Tagged: Jason Bay
1/4 Hot Stove – The Left Wing
We have 90 days until Opening Day and the Matt Holliday situation is still unsettled.
St. Louis is a logical fit for him, but we are in 2010 and the deal still isn’t done. The Cardinals need to find somebody to protect Pujols and Matt Holliday is that guy. He can completely change the complexion for the Cardinals in the NL Central.
With him they are the favorites to battle the Cubs for the Division crown. Without him they are a questionable team with gaping holes in their line-up.
The Jason Bay signing is interesting. We know he will help improve an atrocious Mets offense, adding power and run production to a team starving for runs, but the Mets have so many other issues to deal with. Their starting pitching is suspect with Johan Santana’s support staff of Oliver Perez, John Maine, and Mike Pelfrey.
The key for the Mets is the same with or without Bay; they need to stay healthy. If Carlos Beltran and Jose Reyes can stay healthy, they look like a good team. But right now they look like a team full of what-if’s?
Something to look forward to besides the next blizzard is the Hall of Fame announcement on Wednesday at 1pm ET.
I would be surprised if Bert Blyleven and Andre Dawson aren’t voted into the HOF this year. Blyleven had nearly 300 wins to go along with 3,701 strikeouts, and Dawson was one of the best players of his generation. Deep down I’m pulling for these two to get in. – Dan Plesac
12/14 Hot Stove – Pitchers Burning on the Stove
If this three-team deal goes through with Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee involved, it would make the Blue Jays big winners today. Everyone knew the Blue Jays had to make a deal, and with what we’re hearing, they made a great decision.
Instead of taking a watered down deal from one team, they get to pluck a few of the best prospects from the Phillies’ and the Mariners’ farm systems.
What this deal sets up is the Mariners becoming the favorites in the AL West. With Cliff Lee and King Felix, you have the best lefty/righty combo in the game. Beckett and Lester, Beckett and Lackey, Sabathia and Burnett, are not going to dominate like Felix Hernandez and Cliff Lee.
Cliff Lee gave the Phillies everything and more they could have expected last season. The only thing I can think of is that Roy Halladay gives the Phillies the big dominant right-handed ace. With lefties J.A. Happ, Cole Hamels and Jamie Moyer in the rotation, Halladay can add some balance.
Like the Yankees making big moves last year, the Mariners and the Red Sox are emerging as the teams making noise this offseason.
The only noise out of Anaheim has been the star players leavening. The Angels are sitting back while Seattle is going after it. The Angels are closing in on a deal with Hideki Matsui, replacing one aging slugger for another, which means Vladimir Guerrero will be out of Anaheim.
The John Lackey signing means two things for the Red Sox. First you can all put your Jason Bay jerseys in a frame, because they’re a collectors’ items now. With all the money spent on Lackey, I don’t think Bay is coming back to Boston.
Secondly this gives the Red Sox six starters. Josh Beckett, Jon Lester and John Lackey will lead the way. With Daisuke Matsuzaka you hope to get a bounce-back year. This leaves the number-five spot for Clay Buchholz and Tim Wakefield, who was an All-Star last year. Wakefield has always been a durable, “I know what I’m getting” guy, and the best number-five starter in the game.
What this scenario does is open the door for Adrian Gonzalez to come to Fenway. The depth in pitching allows Buchholz to be the chip that can bring in Gonzalez. With Gonzalez’s power bat at first, they can platoon Jeremy Hermida with another guy – say pick up Dan Uggla – to fill the spot in left field.
In between all the dealings between the East and West, the Cardinals are waiting to hear back from Matt Holliday. They made a respectable offer, but there might be more riding on a Holliday deal.
The Cardinals need to keep Albert happy, because if he’s not happy with the direction of team, he will have options.
Just imagine if Pujols tested the free agent waters? -Greg Amsinger
11/30 Hot Stove – Winter Meetings Preview
Tonight’s show will open with the top free agents available this offseason as we get ready for the Winter Meetings, which begin next Monday. We’ll be live from Indianapolis next Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday with Hot Stove from 6:00-8:00 p.m. ET, so make sure you tune-in.
We’ll explore quite a few free agents tonight and I’ll give you our top five for this blog:
1) Matt Holliday
2) Jason Bay
3) Chone Figgins
4) John Lackey
5) Aroldis Chapman
We’ll discuss some of the possible places these players may land.
Later in the show our own Baseball Insider Jon Heyman will talk about where Roy Halladay could end up. The Yankees are now in the mix since Halladay waived his no-trade clause for them.
Also, as most of you know already, Yankees PA announcer Bob Sheppard retired over the weekend. We’ll take a look back at his glorious career.
There’s plenty to talk about this offseason. Make sure you watch Hot Stove tonight at 6:00 p.m. ET.-Greg Amsinger
Click here to watch our Bob Sheppard feature from Monday night.
11/12 Hot Stove – Billy Ripken’s Take
Hot Stove is back on the air. MLB Network is the one place you can get baseball 24/7 365. There is no real offseason as we gear up for what free agents will sign where.
The topic I want to talk about today is who is the best position player available this offseason. Last year it was clearly Mark Teixeira. This year I think you have 2 choices and while most people think Matt Holliday is the #1 choice I’m here to tell you that I’d sign Jason Bay if I were a GM of a baseball team.
Bay had more HRs and more RBIs in 5 fewer games and he played in the toughest division in baseball in the AL East. He also is a better fielder. Let’s also keep in mind that Holliday enjoyed great success while joining forces with Albert Pujols. He may want to keep that in mind as St. Louis could be a perfect long term fit.
Listen Holliday is a top free agent, but I like the guy that was able to replace Manny Ramirez rather seamlessly and deal with the pressure cooker of Boston. St. Louis isn’t the easiest place to play either, but it’s nothing like Boston.
Again, if I were looking to sign an outfielder this offseason Bay would be my first choice. Make sure you watch Hot Stove weeknights at 6 eastern.-Billy Ripken
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