Manny Ramirez, Los Angeles Dodgers Rumors Continue

The new rumor is that Manny Ramirez and the Dodgers have agreed on a three year deal, with two years guaranteed at $45 million, with a third year vesting player option of $15 million. No confirmation yet on this...

Hot Stove League Awards

Well, time again for the Hot Stove League Awards, 2009 edition. Email me at marc@hotstovereport.com for your thoughts on the 2009 Season. The Categories are...

1. 2009 Best Hot Stove League Season -- Sort of the MVP Team of the offseason.
2. 2009 Best Hot Stove League Player Signing (Team and Player)
3. 2009 Best Hot Stove League Trade (Team and Players)
4. 2009 Best Hot Stove League Player Agent
5. 2009 Best Hot Stove League GM
6. 2009 Most Intriguing Free Agent Signing
7. 2009 Biggest Surprise of the HSL
8. 2009 Worst HSL Season
9. 2009 Worst HSL Player Signing
10. 2009 Worst HSL Agent
11. 2009 Worst HSL GM
12. 2009 HSL Best Owner
13. 2009 HSL Worst Owner


This is for the offseason leading up to the 2009 MLB season. We'll be releasing the nominees on March 15, 2009, and, after you all email us your thoughts, the winners on Opening Day 2009. You may also use this thread...Let us know what you think!

Boras Rejects Latest Manny Offer, Talks to Resume Today

The Los Angeles Dodgers' most recent offer of two years, $45 million to Manny Ramirez apparently was rejected late last night by Scott Boras, but both sides are saying that the talks will continue. It appears that the Dodgers' deal was predicated on deferment of Manny's salary, so although the team would owe him $45 million in the deal, the payments for 2009 would be more like $15 million with the remaining deferred. According to the reports, the rejection was due to the deferment, but Boras and ManRam are ok with $45 million as a concept. This tells me that sometime today they will reach a deal. We'll see.

Manny Ramirez Rumored to be Close to Signing

Undisclosed internal office workers with the LA Dodgers apparently have indicated that Manny Ramirez is very close to signing with them. The last offer made by the Dodgers according to some reports was one year, $25 million, with a player option for the second year at $20 million. One report says that Manny Ramirez will have to respond to the offer by this Friday the 27th of February. The Dodgers have opened camp without him, but apparently the Dodgers organization is anxious to sign the talented outfielder to a deal. The Giants have apparently indicated to Manny Ramirez's agent Scott Boras that they are no longer bidding for his services.

Tom Glavine Re-Signs with Atlanta Braves

Smoltz is gone, but the Atlanta Braves have one of their glory days pitchers returning to the bump. Tom Glavine signed a one year, $1 million contract with the Braves plus incentives. The Braves hope he and the umpires will rediscover the eight foot wide strike zone that brought him prominence throughout the 90s.

Ken Griffey Jr. Selects Legacy over Convenience

In one of the uplifting news items coming from the Hot Stove League this year, Ken Griffey Jr. is going back to the Seattle Mariners. Griffey is signing a one year, $2 million plus incentives deal with the Mariners to be an OF/DH for the team. Griffey had debated about going to the Atlanta Braves, since the Braves' home is so convenient for Griffey to fly back to his family in Orlando, but ultimately (apparently after a call from Willie Mays), Griffey chose to create a legacy bookend to his career instead. When Griffey goes to the Hall, with one of the best swings in baseball, he will easily wear a Mariners cap.

Ken Griffey, Jr. | A Mariner or a Brave?

Ken Griffey Jr., formerly with the Chicago White Sox after a trading deadline deal with the Cincinnati Reds, is reportedly deciding between the Atlanta Braves as his new team, or a return to the glory days in Seattle with the Mariners. There were rumors that Griffey had decided on Atlanta due to its proximity to his family in Orlando, but Griffey specifically went out on the airwaves to dispel that rumor. It seems as though Atlanta would be a great fit for Junior, as they need the OF help, but with Seattle Jr. could play a little DH and get the hero's return. Griffey, in either case, is not the sought after player he once was due to age and injury, but he still could be a productive bat in the lineup in a supporting role. Griffey is a lifetime .288 batter with 611 HR, and last season hit a combined .249 and 18 HR in almost 500 AB.

Milwaukee Brewers Sign Braden Looper

Braden Looper, the former St. Louis Cardinal RHP, signed with the Milwaukee Brewers with a one year, $4.75 million guaranteed, plus $1 million in incentives for 2009, plus a club option for 2010 for $6 million or $6.5 million (depending on incentives) plus a $750,000 buyout (or $1 million, depending on incentives). The Brewers were in dire need of starting pitching after CC Sabathia bolted for NY and Ben Sheets rejected arbitration. Looper was 12-14 with the Cardinals in 2008, pitching nearly 200 innings with a 4.16 ERA.

Adam Dunn to Sign with Nationals

Adam Dunn, former OF for the Cincinnati Reds, has agreed to a reported two year, $20 million contract to play for the Washington Nationals.

Bobby Abreu To Sign with Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Bobby Abreu, the former New York Yankees' right fielder that was not offered arbitration, is going to sign a deal with the Los Angeles Angels for a reported $5 million plus incentives for one year. This appears to be a pretty good move for the Angels, who lost Mark Teixeira to free agency this year and needs to replace that production in the lineup. Abreu batted .296 with over 100 RBI last year and is a left handed bat in a very right handed Angels clubhouse. The deal was reported on SI.com and MLB.com.

But Abreu signing for $5 million has to lower the targets of other free agents on the market, the ones that still do not have a team with pitchers and catchers reporting just around the corner.

Astros May Need a SS Soon

Miguel Tejada, who had testified to Congress that he did not know about any performance enhancing drugs in baseball clubhouses, is expected to plead guilty to lying to Congress as part of the Congressional investigation into steroids in baseball. Tejada has reportedly reached a plea bargain with prosecutors. The crime carries with it a maximum one year jail sentence, but federal sentencing guidelines make probation up to six months in prison more likely.

It is hard to look at the Astros' roster and see another everyday shortstop, but one wonders if Drayton McLane and the Astros use this plea bargain to terminate his contract as a cost saving move. The Astros had made little secret about their attempts to move Tejada's contract elsewhere, and one wonders if this is all the evidence McLane will need to do additional cost saving moves (or improve the ballclub with the cost savings while picking up a defensive shortstop).

Tejada is smart to plea while the A-Roid scandal continues to make headlines and talk show fodder.

Alex Rodriguez Admits A-Rod is A-Fraud

In an interview with ESPN, it is being reported that Alex Rodriguez admitted that while he was with the Texas Rangers from 2001-2003 he did steroids, including the season where he won the MVP and including the time right after he got his super large contract.

An article on the admission is here.

Seems to me that the only person in baseball we can trust about steroids is Jose Canseco.

Ryan Howard, Phils Avoid Arbitration

Ryan Howard, who led the majors in HR and RBI last year, signed for three years with the World Champion Philadelphia Phillies worth a reported $54 million. The $54 million averages out to $18 million per year for the rest of Ryan Howard's arbitration eligible years. Howard had requested $18 million, the Phillies had originally countered with $14 million, which had them both headed for an ugly arbitration. This signing avoids that, and puts the 29 year old in the fold for three more years. Howard was the 2005 Rookie of the Year and the 2006 MVP.

Andruw Jones Signs Minor League Deal With Texas Rangers

Andruw Jones, who is still being paid millions by the Dodgers, agree to a minor league deal with the Texas Rangers for $500,000 with an invitation to Spring Training. If Jones, who hit .158 with 3 HR, but made $14.7 million in 2008, makes the Rangers' roster, he will make $1 million (and half of that will be refunded to the Dodgers.

Randy Wolf Signs With Dodgers

Randy Wolf, who last year carried the Astros in the second half of the season, signed, as expected, with the Los Angeles Dodgers for one year, $5 million guaranteed with $3 million in incentives. Wolf had originally been offered bthree years, $28.5 million from the Astros before they pulled the offer off the table during the economic collapse. It was reported that Wolf wanted three years, $30 million guaranteed but had to readjust after the collapse. Wolf, who was 12-12 last year with the Padres and Astros, pitched for the Dodgers in 2007, and the Dodgers sought his return this offseason after losing Brad Penny to the Red Sox, Derek Lowe to the Braves ang Greg Maddux to retirement.

Cliff Floyd Signs with San Diego Padres

Cliff Floyd, the oft-injured, but effective veteran presence last year on the Tampa Bay Rays, reportedly has reached an agreement with the San Diego Padres. The Padres were in need of a left handed bat, but it is a little surprising Floyd, a decent DH candidate, went to a national league team. The club, who was also interested in Luis Gonzales, apparently decided Floyd had enough left in the tank to still play a little outfield. Floyd hit .268 with 11 HR in 80 games last year with the Rays.

Mets, Oliver Perez Agree to 3-Year Deal

The New York Mets, who have definitely been working diligently to try to re-sign Oliver Perez, and they announced they have done so. The lefty Perez, who was 10-7 and pitched 194 innings last year, agreed to a 3 year, $36 million contract to remain a starter with the organization. This, along with the signing of Tim Redding and Freddy Garcia, probably forecloses the idea that Randy Wolf or Pedro Martinez will be in a Mets uniform next season.

Ty Wiggington Signs With Baltimore Orioles

Ty Wiggington, the Houston Astros' former third baseman that carried the team in the last third of the season, signed with the Baltimore Orioles with a two year, $6 million deal. Prior to the economic collapse it would have not been a surprise to see the Astros pay Wiggington $6 million for one year to avoid arbitration.

As an Astros fan, it is hard for me to understand why the Astros didn't do this deal with Wiggington themselves, but I suppose the Astros needed to use the 3B position for cost savings. I think the Orioles got a steal.

Manny Ramirez Turns Down $25 Million

With Boras now looking to be backed in a corner, Manny Ramirez has reportedly rejected a one year, $25 million offer from his previous team, the Los Angeles Dodgers. Speculation is that the Guiants and the Mets have interest, but it is looking doubtful that ManRam will get more than the two year guarantee originally contracted by the Red Sox...stay tuned...