Zambrano
Ted Lilly
Rich Hill
Kerry Wood
Mark Prior

Long Relief/Setup
Ryan Dempster
Bob Howry

Closer
Carlos Marmol

Which is the greater fantasy -- thinking the Cubs will sign ARod or believing Wood and Prior have any kind of decent future?
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#10
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10/29/07 at 7:39am
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Re: 2007-2008 MLB Hot Stove

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jason Seaver
I'd be even more okay with it if he winds up landing with a National League team (Cubs, Giants, and Dodgers all look like pretty good fits).

Amen, brother.

There's Jessie the yodeling cowgirl. Bullseye, he's Woody's horse. Pete the old prospector. And, Woody, the man himself. Of course, it's time for Woody's RoundUp. He's the very best! He's the rootinest, tootinest cowboy in the wild, wild west!

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#11
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10/29/07 at 7:52am
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Re: 2007-2008 MLB Hot Stove

Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian Perry
An opening day dream for the Cubs in 2008 (the centennial celebration of their last title):

Starting Rotation
Carlos Zambrano
Ted Lilly
Rich Hill
Kerry Wood
Mark Prior

Which is the greater fantasy -- thinking the Cubs will sign ARod or believing Wood and Prior have any kind of decent future?
Aren't Wood and Prior both FAs this offseason? The Cubs have to finally cut ties with both of them. Neither is going to do much the rest of their careers. The Cubs would be better off using Piniella as both the 4 and 5 starters rather than Wood and Prior.

I heard on ESPN a few days ago that Dusty Baker was talking to Wood and Prior about going to Cincy. The Cubs should help negotiate their contracts with the team.
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#12
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10/29/07 at 9:42am
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Re: 2007-2008 MLB Hot Stove

Interesting stats on A-Rod heard this morning in a discussion as to whether the Red Sox would go after him. For 25 Million the Yankees got:

8 for 59 in the playoffs, a whopping .135
Struck out 8 times in the post-season with runner(s) in scoring position.

And the most shocking of all:

Came to bat with a total of 37 players on base in the post-season, drove home exactly ZERO!!! The only man he's driven home is himself (typical).

Give me Mike Lowell for less than half the price any day of the week. Just his leadership and professionalism, never mind his glove and bat, has A-Rod beat by a mile. If the Sox sign A-Rod, I just may do the unthinkable and start rooting for someone else. That's how much I do not want that man here.
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#13
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10/29/07 at 11:00am
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Re: 2007-2008 MLB Hot Stove

A-Rod will most likely have won 2 MVPs during his 4 years in pinstripes, as well as changed fielding positions when he got here.
Yet management (and a lot of fans) are quite willing to let him walk away.
Says a lot.

Lew
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#14
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10/29/07 at 11:16am
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Re: 2007-2008 MLB Hot Stove

Quote:
Originally Posted by LewB
A-Rod will most likely have won 2 MVPs during his 4 years in pinstripes, as well as changed fielding positions when he got here.
Yet management (and a lot of fans) are quite willing to let him walk away.
Says a lot.

Just the reaction of his teammates after the "girlie slap" incident in the 2004 ALCS told me volumes. The silent lack of support from Jeter on down was . . . shall we say . . deafening.
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#15
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10/29/07 at 11:31am
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Re: 2007-2008 MLB Hot Stove

Yeah, which says a lot because if it wasn't for A-Rod's year in the early part of the season, they would have been truly dismal. And, uh, Jeter's post season was nothing to write home about.

Quote:
Which, as a Red Sox fan, I am totally okay with. I'dbe even more okay with it if he winds up landing with a National League team (Cubs, Giants, and Dodgers all look like pretty good fits).

Well, he could always go across town and try to play for the Mets j/k!!
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#16
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10/29/07 at 11:59am
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Re: 2007-2008 MLB Hot Stove

I'm not to sure about Dusty Baker. His track record handling pitchers is not good, and Cincinnati needs any help they can get where pitching is concerned.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Scott_J
I heard on ESPN a few days ago that Dusty Baker was talking to Wood and Prior about going to Cincy. The Cubs should help negotiate their contracts with the team.

This is par for the course in Cincy. We have been a halfway house for broken down relievers and closers the past few years. I'm not sure Wood and Prior meet our requirements yet though. We usually like them in the 38 - 40 range before we sign them. LOL
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#17
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10/29/07 at 12:12pm
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Re: 2007-2008 MLB Hot Stove

Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris
Yeah, which says a lot because if it wasn't for A-Rod's year in the early part of the season, they would have been truly dismal. And, uh, Jeter's post season was nothing to write home about.

Don't you be talking trash about "Captain October".
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#18
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10/29/07 at 12:53pm
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Re: 2007-2008 MLB Hot Stove

Quote:
Originally Posted by LewB
A-Rod will most likely have won 2 MVPs during his 4 years in pinstripes, as well as changed fielding positions when he got here.
Yet management (and a lot of fans) are quite willing to let him walk away.
Says a lot.
And I, as a Red Sox fan, like what it's saying about Yankee management.

Seriously, that Hank Steinbrenner quote about how Rodriguez clearly doesn't appreciate what a privilege it is to play for the Yankees makes me wonder if he's inherited all of his father's crazy without any of his redeeming features (whatever those may be). I hope A-Rod enjoys California (in the National League, please!) or Detroit, and when he breaks Barry's record, he says it could have happened in NY, but that organization doesn't deserve it.
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#19
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10/29/07 at 1:20pm
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Re: 2007-2008 MLB Hot Stove

If the Sox sign A-Rod, I just may do the unthinkable and start rooting for someone else. That's how much I do not want that man here.


My thoughts are exactly the same, only substitute Cubs for Sox.

If the Cubs sign this perennial choke-artist, cheater, money-grubbing, clubhouse poison, egotistical maniac, then I'm done as a Cubs fan until he's gone, even if it means that I miss out on a World Series championship.
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#20
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10/29/07 at 1:21pm
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Re: 2007-2008 MLB Hot Stove

The phenomena that is A-Rod is truly a spectacle to behold.

Peter Gammons was unusually harsh during a piece after the WS on ESPN.

In the meantime, it looks like Girardi's the guy for the Yankees job. "Reports indicate..."

I wonder if MLB can levy any kind of fine against Boras or A-Rod for dropping the "opt out" story during Game 4 of the WS. I know there are strict rules about team's actions during the WS...

There's Jessie the yodeling cowgirl. Bullseye, he's Woody's horse. Pete the old prospector. And, Woody, the man himself. Of course, it's time for Woody's RoundUp. He's the very best! He's the rootinest, tootinest cowboy in the wild, wild west!

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#21
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10/29/07 at 1:32pm
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Re: 2007-2008 MLB Hot Stove

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Frezon
I wonder if MLB can levy any kind of fine against Boras or A-Rod for dropping the "opt out" story during Game 4 of the WS. I know there are strict rules about team's actions during the WS...

They could publicly decry them as a pox on the game and deride them for having no respect for tradition . . . but they probably wouldn't want to sound so repetitive.
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#22
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10/29/07 at 1:37pm
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Re: 2007-2008 MLB Hot Stove

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jason Seaver
Seriously, that Hank Steinbrenner quote about how Rodriguez clearly doesn't appreciate what a privilege it is to play for the Yankees makes me wonder if he's inherited all of his father's crazy without any of his redeeming features (whatever those may be).

Yes. Someone might remind Hank that Joe Torre certainly seemed to "appreciate the privilege of being a Yankee" manager...but I guess that thinking only works for Hank when it supports his own viewpoint.

This preview of the "Hank years" looks mighty interesting.

There's Jessie the yodeling cowgirl. Bullseye, he's Woody's horse. Pete the old prospector. And, Woody, the man himself. Of course, it's time for Woody's RoundUp. He's the very best! He's the rootinest, tootinest cowboy in the wild, wild west!

Top Ten Ways to Find Good Deals on DVDs and Blu-ray...
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#23
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10/29/07 at 1:43pm
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Re: 2007-2008 MLB Hot Stove

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeff Gatie
They could publicly decry them as a pox on the game and deride them for having no respect for tradition . . . but they probably wouldn't want to sound so repetitive.

Well, Gammons pretty much took care of that, last night, for MLB.

I just know that teams need to ask for permission, for example, to hold a press conference during the WS (or to make any major announcement) so as not to detract from news coverage of the fall classic.

To have Ken Rosenthal interrupt coverage (I believe it was the 7th inning) of last night's game for the Boras/A-Rod announcement was absolutely ridiculous.

There's Jessie the yodeling cowgirl. Bullseye, he's Woody's horse. Pete the old prospector. And, Woody, the man himself. Of course, it's time for Woody's RoundUp. He's the very best! He's the rootinest, tootinest cowboy in the wild, wild west!

Top Ten Ways to Find Good Deals on DVDs and Blu-ray...
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#24
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10/29/07 at 2:04pm
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Re: 2007-2008 MLB Hot Stove

Here's hoping to Arod not getting an offer over $20million/year on whatever deal he signs. Let's hope no GM is desperate enough to bring the Arod show their team for a premium price.

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#25
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10/29/07 at 2:09pm
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Re: 2007-2008 MLB Hot Stove

Quote:
Originally Posted by Patrick Sun
Here's hoping to Arod not getting an offer over $20million/year on whatever deal he signs. Let's hope no GM is desperate enough to bring the Arod show their team for a premium price.

THAT, my friend, would be too cool for school.

But something tells me that the persuasive Boras will work his charms on some owner/GM...

[...but fingers are crossed.]

There's Jessie the yodeling cowgirl. Bullseye, he's Woody's horse. Pete the old prospector. And, Woody, the man himself. Of course, it's time for Woody's RoundUp. He's the very best! He's the rootinest, tootinest cowboy in the wild, wild west!

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#26
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10/29/07 at 2:38pm
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Re: 2007-2008 MLB Hot Stove

Hey, the part of me that hates the Yankees more than Slappy (which ain't small) wants him to thrive post-Yankees. Seriously, how cool would it be to see the Yankees slip into third or fourth place while Slappy gets a World Series MVP? It would drive people insane.

Although, it appears he won't be doing it for Detroit; they've just traded a bag of magic beans for Edgar Rentaria. Maybe the second time around the AL is the charm.

Back to the Yankees - there's a thing going around the internet about Jorge Posada and Joe Girardi being less than friendly, which might lead Jorge to sign elsewhere. Of course, it's going around the internet, so it could be one guy's speculation based on the fact that Girardi blocked Posada for a couple years just being repeated by many others. Any potential that this is true? Because if the Yankees really have cut ties with Slappy and this isn't a big game of chicken, Posada is the next-most difficult player to replace; there simply isn't another catcher with a bat that good out there.
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#27
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10/29/07 at 2:42pm
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Re: 2007-2008 MLB Hot Stove

Losing Posada at this juncture would be a big blow.

Jason: how do you mean "blocked?"

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jason Seaver
it could be one guy's speculation based on the fact that Girardi blocked Posada for a couple years

There's Jessie the yodeling cowgirl. Bullseye, he's Woody's horse. Pete the old prospector. And, Woody, the man himself. Of course, it's time for Woody's RoundUp. He's the very best! He's the rootinest, tootinest cowboy in the wild, wild west!

Top Ten Ways to Find Good Deals on DVDs and Blu-ray...
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#28
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10/29/07 at 2:57pm
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Re: 2007-2008 MLB Hot Stove

Posada was arguably ready to assume the starting job but the Yankees initially signed Girardi rather than call him up, and they weren't going to displace the guy they had a bigger investment in for a minor leaguer (hence, Girardi "blocked" Posada). He spent three years in AAA, which is kind of unusual for a player as good as he is.

It probably doesn't make a lot of sense for Posada to resent Girardi for this, but they played as teammates sharing a position for a couple years, and who knows what kind of relationship that leaves them with. For all I know, no sort of rift exists between them except in fans' imaginations, but if there does and this keeps him from signing with New York, that's big trouble.
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Transplanted Life: Sci-fi soap opera about a man placed in a new body, updated two or three times a week.
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#29
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10/29/07 at 4:07pm
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Re: 2007-2008 MLB Hot Stove

While I shudder to think what signing A-Rod for $30 mil would do to salaries all over baseball, I have to say I would be in favor of the Angels signing him. It would be a serious step forward for the team IMO. Heck, I still think that if they could sign Bonds for a reasonable one-year contract they should.
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#30
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10/29/07 at 5:53pm
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Re: 2007-2008 MLB Hot Stove

Just like A-Rod's previous contract, signing the best player in the game to a record-breaking contract isn't the bad thing. It's signing the likes of Gary Matthews Jr. to big-money deals that will require economy-devastating inflation to become reasonable.
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